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Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Last update: December 2008

India

Visa Information

Introduction
General Visa Requirements
Health Card - Swine Influenza A(H1N1)
Visa Application
Transit Visa
Business Visa
Student and Employment Visa
Entry Visa
Special Procedure For Processing Visa Applications Of British Passport Holders Of Pakistani Origin
Visa Fee and Additional Charges
Requirements to register with FRO/FRRO
High Commission Contact details

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Introduction

Visitors to India require a visa to enter the country unless they are of Indian citizenship. Non-resident Indians that hold a citizenship of another country are also required to obtain a visas before arriving in India. Visas should be obtained from the Indian embassy or consulate in the applicant's home country (except when the application process has been out sourced by the high commission). Special permits are required when visiting the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Bhutan, Lakshadweep, remote northern states and Sikkim.

Foreign nationals who do 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

Whereby visas previously could be applied for in person or by post at the High Commission of India in London, due to the new changes that have been implemented from the 29th May 2008 this can no longer be done.

As a major step towards upgrading Visa services, the High Commission of India, London and the Consulates General of India in Birmingham and Edinburgh would be outsourcing the collection of visa applications and their delivery to VF Services (UK) Limited (Applicants residing in Scotland would as usual submit their applications to The Consulate General of India, Edinburgh, till further notice).

The VF Services (UK) Ltd. IVACs (Indian Visa Application Centres) for accepting visa applications and return of documents in the first phase will be located at the following places:-

1) 60-62 Wilton Road,
Victoria,
London, SW1V 1DE

2) 142-148 Goswell Road,
London, EC1V 7DU

3) 1-3 Canalside, Uxbridge Road,
Hayes, UB4 0JN

4) 20 - 21 Pemberton Street
Birmingham B18 6NY

5) 66 Hannover Buildings, Rose Street
Edinburgh EH2 2NN

Visa applications can be submitted at the IVACS from 08:30 hrs. to 14:30 hrs. and documents can be collected from 13:00 hrs. to 16:30 hrs. Monday to Friday.

A service-fee of £8.86(Inclussive of VAT and Bank Charges) per application will be charged by VF Services (UK) Ltd. Additional to the normal visa fee of the High Commission. Any other charges such as postal or courier charges, wherever applicable, will be borne by the applicant.

For further information on how to process you visa application successfully online or to track progress made on your existing application please click on the external link below.

http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/index.aspx

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.

Health Card - Swine Influenza A(H1N1)

In view of the spread of the Swine Influenza A(H1N1) all passengers travelling to India will be screened at the International Airports in India on their arrival and required to carry the declaration form (Health Card) at the Immigration. This may also involve quarantine and even hospitalisation, if detected, with any symptoms connected with the flu.

Kindly print the Health screening card from the links below, complete and sign it before travelling to India.

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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

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 £105.00, valid up to 1 year, £80.00 for 1 year and £135.00 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 £135.00, valid for more than 1 year for a maximum stay of 180 days per visit 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 £55.00, valid for three months, single entry. A letter from the employer should be submitted where applicable.
Employment Visa* Fee £310.00, 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.

For further information please click on the link below:

VFS Global, India Visa fees

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.
£30.00 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.