Indian eVisa will soon be available for Saudi Nationals

February 26, 2019

The Indian eVisa was launched in 2014 to simplify the process of obtaining a visa to the country and to promote it as a tourist destination. From this moment forward, more countries have been added to the list of eligible countries. The last country to have been added to the eligible nationalities is Saudi Arabia. The Indian eVisa will be available for Saudi nationals soon.

At this time, India's diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia are working on offering the electronic visa to Saudi Arabia citizens. Last week, the government of India decided to add the Kingdom to the list of countries eligible for the eVisa.

The eVisa for India would allow Saudi nationals to apply online for their visa. Similar to other applicants, Saudi travelers would need to provide their personal details and passport information. They would also be required to pay the visa fee and print the copy of their eVisa once it was approved. More than 140 countries are currently eligible to get their visa for India. There are three types of electronic visa for India, the e-Tourist visa, e-Business visa, and e-Medical visa.

According to P. Ram Mohan, a senior journalist in Bangalore, the decision of offering the visa to Saudis is coming late. The journalist told Arab News that, "India has warm relations with Saudi Arabia and about three million Indian expats live there."

Saudi nationals will be able to travel with the India eVisa

Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakambali Sorendran revealed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to India was essential to securing the electronic visa procedures for Saudi citizens. For two and a half years, the State Tourism Administration has been demanding that the old visa system is cancelled. The old regime required that Saudi tourists provide their fingerprints.

The Kerala Minister of Tourism has welcomed the joint decision of India and Saudi Arabia to extend the electronic visa system to citizens of Saudi Arabia.

The necessary requirements to obtain an eVisa for India from Saudi Arabia include a valid passport, a copy of the passport, two passport-sized photos, a completed application form. When traveling to India travelers also need to have an accommodation.

India has decided to scrap the biometric visa system for Saudis. The hope is that these changes will increase the number of Saudis traveling to India. At this time, India's diplomatic missions are working on making the eVisa available for Saudi nationals.

"We're waiting on guidelines from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh," a consulate official in Jeddah told Arab News. The eVisa will make the process of getting a visa to India faster and easier. Saudi travelers can complete their online application without intermediaries or agents.

K. Surendrean, tourism minister in India's southern state of Kerala have welcomed the eVisa regime for Saudi nationals as it simplifies procedures to travel to India. Surendrean has said that they had been requesting the withdrawal of the biometric visa system because of its dramatic impact on tourist numbers.

The crown prince's visit to India yielded five memorandums of understanding in investment, tourism, information, housing and broadcasting. The prince announced a 100 USD billion investment in India in areas including energy, refining, petrochemicals, infrastructure, manufacturing and agriculture.

A joint statement was issued which focuses on the importance of bilateral ties, "India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting the centuries old economic and socio-cultural ties. Close geographical proximity, civilizational links, cultural affinity, natural synergies, and vibrant people to people contacts. Common challenges and opportunities have added momentum to this robust engagement."