The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revised its visa guidelines and removed the requirement for a separate Prior Reference Category (PRC) clearance for foreign nationals who have already received security approval through the Security Clearance Portal (SCP).
Officials said the change is intended to simplify the approval mechanism and reduce duplication in security-related procedures for select categories of foreign visitors.
What changes under the new visa guidelines?
As per a report by Hindustan Times, under the earlier system, certain foreign nationals were required to obtain security clearance through the SCP and separately undergo the PRC clearance process. With the latest amendment to the Visa Manual, those who have already secured clearance through the SCP will no longer need an additional PRC approval.
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“Certain amendments have been made in the existing Visa Manual recently, including dispensing with the requirement of separate PRC clearance for foreign nationals who have been granted security clearance on the SCP portal. This removes the dual process,” Hindustan Times quoted a ministry official, requesting anonymity, as saying.
Who falls under the Prior Reference Category?
The PRC includes nationals from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and, in some cases, China. It also covers foreigners of Pakistani origin and stateless individuals.
People in this category are required to obtain security clearance before participating in activities such as conferences, sporting events and other engagements in India. The MHA oversees and regulates these clearances.
The SCP, meanwhile, serves as a centralised digital platform through which ministries and government departments can seek security approvals for foreign nationals attending official events and programmes.
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Other amendments included in the Visa Manual
Apart from streamlining security clearances, the updated Visa Manual also incorporates provisions related to visa extensions, visa conversions and other services that were not clearly specified earlier.
“The provision of multiple entries on various visas granted under the e-Visa platform has also been included,” a second official said.
India currently extends e-Visa facilities to citizens of 172 countries, making it one of the world's largest electronic visa programmes.
