Visa free travel for diplomatic passport holders

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) India and Turkey will soon sign an agreement enabling visa-free travel for diplomatic passport heders in each other's country.

A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, today gave approval for signing the agreement.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons after the meeting that the agreement would be signed during any future visit of an Indian delegation to Turkey or Turkish delegation to India.

It will come into effect 30 days after the date of exchange of notification of approval by the two parties.

He said a similar agreement already exists with countries like Germany, Singapore, Vietnam, Kazhakstan and Uruguay.

Once the agreement is signed, a diplomatic holder of either country would be exempt from visa requirement while entering, transiting through or exiting from the territory of the other country.

It would enable issue of residence visas valid for the duration of the assignment to the members of diplomatic missions and consulates of respective countries as well as their spouses and children.

UNI