India is extending visas and waiving overstay penalties for foreigners affected by the conflict in West Asia. This measure offers relief to those stranded in India. An exit permit will also be issued free of charge. Flight disruptions continue due to the escalating security crises in the region. This impacts global energy supplies primarily.
India has announced the extension of visas and a waiver of the overstay penalty for foreigners in the country due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. India Consultate in Dubai issued a notification stating that all Visas and eVisas expiring or due to expire soon will be extended for a month on a gratis basis for the judicial Foreigners Regional registration offices. Authorities said the penalty for any overstay by affected foreign nationals due to the ongoing conflict after February 28 would be waived.
The Authorities also clarified that exit permits will be issued free of charge to foreign nationals affected by the travel disruption, allowing them to leave India once routes reopen. The consulate also stated that if a foreign national is unable to apply for an Exit Permit and an Extension of Visa, it would not be treated as a violation of migration legislation. Temporary Landing Permit would also be granted to a foreign national arriving in India due to flight diversions on a grant basis, authorities said.
This comes as conflict in West Asia continues with the US and Israel pounding Iran with their drone and missile attacks. Iran, in retaliation, has targeted US strategic bases in the Gulf region, along with directly hitting Israel. Nearly 500 Indian nationals travelled from Qatar to India and other global destinations on light aircraft operated by Qatar Airways, the Indian Embassy in Doha said in an advisory.
In a post on X, the embassy on Friday said the passengers travelled on Qatar Airways flights to Kochi and other destinations. The airline also facilitates the transportation of the mortal remains of two Indian nationals who died of natural causes, along with their accompanying family members, to Kochi on humanitarian grounds. The embassy said Qatar’s airspace is only partially open, resulting in limited flight operations by Qatar Airways.
“One flight to Mumbai is planned for operations by Qatar Airways on March 14”, the advisory said, referring to Mumbai. The limited flight operations follow an escalating West Asia security crisis triggered by Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting US military bases, embassies, and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The conflict has caused prominent disruptions to global energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, where approximately 20 per cent of the world’s oil transits.
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