India resumes 2018 Visa Exemption Agreement with Maldives

India has announced to resume the 2018 Visa Exemption Agreement with the Maldives from October 15. According to the reports, the agreement was suspended temporarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The move comes after India has announced to reopen for tourists from October 15. 

As reported by Times Travel, "Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid shared that he is delighted that India has agreed to resume the 2018 Dec Visa Exemption Agreement between the two countries, under which Maldivians will require no visa to travel to India." 

The High Commission of India in the Maldives tweeted, "No visa required from Oct 15 for Maldivians travelling to India for Medical, Business & Tourism purposes. Maldives will be the 1st beneficiary of visa free travel since COVID restrictions were imposed by India in Mar 2020. This move restores the bilateral visa-free agreement of Dec 2018." 

Times Travel reported, "as regarding the 2018 visa exemption agreement, it eases travel for Maldivian nationals to visit India for business, tourism, medical and educational purposes, whereas it also grants Indian employees work permits within 15 days of their arrival and eases visa rules. Reportedly, the agreement was signed in December of 2018, when Maldives President Ibu Solih visited India."