No More Tourist Visa for Commissioning Surrogacy in India: Home Ministry

Foreign nationals intending to visit India for commissioning surrogacy will not be allowed to come on a tourist visa from Friday with the Home Ministry ordering strict adherence of surrogacy laws.

In an order, the Home Ministry said several instances of foreign nationals visiting India on tourist visa for commissioning surrogacy have been reported and no such relaxation would be allowed after November 1. "This is (tourist visa) not the appropriate visa category and such foreigners will be liable for action for violation of visa conditions. The appropriate visa category will be a medical visa," the order said.

The Ministry said it is also necessary in such cases to ensure that the surrogate mother is not cheated and therefore, such a visa may only be granted if certain conditions are fulfilled. The conditions include that the foreign man and woman are duly married and the marriage should have sustained at least for two years.

A letter from the embassy of the foreign country in India or the Foreign Ministry of the country should be enclosed with the visa application stating...