How does the free visa facility work?

If you are planning an international trip it would help you to know about those countries where applying for a visa does not entail any fees. You can visit those countries, with far less burden on your pocket. Many countries have recently begun offering visa- free entry to Indians. These include Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. For instance, Thailand has announced that it will offer 30-day visa-free entry to Indian tourists who visit the country between 10th November, 2023 and 10th May, 2024. Similarly, Malaysia is also offering visa-free entry to Indian tourists starting 1st December, 2023. Vietnam is also considering offering visa free entry to Indians.

Till date, tourists of many European countries were offered this facility. But now, Indians are also being added to this list. Going ahead, many other countries might also offer the provision of free tourist visas to Indians.

Why this is happening?

It is because there has been a consistent rise in the number of Indians traveling abroad. As of 30th May, 2023, India ranked 5th in terms of foreign nationals visiting Thailand. As per a report by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), around 1 crore foreign tourists visited Thailand. Out of these, the number of Indian nationals was more than 6 lakh. This figure swelled over 2 times to 13 lakh by October, 2023. This figure is set to rise further, given the visa-free entry.

Countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malaysia are  heavily reliant on their tourist economy. That is why they are offering this facility to Indians, so as to encourage higher inflow of Indian tourists into their nation.

In terms of benefits accruing to people, not only will they save on visa fees, which can range from anywhere between Rs 2,000-3,000, but they will also save the time spent on applying for visas.
For instance, earlier, Indians travelling to Sri Lanka had to compulsorily carry an Electronic Travel Authorization or ETA document. This was required to be shown upon reaching Sri Lanka
This document would be valid for 30 days, and tourists had to pay Rs 2,000 to obtain this. But now, tourists will no longer need to apply for or obtain ETA. They can directly travel to Sri Lanka. Upon reaching Sri Lanka, Indian tourists will be given dual entry status. The visa would be valid for a 30-day stay.

So, if you are planning to travel abroad, ensure that these countries, which are offering free visas, are on the top of your travel list.