Narendra Modi granted Gratis Visa to all Myanmar citizens

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday granted gratis visa to all Myanmar citizens who want to visit India. “I am pleased to announce that we have decided to grant gratis (no-cost) visa to all the citizens of Myanmar who want to visit India,” Modi said.

Gratis visa is generally granted to those travelling to the country on invitation of the government as its guest. It is also granted to diplomats and UN officials traveling on duty. Those granted scholarship under cultural exchange programmes are also granted gratis visa. A visa is an official document, or a stamp put in your passport, which allows you to enter or leave a particular country.

According to passportindia.gov.in, Gratis visa is granted to diplomats and officials , UN officials traveling on duty or those traveling to India on invitation of Government of India as its guest. Those granted scholarship under Cultural Exchange Programmes are also granted gratis visa.

The following types of India visa are issued to foreign nationals in accordance with the purpose of their visit: Diplomat; Official; UN Official; Transit ; Entry; Tourist; Employment; Project; Student; Journalist; Business; Missionary; Mountaineering, Conference, Seminar, Meeting; Research; Medical; Medical Attendant; and Universal. Details of requisite documentation may be accessed at the website concerned of Mission/Post or Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi.

In view of the existing bilateral agreements/arrangements, all types of visas are issued gratis to the nationals of Afghanistan, Argentina(Tourist visa only), Bangladesh, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, South Africa and Uruguay. Diplomatic, official/service and ordinary passport holders of certain countries are exempt under bilateral agreements from visa requirement.

Only Business, Tourist and Transit visas are to be issued on gratis basis to the nationals of Argentina. Similarly only Tourist visas are to be issued on gratis basis to the nationals of Uruguay. Normal visa fee is applicable for all other type of visas in respect of these nationals. Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan do not require visa to enter India.

However, Nepali nationals require visa if they enter India from China, which is to be granted Gratis. As conveyed Ministry’s circular message dated 14.12.2015, Business and Employment Visas to the applicants from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to be issued on Gratis basis.