Applicants for Indian tourist visa from Rajshahi and Rangpur can walk-in and submit their applications at Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in the districts without a prior appointment from September 10, 2017 onward.

Applications will be accepted from 8:30am to 12:30pm, according to a press release from the High Commission of India.

The other existing walk-in schemes of submission of visa applications for non-tourist visas, medical visa, business, conference and other types of visas will continue as before.

Further, separate counters for walk-in tourist visas for senior citizens and freedom fighters will also continue. Tourist visa applicants will not be required to submit confirmed tickets to India, the press release read.  

The new system builds upon the pilot initiative started in Chittagong on July 9, 2017 and is being extended to IVACs in Rajshahi and Rangpur on a trial basis.

This measure is aimed at easing access to Indian visa and strengthening people-to-people contacts between India and Bangladesh, the release added.