A new E-Visa on arrival is now available at nine different airports in India. The new system comes from the Government of India in an attempt to welcome an increased number of tourists to the country and heighten interest from the superyacht industry in cruising India’s Andaman Islands.
Part of India, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a staggering group of almost 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal – 9 of which are open to foreign tourists. Located 1400 km from mainland India and 1000 km from Thailand, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the most remote spots on the planet and an ideal cruising ground.
Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience of the islands for superyachts, R. Rathnam and his APS Andamans team provide professional assistance with owners, guests and captain and crew visas along with all clearances and paperwork and customised services to visiting yachts throughout their journey.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad was the first to report the facility of an E-Visa for the citizens of 43 countries, officially starting November 27, 2014. The system is part of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme which requires visitors to apply online at least four days before leaving to the country. This introduction aims to make it substantially easier for tourists to travel to India, which usually requires applicants to wait weeks before visas are issued. The new tourist E-Visa is issued within a maximum of 72 hours. Restrictions include a validation of up to 30 days only, and obtainment of the E-Visa is limited to a maximum of twice per year.
The new ETA system will be in place only at the following international airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvanathapuram, Kochi and Goa.