Indian ambassador to China had met home ministry officials in January for extending the e-visa facility to Chinese
Despite Intelligence Bureau's caution not to provide e-visa (visa on arrival) facility to China and still keep it on the watch list, Modi government is planning to move ahead and give Chinese the preferred treatment. Sources said that Prime Minister's Office and ministry of external affairs want arrangements to be put in place so that the prime minister can declare it on his visit to China in May.
The matter was discussed threadbare at a recent high-level meeting, chaired by union home secretary LC Goyal, during which the IB expressed strong reservations and suggested cautious approach before taking a final decision. Interestingly, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India's external espionage agency, did not have similar apprehensions.
Government sources said the intelligence agency red flagged e-tourist visa facility to Chinese nationals on various counts that included frequent issuance of stapled visa by China to people from Arunachal Pradesh.
"This objection is expected to be overruled at the highest level as this does not infringe in any way on electronic visa system that follows all safety procedures electronically," said an official.
Last year, India had launched the e-tourist visa facility (which was earlier called 'tourist visa on arrival enabled by electronic travel authorisation') for more than 40 countries, including the US, but did not include China in the list.
Indian ambassador to China Ashok K Kantha had met top home ministry officials in January for extending the facility to Chinese tourists. He had also asked for an easier visa regime for other kinds of visas like conference and business as well as discussed prospects of more Chinese investment in India in various sectors.
Tourism ministry was pitching for offering the facility to China as during December 2014, a total of 14,083 e-tourist visas were issued as compared to 2,700 during December 2013, registering a growth of 421.6 per cent.
Since launch of the scheme on November 27, 2014, a total of 1,10,000 visas have been issued by the government under the scheme. During December 2014, a total of 14,083 tourist visas were issued as compared to 2,700 during December 2013, registering a growth of 421.6 per cent.
The percentage share of top 10 source countries for e-tourist visa in India during December 2014 included US (24.26 per cent), Russian Federation (15.06), Republic of Korea (11.01), Ukraine (8.16), Australia (7.98), New Zealand (5.08), Japan (4.30), Singapore (4.27), Germany (4.05) and the Philippines (3.10 per cent).
Box: Process of e-visa
The e-tourist visa enabled by electronic travel authorisation allows prospective visitor to apply for an Indian visa from his or her home country online without requiring a visit to the Indian mission. The fee can also be paid online.
Once approved, the applicant receives an email authorising travel to India and applicant can travel with a print out of this authorisation.
On arrival, the visitor presents the authorisation to the immigration authorities who stamp the entry into the country.
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