In this page we try to handle information about
travel related requirements and currency. We give in a
list of all Indian Missions outside India, necessary
documentation for getting a visa to India and the
current currency rate of the Indian Rupee. One word of
caution: Please don't deal with touts, since black
marketing of foreign currency is illegal in India and
can invite trouble from the police if caught.
Valid for
three months to five years stay with multiple entries.
Five year long-term stay visas are available to
persons of Indian origin only.
BUSINESS
VISA
Valid for
one to ten years with multiple entries. A letter from
Sponsoring organization indicating nature of
applicant’s business, probable duration of stay,
places and organizations to be visited incorporating
therein a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses, etc.
should accompany the application. Business visa valid
for five years with multiple entries is available to
foreign businessmen who have set up or intend to set
up joint ventures in India.
STUDENT VISA
Valid for
six months to one year with multiple entries for
bonafied students to pursue regular studies at
recognized institutions in India. A letter confirming
admission from such an institution alongwith evidence
of financial arrangements for stay in India should
accompany application. In case of admission in medical
or para-medical courses in India, a letter of approval
or No Objection Certificate from Ministry of Health is
also required. Likewise, for admission in graduate or
post-graduate courses in Engineering or Technical
institutions in India, a letter of approval or a No
Objection Certificate from Ministry of Human Resources
Development Dept. of Education) should be submitted.
For research purposes detail synopsis of the research
project, countersigned by the sponsoring institution
in India should be submitted.
NOTE: Processing of applications for research may take
about three months.
TRANSIT VISA
Valid for
single/double entry for maximum stay of 15 days for
bonafied transit purposes only.
MISSIONARIES
Valid for
single entry and duration as permitted by government
of India. A letter, in triplicate, from sponsoring
organization indicating intended destination in India,
probable lenght of stay, and nature of duties to be
discharged should be submitted alongwith guarantee for
applicant’s maintenance while in India. NOTE:
Processing of applications for missionaries may take
upto three months.
JOURNALIST
VISA
Journalist
visas are given to professional journalists and
photographers for three-month’s stay in India.
EMPLOYMENT
VISA
Employment
visas are initially issued for one year stay. This can
be extended by the Foreigners’ Regional Registration
Office in India, if the job contract continues.
Spouses and children will get coterminus visas.
CONFERENCE
VISA
A letter of
invitation from the organizer of the conference is to
be submitted alongwith the visa application. For visit
to Restricted or Protected Areas, a separate form (in
triplicate) is to be filled in alongwith three photos.
Processing of this application will take two months.
Besides the above-mentioned categories, visas are also
available for learning Yoga, Music and Dance in India
from the institutions approved by the government of
India.
NO REFUNDS: Visa fee once received cannot be
refunded, even if the application is withdrawn,
visa is refused or the type of visa applied for
has not been granted.
Incomplete/false information: Application forms
should be filled in fully, legibly and accurately
and submitted with passport. Misrepresentation of
facts may result in denial of visa. Application
received with incomplete details will remain
unprocessed.
Applications are accepted from 9:15 a.m. to 1:00
p.m.. The visa counters are closed at 1:00 p.m.,
except in emergency cases, such as death and
serious illness in the family.
Visa is issued on the same day between 4:30 p.m.
and 5:15 p.m., except where prior reference is
required to be made to the authorities in India.
Applications from non-US passport holders, who are
not permanent/long-term resident in this country,
take five working days to process. Visa
applications are also accepted by mail. Please go
through detailed instructions before submitting
visa applications.
NORMAL
VISA FEES
Type of Visa
For US
Nationals
For Other
Nationals
Transit Visa
(For bona fide transit passengers only)
$25
$5
Six months
Tourist/Entry visa
$50
$30
One Year
Tourist/Other visa
$70
$50
Business/Student
Visa for One Yea
$70
$50
Five Year
Tourist/Business Visa
$120
$100
Ten Year
Tourist/Business Visa
$120
n/a
Transfer of
Five Year visa to new passport
$25
$5
SPECIAL
RATES
Category
Fees
Pakistan
$2
Sri Lanka
$2 (Transit
Visa), $4(Single entry),$9.00(Multiple/long-term visa
Maldives
$4.00(for
more than 90 days)
GRATIS
Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Mongolia, Namibia,
Poland, San Marino, Sweden, Uruguay, Tibetan refugees
holding Indian identity certificates
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
An amount of
$30 is charged over and above the normal fee for
rendering emergency service.
Mailing
Charges
For
Fees
Certified
Mail
$3 per
passport and $1 for each additional passport
Express
mail/overnight delivery
$15
All fees
should be paid either in cash or through money orders,
bank drafts or certified checks drawn in favour of
CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA
