Last update: April 2008
India
Visa Information
Top of page 
Introduction
Visitors in India need visa to enter the country unless they are Indian citizen. Non resident Indians that hold citizenship of another country are also required to obtain visas before arriving in India. Visa should be obtained from the Indian embassy or consulate in the applicant's home country. Special permits are required for visiting the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Bhutan, Lakshadweep, remote northern states and Sikkim.
Foreign nationals who does not reside permanently in India, but who are regularly employed with Indian firms or companies on a monthly salary, are permitted to make recurring remittance of their salaries to their home countries for family maintenance. Authorized dealers are instructed to allow foreign nationals to make this remittance, up to 75% of the net salary (after deduction of a contribution to a retirement benefit plan and tax payable) after verifying that the foreigners hold valid employment visas. However, for foreign nationals holding valid employment visas, remittances in excess of 75% may be made, provided the foreign national has received perquisites in India, such as free housing, conveyance and medical care, and provided his or her family (spouse and children) is resident outside India.
General Visa Requirements
Visas can be applied for in person or by post at the High Commission of India in London. Visa applications from persons not ordinarily residing in the UK or from people of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan origin are considered only in the High Commission of India, London and Consulate General of India, Birmingham and their processing may take one week or in some cases much longer. Applicants not ordinarily resident in the UK and Sri Lankan nationals are required to complete an additional form. Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals have to file special visa application forms.
In the following cases processing of applications will take longer:
-
British nationals holding dual nationality or of other origin,
-
Applicants not resident in the UK,
-
Where clearance from India is mandatory,
-
Visitors to restricted areas and
-
Certain cases where documents may need to be verified
Visa Section will contact the applicant about the time of delivery for such passports. Please note that each application is examined individually and the time taken for issuing visas will vary from case to case.
Visitors to restricted/protected areas need special permits and for this purpose an additional form has to be completed. Please contact the High Commission of India, London if you wish to ascertain whether any of the places you intend to visit fall in the category of restricted/protected areas.
All types of visa application forms can be obtained free of charge in any of the following ways:
-
Collected from the India Place window of the High Commission of India at Aldwych, London from 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, except holidays (click here for the official holiday list). However, for processing of visa applications at the counters, queue numbers are issued to applicants only between 8.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon.
-
-
Obtained through fax back service - please dial 0906 844 4543. (To use this service, you need to dial the number from an ordinary telephone, follow instructions and you must have a fax machine on which you can receive the form returned by the High Commission.)
-
Obtained through the post by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Visa Section of the High Commission of India at India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA.
Please ensure that your letters sent to us also have your full address (sender's address) clearly written down on the envelope.
Visa application
Specific visas are granted for a variety of purposes. The principal types of visas issued are Tourist Visa, Business visa, Student and employment visa and Entry visa. Please contact the High Commission of India for further details if you are visiting India for purposes other than tourism, such as journalism, conferences, yoga, voluntary work, mountaineering or other expeditions. The visa application form is, however, the same. Separate forms are available for Pakistani and Bangladeshi Nationals.
Download Visa application forms
Transit Visa
The validity of the Transit visa will be 3 months from the date of issue, for a single Entry only. However stay in India should not exceed 15 days from date of arrival. Evidence of onward travel to a destination outside India is required.
Download Visa application forms
Business Visa
Business Visas are normally granted for three or six months. However, multiple-entry Business Visas for up to two years validity may be granted to technicians/experts going to India in pursuance of bilateral agreements or joint venture projects having government approval.
Download Visa application forms
Student and Employment Visa
Student Visas can be obtained on furnishing proof of admission to recognized Universities/Institutions in India. Employment Visas can also be obtained on furnishing of proof of employment with companies in India.
Download Visa application forms
Entry Visa
Entry Visas are issued to persons of Indian origin for duration of up to five years. These can be obtained, depending on the purpose of visit and eligibility, on a case-by-case basis.
Download Visa application forms
Special Procedure For Processing Visa Applications Of British Passport Holders Of Pakistani Origin
Definition: British Passport holders of Pakistani origin means that either the applicant has himself held a Pakistani passport earlier/holds a Pakistani passport or either of his parents have held Pakistani nationality at any time.
For further information please click here
Visa Fee and Additional Charges
Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. The High Commission reserves the right on granting and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees tendered at the time of making application. Granting of visa does not confer the right of entry to India and is subject to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.
Please refer to Additional Charges and Notes below for special fees applicable to nationals of certain countries.
-
Tourist Visa Fee £30.00, this is a short duration visa for the purpose of holiday or visiting relatives.
-
Business Visa* Fee £30.00, valid up to 6 months, £50.00 for 1 year and £90.00 for 2 years. A letter explaining the nature of business and duration from UK Company and a letter of invitation from an Indian company should be submitted.
-
Transit Visa Fee £8.00 (Single/Double Entry), valid for halts of up to 72 hours within 15 days from date of issue. This visa is issued only for changing of flights en route to another country. Evidence of onward travel outside India is required.
-
Entry Visa* Fee £90.00, valid for 5 years is issued to people of Indian origin only.
-
Long Term Visa* Fee £90.00, valid for 5 years. This is a settlement visa for the people of Indian origin.
-
Student Visa* Fee £55.00, Irrespective of the duration for which visa is obtained. A letter of admission from the recognised educational institution with duration of the course required in all cases
-
Journalist Visa Fee £30.00, valid for three months, single entry. A letter from the employer should be submitted where applicable.
-
Employment Visa* Fee £50.00, valid for one year. An employment contract signed by both the parties should be submitted.
Transfer of Visa Fee £4.00, this is for transfer of five-year visa issued by this mission or other missions in UK, from an expired passport to a new passport. Both the expired and new passports have to be submitted in original along with a separate application form.
Requirements to register with FRO/FRRO
Additional Charges (payable in addition to the normal Visa Fees):
-
£15.00 To all applicants holding US passports.
-
£25.00 Applicants arriving to submit applications beyond Visa Counter hours (08:30-12:00 hrs on working days) on emergency grounds.
-
£10.00 Non-UK passport holders. Proof of stay of at least one year required to be produced for exemption.
-
£30.00 Service charges for applicants holding Russian passports.
-
£5.00 Service charges for applicants holding Romanian passports.
The fees above do not apply to applicants holding Japanese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan or Bangladeshi passports, or passports of countries that provide Gratis Visas to Indian passport holders.
Nationals of Japan are charged a fee of £6.00 for any type of visa for any duration, except for Transit Visas, which are issued to them for £0.75. There is no charge for transfer of long-term visas issued to Japanese nationals.
Nationals of Pakistan are charged a fee of £0.50.
Visa fees applicable to holders of Sri Lankan passports:
-
Business Visa £3.00, single-entry valid for up to six months - £8.00, multiple-entry valid for up to one year
-
Employment Visa £3.00, single-entry valid for up to six months - £6.00, multiple-entry valid for up to six months - £8.00, multiple entry valid for up to one year
-
Transit Visa £3.00, single or double entry
-
Tourist, Student, Conference and all other types of Visas £3.00, single-entry valid for up to six months - £6.00, multiple-entry valid for up to one year
Nationals of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Maldives, Mongolia, Mauritius, North Korea (DPRK), Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa and Uruguay are not charged any visa fees. These applicants should contact the High Commission or its Birmingham or Edinburgh missions for further information.
High Commission Contact details
Indian visas can be obtained in the UK from the High Commission of India, London or other Consulates at the addresses mentioned below:
High Commission of India
India House
Aldwych
London WC2B 4NA
Working Hours: Queue numbers are issued to visa applicants between 8.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon Mondays to Fridays, except holidays.
Visa Enquiries:
02076323149
02076323152
02076323153
Visa Information Service: 09068 44 45 44*
Visa Application Form Faxback: 09068 44 45 43
Consulate General of India, Birmingham
20 Augusta Street
Jewellery Quarter, Hockley
Birmingham, B18 6JL
Please contact the Consulate for the current working hours for Visa Services
Tel: 0121 212 2782
Consulate General of India, Edinburgh
17 Rutland Square
Edinburgh, EH1 2BB
Please contact the Consulate for the current working hours for Visa services
Tel: 0131 229 2144
Source: High Commission of India, London
Last update: April 2008
Top of page | 
