In a bid to rationalize and modify the levy charged from foreign nationals visiting India, the government has increased the visa fee by up to 50% across categories.
The hike in the short - term employment visa comes in the wake of countries such as Australia, the US and New Zealand either planning or having already put in place work visa curbs. Though the numbers of foreign nationals working in India are few, the hike is being seen as a tit - for - tat measure.
The government had recently increased the fee in different categories for the US, the UK, Canada, Israel, Iran and UAE nationals.
The fee hike, which is periodic and mostly reciprocal, is sweeping this time as it is being touted as an effort to "rationalise the entry fee charges" and "modify" it in sync with what most countries charge, sources said.
As per a government notification, a tourist visa up to one year will now cost $153 from the earlier $100. The tourist visa for over a year and up to five years will cost $306 instead of $120.
Source: Hindustan Times
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