VISA

A visa (short for the Latin carta visa, meaning "the document has been seen") is a document issued by a country giving a certain individual permission to enter the country for a given period of time and for certain purposes. Visa is usually stamped or glued inside of a passport, or sometimes issued as separate pieces of paper.

Guidelines for Visa Applicants

All Indian Nationals who have acquired either US or Foreign citizenship are advised to surrender their Indian Passports to the nearest Indian Mission for cancellation and return.The cancelled Indian passports will be needed at the time of applying for Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card or Indian visa for the first time on a US passport.

Documents required to be submitted for visa

1. Visa application Form

a) Visa application form should filled in legibly and clearly, in bold (capital) letters in black/blue ink only. Incomplete and illegible applications may not be processed.

b) Name and other relevant particulars should be filled in as per details in the passport in expanded form.

2. Passport , which should have a minimum validity of six months on the date of application with at least two blank pages.

3. Photographs ; 2 latest identical passport size photographs, depicting front pose against light background

4. Supporting documents, if the visa being applied for is other than a Tourist Visa, the visa application should be accompanied with supporting documents on type of visa applied for. (For details, please see categories of visa given below).

5. Visa Fee, (Please see Fee Schedule for the amount of fee). In case the applications are deposited in person at the counter, visa fee can be paid in cash or by Cashier's Check/Certified Check or Money Order made payable to the Embassy of India, Washington (PERSONAL CHECKS / CREDIT CARDS are not accepted)

5. Persons of Indian Origin applying for a visa for the FIRST time on US passport must submit their Indian passport along with the application form for cancellation and return. If the visa is required on a new US passport booklet, either previous US passport or photocopy of Indian visa are to be submitted with the application.

US Citizens: Additional requirements

1. Applicants who are not Citizens of USA, but hold long term US visa or a Green Card should submit a copy of the visa or the Green Card.

2. Applicants who are not citizens/ residents of the USA and hold a tourist or other short-term visa for USA should normally apply for Indian visas in the countries of their permanent residence. In case of emergency or special circumstance, an application could be made at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC or Consulates General of India in the US. In addition to the relevant visa fee they should remit an additional US $ 20 for reference to be made to the country of their original residence. The processing time in such cases is usually 5-7 working days.

Note-

(a) Please read the relevant instructions carefully before applying to avoid any inconvenience;

(b) Kindly note that the validity of the visa starts from the date of issue and not the date of entry into India)

Special Visa application forms should be filled in by citizens of Pakistan (4 copies with 4 photos) and Bangladesh (2 copies with 2 photos). (It usually takes 3-4 months to process visa applications of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Chinese passport holders).

Categories of Visa

Note:Change of purpose is not permitted once you have reached India. Depending on the nature of your journey, apply for the correct visa category.

Tourist Visa

Tourist visa is valid for 6 months to 10 years. Ten (10) year visa is available only to US citizens under a bilateral arrangement. Irrespective of the duration of validity of visa, on each visit maximum period of stay in India is limited to 6 months (180 days). Multiple entry visas are given.

Transfer of Visa

For transferring an Indian visa from an old passport to a new passport. The regular visa application form with 2 photographs is required along with a fee of $25.

Transit Visa

A transit visa is granted for the sole purpose of enabling the holder to travel through India to reach his/her ultimate destination. Change of purpose is not allowed. The visa will ordinarily be valid for a single/double journey and for entry within three months of date of issue. The Transit visa is valid for direct transit only for a maximum period of 3 days. Confirmed airline ticket for onward journey and valid visa for final destination are required. For a stay in India beyond 3 days, an appropriate visa should be obtained.

Entry Visa

Entry visa is valid for six months to five years stay, with multiple entry given only to persons of Indian origin. However, members of the family of a person employed in India are also eligible for Entry visa.

Business Visa

Business visa is valid for six month or one/more years with multiple entries. However, the period of stay in India (for each visit) under this category is limited to six months only. A letter from the sponsoring organization indicating nature of applicant's business, probable duration of stay, validity of visa, places and organizations to be visited and also a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses etc. should accompany the application. Business visa valid for ten years with multiple entries is available to foreign businessmen who have set up or intend to set up joint ventures in India.

Employment Visa

For employment visa,an appointment letter, contract letter, applicant's resume and proof that the organization is registered in India are required. Duration of visa would depend on the period of the contract.

Student Visa

Student visa is valid for the period of study in India. Multiple-entry visas are given to bona fide students to pursue regular studies at recognized institutions in India. A letter confirming admission from such an institution along with evidence of financial arrangements for stay in India should accompany the application. In case of admission in medical or paramedical courses in India, a letter of Approval or No objection certificate from the Ministry of Health, Government of India, is also required. Similarly, for admission to graduate or post-graduate courses in engineering/ technical institutions in India, a letter of approval or a No objection certificate from the Ministry of Human Resources Development (Department of Education) is required.

Research Visa

Approval of Ministry of Human Resources Development (Department of Education), New Delhi, should accompany the visa application. The validity of the visa would coincide with the research period.

Missionaries

Single entry visa valid for the duration approved by the Government of India is issued. Three copies of the letter from the sponsoring organization indicating intended destination in India, expected length of stay, and nature of work to be discharged should be attached along with a guarantee for applicant's maintenance while in India. (Note: Processing of application for a Missionary Visa may take up to three (03) months.)

Journalist Visa

Journalist visa is given to professional journalists and photographers for up to three months' stay in India. (If you are intending to make a documentary in India, kindly contact the Press and Information wing in the Embassy /Consulate General of India).

Conference Visa

To obtain Conference visa, a letter of invitation from the organizer of the conference is to be attached along with the visa application. Visas for international conferences, or on certain subjects, as decided by the Government of India from time to time, can be issued only after clearance for the said conference is received from the Government of India.

Visa Fee Schedule

• Personal Checks and Credit Cards are not accepted.
  
  
• Payment can be made with Money Order/Certified Check/Cashier's Check drawn in favour of Embassy of India/Consulate General of India.
  
  
• Cash is accepted only at the Consular Counter.

Note: Since visa fees are fixed on the basis of reciprocal arrangement/ or special agreements between governments, the fees could differ for citizens of different countries. Visa fee once received is not refunded even if the visa application is withdrawn or visa not granted. The current schedule of visa fees is given below. In case of any doubt,visitors can enquire from the Embassy/Consulate before remitting the amount.

Fee Structure for Visa Services

Visa fee schedule applicable to Sri Lankan Citizens

Visa fee schedule for Japanese Nationals

Visa fee for:

a) Pakistani Nationals: $ 2/- (In addition to the above, an additional processing fee of US $ 20/- is required with each application.)

b) Russian Nationals: $ 40

c) Romanian Nationals: $ 6

d) Bangladesh Nationals: Gratis Visa

(However, an additional processing fee of US $ 20/- is required to be submitted with each application)

Nationals of following countries are granted Gratis (Free of charge) Visa:

Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mongolia, Maldives, North Korea (DPRK), Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa and Uruguay.

No visa is required for nationals of Nepal & Bhutan.

Registration formalities for foreigners visiting India on Long Term Visa

List of documents required at the time of registration with the Foreigners Registration Officer.

UNDERTAKING

We take full responsibility for the activities and conduct of Mr./Mrs. ______________ national of ______________during his/her stay in India.If anything adverse comes to notice during this period,we undertake to repatriate him/her on our cost.

Date: Signature of competent authority

Seal: (of the Company)

Following categories of foreigners are exempted from registration

US nationals: US nationals who are granted 10 years validity tourist or business visa which has the mandatory stipulation that each stay in India will not exceed 180 days, are NOT required to register themselves with the concerned FRO/FRRO if their continuous stay does not exceed 180 days. If due to any valid reason, the continuous stay exceeds 180 days, the foreigner should approach the concerned Registration with Foreigners Registration Office (FRO)/ Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for registration,who will in turn register them and grant permission for their exit from India.

Foreigners of Indian Origin: Foreigners of Indian origin desiring to visit India for short periods each year to meet their relatives etc. can be granted 5 years multiple entry 'X' visa with a stipulation that each stay shall not exceed 180 days. In this case no registration would be required if the foreigner does not stay beyond 180 days. In case a foreigner of Indian origin is desirous of staying continuously for longer periods, the Mission could grant up to 5 year validity 'X' visa without the stipulation of each stay not to exceed 180 days. In the latter case, the usual condition of registration required within 14 days of first arrival in India (as per the foot note on the visa sticker) would apply.

Foreigners actively engaged in tourism/travel trade : Foreigners actively engaged in tourism/travel trade, desirous of visiting India frequently over extended periods of promotion of tourism etc. can also be granted upto 5 year validity tourist visas with the stipulation that each stay shall not exceed 180 days. Accordingly, they would not require any registration with the FRO/FRRO.

PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) Card holders : Following the introduction of the PIO Card scheme, PIO card holders are eligible for visa free entry into India for a period of the validity of the card i.e. 15 years, and they are NOT required to register themselves with the concerned FRO/FRRO if their continuous stay does not exceed 180 days. If the continuous stay exceed 180 days, the foreigner should approach the concerned FRO/FRRO for registration within 30 days of the expiry of 180 days, who will in turn register them.

Children below 16 years: As per para 2 of Registration of Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 1957, children below the age of 16 years are exempt from the requirement of registration.

Other instructions

• All foreigners (including those of Indian origin), except those covered under special categories mentioned in above paras, are required to register themselves with the concerned District Foreigners Registration Officer(FRO)/Foreigners Regional Registration Officer(FRRO), within 14 days of their first arrival in India, if they hold a visa for a period which is more than 180 days. This registration is required to be done irrespective of the fact whether or not they intend to stay in India for less or more than 180 days - i.e. the deciding factor is the period for which visa has been granted and not actual stay.
  
  
• A foreigner coming to India is required to register only once within the stipulated period,even though he/she may go out of India on multiple entry facility during the validity of the visa. Only if he/she enters India on a new visa will he/she be required to register again.
  
  
• In case of visas having a stipulation of each stay not to exceed 180 days ,the Mission will make the following endorsement in the special endorsement column of the visa sticker:-

  "EACH STAY NOT TO EXCEED 180 DAYS, HENCE NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED"

• It may be noted that failure to register within the stipulated time, is a contravention of the prescribed rules and would invite appropriate punitive action.

Special instructions for Pakistani and Afghan nationals

Pakistani Nationals: Pakistani nationals are required to register themselves at the check post of entry into India. They have to hand over one copy of the visa application form, given to them by the Indian Mission abroad while granting visa, to the immigration authorities at the check post of entry, who will in turn hand over the Residential Permit to the Pak national. The Pak national has to carry the Residential Permit along with him/her, to each place of stay, for the purpose of police reporting. This Residential Permit has to be surrendered to the Immigration Authorities at the check post of exit, at the time of departure. Further, except those who are granted visa with the endorsement "Exempted from Police Reporting", Pak nationals have to also report their arrival and intended departure, at each place of stay as permitted in the visa, within 24 hrs. at the nearest police station.

Afghan Nationals: All Afghan nationals are required to register themselves with the concerned FRO/FRRO within 7 days of arrival in India, irrespective of the validity of their visa.

Contact Information of Foreigners Registration officers in India

New Delhi
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)
Ist floor, Hans Bhavan,
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
Near ITO, New Delhi
Phone: 011-3319489/3755183/5652389
FRRO & Deputy. Commissioner of Police
Special Branch - II (CID)

Mumbai
Phone: 022-2621169/2620721/8350098
Chief Immigration Officer
Shastry Bhavan Annexe
26, Haddows Road,

Chennai
Phone: 044-8277036/8277036/2340589
S. P. (Immigration and CID)
Interrogation Centre
PCP Attari Rail Mal Mandi

Amritsar
Phone: 0183-225456/227605/382630
DIG (Border)
Intelligence Branch
13-Lord Singh Road

Calcutta
Phone: 033-2470549/5528830

At other places

The Superintendents of Police (SP) of the Districts are registration officers for Foreigners.The registration officers would issue a Certificate of Registration. The foreigners should surrender these certificates at the office where they are registered or of the place where they intend to depart or to the immigration officer at the port/check post of exit from India. If the certificate is surrendered to other than the immigration officer at the port/check post of exit, the foreigners should produce the receipt indicating such surrender of the document to the immigration officer at the port/check post of exit.

Some important instructions for the visitors:

• Registration is required to be done only once within the stipulated period, even though he/she may go out of India on multiple entry facility during the validity of the visa. Only if he/she enters India on a new visa will he/she be required to register again.
  
  
• Foreigners can visit restricted /protected areas only after getting a valid permit as visa alone is not enough to visit such places.
  
  
• Health Requirement: Foreigners coming from or through yellow fever countries/zones must possess a valid vaccination certificate.
  
  
• Arrival/Departure: All visitors to India are required to fill Disembarkation/ Embarkation cards, which are available with the airlines and the airports in India.

Caution

Wildlife: The Indian Wildlife Protection Act bans all forms of wildlife trade. Violations of the provisions of the act are punishable with heavy fines and imprisonment. Travelers are, therefore, advised not to buy any wildlife or wildlife products or derivatives-specially ivory articles, fur and skin articles derived from wild animals such as Shahtoosh.

Drugs: The travelers should not buy, sell or use psychotropic drugs or any other narcotic substances while in India, as their purchase, sell or possession is a cognizable offence punishable by imprisonment.

Useful Web links

Consular Passport and Visa Division

Tourist office of India