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 India Visa: |
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Passports : All travellers to India (except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan) must possess a valid passport. Carry your passport with you at all times for identification.
Visas : All foreign tourists to India (barring nationals of Nepal and Bhutan) must possess a valid visa. For a visa, contact the Indian embassy or consulate in your country; Nationals of Maldives are permitted to enter India without Visa upto a period of three months. Visas are not issued on arrival. A visa costs US$ 40 for up to six months, US$ 65 for up to one year and US$ 180 for more than one year and up to five years. Tourist visas, valid for three to six month entry to simplify visits to neighboring countries.
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| Type of Visa |
Period for which granted |
No of entries |
Document required with application |
Extendable in India |
| Tourist |
180 days |
Multiple |
|
No |
| Transit |
15 days |
One |
Return / onward journey ticket |
No |
| Business |
One-Five years |
Multiple |
Document to prove bonafide purpose (Company’s letter etc.) |
Yes |
| Employment |
One year or period of contract |
Multiple |
Proof of employment as a skilled worker or at high post (appointment document), terms and conditions by laws of the company |
Yes |
| Student |
Period of course |
Multiple |
Proof of admission in India institution |
Yes |
| Foreigners of Indian origin |
One – Five Year |
Multiple |
Proof of being on Indian origin |
Yes |
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Collective Visas:
Foreign tourists travelling in group of at least four, and under a recognized travel agent, may be granted tourist visas or collective visas without prior reference The procedure:
1) At least three days before departure the agency sponsoring the group must submit to the Indian Mission in that country four copies of a list. Containing particulars of each member of the group;
2) After checking, the Mission stamps a collective visa- it is not necessary to stamp individual passports - and returns three copies of the list to the sponsoring agency;
3) The person in charge of the tourist group lands over two copies of the list to the immigration authority on arrival in India;
4) Indian agents must furnish a list of group members to the immigration authority at least four hours before the flight arrives;
5) If the tourist group is to split into smaller groups to visit different parts of India, the immigration authority grants a collective 'license to travel', listing the particulars of the members of the smaller groups.
Visa provisions
Tourist visa up to five 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 arrival in India.
Extension of visa in Delhi -Ministry of Home Affairs
-Director (F), Lok Nayak Bhawan, (1st Floor) Khan Market, New Delhi -110003
Instructions have been issued whereby Nepalese and Indian citizens, while travelling by air, between the two be in possession of any of following documents to prove their nationally.
Valid national passport·
Valid photo identity card issued by the government of India/ state government or Union Territory Administration / Election Commission of India.
Emergency certificate issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu to Indians and by the Embassy of Nepal in Delhi in respect of Nepalese citizens.
Transit Visas :
Granted by Indian Missions abroad for a maximum of 15 days
Exemption from Registration:
Foreigners coming to India on tourist visas for 180 days or less do not need to register with any authority; they may visit any part of the country except restricted/protected areas and prohibited places. Family passports issued by other governments are recognized without discrimination.
Landing Permit Facility (for group tourists):
Foreign tourists in groups of four or more arriving by air or sea, sponsored by recognized Indian travel agencies and with a pre-drawn itinerary, may be granted a collective landing permit for a specified period of time on the written request of the travel agencies. The Immigration Officer will need personal and passport details of group members, their itinerary and an undertaking that the itinerary will be followed by the entire group, with no drop-outs.
Extension of Visa:
As a rule, no extension of stay is granted on a tourist visa beyond 180 days, except in exceptional cases. If a foreign tourist obtains extension beyond three months, he must surrender his Certificate of Registration and Residential Permit before leaving India. To extend a tourist visa contact MHA, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi.
Other Types of Visas:
Business Visa: Foreigners must obtain a visa from an Indian Embassy abroad. Foreigners can use this five-year, multiple-entry visa only for business trips.
Student Visa:
Proof of admission and means of sustenance while in India must be provided to the Indian Embassy; a visa may be extended in India for the duration of the course or five years, whichever is less. Foreigners who want to study yoga, music, Vedic culture, dance, etc, must apply well in advance. Indian Embassies may grant visas for up to five years.
Employment Visa:
Issued to foreigners by Indian missions, initially for one year, but extendable in India up to the period of contract.
Conference Visa:
Delegates to international conferences in India can get a visa for the conference and for tourism. Delegates should apply to the Indian Embassies well in advance.
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International Time
|
| Country |
+/- Indian Standard Time |
Country |
+/- Indian Standard Time |
| Australia |
|
Switzerland |
-4 ½ |
| NSW, Victoria |
+4 ½ |
United Kingdom |
-5 ½ |
| S. Australia |
+4 |
Greece |
-3 ½ |
| W. Australia |
+2 ½ |
Bulgaria |
-3 ½ |
| Bangladesh |
+ ½ |
Russian Federation |
|
| Burma |
+1 |
Moscow |
-2 ½ |
| China |
+2 ½ |
Omsk |
+ ½ |
| Hong Kong |
+2 ½ |
Vladivostok |
+4 ½ |
| Japan |
+3 ½ |
Anadyr |
+7 ½ |
| Nepal |
+ ½ |
Czech & Slovak |
|
| New Zealand |
+6 ½ |
Fed. Rep |
-4 ½ |
| Pakistan |
- ½ |
Hungary |
-4 ½ |
| Singapore |
+2 |
Poland |
-4 ½ |
| South Korea |
+3 ½ |
Romania |
-3 ½ |
| Taiwan |
+2 ½ |
Canada |
|
| Algeria |
-5 ½ |
Atlantic |
-9 ½ |
| Ethiopia |
-2 ½ |
Central |
-11 ½ |
| Kenya |
-2 ½ |
Eastern |
-10 ½ |
| Nigeria |
-4 ½ |
Mountain |
-12 ½ |
| South |
-3 ½ |
Newfoundland |
-9 |
| Uganda |
-2 ½ |
Pacific |
-13 ½ |
| Bahrain |
-2 ½ |
United States |
|
| Egypt |
-3 ½ |
Alaska (East) |
-13 ½ |
| Iran |
-2 |
Alaska (West) |
-16 ½ |
| Iraq |
-2 ½ |
Central |
-11 ½ |
| Israel |
-3 ½ |
Eastern |
-10 ½ |
| Jordan |
-3 ½ |
Hawaii |
-15 ½ |
| Kuwait |
-2 ½ |
Mountain |
-12 ½ |
| Libya |
-3 ½ |
Pacific |
-13 ½ |
| Oman |
-1 ½ |
Argentina |
-8 ½ |
| Qatar |
-2 ½ |
Bahamas |
-10 ½ |
| Saudi Arabia |
-2 ½ |
Brazil |
-4 ½ |
| Australia |
|
Acre |
-10 ½ |
| Germany |
-4 ½ |
East |
-8 ½ |
| France |
-4 ½ |
West |
-9 ½ |
| Italy |
-4 ½ |
Cuba |
-10 ½ |
| Netherlands |
-4 ½ |
Jamaica |
-10 ½ |
| Spain |
-4 ½ |
Mexico |
-11 ½ |
| Sweden |
-4 ½ |
Peru |
-10 ½ |
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Trekking:
Foreign trekkers etc in a team must provide full details for visas for the required duration.
Sports:
Visas may be granted to teams or individual sportsmen wishing to participate in international sports events being held in India.
Media:
Foreign journalists, media persons and documentary and feature film-makers may obtain visas after undertaking due formalities from the Indian Embassy.
In case of problems at Immigration, contact the Assistant Commissioner of Police at the Airport Immigration Office.
PIO CARD
The Government of India has revised the PIO Card Scheme, which was launched in 1999.
To apply for the PIO card contact The Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Divisions, Lok Nayak Bhawan, New Delhi -110003 Tele: 2469334 or the Foreigners' Regional Registration Offices at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Amritsar.
Special Permits
Some sensitive areas in India- usually border districts -are out of bounds for most travellers.
However, if tourist groups wish to visit these remote, fascinating places, they may obtain special permits at no extra charge from the Indian missions abroad or governmental agencies within India, for a limited number of days.
Foreigners' Regional Registration Offices
New Delhi
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer
Level II, East Block VIII, R.K. Puram, Sector-1 New Delhi -110022 Tele: 26102622
Mumbai
Foreigners Regional Registration Officer
237 Annexe, II, 3rd Floor, Crawford Market,
Mumbai 400 001 Tele: 22621169
Kolkata
Foreginers Regional Registration Officer
237 Acharya Jagdish Chander Bose Road,
Kolkata 700 020 Tele :22470549
Chennai
Chief Immigration Officer, Bureau of Immigration,
Shastri Bhawan' Annexe, No. 26, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam,
Chennai 600 006 Tele: 28232642
Amritsar
Additional Deputy Director, Bureau of Immigration,
B/123, Ranjeet Avenue, Amritsar Tele: 258250
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