Govt. tightens business visa norm

New Delhi, Dec. 9 (ANI): The Centre has tightened the norms to issue business visas to foreign nationals, as it has been noticed by the Government that a number of foreign nationals coming for execution of projects/contracts in India have come on Business Visa instead of the Employment Visa.

"The Government has tightened the norms to issue business visas to foreign nationals. It has come to the notice of the Government that a number of foreign nationals coming for execution of projects/contracts in India have come on Business Visa instead of the Emplo yment Visa. The matter has, therefore, been reviewed by the Government and it has been decided that henceforth Business Visa will be issued only to bonafide businessmen who want to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture in India or who want to purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables etc," Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

"Suitable instruction/guidelines have been issued to the Indian Missions abroad to effectively regulate Business Visa and Employment regimes and ensure that these are issued strictly as per prescribed norms," the reply added. (ANI)