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Guidelines |
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Visa Guidelines
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Travelling to India can be a very amazing
experience. You can find all the information required on the
various visa norms for India.
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| General Visa
Info: |
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Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to
change without notice. |
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The High Commission reserves the right on granting
and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees
tendered at the time of making application. |
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Granting of Visa does not confer the right of
entry to India and is subject to the discretion of the Immigration
Authorities. |
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Visa can be applied for in person or by post
at the High Commission of India in London. |
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Visa applications from persons not ordinarily
residing in the UK or from people of Pakistani, Bangladeshi
and Sri Lankan origin are considered only in the High Commission
of India, London and Consulate General of India, Birmingham
and their processing may take one week or in some cases much
longer. |
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Applicants not ordinarily resident in the UK
and Sri Lankan nationals are required to complete an additional
form. |
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Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals have to
file special visa application forms. |
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In the following cases processing of applications
will take longer:
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British Nationals holding dual nationality
or of other origin, |
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applicants not resident in the UK, |
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where clearance from India is mandatory, |
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visitors to restricted areas and |
| (e) |
certain cases where documents may
need to be verified. Visa Section will contact the applicant
about the time of delivery for such passports. Please
note that each application is examined individually
and the time taken for issuing Visa will vary from case
to case.
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Visitors to restricted/protected areas
need special permits and for this purpose an additional form
has to be completed. Please contact the High Commission of
India, London if you wish to ascertain whether any of the
places you intend to visit fall in the category of restricted/protected
areas.
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Specific Visas are granted for a variety
of purposes. The principal types of Visa issued are mentioned
below. Please contact the High Commission of India for further
details if you are visiting India for purposes other than
tourism, such as journalism, conferences, yoga, voluntary
work, mountaineering or other expeditions. The visa application
form is, however, the same. Separate forms are available for
Pakistani and Bangladeshi Nationals.
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| Requirements for Visa |
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Original passport valid for
at least 6 months. |
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Correct visa fee. |
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Two passport size photographs
(5 photographs in case of Pakistani Nationals). |
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Supporting documents, where necessary.
Foreigners holding other nationalities (other than the
country where applying for visa), should submit proof
of long-term (at least three years)/ permanent residence
in the country (where applying). For citizen of other
countries, a reference has to be made to their country
of residence for which an additional fee is applicable
and will involve extra processing time. Please refrain
from making inquiries about the status of application
during this time.
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Duly completed application form (Pakistani
and Bangladeshi Nationals need to apply on special application
forms).
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| Additional requirements for
different types of Visa. |
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| Additional requirements for different
types of Visa are given below. |
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Tourist Visa |
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Tourists wishing to visit India will
normally be granted tourist Visa, effective from the
date of issue. Tourist Visas are non-extendible and
non-convertible. Travel Agents who have to visit India
frequently may be granted tourist Visa for a longer
duration.
Tourist visas are given for 6 months normally; rest
specifically depends on the country of residence. The
applicant is required to produce/submit documents in
proof of his financial standing. Tourists traveling
in groups of not less than four members under the auspices
of a recognized travel agency may be considered for
grant of collective tourist visa.
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Business Visa |
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Business Visa is normally granted
for 3 or 6 months. However, multiple-entry Business
Visa for up to 2 years validity may be granted to technicians/experts
going to India in pursuance of bilateral agreements
or joint venture projects having government approval.
A letter from sponsoring organization indicating nature
of business, probable duration of stay, places and organizations
to be visited incorporating there in a guarantee to
meet maintenance expenses, etc. should accompany the
application.
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Student Visa |
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Student Visas can be obtained on
furnishing proof of admission to recognized Universities
/ Institutions in India. Student visas are issued for
the duration of the academic course of study or for
a period of five years whichever is less, on the basis
of firm letters of admission from Universities/recognized
colleges or educational institutions in India. Change
of purpose and institutions are not permissible.
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Employment Visa |
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Employment Visa can be obtained on
furnishing of proof of employment with companies in
India. Employment visa is issued to skilled and qualified
professionals or persons who are engaged or appointed
by companies, organizations, economic undertakings as
technicians, technical experts, senior executives etc.
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Transit Visa |
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Transit Visas are valid for halts
of up to 72 hours in India within 15 days from the date
of issue of the visa and must be obtained before departure.
Transit Visa cannot be obtained from immigration counters
at ports of entry in India. Transit Visas are issued
with single/double entry facilities to bonafide transit
passengers only. Evidence of onward travel to a destination
outside India is required.
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Entry Visa |
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Entry Visa are issued to persons
of Indian origin for a duration of up to 5 years. These
can be obtained, depending on the purpose of visit and
eligibility, on a case by case basis.
Please Note: Persons holding long term Visa (having
validity exceeding 6 months) are normally not expected
to stay in India more than 6 months during each visit.
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Visa for Missionaries |
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This type of visa is valid for single
entry and duration as permitted by Government of India.
A letter in triplicate from sponsoring organization
indicating intended destination in India, probable length
of stay, and nature of duties to be discharged should
be submitted along with guarantee for applicant's maintenance
while in India.
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Journalist Visa |
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Journalist visas are issued to professional
journalists and photographers for visiting India. The
applicants are required to contact on arrival in New
Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry
of External Affairs and in other places, the Office
of the Government of India's Press Information Bureaus.
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Conference Visa |
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Conference visas are issued for attending
conferences/seminars/meetings in India. A letter of
invitation from the organizer of the conference is to
be submitted along with the visa application. Delegates
coming to attend conferences may combine tourism with
attending conferences
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Visa Exemption Letters
for Minors
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Visa Exemption Letters previously
granted to children of Indian origin (for a maximum validity
of 90 days from the date of issue) have been discontinued
since 1 July 1999. Visa Exemption Letters issued in the past
are hence no longer valid. All children holding separate passports
are now required to obtain regular Visa.
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Visa Fees
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The fee structure depends on the nationality
of the passport holder and type/duration of visa applied.
The existing fee structure is:
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| Transit Visa |
US$ 5.00 |
| Visas with validity upto
six months |
US$ 30.00 |
| Visas with
validity upto one year |
US$ 50.00 |
| Student Visa |
US$ 50.00 |
| Visas with validity between
one to five years |
US$ 100.00 |
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Visa fees indicated in US$ are payable
in local currencies as well. Visa fees are not refundable
except in cases where a visa already issued is cancelled thereafter.
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Processing Duration
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| The processing duration depends
on the type of visa applied. |
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| Miscellaneous Information |
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The duration of stay in India, for each
visit on a tourist visa or business visa is only for a period
of 6 months even though a valid visa may be for more than
6 months.
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Visa is given for a period for which passport
is valid. For example, if a passport is valid until April
30,2003 and an applicant is applying for 5 years visa on December
31,1999, the applicant will not be issued a 5 years visa as
the passport expires before the 5 year visa.
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Validity of all visas is counted from the date
of their issue. |
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Tourist visa up to 5 years may be granted
if the foreigner is connected with the tourism trade. If visa
is for more than 180 days, registration is compulsory within
14 days of first arrival in India.
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How
to extend your visa
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Any visitor who wishes to
extend his visa, unless he is a tourist, is required to contact
the FRRO's personally (no clones please).
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Documents needed -
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| Original
Document |
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Passport |
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Residence permit. |
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PIO Card. |
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Travel documents. |
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| Photocopies |
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of the front page and visa
page. |
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of passport, relevant pages
of residence permit having last extension. |
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other relevant documents for
particular category of visa. e.g. |
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Bonafide
Certificate and Identity card for student visa. |
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Company
letter and terms and conditions for business / employment
visa. |
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Marriage
certificate in case seeking extension of visa on the ground
of marriage to an Indian. |
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For
Research Visa, approval of research project from the Nodal
Ministry. |
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Visa Extension Fees -
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USD 30 for extension of visa
up to 180 days. |
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USD 50 for extension of visa
beyond 180 days. |
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Extension of visa in Delhi
can be done at -
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Ministry of Home Affairs |
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Director (F) |
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Lok Nayak Bhawan |
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Ist floor, Khan market |
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New Delhi-110003 |
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