GOI extended Tourist Visa-on-Arrival Scheme to the citizens of the South Korea

Government of India (GOI) extended the Tourist Visa-on-Arrival Scheme to the citizens of the South Korea (ROK) with effect from 15 April 2014.

The PM of India Manmohan Singh had conveyed this assurance to South Korean President Madame Park Geun-hye during her State Visit to India in January 2014.

The Visa-on-Arrival Scheme holds validity for maximum of 30 days with single entry facility. The facility will be offered at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi airport. Fee charged will be 60 US dollar or equivalent amount in Indian Rupees.

Naturally, tourists can also continue to avail the facility of obtaining visas at the Embassy of India, Seoul prior to their travel to India, if they so prefer.

With the extension of TVOA facility to South Korea, the total number of countries to which India has issued TVOA facility stands at 181 countries.

Background

In order to promote tourism, Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme was introduced for the nationals of five countries, namely, Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg and New Zealand with effect from 1 January 2010 for one year.

Further, TVOA scheme was introduced for the nationals of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines with effect from 1 January 2011. For the nationals of Myanmar and Indonesia it was allowed with effect from 28 January 2011.
 
TVOA is allowed for a maximum of two times in a calendar year to a foreigner with a minimum gap of two months between each visit. TVOA shall be non-extendable and non-convertible.
 
The foreigners of above mentioned countries may also avail of TVOA for up to 30 days for medical treatment, for casual business or to visit friends/relatives, etc. The TVOA facility is not applicable to the holders of Diplomatic/Official Passports. Further, TVOA shall not be granted to the foreigners who have permanent residence or occupation in India. Such persons can visit India on normal visa, as applicable.