The much-awaited electronic visa (e-visa) facility will become a reality from November 27 when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Verma will launch the system.
The move will ease visa processing and help increase inflow of tourists in India.
“The e-visa facility will be launched for 40 countries, including US, Japan, Germany, Russia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines among others,” said a senior official from the Tourism Ministry.
The Government is also likely to extend Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility to Spain, Italy and France by early next year, he added.
The facility was recently extended to the US, Australia and Fiji. While, it was initially decided to extend the e-visa facility to most countries — barring five to six nations including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia — it was later decided to start the facility in a phase-wise manner, the official added.
The countries, which are currently having VoA facility in India, will also be covered under the new scheme.