Now Reading: India adds 11 ports for e-Visa holders, total now 88
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India adds 11 ports for e-Visa holders, total now 88
India has notified 11 additional international ports for e-Visa holders, taking the total to 88 designated entry points. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the move on Monday, adding nine land…
The Story in Brief
India has notified 11 additional international ports for e-Visa holders, taking the total to 88 designated entry points. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the move on Monday, adding nine land ports, Attari (Punjab), Moreh (Manipur), Dawki (Meghalaya), Darranga (Assam), Agartala (Tripura), and four in West Bengal, along with airports at Bhopal and Tirupati. The e-Visa system now covers 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land ports, and is available to nationals of 172 countries across 17 categories. Around 95 per cent of applications are processed within 72 hours. The facility does not apply to Pakistani passport holders or those of Pakistani origin.
The government, citing the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, said the expansion standardises immigration facilities and makes travel more convenient for legitimate visitors while strengthening security. E-Visas now account for 78 per cent of all visas issued by India, up from the scheme's launch in 2014 with just 43 countries.
The Indian Opinion
The e-Visa expansion is welcome, but the narrative that this is only about tourism convenience ignores the security calculus. Nine of the 11 new ports are land crossings, including sensitive borders with Pakistan and Myanmar. The government says it strengthens tech infrastructure for internal security while liberalising visas. The real test will be whether the 72-hour processing time holds as volumes grow, e-Visas already account for 78 per cent of all visas issued. Will faster entry also mean tighter exit tracking at these new checkpoints?
Sources (2): newindianexpress.com, english.mathrubhumi.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
