The number of foreigners visiting India more than doubled in the past year as per the annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs for 2022-23, with maximum number of travellers coming from Bangladesh, United States of America, and United Kingdom, respectively. Meanwhile, a total of 1,298 foreigners were deported during the same period. The MHA’s annual report from April 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022 shows that the over 38,34,984 foreigners who visited India during this period were from the Bangladesh (8,42,869) followed by the US (8,05,692), UK (3,75,157), Australia (1,84,343), Canada (1,45,221), Sri Lanka (1,11,455), Nepal (88,460), Germany (86,006), Malaysia (83,808) and Singapore (78,888). These 10 countries accounted for 73.06% of the total arrival of foreigners in the seven months, while the rest of the countries accounted for 26.94% of total incoming traffic of foreigners. Whereas, 1,298 foreigners were deported by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRROs), a majority belonging to Nigeria (645), followed by Uganda (178) and Bangladesh (163). Meanwhile, a total of 15,24,469 foreigners visited India between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. The report also said that due to Covid-19 pandemic, the MHA had put strict travel restrictions and had curtailed movement of international (both foreigners as well as Indians) since February 2020. However, since May 2020, the Central government has gradually been relaxing visa and travel restrictions in a phased manner. According to the report, to boost the tourism industry, the MHA has issued around 3,13,414 tourist visas (regular tourist visa & e-Tourist visa) free of cost to foreign nationals from October 16, 2021 to March 31, 2022. “From April 1, 2022 to September 27, 2022, a total of 902 and 112 cases of Long Term Visa (LTV) have been granted by the MHA for minority communities from Pakistan and Afghanistan respectively. During the same period, 8 cases of LTV for minority communities from Bangladesh were also granted by MHA,” the report added. The MHA had also extended visas of all Ukrainian and Russian nationals after February 24, 2022. “In view of the political situation in Ukraine and Russia and as a goodwill gesture, all types of visa/e-Visa have been extended on gratis basis for Ukrainian nationals and Russian nationals. Penalty for any overstaying by Ukrainian and Russian nationals after February 24, 2022 has also been waived off,” the report said.
