The Ministry of Home Affairs quietly expanded its e-Visa platform on 14 January, granting fully digital visa access to citizens of San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Seychelles. The update takes the total number of eligible nationalities to 172 and is already live on the IndianVisaOnline portal.
For Saudi Arabia alone the move opens a pipeline of high-value medical tourists and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) delegates; trade bodies estimate a potential 12 percent jump in inbound Gulf business visits this calendar year. Senegal and Seychelles gain easier access for education and health-care travel, supporting India’s ‘Look Africa’ policy, while Serbia and tiny San Marino deepen New Delhi’s outreach to smaller European economies.
![India Adds Five Countries to e-Visa Roster, Streamlines Access for Gulf and African Travellers]()
Applicants can now complete biometrics-free online forms, pay fees via international cards, and receive electronic authorisation within 72 hours. Visa categories include e-Business, e-Medical and the recently launched e-Ayush for traditional-medicine seekers.
VisaHQ can help travellers and travel managers make the most of these changes: its streamlined platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers clear step-by-step instructions, live status tracking and bulk-application tools, ensuring quick, error-free submissions for India’s expanded e-Visa scheme.
Travel agencies should update booking engines to reflect the new eligibility list, and corporate mobility teams may wish to review preferred-country travel budgets, as e-Visas are typically 30-40 percent cheaper than traditional sticker visas.
For Saudi Arabia alone the move opens a pipeline of high-value medical tourists and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) delegates; trade bodies estimate a potential 12 percent jump in inbound Gulf business visits this calendar year. Senegal and Seychelles gain easier access for education and health-care travel, supporting India’s ‘Look Africa’ policy, while Serbia and tiny San Marino deepen New Delhi’s outreach to smaller European economies.
Applicants can now complete biometrics-free online forms, pay fees via international cards, and receive electronic authorisation within 72 hours. Visa categories include e-Business, e-Medical and the recently launched e-Ayush for traditional-medicine seekers.
VisaHQ can help travellers and travel managers make the most of these changes: its streamlined platform (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers clear step-by-step instructions, live status tracking and bulk-application tools, ensuring quick, error-free submissions for India’s expanded e-Visa scheme.
Travel agencies should update booking engines to reflect the new eligibility list, and corporate mobility teams may wish to review preferred-country travel budgets, as e-Visas are typically 30-40 percent cheaper than traditional sticker visas.
