In an effort to unlock India and relax its travel restriction, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday permitted foreign national journalists holding J-1 visas and their family members to visit India.

"Foreign national who are holding Journalist (J-1) visa and their dependents who are holding J-1X visa are permitted to enter India. If they have J-1 or J-1X visas, which they have been suspended, such visas shall stand restored with immediate effect to facilitate their entry into India. However, if the validity of such visas has expired, they may obtain a fresh J-1 or J-1X visa, as the case may be, from the Indian Missions," the notification said.

The MHA notification said the decision has been taken after considering the need for further relaxation of visa and travel restrictions for more categories of foreign nationals who want to travel to India.

However, with respect to quarantine and all other health or Covid-19 related matters, the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) shall be adhered to.

The ministry also directed the concerned authorities to restore with immediate effect J-1 or J-1X visas of foreign nationals which have been suspended.

However, if the validity of such visas has expired, the foreign nationals may obtain a fresh J-1 or J1X visa, as the case may be, from the Indian missions or posts concerned, said an order issued by the foreigners' division of the MHA.

The Ministry has also decided that the existing restrictions on incoming passenger traffic into India through the immigration check-posts will not apply in respect of these categories of foreign nationals.

The facility would be an addition to the categories of foreign nationals who were permitted to enter India as per the ministry's June 30 and August 7 orders.

(With agency inputs).