Friday
22nd Nov 2024
Dhivehi Edition
People queued outside the Indian High Commission.
The High Commission of India in the Maldives has previously stated they would make arrangements to allow Maldivians to obtain visas without having to stand in queues but still has yet to do so.
Following media reports of Maldivians having to stand in queues outside the Indian High Commission for extended periods of time, the High Commission declared they would establish a more efficient system to issue visas.
The Commission claimed they would arrange for visa application numbers to be issued via mobile phone. They further stated they would establish an online portal to submit documents.
However, a significant amount of people were lined up outside the Indian High Commission to acquire visas this afternoon. The difficulties in obtaining Indian visas have been brought up by many.
India issues tourist visas, medical visas, business visas, medical attending visas, and conference visas online. Maldives is not among the 155 countries eligible for India e-visas.
There are five island nations in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and Maldives. Maldives is the only country that is not issued e-visas out of the five Indian Ocean island nations.
Despite claiming that it has the closest relationship with Maldives, India has always had difficult visa policies for Maldives. Even recently, those attempting to obtain medical visas were forced to line up outside the Commission from late in the night.