Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East which has now entered its second week, India on Friday announced a 30-day extension of all types of visas for affected foreign nationals.
The Indian government also announced its exemption from penalties imposed on any overstay by foreign nationals affected due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
This was announced by the Consulate General of India in Dubai in a post on X on Friday evening. The relaxation of rules applies to all types of visas – regular visa and e-visa.
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This announcement comes amid the crisis in the Middle East following the US-Israeli attack in Iran, which in turn turned into a larger conflict in the region, as Tehran targeted US bases, oil installations and airports in the region.
Major announcement regarding visa extension and penalty waiver
Visa will be extended and sanctions fees will be waived for foreign citizens, including citizens of Gulf countries. Key announcements include:
- The Consulate General of India in Dubai said that all types of visas and e-visas that are expiring or scheduled to expire soon will be extended by a month for affected citizens.
- The extension will be granted by the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on a case-by-case basis.
- Penalties for any overstay by affected foreign nationals after February 28, 2026 have also been waived.
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Relaxation on exit permits and temporary landing permit
Indian authorities also announced relief in exit permits and temporary landing permits for stranded foreign nationals free of charge. Relaxation includes:
- The consulate also announced that exit permits will be granted to affected foreigners free of charge.
- Failure to apply exit permit and visa extension by foreigners in the current case will not be treated as a violation of immigration legislation.
- Moreover, India has also announced the grant of Temporary Landing Permit (TLP) to a foreign national arriving in India due to flight diversion.
Soon after the conflict began, India on March 1 asked foreign nationals in the country to approach relevant authorities for visa extensions. In an advisory, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) urged foreign citizens to contact their nearest Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) if they need assistance extending their visa or need to organize their stay.
