Seychelles, India set for greater people to people exchanges with visa waiver programme |21 April 2015

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his recent visit here that Seychelles will soon be included in the Indian Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme for a three-month gratis visa.

Once the ETA scheme becomes fully operational, citizens of Seychelles will be able to obtain an electronic authorisation to travel by this online service within 48 hours of application. Nonetheless, applicant may still submit a paper-based application at the Indian High Commission.

The announcement of the date for the inclusion of Seychelles into this scheme is yet to be made by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs.

Meanwhile, gratis visas for a period of up to three months will be issued to citizens of Seychelles by the Indian High Commission in Victoria, upon receipt of usual visa application form.

There is no provision for extension of the three months visa beyond this period and Seychellois nationals wishing to prolong their visit in Indian on a tourist visa would have to leave the Indian territory and reapply for a new visa before reentering India.

If the anticipated stay in India is longer than three months, then an appropriate visa can be applied following the necessary payment.

The three months tourist visa can be used for business meetings, medical treatments, official missions, short term study beside other touristic purposes.
However, a separate visa should be applied for to attend business conferences, international seminar and such organised gatherings.