Exemption from Police reporting, longer safety & visa on arrival for senior citizens, specific time limit for issuing visa, introduction of pilgrim and business visas are the highlights of the new Visa agreement between India and Pakistan.
It provides for exemption to persons of above 65 years, children below 12 years of age and eminent businessmen are from Police Reporting. According to official sources, bona fide businessmen, not in EPR category, may depute their authorised representatives for reporting. Single entry Visitor visa will be issued for a maximum period of six months, but stay should not exceed three months at a time and for five places. It is at present limited to three places.
Visa on arrival will be given to persons above 65 years of age at Attari/Wagha checkpost for 45 days. This visa will be non-extendable and non-convertible. People can now enter from and exit from different checkposts and change in mode of travel will also be permitted. Chennai has been included in place of Amritsar for checkpost purpose .
A time period has been specified now for issuing Visa by the High Commissions of both the countries. It is to be issued within 30 days of application.
A new category has been introduced in visitor visa. A visitor visa for a maximum five specified places may be issued for a longer period up to two years with multiple entries to Senior citizens, Spouse of a national of one country married to person of another country; and Children below 12 years of age accompanying parent or parents as given.
Business visa has now been separated from visitor’s visa to promote trade and business activities between the two countries. Businessmen with an income of 5 lakh Pakistani rupees or equivalent per annum or annual turnover or gross sale of three million Pakistani rupees or equivalent will be given one year business visa, with five places for up to four entries. .
The Category II in this segment provides for Businessmen with an income of at least five million Pakistani rupees or equivalent per annum or turnover of thirty million Pakistani rupees or equivalent per annum will be given one year multiple entry business visas for up to 10 places, with exemption from Police Reporting. Another new category has been introduced for group tourism. A Visa will be provided for not less than 10 people and not more than 50 people, valid for 30 days-organised by approved tour operators/travel agents. The tour operator will be responsible for police reporting on behalf of the group. The Group Tourist Visa facility will also be available to students of educational institutions of both countries.
Pilgrim visa, another new provision, will be issued to pilgrims intending to visit religious shrines as per the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, or any future revision to the Protocol. These visas will be issued for a single entry, restricted to 15 days validity and would be non-extendable.
Transit visa will now be issued for 36 hours. The duration was 72 hours earlier.
