Visa & Custom
General Imformation About Visa:
Immigration Passport
Citizens of all countries, except Nepal & Bhutan , require a valid national passport or valid travel documents and a valid visa granted by Indian Embassy or Indian High Commission abroad for entering India . Nepalese or Bhutanese citizens need no passport or visa but should possess suitable documents for their identification when proceeding from their respective countries.
Requirement For Visa:
Visas are usually issued without much difficulty if you meet the application requirements. These are: sufficient funds for the duration of your stay, a valid passport, ID photos, and a company letter for business travelers. The length of visas varies, allowing visitors to stay in India for anything from 15 days to six months.
Tourist Visas:
Usually, a multi-entry visa, valid for a period of 180 days, is granted for the purpose of tourism. The visa is valid from the date of issue
Collective Visas:
The facility also exists for the issue of collective visas to group tours consisting of not less than four members and sponsored by a travel agency recognised by the Government of India. Such groups may split into smaller groups for visiting different places in India after obtaining a collective "licence to travel" from the immigration authorities in India . However, they must reassemble and depart as the original group.
Transit Visas:
Transit visas are granted by Indian Missions abroad for a maximum period of 15 days.
Exemption From Registration
Foreigners coming to India on tourist visas for 180 days or shorter period are not required to register themselves with any authority in India . They can move about freely in the country except to restricted/protected areas and prohibited places. Nationals of Bangladesh are exempted from registration up to six months. If their stay exceeds six months, they have to register themselves. Individuals without nationality (stateless persons; IRO refugees, persons receiving legal or political protection, holders of Nansen passport etc.) should have valid passports, identity documents or sworn affidavits along with the visa for which they should apply two months in advance. Family passports issued by other governments are recognised without discrimination.
Landing Permit Facility
Tourists may note the no Landing Permit Facility is available to any foreign tourist landing without a visa. A limited facility exists only for group tours consisting of four or more members and sponsored by a travel agency recognised by the Government of India. Children of foreigners of Indian origin below the age of 12 may be granetd a landing permit by the immigration authorities upto a period of 90 days to see their relatives, in case they happen to come without a visa.
Conference Visa:
Delegates coming to attend international conferences in India can be granted Conference Visa to cover the conference as well as for tourism in India . Delegates are advised to apply to Indian Embassies well in advance. ** Employment Visa : Foreigners desirous of coming to India for taking up employment should apply for an Employment Visa, which are issued by Indian Missions abroad. Initially granted for a period of one year, it can be extended in India upto the period of contract. ** Recreation : Foreigners wishing to undertake any international sporting event, trekking, botanical expeditions, yoga, journalists, media men, documentary and feature film makers may obtain visas after due formalities from the Indian Embassy.
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 $ 10000 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.
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. |
