New Indian Visa Rules Simplify Entry for UAE Citizens at Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad
NEW DELHI:India has significantly broadened its Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) facility for nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), adding three new international airports—Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad—to the existing list. This expansion brings the total number of major entry points offering the VoA service to nine across India, aiming to streamline travel and strengthen bilateral ties.
The previously designated airports were New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
The VoA facility is designed exclusively for UAE nationals who have previously obtained an Indian e-visa or a regular paper visa. This prerequisite ensures a measure of travel history and documentation before the on-arrival option can be utilized.
A notable exclusion applies to any UAE national whose parents or grandparents were born in or are permanent residents of Pakistan. These individuals must apply for a regular visa through India’s diplomatic missions in the UAE.
The fee for the Visa-on-Arrival remains ₹2,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currency) for each passenger, including children. Importantly, there is no limit on the number of times a UAE national may avail the VoA facility in a calendar year, promoting frequent and convenient travel between the two countries.
This expanded access is a strategic move by the Indian government to accommodate the growing movement of UAE nationals for tourism, business, and medical visits, further deepening the people-to-people connect.