No decision yet on e-tourist visas for Chinese nationals: Govt

There is a proposal to offer e-tourist visas to Chinese nationals but no final decision has been taken as yet, the government said today.
"There is such a proposal but no final decision has been taken as yet," Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha while responding to a question by Kahkashan Perween (JD-U).
Responding to questions by members, Rijiju said the visa regime was non-reciprocal and the main purpose was to enhance the number of visitors.
When the Minister was asked by a member whether any intelligence report relating to the proposal, Rijiju said normally such information is not discussed in public domain.

He said that China was among the prior reference category countries where, apart from business visitors and tourists, other Chinese nationals require permission from the Union Home Ministry.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said that as per a circular issued for Visa-On-Arrival, 72 hours before the person has to travel, he or she has to file it electronically and must have the confirmation before boarding a flight.

He said there were instances where either the airlines have refused to accept that and there are instances when upon arrival people have been turned back. Recently, an eminent Indian's grandson who came from Australia with this Visa-On-Arrival facility was detained at the airport for ten hours and put on a flight back, Sharma said.

The Minister admitted there were instances where due to misunderstanding of the whole subject, such incidents did occur and it is not Visa-On-Arrival per se, it is electronic Visa which needs to be cleared before he boards the aircraft.
"So we have given it a short title now, e-Tourist Visa....And to ensure that everything is smooth and nobody is turned back who has arrived in Indian territory, everything has to be cleared," Rijiju said.