New Delhi:
Indians travelling to Bahrain will be able to apply for electronic visas from October this year under new visa rules and regulations announced in the Gulf country.
Such e-visas can be obtained ahead of travel to Bahrain through a simple online application process, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a statement.
The new visa policy, which will be implemented in 2015, was announced by Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at a cabinet meeting earlier this month.
India is among the 36 countries that can avail the online e-visa facilities under this new policy. In addition, the visa validity has been increased, enabling Indian expatriates to travel to and fro the Gulf nation easily for a comparatively longer period from next year. Such a policy would benefit around 290,000 expatriate Indians who reside in Bahrain.
Under the new system, not only multiple entry visas will be available but also visas that will be valid for one month could be renewed for up to three months.
The move that is expected to bring the number of countries eligible to receive e-visas to 101, aims at boosting investment, business opportunities and tourism in the country.
The visa-on-arrival facilities have also been extended to 65 more countries under the new visa system.
The crown prince, who is also chairman of the EDB, said the visa reforms support the business environment in the country and will help drive forward economic growth and job creation.
"The new visa policy, one of the most flexible visa policies in the region, follows that tradition, enabling citizens from more than 100 countries to enjoy easier and quicker access to the Middle East's most open economy, as ranked by the Heritage Foundation's 2014 Index of Economic Freedom", Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain EDB, said.