NEW DELHI: The central government has restored the five-year e-tourist visa to nationals of 156 countries with immediate effect. The e-tourist visa had been suspended since March 2020 due to the pandemic. In addition, the government has reinstated the regular five-year paper tourist visa valid for citizens of all countries.

The government has also restored old valid long duration (10 years) regular tourist visas for nationals of the US and Japan. The Home Ministry said the government had taken the step in view of the need to further ease visa and travel restrictions as the Covid threat has almost subsided.