Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Australian tourists to India will soon get Visas on Arrival. He also said that those with Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards will get lifetime visas.
“Happy?” he asked as the crowd cheered his announcement at Sydney Olympic Park. “There is even more to come,” he said smilingly.
Modi announced that NRIs staying in India for long had to visit the police station, and “there is no need for them to do that anymore.” He also said the Indian missions in Australia would grant long term visas to Australian citizens and Australian tourists would get visa on arrival in India.
It is noteworthy to mention here that Both these measures were announced by the Congress party-led government before it was ousted in May.
But by choosing his audience and timing with care, Mr. Modi’s reiteration of the plans made them appear to be his brainchild.
As far back as January 2011, the Congress-led government said it would merge the two visa categories for people of Indian origin to enable visa-free travel to India, rights of residency and participation in business and educational activities in the country.
On Sunday, Mr. Modi made the same announcement to rapturous applause and captured the front page of almost every Indian daily with the news.
Moves for visas on arrival in India were also in place before Mr. Modi came to power. In January, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said visitors to India from 180 countries, including the U.S., could get a visa on arrival.
It is unclear how the decision to merge the two visa categories will affect the time required to attain Indian citizenship.
An officer at India’s immigration center, who did not wish to be named, said merging the two systems “will simplify the visa rules under a single umbrella.”
However, the officer acknowledged that the logistics of the system might “take a while” to set up.
“The embassies need to be informed about the change. We [immigration office] also need to be notified so that we can be ready with the required paperwork and technical skills,” the officer said. “It’s not a one-day job.”