Thursday, February 17 2005 15:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (Feb 17, 2005) gave ex-post factor approval for agreements with Romania, Tajikistan, Laos, on visa free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

While the agreement with Tajikistan was signed in November last year (2004) during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to that country, the agreement with Romania was reached during the visit of Romanian President to India in January.

Under the agreements cleared by the Cabinet, a citizen of one country holding a valid diplomatic or official passport would be exempt from visa requirement while entering, transiting through or existing in the territory of the other country.

A citizen of one country, holding the said passport shall be allowed to stay in Romanian territory for a maximum of 90 days without a visa.

In the case of Lao People's Democratic Republic and Tajikistan the said passport holder shall be allowed to stay in the respective country's territory for a maximum of 30 days without a visa, according to a release issued after the meeting.