Latest news with #Tazkira
NDTV
27-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
India Restarts Visa Services For Afghan Nationals
New Delhi: India has restarted the visa service for Afghanistan nationals wishing to visit the country for business, education and medical treatment and they can now apply online. After the Taliban seized power in August 2021, India withdrew officials from its embassy in Kabul and suspended visa services. According to a notice put up on the government of India's official visa portal , the visas will be given in the categories of business, student, medical, medical attendant, entry and UN diplomat. Each applicant will have to upload online the Afghan National Identity Card (Tazkira) containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc. The documents required for completing the visa application are indicated against each type of visa. All documents including business cards, invitation letters etc. must be in English language, failing which the application would be liable for rejection, the notice said. Biometric details of the applicant will be mandatorily captured at the Immigration on arrival in India. Applicants should carry a copy of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) at the time of travel. They should travel only when the ETA status is shown as 'GRANTED' on the official visa portal prior to the commencement of the journey. Applicants can track the status of their application online by clicking visa status. Those travelling to India are also advised to go through instructions available on the website of the government of India's Bureau of Immigration at . The applicant must travel on the passport under which the application filed for a visa. Entry will be allowed into India on the new passport even if ETA has been issued on the old passport. However, in such cases, a traveller must carry the old passport on which ETA was issued. Those who wish to apply for a business visa must mention the purpose of the visit like the establishment of an industrial/business venture, other business activities, sports persons and coaches including those engaged in commercial sports events in India on contract with remuneration. A student visa will be given to those who were awarded Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarships and those seeking admission in government educational institutes. Medical visas will be given to patients and medical attendant visas will be given to attendants of patients. There is a visa category called 'Entry visa' under which the travel document will be given to Afghan nationals intending to visit India to participate in cultural events and activities sponsored by reputed institutions in India for a short duration without remuneration. Minor children accompanying an Afghan parent, who has come for medical treatment on a medical visa, a minor child from previous marriages of an Afghan national who is presently married to an Indian citizen/Person of Indian Origin/OCI cardholder among others will also be given the 'entry visa'. Afghan nationals working as United Natioans diplomats will also be given a visa under the category of UN diplomat. All such persons will have to provide the Afghan National Identity Card (Tazkira) containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc. India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their security. India has not yet recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. However, India has been pitching for providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital. There have been several high-level contacts with Afghanistan since then, including a telephonic conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi on May 15. Jaishankar had also appreciated Muttaqi's condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India resumes select visa services for Afghan nationals after almost 4 years
India has restarted the visa service for Afghanistan nationals wishing to visit the country for business, education and medical treatment and they can now apply online. After the Taliban seized power in August 2021, India withdrew officials from its embassy in Kabul and suspended visa services. According to a notice put up on the government of India's official visa portal , the visas will be given in the categories of business, student, medical, medical attendant, entry and UN diplomat. Each applicant will have to upload online the Afghan National Identity Card (Tazkira) containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc. The documents required for completing the visa application are indicated against each type of visa. All documents including business cards, invitation letters etc. must be in English language, failing which the application would be liable for rejection, the notice said. Biometric details of the applicant will be mandatorily captured at the Immigration on arrival in India. Applicants should carry a copy of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) at the time of travel. They should travel only when the ETA status is shown as 'GRANTED' on the official visa portal prior to the commencement of the journey. Applicants can track the status of their application online by clicking visa status. Those travelling to India are also advised to go through instructions available on the website of the government of India's Bureau of Immigration at . The applicant must travel on the passport under which the application filed for a visa. Entry will be allowed into India on the new passport even if ETA has been issued on the old passport. However, in such cases, a traveller must carry the old passport on which ETA was issued. Those who wish to apply for a business visa must mention the purpose of the visit like the establishment of an industrial/business venture, other business activities, sports persons and coaches including those engaged in commercial sports events in India on contract with remuneration. A student visa will be given to those who were awarded Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarships and those seeking admission in government educational institutes. Medical visas will be given to patients and medical attendant visas will be given to attendants of patients. There is a visa category called 'Entry visa' under which the travel document will be given to Afghan nationals intending to visit India to participate in cultural events and activities sponsored by reputed institutions in India for a short duration without remuneration. Minor children accompanying an Afghan parent, who has come for medical treatment on a medical visa, a minor child from previous marriages of an Afghan national who is presently married to an Indian citizen/Person of Indian Origin/OCI cardholder among others will also be given the 'entry visa'. Afghan nationals working as United Natioans diplomats will also be given a visa under the category of UN diplomat. All such persons will have to provide the Afghan National Identity Card (Tazkira) containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc. India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their security. India has not yet recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. However, India has been pitching for providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital. There have been several high-level contacts with Afghanistan since then, including a telephonic conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi on May 15. Jaishankar had also appreciated Muttaqi's condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
India resumes granting visas in six categories to Afghan nationals
NEW DELHI: India has re-started issuing visas to citizens of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan in six categories, including Student, Business, Medical, Medical Attendant, Entry and UN Diplomat, according to notification issued by the government. Incidentally, the government's decision has come nearly five years after India suspended all visa services to Afghan nationals and had closed its embassies and consulates following a regime change in that country. In the mean time, though the government of India did not make any formal announcement with regard to the resumption of visa services to Afghan nationals, a window on the country's visa portal has been created for online application, which reads 'Afghan Visa (For Afghanistan National) Apply Here'. On the portal, once somebody clicks on the window, the next page opens with six separate links – Business Visa, Student Visa, Medical Visa, Medical Attendant Visa, Entry Visa and UN Diplomat Visa and on the website it is written 'Afghan nationals may apply for an online visa'. According to the guidelines issued on the website, the applicant must upload 'a recent front facing photograph with white background and photo/bio page of Passport and National Identity Card (Tazkira) containing personal details such as name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc.'
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India resumes issuing visas to Afghan nationals after 5-year freeze
India has resumed granting visas to Afghan citizens across multiple categories, including business, medical, and entry visas for artists and relatives, five years after suspending all visa services following the Taliban's takeover in Kabul. A notification on the government's official visa portal, confirmed the rollout of the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module last month. While the Indian government has not formally announced this policy shift, a report in The Hindu said the module went live in the last week of April - step towards resuming bilateral engagement with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Who are being granted visas? The newly updated portal lists categories including student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat visas. Applicants are required to upload a recent front-facing photograph, along with the passport and national ID card (Tazkira), which must contain personal details such as name, date of birth, nationality, and expiry date. Entry visas are also being issued to artists, cultural personalities, academicians, and professionals invited to participate in cultural events or activities sponsored by recognised Indian institutions. Children from previous marriages of Afghan nationals married to Indian citizens or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders are also eligible. Afghans who own property in India, dependent parents of students visiting India for higher education, and parents of students below 18 years can also apply under the entry visa category. Business visas for investors and sportspersons The business visa category has been expanded to include sportspersons and coaches engaged in commercial sports events in India on paid contracts. This category also covers investors and Afghan nationals planning to establish industrial or business ventures in India, as well as those required to undertake frequent, long-term business activities. India suspended visa services for Afghan nationals in August 2021 after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces. With the Taliban's return to power, India shut down its embassies and consulates in the country due to security concerns and uncertainty over the legitimacy of the new regime. At the time, India introduced the limited 'e-Emergency X-Miscellaneous visa' for stranded Afghans, primarily focusing on Hindus the minority and Sikhs. New Delhi's engagements with the Taliban The resumption of visa services coincides with India's efforts to engage with the Taliban regime through diplomatic channels. In a recent statement to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), India reiterated its close monitoring of the situation in Afghanistan and ongoing talks with Taliban officials, focusing on issues such as security, student visas, and humanitarian access.
