Indian Visa Information

Visa & Customs

Indian visas are available from Indian Consular Offices around the world, on payment of visa fee.
Applications for multiple and single entry visas are accepted.
Indian visas are necessary for all foreigners visiting India.
There are several kinds of visas including Entry Visa, Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Long Terms Visa(upto 5 years with multiple entry facilities) etc. are available.
Also Collective Landing Permits are available for foreign tourists in groups.

Tourist / Business visa
Most Consulates approve and issue visitor's visa in one day. B-1 is business visa and B-2 is a tourist visa, though they are often issued together to allow flexibility of purpose. B-1/2 are issued for ten year. You may not be employed or operate your own business in the US on a visitor's visa. Although you may make any number of trips into the US on a visitor's visa the length of each visit is limited to a maximum of six months. After six months, you must either leave or apply for an extension of stay. You may not legally use your visitor's visa to live permanently in the US.

Document Checklist

• Valid Passport: Of forms (from the consulates); Form I - Form I-539, (to apply for extension)
• Documents showing ties to your country. Real estate, close family members, property or job left behind which you may want to return to.
• Proof of financial support? Form I-134, Affidavit of support? US relative or letter from a relative inviting you to a visit, stating you are welcome to stay with him or her ?
• Bank statements
• Personal financial statements
• Evidence of current sources of income
• If you are proposing to go to USA, EUROPE or Canada, a letter from your employer or from your company or in the casev of business visa, appropriate invitation is a must, explaining the reasons for your visit.
• Applications for visitor's visa are trickiest of all. First impression is the last impression. Either you are a tourist or you are not. The Consul can see through your application very quickly no matter how or what you say whatever may be your position financially or otherwise.

Unless your circumstances change, it is unlikely that once declined application for tourist visa will be successful on the second attempt. Contact us for some alternative advise.

Visa Rejected, Passport Stamped
This is a normal practice with Embassies of USA, UK, Canada and European countries to stamp passport if visa is denied.

USA: if Consular officer is convinced after asking you a few questions and examining your documents of your assets and family funds and that you will come back after your study, business, holiday trip or meeting your relatives, he will grant you the visa otherwise he will stamp your passport saying " Visa Application Received on…" This means visa is denied.

UK High Commission is very unique. After Entry Officer interviews you and if he is not satisfied , he will deny the visa by giving a letter of reasons and will also stamp your passport.You have the right to reapply personally or by mail as per the UK Immigration Law.

Visa is normally rejected because:

• Your answers to the questions are not satisfactory.
• The interpreter wrongly interprets you if you are giving interview in Hindi or Punjabi.
• Your file is not complete as per your profession/business/job. You do not have the sufficient funds or the officer has his own doubts of your intentions.

Most Important
You were not able to explain during your interview the purpose of your visit and why you will come back.

Even if your visa is denied or rejected and passport is stamped once or twice, after going through your file, we can assess the reasons for denial and offer you approperiate advice. We have to see your documents,file and also prepare you mentally to face Consular Officer with confidence.

Our experience shows that when you apply by mail on the basis of genuine emergency, we make a special request that you should be considered once again and given the opportunity to explain your case, normally the high ranking officer of the embassy goes through your file and they send you a letter to reappear, in most of the cases visa is granted. For more details consult us.

Visa Extensions
Tourists visas are available for a maximum period of 180 days. No charge are levied for visa extension within the maximum period of 180 days.

Identical passport photographs are required. However, in case of an extension beyond 180 days, which is allowed only in exceptional cases, an extension fee is charged.

Tourists from other countries are advised to check current applicable visa fee/visa extension fees with government of India Tourist Offices or Indian Consular Offices located in their respective countries.

Customs Formalities and Regulations
The usual duty free regulations of one bottle of whisky, i.e. 950 ml or less and 200 cigarettes apply for India.

If the tourist brings in more than $ 1000 in cash or in traveller's cheques, it must be declared by completion of currency declaration form.

While small items like perfumes, cosmetics etc., are allowed into the country, larger items like video cameras are likely to be entered on a "Tourist Baggage Re-export' form to ensure that the article is taken away on departure.

The TBRE form should be re-submitted on departure.
Goods brought in excess of this are chargeable to duty as per prevailing law.

Income Tax Clearence
If a person not domiciled in India intends to say in the country for more than 120 days, an "Income Tax Clearance" certificate is required in order to leave the country.

This document will prove that the person's stay in India was financed by his own money and not by working or selling his goods.

The foreign section of the Income Tax Department at Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and Bombay issues these certificates on being shown the person's passport, visa extension form and the currency exchange receipts which have been used by the person.

Foreign Travel Tax
For international travel from Indian airports Airport Travel Tax must be paid for travel to all other countries. This tax is also applicable to infants who may not be occupying seats.

Visa Application Form
Visa application form is available at the office of Indian Embassy in the country where the NRI/PIO resides. Visa form for nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh are generally different. All NRIs/PIOs, including children (who don't possess OCI or PIO card) need to apply for Visa in separate visa forms.

Download the Visa Form here :

Procedure for obtaining Visa
Visas can be applied for in person or by post at the High Commission of India based in the country from where the candidate intends to depart for India. Specific visas are granted for a variety of purposes that are aforementioned.

Requirements for Visa
Generally the following documents are required for obtaining Indian Visa. However, the requirement may vary from country to country.

• Original passport valid for at least 6 months
• Visa fee
• Two passport size photographs
• Supporting documents, where necessary
• Duly completed application form

Visa for NRIs and PIOs
Persons of Indian Origins and Non-Resident Indians who possess either OCI (Overseas Indian Citizenship) or PIO card don't need Indian Visa. OCI and PIO give them the freedom to visit India without visa. OCI and PIO cards are multi-purpose life long visa for visiting India.

However, those NRIs and PIOs who don't have OCI or PIO card can apply for and get Indian visa through the procedure mentioned above.