In a late-night update posted on 16 April 2026, the Consulate-General of India in Edinburgh confirmed that New Delhi has activated a special relief package for foreign nationals caught in India after airlines diverted or cancelled services through Gulf airspace. Under the directive—circulated earlier in March but now formally extended—any visitor whose visa (or e-Visa) expires between 28 February and 30 April 2026 can obtain a **gratis one-month extension** from the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Over-stay penalties, which normally start at US $30 per day and can escalate to a ten-year entry ban, are **completely waived** for the period covered. Officials will also issue exit permits free of charge and grant **Temporary Landing Permits (TLPs)** on arrival to travellers whose flights are unexpectedly diverted to Indian airports. The Ministry of Home Affairs says the measure is targeted at passengers whose onward journeys were disrupted after several Middle-East hubs—most notably Dubai and Doha—imposed overnight curfews amid escalating regional tensions. Although most carriers have re-routed services, capacity tightness and high fares have left thousands of tourists and business travellers scrambling for seats. For global mobility and corporate travel managers, the announcement removes an immediate compliance headache. HR teams should, however, keep documentation (original tickets, airline notices, and FRRO receipts) on file: once normal schedules resume, immigration authorities may ask for evidence that the traveller fell within the exemption window. Companies with large expatriate communities in India are advised to circulate the FRRO helpline and prepare template letters explaining business imperatives, should officers request clarifications. The waiver underscores a trend towards **pragmatic visa management** in crisis situations. Similar grace periods were granted during the COVID-19 border closures of 2020-21; this time, the process is largely digital, with most applicants able to file through the e-FRRO portal and receive approval within 48 hours. Organisations should still budget time for biometrics if the local FRRO summons the traveller for verification—particularly in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi, where volumes remain highest.
