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.
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.
