In a notice updated on 24 June, India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) confirmed that all visas and e-Visas held by foreign nationals unable to depart due to flight cancellations linked to the West-Asia security crisis will be extended by one month free of charge. Overstay penalties accrued since 1 May 2026 are automatically waived upon application. The policy, first introduced in early May, has now been harmonised across all FRRO jurisdictions and missions abroad. Affected travellers must file an online request via the FRRO portal or visit ‘Visa Facilitation Centres’ at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kochi. Approved applicants receive an electronic endorsement that can be presented during exit immigration without the need for a physical sticker. Tour operators have welcomed the clarity: roughly 12,000 Israeli and Gulf-based passengers were left in limbo after multiple carriers rerouted or cancelled India-bound services. The extension also helps business visitors caught mid-project, some of whom faced steep penalties of US $300 per day under normal rules. Immigration advisers note, however, that the waiver does not apply to foreigners who entered India after 15 June. Those travellers must depart within their original visa validity or seek a regular extension subject to standard fees. The FRROs are advising applicants to submit supporting documents—such as cancelled flight itineraries or airline notices—to expedite approval. Processing times are currently 48 hours, but officials warn that surges in applications could cause delays as monsoon weather continues to disrupt regional air traffic.
