In a groundbreaking transfer, the Authorities of Saint Lucia, facilitated by the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, has opened doorways for holders of diplomatic and official passports to take pleasure in visa-free journey to India.
This landmark visa-waiver settlement between Saint Lucia and the Republic of India was formally inked on April 16, 2024.
Prime Minister Hon. Philip J Pierre and the non-resident Excessive Commissioner of India to Saint Lucia, HE Dr Shankar Balachandran, sealed the deal in a ceremony marking a big diplomatic stride.
Streamlined course of for vacationers
Beneath this settlement, the appliance course of for e-visas by peculiar passport holders from Saint Lucia touring to India is notably streamlined, with approvals sometimes granted inside a swift 72-hour window.
Earlier than this accord, Saint Lucian holders of diplomatic and official passports confronted a protracted ordeal in acquiring a free of charge diplomatic/official visa for journey to India.
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The cumbersome course of, requiring as much as thirty days for completion, necessitated the utilization of courier providers to ferry passports to India’s Embassy in Paramaribo for processing.
The newfound visa-waiver pact guarantees substantial advantages for vacationers, slashing each bills and wait occasions for these on official enterprise journeys to India. With the bureaucratic limitations dismantled, holders of diplomatic and official passports can now traverse to India with larger ease and effectivity.
Instructional alternatives enhanced
Past the realm of official engagements, the ramifications of this settlement prolong to academic avenues.
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Public servants awarded ITEC scholarships for research in India will discover their journeys facilitated by the streamlined visa processes.
Strengthening diplomatic ties
The signing ceremony, graced by the presence of Guillaume Simon, Everlasting Secretary within the Ministry of Exterior Affairs, and different dignitaries, marks not solely a practical leap ahead but in addition signifies a deeper bond between the Governments of Saint Lucia and the Republic of India.
