The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to change the name of the scheme ‘Tourist Visa on Arrival-Electronic Travel Authorization’ to ‘e-Tourist Visa’ (eTV) from tomorrow (April 15, 2015). The extension of the scheme to more countries and airports will be in a phased manner, in order to avoid any confusion. Government of India had launched ‘Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization’ (TVoA-ETA) on 27th November, 2014 to 44 countries at nine airports to facilitate short duration international travellers. Since the launch of the scheme, one lakh ten thousand (1,10,000) Visas have been issued by Government under this scheme.
It has been observed that the name of the scheme (TVoA-ETA) is creating confusion among tourists. Tourists presumed as if the Visa is being granted on arrival, however in present system the pre-authorization of Visa to foreigners is being given prior to travel. Ministry of Home Affairs had also received the requests of name change from some Indian embassies.
A committee of officers from Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Bureau of Immigration (BoI) was formed for formulation of new name for the scheme. A contest was also conducted onmygov.in inviting suggestions on the name of the scheme.
Keeping in view the application process and purpose of the scheme, the committee had suggested e-Tourist Visa (eTV) as the appropriate new name for the scheme.