Film visa with multiple entry facility valid for one year introduced for international filmmakers to film in India: Govt

New Delhi: Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that his Ministry set up the Film Facilitation Office (FFO) in December 2015 to create greater ease of filming in India, for international filmmakers and to promote India as a filming destination for attracting investment from foreign filmmakers. In a reply in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Mr Thakur said, the FFO launched its web portal www.ffo.gov.in

In November 2018, to establish an online single window facilitation and clearance mechanism for filmmakers from abroad. He said, the FFO web portal has since been integrated with the Archaeological Survey of India portal and Ministry of Railways, to enable the filmmakers to shoot in historical and iconic sites in India under their jurisdiction. The Minister said, a cohesive ecosystem of Nodal officers has been established in key Central Government Ministries and Departments as also State Governments and union Territories, to accord filming permission and ensure ease of filming in their jurisdiction. He said, a film visa, with multiple entry facility valid for one year, has been introduced for international filmmakers, cast, and crew to film in India.

 

Mr Thakur said, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to make India a preferred destination for international film production, to generate employment, and to increase inflow of foreign exchange in India, announced the incentive schemes for the co-production of films under the Audio-Visual Co-production Treaty and for



production of foreign films in India with effect from 1st April last year.

 

He said, the incentive scheme has been enhanced and further simplified by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to attract more international projects. The Minister said, as per the revised incentive scheme announced on 20th of last month, all qualifying projects of foreign film production and films being produced under Audio Visual Co-production Treaty can claim a cash incentive of 30 percent on the qualified expenditure incurred in India. 

He said that in the case of live shoots of foreign films, a 5 percent bonus can be claimed for employing 15 percent or more Indian crew. Mr Thakur said, further for foreign film shooting and post-production work, an additional 5 percent can be claimed for the film that has significant Indian content to promote Indian culture, talent, and tourist destination.

 

The Minister said, the maximum limit of the incentive has been enhanced from 2.5 crore rupees to 30 crore rupees, to attract big-budget international film projects whereas the maximum percentage of incentive has been enhanced from the previous 35 percent to 40 percent.

 

Mr Thakur informed that in 2020, four foreign film projects were granted permission for film production. He said, 11 foreign film projects were granted permission in 2021, 28 in 2022, and 35 foreign film projects upto November this year.