This report covers several key immigration-related developments in India in recent months.
On 14 November 2018, Indian Ministry of Home Affairs’ (“MHA”) Foreigners Division issued a press release1 summarising the various steps taken by the government to improve the immigration/visa process in India. In early 2018, India’s government issued detailed visa guidelines streamlining the visa application process and compliance procedures.2
This GMS Flash Alert highlights several of the significant changes. (For prior coverage, see the following issues of GMS Flash Alert: 2018-070 (27 April 2018) and 2018-046 (9 March 2018).
With the updated 2018 guidelines, India simplified provisions, clarified “grey” areas, and undertook efforts to make visa applications and compliance easier.
Immigration counsel and global mobility managers should consider the movements of foreign nationals, employees, academics, and interns into India for whom they are responsible and establish policies and procedures that will help ensure compliance with India’s immigration rules. Tourists and other foreign nationals traveling to India for non-work purposes should stay informed of developments to foster their compliance as well.
India continues to undertake important efforts aimed at simplifying and streamlining the visa/immigration processes for foreign nationals. Introduction of electronic applications, approvals, clearances, and extensions, are consistent with the government’s aim of a digital India and its focus on “minimum government and maximum governance.”
1 See Press Information Bureau, MHA, “Liberalization of visa regime of India during the last one year,” (14 November 2018).
2 For details, please refer to “Government of India Issues Detailed Visa Guidelines (PDF 567KB),” in Tax News Flash (10 April 2018), a publication of the KPMG International member firm in India.
3 For details, please refer to the government of India’s “E-Visa” website.
4 Security clearance is only required if the participants are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistan origin, and stateless persons, or intend to visit protected or restricted areas.
5 Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai, and New Mangalore.
6 If the stay is for activities other than tourism, the stay is as an individual foreign tourist, the stay is at a place which is not open for tourism.
7 Business, employment, student, and research visa.
8 The foreign national is married to an Indian citizen/Person of Indian Origin/Overseas Citizen of India cardholder.
INR 1 = EUR 0.0123
INR 1 = USD 0.014
INR 1 = GBP 0.01106
INR 1 = AUD 0.0194
This article is excerpted, with permission, from “India Visa Regime Gets More Liberalised,” published in Tax News Flash (30 November 2018) by the KPMG International member firm in India.
* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any immigration services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in India.
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