India suspends visa for travellers from four countries due to Coronavirus
In wake of the rising number of coronavirus cases globally, the government of India has announced temporary suspension of visas and e-visas granted on or before Tuesday to people travelling from Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan, effective immediately, after a surge in cases of Covid-19 in these countries.
Those requiring to travel to India due to compelling reasons will have to seek fresh visas.
India stopped issuing visas to Chinese nationals on 5 February following the outbreak in the country, and the new travel advisory reflects the rapid spread of the virus in the four countries.
The fresh ban applies to all regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visa (including VoA for Japan and South Korea) granted to nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and issued on or before 3 March 2020. Those requiring to travel to India due to compelling reasons, may seek fresh visas.
The government has also said that passengers (foreign and Indian) other than those restricted, arriving directly or indirectly from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan must undergo medical screening at the port of entry.
In a fresh travel advisory, the Indian government has urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel to COVID-19-affected countries and refrain from travelling to China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.
