Bengaluru, March 18 (IANS): The German Consulate General Bengaluru will shut visa and residence permits processing from Thursday in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Wendesday.
"The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany closes its public traffic for visa and residence permits until further notice," said a spokesperson of the Consulate on Wednesday in an official Facebook statement.
For the time being, the shutdown is from March 19 to April 3.
"Visa section: No personal interview of visa applicants. All appointments are suspended," said the statement.
However, under the consular section, the consulate will remain open only for emergency cases and for application and collection of German passports.
"Other services are not being provided. We ask for your understanding," said the statement.
According to the Consulate, the move is in the interest of public health and security and in order to help prevent the coronavirus outbreak.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Israel Consulate announced that any foreigner travelling to Israel has to prove his ability to comply with home quarantine conditions in Israel.
"All foreign nationals arriving to the state of Israel will be required to comply with home quarantine conditions for 14 days from their date of entry into Israel," said Ariel Seidman, Deputy Consul General and Head of Consular Affairs, Consulate General of Israel to South India in a statement.
Seidman said hotels and dormitories are not considered as 'Home Quarantine', requiring the travellers to demonstrate their ability to stay in home quarantine in Israel right before boarding the plane.
According to the obligations regarding individual permission to enter The State of Israel, Seidman said, "A foreigner who is able to prove his ability to comply with home quarantine conditions, and is interested in travelling to Israel, is requested to fill out the attached form and return it to the Consular Department."
He said the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority and Border Control has to approve a visitor's application to visit Israel and requested South Indian travellers not to directly visit the consulate in Bengaluru.