Foreign travelers stranded in India due to airspace closures amid the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran will get a 30-day visa extension and waiver of overstay penalties, the Indian consulate in Dubai announced.
In a post on Friday, the X Consulate said: “Extension of regular Indian visa/eVisa and waiver of overstay penalty for foreigners stranded in India due to ongoing developments in West Asia.”
In a notification, the Indian Consulate announced that all visas and e-Visas that are or are about to expire will be extended by one month free of charge for the jurisdiction of the Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROS).
Authorities said the penalty for any overstay by affected foreign nationals due to the ongoing conflict after February 28 would be waived.
Authorities also clarified that exit permits will be issued free of charge to foreign nationals affected by travel disruptions to leave India once routes reopen.
If a foreign country cannot apply for an exit permit and visa extension, it will not be considered a violation of migration legislation, the consulate said.
Temporary Landing Permit (TLP) would also be granted to a foreign national arriving in India for diversion of flights on free basis, authorities said.
UAE waives visa overstay fees
On Friday, the UAE said passengers would not be fined for delayed departures.
The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security said the exemption would apply to anyone unable to travel due to flight suspension or rescheduling caused by “exceptional regional circumstances”.
The announcement of the waiver comes as thousands of people remain stranded around the world as conflict in the Middle East has led to airspace closures and flight cancellations.
While flight services are slowly being restored and airlines are taking all necessary precautions, the situation is still volatile and has even prompted wealthy fliers to pay over $200,000 to fly out of the region.
The US, in cooperation with Israel, launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on February 28, prompting retaliation from Tehran and triggering a regional conflict. As of Thursday, the sixth day of the conflict, strikes and retaliatory strikes between the two feuding camps continued, with no end in sight to hostilities.
