E-visa to be introduced to facilitate travellers: Minister

With a view to liberalise the visa regime, the Centre plans to introduce systems like e-visa (electronic visa) and expand the scope for visa-on-arrival in the country, Union Tourism Minister Shripad Naik said here today.
"We are trying to move forward. The central government wants to liberalise the visa policies. Under the e-visa facility, a traveller can apply by sitting in his country. Once we receive his application, we will process it and send him the travel authorisation document before he leaves the country," Naik told reporters here today.
India intends to provide e-visa facility to maximum number of countries, he added.

According to the minister, the scope of visa-on-arrival will also be expanded by getting more countries in the ambit of this facility.
The Tourism ministry will also hold dialogues with the External Affairs ministry to reduce the visa fees so that it would work as an encouragement for the tourists to visit the country, he said.
"The visa fees for the short-term traveller can be less. We will hold a discussion with the Ministry of External Affairs on this issue," Naik said speaking to reporters after chairing the tourism task force meeting here.