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NEW DELHI: The Embassy of Israel in India has opened a Kolkata Israel Visa Application Centre for West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

Visa applications in jurisdiction under the New Delhi centre will also be accepted at the new Kolkata Centre . The visa application categories include B1 for employment, B2 for business, tourism, meeting or conference and A2 for students,”

Hassan Madah, Israel ministry of tourism (India & Philippines) director, said: “Israel is experiencing a tourism boom like never before. India has recorded a half yearly growth of 82 per cent as compared to the same period in 2015 and has become one of the best performing markets in Asia for Israel.

Keeping this in mind, the ministry consistently aims to introduce initiatives that ease the procedure of visa applications to Israel. The new centre in Kolkata will no longer require residents from West Bengal and North Eastern states to send in their documents to the Embassy in New Delhi. We are confident that this will be seen as a welcoming move to increase interest among travellers from these regions of India”.

Israel had recently reduced visa fees for Indians from Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,100. In December last year, relaxed visa documentation was brought in for applicants who have availed visas of Schengen countries, US, Canada, Australia or Israel and have completed their travel to these destinations.

