New visa to ease arrival of foreign film crews
The step, cleared by the government recently, comes after months of work by Union information and broadcasting minister.
New Delhi: The Centre has introduced “film visa” to promote arrival of foreign filmmakers and production houses to India. As per a directive by home ministry, a separate visa category has been created under the “liberalisation, simplification and rationalisation of visa regime in India”.
It will be granted under the e-visa category. The step, cleared by the government recently, comes after months of work by Union information and broadcasting minister.
Sources stated that “Indian missions abroad may grant film visas to applicants coming to shoot films, serials to India after the I&B ministry approves these cases.”
Interestingly, the government directive goes on to add that “foreigners granted film visa should refrain from commenting on any issue relating to insurgency in areas, participating in missionary activities, meeting banned outfits or its functionaries.”