The road to India just got easier for Americans (and several others) wanting to travel to the sub-continent. In an effort to further spur tourism, the government has added the United States of America, Australia, Brazil, Germany and Japan to the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for the “visa on arrival” program. In all, citizens of 43 countries can now apply for a visa by internet and pick up their paperwork on arrival at an airport kiosk.
Previously, the Indian visa process involved submitting an application (by mail or in person) to a visa processing center, conveniently located at your friendly neighborhood Indian Consulate General’s office (of which there are six across the USA), then waiting for approval, possibly for weeks. While the paperwork is still monumental, the process is now more streamlined. The government expects this will boost tourism and revenue, and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma says the move “will send out a clear message that India is serious about making travel to the country easy.”
Just how many people travel to India? Not as many as they’d like. 2012 statistics show 6.58 million tourists, compared to more than 25 million visitors to Malaysia, and more than 22 million in Thailand, led by Bangkok’s recognition as the world’s most visited city (according to the 2013 Global Destination Cities Index). The next largest Asian country, China, sees more than 55 million tourists a year, driving more than $45-billion (USD) in revenue. India, obviously, sees vast opportunity and is working hard to capitalize on it.
The full list of eligible nationalities, along with application procedures and fees ($60) can be found at the Government of India’s Tourist Visa on Arrival site. Not every traveler will qualify for a Visa on Arrival; it is targeted to those traveling for leisure, medical treatment, or “casual business”, and there are certain restrictions and requirements, all of which are spelled out on the site.
