Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, Home Minister of India and Mr. A. Rehman Malik, Pakistan Interior
Minister jointly operationalized the new Visa
Agreement between India and Pakistan on 14th
December, 2012 at New Delhi. However, the Visa-on-Arrival will come into
effect from 15th January, 2013
and the Group Tourist Visa from 15th March,
2013. A Circular to this effect was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs
today to all the Indian Missions, State Governments/ Union Territories,
Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs), FROs and all concerned.
Government of the Republic of India and the Government
of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan had signed on 8th
September, 2012, a new Visa Agreement to facilitate travel for the
nationals of both countries desirous of travelling to the other country and to
promote people to people contact.
Key features of the new Visa Agreement are as below:
Visitor Visa
• Places of visit allowable increased from three to
five places
• In exceptional cases visitor visa for one year could
be issued in the past. Now provision made for issue of visa upto two years in
following cases:
a.Persons above 65 years of age
b.National of one country married to national of the other
country.
c. Children below 12 years accompanying parents in (b)
above
Visa on Arrival can be granted at Attari/Wagah check-post to persons more than 65 years of age for
45 days with single entry (effective from 15th
January, 2013).
Business Visa
Exemption from Police Reporting for Business visa
granted to businessmen with an annual income above Pak Rs. 5 million or
equivalent or annual turnover above Pak Rs. 30 million or equivalent.
Group Tourist Visa
• Group Tourist Visa for 30 days may be issued for
travel in groups, with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members in
each group, organized by approved tour operators/travel agents (effective from
15th March, 2013).
Entry and exit
• Now entry and exit from different designated
Immigration Check Posts can be allowed, if indicated in application.
• However, exit from Wagha/Attari on foot cannot be accepted unless the entry was also
on foot via Attari/Wagah.
Speaking on
the occasion, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that the New Visa Agreement will facilitate
easy movement of people across the two countries.
The
Pakistan Interior Minister, Mr. A Rehman Malik said that he has come to India with a message of
peace and assured that Pakistan Government will take all possible steps to work
together with India for moving forward for the sake of future generations.
During the
visit of Pak Interior Minister, the Indian and Pakistan delegations are also
holding a bilateral meeting on issues that include counter terrorism border
management, fake Indian Currency Notes and cooperation among security and
investigation agencies.
The
official delegation accompanying the Pakistan Interior Minister includes
Members from Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA), Federal Administration and High Commission of
Pakistan in India.
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KSD/RC