For visiting any country, you need to fulfill some formalities and obligations as set by the Government of the respective country, before you are allowed to enter or visit any country. Apart from a valid passport required to prove your identity and nationality, you need to obtain a permission to enter the country from the respective country offices or their representatives like the high commissions and Embassies. This permission is referred to as VISA, which is usually stamped on the Passports. Some of the countries might require special permissions, in addition of the normal VISA to visit certain parts of it.
VISA is of various types and is categorized on the purpose of your visit; accordingly the permission of duration of stay and movement in country is regulated. A VISA type not only indicates the purpose of your Visit but also specifies the kind of activities you can perform or get involved into the visiting country, duration of stay and the frequency of the visits you are allowed into a country. VISA’s are issued for the purpose of Tourism, Business, Medical Treatment, Transit, Diplomatic Visit, Employment etc.
The most common form of VISA issued is the tourist VISA and Business VISA. We here will stick to Tourist VISA. Tourist VISA is issued to the foreign nationals arriving in the country for the sole purpose of tourism or for visiting friends and relatives and do not intend to be gainfully employed during their visit.
Different countries have different VISA procedures and conditions of issuing a VISA, through which it regulates the kind of individuals, it wishes to allow into their respective countries, but also regulates their purpose, to best serve their local population. India too have set some procedures and guidelines for granting of VISA to India, which is issued on arrival (for individuals of limited countries) or through High Commission & Embassies set up in almost every country of world, where it has diplomatic relations and whose nationals it wishes to allow to visit its country.
VISA for India can be obtained from the nearest Indian High commission or Indian Embassy on application. The time required for processing of VISA for India by Indian High Commission/ Embassy varies from country to country, but usually it requires 4-7 working days from the date of submission of application to process Indian Tourist/Visit VISA. Emergency visit VISA too can be granted in shorter duration depending upon the gravity of situation and need.
What are the eligibility criteria for applying Tourist VISA for India? Or Who can apply for Tourist VISA for India?
ELIGIBILITY FOR INDIAN TOURIST VISA
All Foreign Nationals Can apply for Indian VISA with the Indian High Commission/Embassy of their respective country, provided they are holding a valid passport, with atleast six months (180 days) validity from the day of application and two blank pages in their passport. (Amendment pages are not acceptable or stamping of Indian VISA on the passport).
A tourist VISA for India is issued to the foreign national who does not have a residence or is not gainfully occupied/employed in India and whose sole purpose of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet Friends or Relatives. No gainful employment or other activities are allowed on Tourist VISA.
Nationals from Nepal and Bhutan do not require VISA for India, if they are travelling by land or air from their respective countries, neither requires the passport, but they must hold a valid Identification proof confirming their identity, nationality and residence. These nationals, however if are travelling from other countries, do require to have their passport. Nepalese citizen travelling from China will require VISA to enter India.
Nationals of Maldives do not require VISA for entry to India, if they are travelling for the purpose of tourism and their stay in India does not extend for more than 90 days.
What s the duration of validity of Tourist VISA for India? Can I enter and exit any number of times to India on Indian Tourist VISA?
VALIDITY AND TYPE OF INDIAN TOURIST VISA
Single Entry, Double Entry and multiple entries VISA are issued depending on the number of entries you wish to have to India during your tour. The Validity of VISA ranges from 90 days to max 180 days from the date of grant of VISA (validity of VISA is counted from the date on which it is stamped and not from the date of your actual travel to India). The VISA are normally non convertible and non extendable. The issuing authority decides upon the duration for which the VISA is granted.
For double and multiple entries VISA and for the tourist who wish to re-visit India within 60 days of their leaving the county, the following additional conditions are applicable:
- Foreigners who are visiting India and neighbouring countries on a single itinerary/holiday can revisit India within 60 days for up to three entries. The immigration authorities in all Immigration check posts in the country may allow such foreign Nationals arriving in India on Tourist VISA, without the specific authorization from the Indian Missions/ Posts subject to production of Travel itinerary and supporting documents (Ticket bookings and hotel confirmations if any).
- Once a foreign national has completed three entries within 60 days of travel and finally exits from the country, he is not allowed to enter the country again on tourist VISA for atleast two months from the date of final exit.
- Visit within Two months Gap may be permitted by the missions/ Posts only in emergency situations like Death/ Serious illness in the family etc.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WHILE SUBMITTING INDIAN TOURIST VISA APPLICATION FORMS
What are the documents I need to submit for applying Indian Tourist VISA?
- Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages.(Amendment pages are not accepted for the stamping of Indian VISA).
- Duly Filled VISA application form with Signatures on both pages.
- Correct visa fee with two recent Passport size (5 cms x 5 cms) photographs. {The photographs should be colored, with full frontal face (Full head from Top Hairs to the bottom Chin with part of neck, head should not be tilted), eyes open and looking at the front, white background. The photo should display natural body tone, no shadows on the face or background}
Additional Documents required By Applicant’s holding Bangladeshi Passport Holders/Pakistani passport holders /International passport holders of Pakistani Origin /Spouse:
For Pakistani Passport holder, International Passport Holder of Pakistani Origin Or spouse/ Children of such People
If I am a Pakistani National, do I require to submit any additional documents?
- Notarized invitation from relative (s) in India and their proof of identity (Photo ID) (Only for Pakistani Passport Holder)
- Duly filled five sets of Specific Visa application form for Pakistani passport holders with one identical photo on each form.
- Duly filled Additional Information form
For Bangladeshi Passport holder, International Passport Holder of Bangladeshi Origin Or spouse of such People
- Duly filled Visa Online Visa Application Form for Bangladeshi passport holders (All the columns of the Form are Mandatory and must be completely filled).
- Three sets of Application form.( Bangladeshi Passport Holders)
- Latest one month bank statement. (Afghanistan /Bangladeshi Passport Holders)
For Sri Lankan & Chinese Passport Holders:
- Duly filled additional form (Colombo Form) for Srilankan passport holders
- Duly filled additional form (Beijing Form) for Chinese passport holders.
- Photocopy of the Surrender Certificate of the Indian Passport OR If travelled to India before, you can provide your Previous Passport with Indian Visa
- Tourist VISA on arrival may be converted to Entry VISA (X Type) for a foreigner, who after arrival in India and during the validity of his Tourist VISA, marries an Indian National. However following conditions must be fulfilled for the same:
Additional documents For Minor Child (Under 16 Years of age)
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate displaying both the parents names.
- Consent letter for travel of child addressed to the High Commissioner/ Ambassador signed by both the parents
- Photocopy of Parent’s passports along with the copy of their current Indian Visa, if already holding
- In case of Divorce, Child Custody Letter from court in respect of the child is required.
- In case of Single Parent, Solicitor’s Letter and Child Benefit letter will be required.
- In case of Minor’s Application/Declaration either of the parents can sign the application form.
- Last three months bank statement.
- Copy of employer's letter OR chartered accountant's certificate (if self-employed) OR unemployment allowance letter / disability allowance letter / benefit letter.
For Media Related Professionals, Police or Armed Forces, Commercial Pilots/Crew Members, Charity/Social Workers and Priest going to India for Tourism:
- Employer letter addressed to the High Commissioner/ Ambassador of India stating the purpose.
- For Media related professionals who are Self Employed need to provide an Undertaking letter stating no Professional related activities would be undertaken during the stay in India.
Tourist VISA on arrival of the foreigners, who fall ill after their entry into India and are declared unfit to travel and require specialized treatment can be converted into Medical VISA. For this they should be eligible for Grant of Medical VISA and a certificate of illness and treatment required should be obtained from Government/ Government recognized hospitals. In Such case the Tourist VISA on Arrival of the accompanying Foreigner can be converted into Medical Attendant VISA, the VISA terminating with the termination of the Medical VISA of the foreigner.
ANY Foreigner can be refused entry to India if :
- He/She is not entering India from the designated Port.
- He/She is not in a possession of Valid Passport and VISA
- He/She is Insane or suffering From Infectious of Loathsome Disease which is harmful to Public Health
- He/She is involved in an extraditable offence (offence for which he can be extradited) o his/her entry is prohibited under the specific order of the Central Government.
Do I need to fulfill any formalities after arrival in India, Even if I have got Indian Tourist VISA?
A disembarkation card (arrival Card) need to be filled on arrival furnishing true particulars of name and nationality, age, sex, place of Birth, address or intended address in India, Purpose of visit and proposed length of his stay in India.
Pakistan Nationals other than those holding Diplomatic VISA, are required to present a VISA Application form ( Duplicate Copies) issued by the Indian Mission concerned in addition to the regular tourist VISA at the immigration check post, who then issues a Regular Residential Permit. After that they are required to report at the designated office or concerned Police Station at their place of stay within 24 hrs of the issue of permit, until and unless they are officially exempted from police reporting.
Afghanistan Nationals are issued Temporary Residential Permit at the immigration check post, they then are required to register themselves, within next seven days with the concerned FRRO/ FOR of their place of stay.
For Person whose previous nationality was Indian before acquiring foreign nationality:
VISA ON ARRIVAL
Indian Currency Equivalent to USD 40 is charged for Temporary Landing Permit and Temporary Landing Facility.
Foreigners holding a valid PIO (person of Indian Origin) or OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card along with their National Passports are authorized to enter India without obtaining Indian VISA separately.
Important Note: Photocopies of the supporting documents are attached as proof and not the original ones.
Do I need to obtain Indian Tourist VISA prior to Arrival in India? Can I get Indian Tourist VISA on arrival at the Port of Arrival i.e. on arrival at the airport?
VISA ON ARRIVAL
India do provide VISA on arrival facilities for the nationals of following Eleven Countries (kindly note that if the parents ( both paternal or maternal) of resident of any of the following countries are Pakistani Nationals, are born in Pakistan or had been permanent resident of Pakistan, then VISA on arrival will not be issued to them, they need to obtain it from the Indian consulate prior to their arrival in India)
1. Finland 2. Japan 3. Luxembourg 4. New Zealand 5. Singapore
6. Cambodia 7. Vietnam 8. Phillipines 9.Myanmar 10. Indonesia
11. Laos
Visa on arrival in India is for a maximum validity of 30 days and isissued for single entry only. It can be obtained from the Immigration Offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata Airports. No other entry point or Immigration check post are authorized to issue on arrival VISA for India. If you require VISA for longer duration, you need to obtain it with Indian consulate before arriving to India. Tourist VISA on arrival is not issued to DIPLOMATIC / OFFICIAL Passport holders.
Indian tourist VISA on arrival is issued to only those persons from the above country, who is not a resident of India and neither employed in India, whose sole purpose of visiting India is for recreation, meeting friends and relatives, sightseeing etc. Further the person should have a sound financial standing to support his stay in India (production of return air tickets and availability of enough money to spend and support during their stay in India will be enough to prove it).The person should have a valid passport with minimum six months validity and should not be person non grata i.e not acceptable to the country because of any red corner notices, warning circular, criminal or political cases issued against him.
Can I extend my Duration of stay In India beyond validity of Indian Tourist VISA on Arrival? Or can I get changed my VISA type after Arrival in India?
Similar to the normal VISA, Tourist VISA on arrival in India is non extendable and non convertible, i.e the stay period can neither be extended, nor the type of VISA be changed. However in case of the following exception situations, on approaching the Ministry of Home affairs and on their satisfaction, the Type of VISA can be extended or converted:
- A copy of the Registered Marriage Certificate to be submitted to FRRO( Foreign Resident Registration office) along with the request for the change in VISA type and stay duration to the concerned FRO/ FRRO will then submit the report about their marital status which will inter alia include his/her antecedents, confirmation about their living together and security clearance.
What are the fees I need to pay for obtaining Indian Tourist VISA on Arrival?
A Fee of USD 60 Per Person (Including Children) or equivalent Indian Rupees will be applicable for VISA on arrival in India. Tourist VISA on arrival can be issued to a foreign national, for maximum of two entries in a calendar Year, provided there is a minimum gap of two months between the two subsequent visits.
What Documents I need to carry/ present to get Indian Tourist VISA on Arrival?
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR INDIAN TOURIST VISA ON ARRIVAL
The following documents are required for VISA on Arrival:
Passport with validity of atleast six months on the day of arrival, 02 Passport size photographs (3.5 cms x 3.5 cms), Photocopy of the passport, Hotel booking voucher if possible and confirmed return air tickets.
If I do not have any kind of VISA for India, can I still Transit or Stay in India for short duration?
TEMPORARY LANDING PERMITS
If you are not having a Valid Indian Tourist VISA on your Passport and you need to land in India, the immigration officer may grant you a Temporary Landing Permit (TLP) which will be valid for your stay of maximum upto 72 hrs. For this, the Immigration officer must be satisfied with the reason/purpose of the stay and the passenger should have a confirmed onward journey within 72 hours of the grant of Temporary Landing Permit. The Immigration officer however will retain your passport in this case. This facility is not available to the nationals of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Afganistan, Somalia,Nigeria and Ethiopia.
TEMPORARY LANDING FACILITY
If you are not having a Valid Indian Tourist VISA on your Passport and you need to stay in India, a Temporary Landing Facility (TLF) can be granted to foreigners valid for a period upto 15 days. This is granted only in emergent situation like death/illness in the family on production of bonafide proof and on satisfaction of FRRO/FRO cum District Superintendent of Police. For Further extension of stay in such cases, the foreigner concerned need to contact ad report to Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigner Division, Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi.
Indian Currency Equivalent to USD 40 is charged for Temporary Landing Permit and Temporary Landing Facility.
