Visa requirement for Indian passport holder changed in many countries

It is a commonly known fact that Indian passport is one of the poorest passports when it comes to bilateral ties. We get very few options to travel to any country swiftly. Most countries, we need to apply for the visa in advance. We require producing complicated documents to acquire a visa. 

We are eligible for Visa-Free or Visa on Arrival (VOA) in following countries

Recent changes

Qatar

Earlier 

We needed a letter from a host to enter the country. Doha is slowly becoming next Dubai as there are many Indian working there. However, we still needed a long procedure to get there. Qatar Airways being one of the major carriers in the gulf, there needed a remedy for the situation.

Update:

Indians get 4 days transit visa, free of cost.

Things to remember:
1. Indians would require applying online at least a week prior to their travel. 
2. You have to fly in with Qatar Airways if you want visa for free.
3. Only applicable if you land at Hammad International Airport, Doha. 

As per gulf times,

Citizens of India, China and Russia would soon be eligible for visa on arrival. This move comes after there was a drop in tourism by  6% compared to last year. 

UAE

Earlier :
Indian needed to apply a week in advance to get e-visa in UAE. However, that is changing soon. 

As per the UAE News Agency,

The UAE Cabinet has approved a decision to grant Indian passport holders with either a valid US visa or a green card a visa on arrival.

Under the new move, ordinary passport holders from India who have a US visa or green card with a minimum six-month validity can enter the country from any point of entry for a period of 14 days, with an option for a one-time extension of the same period.

Malaysia

Earlier
Indian required applying for Malaysian visa at Malaysian consulate. It would usually take a week for a visa to be issued. 

Update
Malaysia & Singapore are key destinations for Indians to travel.

As per Malay Online
Earlier this month Malaysian Prime Minister visited Chennai and offered 15-day free multiple entry visas. He also promised that visa for Indian visa would be processed within 48 hours. 

It is still not a visa on arrival but still way better than what was present till now. No visa fee is a very sweet deal. 

Philippines

Earlier:
Indian required filing for a proper visa a Philippines’s embassy.  

Update:
Same as UAE, Indians get 14 days Visa on Arrival if they are a holder of visa from United States of America (USA). They would require to apply for authorization online before landing in Phillipines. 

Hong Kong

Earlier:

Indian received visa-free entry at Hong Kong. Indians would receive a small piece of paper that would have to be returned back during the exit. Even passport were not stamped. 

Update:

In the reverse of fortune, Hong Kong now requires citizens to apply for visa permission in advance. 

As per economic times

“The Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals will be implemented on January 23. The online service for Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals is now open,” the Hong Kong immigration department said in an announcement on its official website.

“Indian nationals must apply for and successfully complete pre-arrival registration online before they can visit or transit the HKSAR visa-free (if seeking to enter the HKSAR during transit). Pre-arrival registration is not required for Indian nationals in direct transit by air and not leaving the airport transit area,” it said.

Bottomline

Mostly it is all good news for Indian passport holders that more destinations are getting opened up for them. We won’t require to shell out extra cash just to travel to certain places. I am hoping that Singapore would soon join Malaysia and open up Singapore for Indian passport holders as it had done in the past.