India Extends Visas for Stranded Foreigners
Government waives overstay penalties as Middle East conflict disrupts global travel routes
- India extends visas of foreigners stranded due to Middle East conflict
- Overstay penalties waived for those affected after February 28
- Exit permits and Temporary Landing Permits to be issued free of cost
- Travel disruptions continue as Gulf airspace remains partially open
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 14th March: India has announced the extension of visas and waiver of overstay penalties for foreign nationals stranded in the country due to travel disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
According to a notification issued by the Indian Consulate in Dubai, all visas and e-visas that have expired or are due to expire soon will be extended by one month on a gratis basis through the jurisdictional Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs).
Authorities also clarified that any overstay by affected foreign nationals after February 28 due to the conflict will not attract penalties, providing relief to travellers unable to leave India because of disrupted international routes.
In addition, the government said exit permits will be issued free of charge to stranded foreign nationals so they can depart from India once flight services and travel routes resume.
Officials further stated that if a foreign national is unable to apply for an exit permit or visa extension due to the ongoing disruptions, it will not be treated as a violation of immigration rules.
Authorities also announced that Temporary Landing Permits (TLPs) will be granted free of cost to foreign nationals arriving in India due to diversion of international flights caused by the crisis.
The decision comes as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate following drone and missile strikes between Iran, the United States and Israel, which have disrupted aviation routes and maritime transport across the Gulf region.
Amid the crisis, nearly 500 Indian nationals recently travelled from Qatar to India and other destinations on commercial flights operated by Qatar Airways, according to an advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Doha.
The embassy said passengers travelled on flights bound for Kochi and other destinations, and the airline also transported the bodies of two Indian nationals who died of natural causes along with their family members on humanitarian grounds.
Officials added that Qatar’s airspace is currently only partially open, resulting in limited flight operations. One Qatar Airways flight to Mumbai is scheduled to operate on March 14, according to the advisory.
The ongoing security crisis in the region has significantly disrupted global travel and energy supply chains. The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes, has been particularly affected by the tensions.
Authorities said India continues to monitor the evolving situation and is taking necessary measures to assist affected travellers and ensure compliance with immigration regulations during the disruption.
