India has extended a humanitarian lifeline to thousands of foreign visitors unable to exit the country because of widespread flight cancellations triggered by the Israel–Iran conflict. In a notice dated 26 July 2026, Indian missions worldwide confirmed that all categories of visas and e-visas expiring soon will be extended by 30 days on a gratis basis. Penalties for any overstay after 28 February 2026—the date many Gulf carriers began suspending services—will be fully waived. According to the Bureau of Immigration, roughly 53,000 tourists and business travellers from 47 countries have had itineraries disrupted as airlines reroute away from Iranian airspace. The new policy allows affected nationals to obtain exit permits free of charge or to remain in India until commercial links are restored. Temporary Landing Permits will also be issued at no cost to passengers on diverted flights who did not originally intend to enter India. Foreign chambers of commerce have welcomed the move. The Brazil-India Chamber said more than 600 Brazilian executives stranded after attending the Mumbai-based TechXpo 2026 can now avoid hefty overstay fines that typically run to US $300 per person. Hotels in Goa and Rajasthan, where many travellers have been waiting for alternative flights, report average bookings extended by 12 days, providing a small boost to local tourism revenue. For companies managing expatriate staff on short-term assignments, the extension removes immediate legal exposure under India’s Foreigners Act for visa lapses beyond the employees’ control. Mobility teams should, however, file extension or exit-permit requests through the e-FRRO portal as early as possible to avoid bottlenecks at major airports. The policy will be reviewed in mid-August, depending on air-traffic conditions over West Asia. Authorities have hinted that further extensions are possible if the regional security situation does not improve.
