New Delhi, May 5 (IANS): The Union Ministry for Home Affairs on Tuesday extended the period of providing consular services by the Office of Foreigners Regional Registration Officers or Foreigners Registration Officers to foreign nationals who are currently stranded in India.

Regular visa, e-visa or stay stipulation of such foreign nationals whose visas have expired or expired during the period from February 1 till date on which prohibition on international air travel of passengers from India was lifted by, would be extended on 'gratis' basis, on submission of an online application by the foreigners.

Such extensions would be granted for a period up to 30 days from the date of lifting the prohibition on international air travel of passengers from India without levy of over stay penalty.

Exit to such foreign nationals, if so requested by them, will also be granted on the same lines.

Earlier, the government had granted consular services on gratis basis to foreign nationals on March 17 till May 3.