India Grants Emergency Visa Extensions to Stranded Tourists Amid Flight Disruptions
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India’s Ministry of Home Affairs directs Foreigners Regional Registration Offices to process walk-in short-term visa extensions without penalties for tourists affected by recent flight cancellations.
The circular issued late on March 1 covers tourist, business, and medical visas expiring between February 28 and March 7. Applicants must provide proof of cancelled tickets to qualify for fee waivers. This measure prevents accidental overstays as outbound flights face widespread scrapping.
Airlines implement change-fee waivers in response. IndiGo extends its suspension of Middle East routes to March 2 and includes Central Asian destinations like Almaty and Tashkent in refund policies. Air India offers full refunds on 22 cancelled flights linked to regional airspace issues.
The policy addresses immediate challenges for foreign visitors stuck due to global aviation chaos. FRROs accept applications on a priority basis to streamline processing. Travelers receive guidance through official channels to avoid complications upon departure.
Industry sources report ongoing monitoring of the situation as disruptions persist. The initiative supports inbound tourism recovery by easing administrative burdens during unpredictable events. Authorities emphasize documentation requirements to ensure compliance with extension criteria.
Passengers benefit from these temporary measures while awaiting resumption of normal services. The development highlights adaptive responses to sudden travel interruptions in key source markets.
