India extends visa-on-arrival facility to UAE citizens

In a major development, the Government of India has extended the visa-on-arrival facility to the citizens of the United Arab Emirates. An official statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said that the Government of India, with effect from November 16, 2019, has decided to extend the visa-on-arrival facility to the nationals of the United Arab Emirates. “This facility is aimed at further strengthening people to people and trade links as well as strategic ties between the two countries” it read.

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60-day visa at 6 designated international airports

The visa-on-arrival will be available to the UAE nationals for a period of up to 60 days with double entry for business, tourism, conference and medical purposes. “The facility will be available at six designated international airports namely, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai,” the statement read. The visa-on-arrival will be available only to those UAE nationals who have earlier obtained an e-visa or a normal paper visa for India, irrespective of whether the person actually visited India or not. “Those UAE nationals coming to India for the first time may be advised to apply for e-visa or a normal paper visa,” the statement added.

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UAE's visa-on-arrival to Indians

UAE had recently announced that Indian passport holders with a valid United States visa or a Green card will be eligible for a visa-on-arrival to the country. The tourist visa will be valid for a period of 14 days with scope of a single extension with an additional fee. UAE for its beaches, architecture marvels and shopping malls has always been one of the favorite tourist destinations for Indians.

India's long list of recipient countries

India offers a visa-on-arrival facility to the citizens of over 75 countries with several conditions and the list keeps on updating with the signing of various agreements between the two nations. As of October 1, 2019, there were 58 countries that offered visa-free or visa-on-arrival facility for Indian passport holders to those countries. The visa-on-arrival facility being extended to UAE is being seen as a major step taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in bringing the people of the two nations closer.

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