Fly to India on proper Visa

India the land of Himalayas, Rishis (saints), Ganga, Taj Mahal, Mysore Dasara and many other historical monuments and beaches attracts thousands of visitors all through out the year from across the globe annually. Some of them come here to pursue education, take up employment, attend conferences/seminars, visit relatives, or for sightseeing or in search of eternal peace or even to learn yoga.

All foreigners, including foreigners of Indian origin, visiting India on long-term (more than 180 days) Student Visa, Medical Visa, Research Visa and Employment Visa are required to get themselves registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)/ Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned having jurisdiction over the place where the foreigner intends to stay, within 14 days of arrival. However, Pakistan nationals are required to register within 24 hours of their arrival.

All Afghan nationals are required to register with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival except those Afghan nationals who enter India on a visa valid for 30 days or less provided the Afghan national concerned gives his/her local address in India to the Indian Mission/FRRO/FRO. Those failing to register themselves will invite a penalty of US$ 30/-(Rs.1395/-). This fee can be revised from time to time.

Here below we take a look at some of the visas available to foreigners wishing to visit India.

Tourist Visa on Arrival
The Government of India has introduced Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme for the nationals of 11 countries, namely, Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia. The TVOA is allowed for a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility by the Immigration Officers at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata Airports on payment of a fee of US $ 60/- or equivalent amount in Indian rupees per passenger (including children). TVOA is allowed for a maximum of two times in a calendar year to a foreigner with a minimum gap of two months between two visits. TVOA shall be non-extendable and non-convertible. This visa can be availed for a period up to 30 days for tourism, medical treatment, and casual business or to visit friends/relatives, etc.

The visitors are required to fill a simple visa application form on arrival at the concerned airport. One passport size photograph is required with the application. However, the TVOA facility is not applicable to the holders of Diplomatic/Official Passports.

Tourist Visa: Tourist Visa can only be granted to a foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives etc. No other activity is permissible on a Tourist Visa. The visa is non-extendable and non-convertible. Foreign nationals holding Tourist Visas with multiple entry facility should ensure a gap of at least two months between two visits to the country. If any one wishes to visit again soon, he/she must obtain special permission from the concerned Mission/Post.

Employment Visa: An Employment Visa for multiple entry is issued for a period of two years after relevant documents like employment contract, including salary, designation, tenure of employment etc. are submitted. This visa is also extendable. Such workers must earn $25,000 per annum to qualify for this visa.
Under the Employment Visa, there is a Project Visa, which is issued to foreigners coming to India for execution of projects in power and steel sectors. Project Visa will be granted for specific project, wherein the name of the project and place would be mentioned. Under no circumstances would the person be allowed to be engaged in another project either of the same company or of a different company. The period of visa would be initially for a period of one year or for the actual duration of the project / contract, whichever is less, with multi-entry facility. The visa can be extended only with the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This visa is only for skilled/highly skilled persons. However, a person coming on Project Visa will not be allowed to take up employment in the same Indian company for a period of two years from the date of commissioning of the project. In case of any urgent work, he/she can be granted a non-extendable Business Visa.

Business Visa: A Business Visa for multiple entry is issued for a maximum period of up to five years after documents to prove bonafide purpose on the company’s letter head, proof of financial standing has been submitted. This visa can be extended too. This visa is mainly meant to explore business prospects.  

Conference Visa: A Conference Visa is granted to a foreigner: (i) whose sole objective of visiting India is to attend a conference / seminar or workshop being held in the country; (ii) who holds a valid passport, and a re-entry permit if that is required under the law of the country of nationality of the applicant; (iii) who is not a persona-non-grata to the Government of India; (iv) who is not considered an undesirable person and is not the subject of a negative list or any warning circular or other restrictive list; and (v) who is a person of assured financial standing (the production of a return ticket and availability of sufficient money to spend during his stay in India may be considered sufficient for this purpose).

Research Visa: This visa is for professors and scholars wishing to visit the country for research related purposes. For this visa, an applicant must submit the subject/topic of the research project, details of places to be visited during the project period, details of earlier visits and letter of admission and Certificate of Affiliation in original from the recognized Indian University/Institution in token of having secured admission for the research purpose and also show proof of financial resources to meet expenses in the country.

Visa will be issued for a period of three years or for the duration of the research project, whichever is earlier. If required extension for an additional period of not more than six months as the last & final extension even after the completion of the project may be given to enable the scholar to complete the final formalities of the project.

Student Visa: A Student Visa is issued for a period of five years or the period of a course, whichever is less. The student can make three entries per academic year. The visa is granted after proof of admission in the Indian Institution, letter of support from parent/guardian accompanied by a bank guarantee/certificate regarding financial standing have been submitted. The visa is extendable. Under this visa there is also a special visa called Yoga Visa issued only to learn yoga.

Medical Visa: In case of registration on medical visa, letter from concerned hospital (must be reputed and recognized hospital) where treatment is being taken along with supportive medical documentary/diagnostic test reports with medical certificate bearing photo of the applicant attested and certified by the doctor must be provided.

Transit Visa: A Transit Visa for single entry is issued for 15 days after documents confirming onward journey are produced. 

Extension of Visas: Extensions are granted on different categories of visas as per requirements on case-to-case basis. The foreigner seeking extension must ensure that he/she submits application and the required supporting documents for extension well before the date of expiry of visa.

Return Visa Eligibility: There is also a visa called the return visa eligibility. This facility is only granted to students for returning to their home countries during vacations three times in an academic year and to those foreigners who are on employment and business visas and their cases have been referred to Ministry of Home affairs, New Delhi, for further extension and are under consideration. Return visa application should be processed before three days prior to the date of journey. Return visa is granted for a maximum period of 90 days.

Exit Permits: Exit Permits are granted if a person has to travel urgently and has lost his passport. All cases of Exit Permit would require minimum two working days for processing. This includes cases of Surrogacy and children born in India.