India Reopens Doors: Visa Issuance Resumes for Afghan Nationals

New Delhi, 31/07/2024—The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has announced that India will reinstate visa services for Afghan citizens. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the decision at a recent press conference.

This move is expected to provide significant relief to Afghan students who have been unable to pursue their education in India due to visa restrictions. Since August 2021, many Afghan students have faced challenges in renewing visas and extending scholarships, hindering their academic progress.

The Indian government's decision to resume visa issuance is a positive step towards supporting the aspirations of Afghan students and facilitating their educational journey in India.

India Encourages Afghan Nationals to Apply for E-Visa

Despite India’s previous call for Afghan nationals to apply for e-visas, the process has proven to be restrictive. The six-month validity and limited issuance of these visas have posed significant challenges for many Afghans seeking to study or reside in India.

Data from Al Jazeera reveals that only 300 Afghans were granted e-visas in 2022, highlighting the program’s limitations. The situation has been particularly dire for students, with over 2,500 Afghan students unable to join Indian universities due to visa denials, according to the Afghan embassy in New Delhi.

To support Afghan students, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) previously offered 1,000 annual scholarships. These scholarships included a monthly stipend of over 25,000 Indian rupees and a housing allowance of 6,500 rupees. While this program assisted many, the broader visa restrictions have continued to impact the Afghan student community.

Afghan Students Hesitant About Pursuing Education in India

While India has extended a lifeline to Afghan students with 1,000 online scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year, the offer has been met with scepticism. Many Afghan students who were previously enrolled in Indian universities but were forced to return home due to visa cancellations view the online scholarships as a mere stopgap measure.

The plight of these students, who have invested significant financial resources into their education, has drawn attention to the ongoing challenges faced by the Afghan community in India. 

Noor Ilhas, a student affected by the visa restrictions, expressed frustration over the situation, asserting that the online scholarships are a political gesture rather than a genuine effort to support Afghan students.

According to Pie News, over 13,000 Afghan students previously studied in India, so the issue has broader implications for both countries. As the situation unfolds, the international community is watching closely to see how India addresses the concerns of its Afghan student population.