IMPACT – HIGH

The Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) issued a memorandum last week, announcing the categories of foreign nationals now permitted to enter India.

The following Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders can now enter India:

  • Minor children whose parents are Indian nationals.
  • OCI cardholders who wish to come to India because of family emergencies, such as critical medical conditions or the death of an immediate family member.
  • Married couples where one spouse is an OCI cardholder and the other is an Indian national.
  • Students who are OCI cardholders where at least one of their parents is either an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.

The other categories of foreign nationals permitted to enter India are:

  • Foreign nationals who are minor children where at least one of their parents is either an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.
  • Foreign nationals married to Indian citizens.
  • Foreign nationals who are single parents of minor children holding Indian passports or OCI cards.
  • Students who are foreign nationals where at least one of their parents is an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder.
  • Dependent family members of foreign diplomats and official/service passport holding service staff accredited to foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, or accredited international organizations in India.
  • Foreign nationals of Indian origin, who wish to come to India on account of family emergencies, such as critical medical conditions or the death of an immediate family member. A person of Indian origin, in this case, refers to someone (1) who has held or has a parent who has held an Indian passport; or (2) whose parent is or has been a citizen of India.
  • Foreign nationals who are stranded in close neighboring countries and are seeking to exit to their destination country through India.
  • Foreign nationals arriving on medical grounds for treatment in India (including one attendant, if so requested).
  • Foreign nationals arriving on any sub-categories of the Employment Visa, along with their dependents holding Dependent Visas.

Background: The above list expands the previous list of permitted entry categories published in June.

Analysis & Comments: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available. Please check Deloitte’s COVID-19 Digital Map, available here, for information on travel restrictions and immigration changes in other countries.

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