A consular circular published by the Embassy of India in Moscow on 14 October 2026 quietly expanded India’s e-Visa entry network by designating Bhubaneswar (BBI) and Port Blair (IXZ) airports as authorised Immigration Check Points. The update brings the total number of permitted e-Visa air-entry locations to 26, alongside three sea ports. For global-mobility planners, the addition is significant: Port Blair serves the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an emerging defence-logistics and eco-tourism hub where several multinational energy players are conducting seismic surveys. Bhubaneswar meanwhile anchors Odisha’s fast-growing metals and semiconductor clusters, where Taiwanese and US manufacturers have begun exploratory site visits. The Moscow advisory also reiterates earlier fee changes—US $25 short-term visa and new five-year option—and warns applicants against fraudulent “e-visa” portals, listing over a dozen look-alike domains. It clarifies that travellers may arrive on a new passport even if the ETA references an old passport, provided both are carried. Companies should update travel-approval workflows and inform assignees that direct charter flights into Port Blair will now be eligible for e-Visa clearance, eliminating previous detours through Chennai or Kolkata. HR teams should, however, caution travellers that e-Visas remain non-convertible; anyone taking up employment in the Andaman Free Trade Zone must secure the appropriate employment visa before departure.
Source: Embassy of India (Moscow)
