Visa is a mandatory requirement for anyone entering India, including children. One should make sure of its possession before planning to enter India. Tourists from other countries are advised to check the current and applicable visa fee/visa extension fees with Government of India Tourist Offices or Consular Offices of India located in their respective countries. The visa must be obtained abroad from an Indian mission. If you plan to visit a neighboring country like Nepal and then re-enter India, you must obtain a double/multiple entry visa. Tourist visas are issued for one month, six months or five years. Tourist visas can be extended for three months at the alien registration office in New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai, or with the Superintendent of Police at any District Headquarters. If staying in the country for more than 180 days, tourists must obtain a tax clearance certificate, available from the foreigners’ section of the income tax department in every major city. It is also advisable to keep bank receipts to show that the money has been changed legally. However, the general requirements for visas are:

1. Original passport valid for at least six months

2. Correct visa fee

3. Two recent passport size photographs (five photographs in the case of Pakistani citizens)

4. Supporting documents, when necessary

5. Duly completed application form (Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens need to apply on special application forms)

If your visa paperwork has been completed, you should now have a bird’s eye view of this vast subcontinent so you won’t have any trouble traveling anywhere. India forms a natural subcontinent with the Himalayas to the north. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which are sections of the Indian Ocean, lie to the west and east, respectively. India’s neighbors are China (Tibet), Bhutan and Nepal to the north, Pakistan to the northwest, and Burma to the northeast. To the east, almost surrounded by India, is Bangladesh. Near the southern tip of India, across the Palk Strait, is Sri Lanka. India has 28 states with constitutionally defined powers of government. The 28 states are: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa , Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. There are also seven Union Territories, including the National Capital Territory of Delhi, administered by Lieutenant Governors or Administrators, all appointed by the President. The Delhi and Pondicherry Territories have also elected Chief Ministers and State Assemblies. The Territories are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Pondicherry.

Additional special permits may be required with the visa to visit certain areas of the country. Certain parts of the country need special permits before you can visit them. The areas where a special permit is required are the following:

Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland

These States/Union Territories have been designated as protected areas and foreigners cannot enter these areas without special permits. These permits are issued by the Undersecretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Aliens Division, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi 110,003 at least 4 weeks before the date of the intended visit.

Sikkim

Certain areas of Sikkim such as Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Zongri in West Sikkim and Pemayangtse have been excluded from the inner line and declared restricted areas. After obtaining permission, individual tourists can visit Gangtok, Rumtek and Phodang, Zongri and Pemayangtse. The length of stay has been raised from 7 to 15 days. Permits can be issued by all Indian Missions Overseas, all Foreigners Registration Offices (FRO) and Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRROS), Immigration Officers at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai Airports and New Delhi. Manipur has also been opened up to foreign tourists; permits can be issued by all Overseas Missions, all FRROs, Home Commissioner, Manipur, Imphal. The length of stay has been raised from 3 to 5 days. Permits are no longer required for Darjeeling, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Individual foreign tourists must obtain prior permission for Port Blair municipal area, Havelock Island, Long Island, Neil Island, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Rangat, where an overnight stop is allowed and Jolly Buoy, South Cinque, Red Skin, Mount Harriet , Madhuban where only day visits are allowed.

Lakshadweep Islands

Only Bangaram and Subeli Islands are open to foreign tourists. Permits are required and can be obtained from Lakshadweep Administration, Wellington Island, Harbor Road, Kochi – 3.

Collective Visas

There are facilities for the issuance of collective visas for group travel of no less than 4 members and sponsored by a travel agency recognized by the government. Such groups can be divided into smaller groups to visit different places in India after obtaining a collective “license to travel” from the Indian immigration authorities. They must reconvene and depart as the original group.

Visa Relaxations

Relaxed visas have been granted to citizens of countries such as Nepal and Bhutan. One can get the details from the respective Embassy of India.

Visa for Trekking and Mountaineering Expedition

When the proposed tour itinerary includes taking people to a height of more than 6000 meters, the visa is granted after ‘No Objection’ from the Indian Mountaineering Federation. When the itinerary proposes the visit to areas below 6000 meters, it is mandatory to accompany the visa application with an itinerary indicating the days and places to visit along with their altitude.

points to remember

1. The granting of the visa does not mean that one is armed with the right to enter India. One’s entry is subject to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.

2. Documents can be verified whenever the need arises.

3. Some cases may need authorization from the government level.

4. The time required for visa issuance is different for each application.

5. People who want to visit restricted/protected areas need special permits.

6. If one plans to visit a neighboring country and then re-enter India, a double/multiple entry visa must be obtained.

types of visas

The Indian government issues various types of visas, suitable for different travel purposes. Below are some of the different types of Indian visas.

Tourist Visa: This visa is issued when you are coming to India for a vacation to explore the country.

Business visa: For a business related trip, you need to apply for the business visa.

Student Visa: This visa is issued exclusively for the purpose of study in India.

Transit Visa: It is intended for transit passengers only, to enable them to travel through India to reach the final destination.

Missionaries Visa: This visa is for people who are coming to India to act as missionaries.

Employment visa: This visa is intended for qualified professionals or those persons who have been designated by companies, organizations, firms, etc. from India.

Journalist Visa: Professional journalists and photographers visiting India are required to apply for the Journalist Visa.

Conference Visa: This visa is issued to attend conferences/seminars/meetings in India.

Research Visa: This visa is issued by the Government of India for research purposes.

Entry Visa – Issued only to persons of Indian origin or family members of a person employed in India.