DGCA directs airlines not to check-in passengers flying from India to Hong Kong or China with stapled Visas

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed airlines not to check-in passengers flying from India to Hong Kong or China with Visas stapled on their passports as a separate sheet. Asking for ‘strict compliance’ by all airlines, a DGCA circular said that such Visas are not valid for travel out of the country.

Dr Nasim Zaidi, Chief, DGCA’s circular issued recently stated that Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) in their letter No.AV.12012/5/2001-A (Vol.III) dated December 29, 2009, has informed that Indian citizens travelling to Hong Kong and China are being issued Visa by concerned authorities on separate piece of paper stapled to the passport. Such stapled paper Visas are not valid for travel out of India.”

According to a report in Times of India, the DGCA has told airlines that they will be responsible for people travelling to any Chinese city on a stapled Visa either directly or via Hong Kong.