To encourage more Indian travellers to visit Israel, the country has simplified the visa application procedure for Indian citizens. The relaxed visa rule involves less documentation for Indians who have availed visas of Schengen countries, US, Canada, Australia or Israel and have completed their travel to these countries. For these travellers, the documents include a valid passport, completed visa application form, two photographs (5.5cm x 5.5cm), cover letter with travel information, traveller’s insurance and passport copy (first and last page).
“This is an initiative we have been working very closely with Interior Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry to introduce in India and I am happy to see this change for the Indian travellers who wish to travel to Israel. Easing the visa requirements will not only make the application process faster, I am confident it will also increase travel to Israel as well. We are also working on an express service with VFS which will be introduced soon. In addition to this, we are working towards e-visa processing as well as easing the group visa process,” said Hassan Madah – director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, India.
Galit LaRoche Falach, consul at the Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai stated that she is glad with the new visa requirements that have been introduced for Indian travellers to visit and experience Israel. In September this year, one-year multiple entry visas for business travellers was introduced and the ministries are working together towards bringing more changes like these to make the process faster and easier for Indian travellers to Israel.
Visa processing is available through VFS Global processing centres located all over India for the Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai and Bengaluru as well as the Embassy of Israel in Delhi. The ministries are working with the VFS offices to introduce express visa services at the earliest, which will be available to applicants for an additional fee.
