Visa Services
All foreign nationals, including children, require a visa to enter India. The only exceptions are nationals of Nepal and Bhutan who can enter India without a visa.
Visa fees once deposited cannot be refunded even if requested service is modified or not granted.
Validity of the visa begins from the date of issue.
Certain areas in India have been designated as protected or restricted areas and foreigners can visit these areas (click here for more information) only after getting a valid PA/RA permit in addition to the visa.
Foreigners coming from or through yellow fever countries must have a valid vaccination certificate.
On arrival/departure, foreigners should fill up Disembarkation/Embarkation forms.
Foreigners entering India on long term visas valid for more than 180 days should follow the relevant registration formalities
CAUTION
The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act bans all forms of wildlife trade. Violations of the provisions of the Act are punishable with heavy fines and imprisonment. Foreigners are therefore, advised not to buy any wildlife or wildlife products or derivatives, specially ivory articles, fur and skin articles derived from wild animals such as Shahtoosh.
BEWARE
Foreigners should not carry, buy, sell or use psychotropic drugs or any other narcotic substances while in India as their purchase, sale or possession is a cognisable offence.
IMPORTANT
Violation of visa rules, including overstay, indulging in activities other than the stated purpose of the visa, non-registration, etc. are treated very seriously and may lead to fines, debarment from future entry and even detention and imprisonment.
To apply for an Indian visa, please follow the instructions, requirements and other relevant information given below:
| Requirements (to be submitted with every application) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Original passport valid for at least six months with at least two blank pages for affixing visa, and for immigration stamps. | |
| Relevant application form duly filled in. (Please check instructions given against specific visa categories below.) |
||
| One recent passport size photograph | ||
| A self-addressed stamped envelope by Registered Mail/Security Post/Certified Mail/Express Post if passport is to be returned by post. | ||
| Supporting documents, where necessary. Please check instructions given against specific visa categories below. |
||
| TCN form: Additional form to be submitted along with visa application by holders of non-Australian passports or by Australian passport holders who are originally from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iran or Afghanistan). |  Download [pdf] |
|
| Fees | Correct visa fee payable. (Please see Fee Schedule for details). | Download Fee List here  |
| Types of visas | |
|---|---|
| Transit Visa | Tourist Visa |
| Business Visa | Entry Visa |
| Employment Visa | Conference Visa |
| Student Visa | Yoga Visa |
| Visa to Missionaries | Journalist Visa |
| Research Visa | Visa for Sri Lankan Nationals |
| Visa for Pakistani Nationals | Visa for Bangladeshi Nationals |
| Visits to Restricted and Protected Areas | For transfer of Visas from an old passport to a new passport, please go to the MISCELLANEOUS CONSULAR SERVICES section |
To apply for a visa please download our General Visa Application Form:
Download [pdf]
Transit Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Transit visas are valid for visits of up to 72 hours in India within 15 days from the date of issue of the visa and must be obtained before departure. Transit Visas cannot be obtained from immigration counters at ports of entry in India. Evidence of onward travel to a destination outside India is required.
Tourist Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Tourists wishing to visit India for sightseeing, casual visits to friends and relatives are normally granted Tourist Visas for up to six months, with multiple entries effective from the date of issue. Tourist visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. Applicants are required to indicate the place(s) of visit, duration of stay and flight details/itinerary.
Business Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Business Visas are normally granted for up to 6 months. Applicants are required to provide a letter/ invitation from the Indian company / trade partner or alternatively a letter from the Australian company (the employer) explaining the purpose of the visit. For a one year business visa, letters from both the Indian company / trade partner and the Australian company are required.
Entry Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Entry Visas are generally issued to persons of Indian origin for the purpose of visiting family in India and the duration of the visa could be for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or up to 5 years. Applicants are required to provide proof of Indian origin (old Indian passport, birth certificate etc).
Employment Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Employment visas are issued for the duration of the assignment in India. Applicants are required to provide proof of employment, i.e. copies of contract and the terms & conditions with the company in India. Spouses and children accompanying the applicant are granted entry visas on request for the duration of the assignment.
Conference Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Conference visas are issued for attending conferences or seminars in India. A letter of invitation from the organisers of the conference/seminar is to be submitted along with the visa application. For participation in certain conferences, approval of the concerned authorities in India may be essential and would, therefore, require a longer processing time.
Student Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Student Visas are issued to bona-fide students to pursue studies in recognised educational institutions in India for the duration of the academic course of study or for a period of five years, whichever is less, on the basis of firm letters confirming admission of the applicant and duration of the course.
Yoga Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
Visas to foreigners to pursue studies in yoga, vedic culture, Indian system of music, dance, etc., are issued on production of admission letters from recognised Indian institutions.
Visas to Missionaries (general visa application form plus TCN form if required)
For all other types of visas which are valid for more than 180 days registration is required only if the person plans to stay more than 180 days on any single visit. This registration should be done at the earliest but definitely before expiry of 180 days from the date of entry into India.
Journalist Visa (general visa application form plus TCN form if required and additional form for filming if required)
Journalist visas are issued to professional journalists and photographers for a period of up to 3 months (single or double entry). Please provide details on a separate sheet, of places to be visited and the persons to be interviewed. For shooting documentaries in India please fill in the additional form (download.pdf) for this purpose. Please allow one month's time for processing documentary proposals.
Research Visa
Individual research projects can be undertaken in Indian Universities/Institutions of Higher Learning after obtaining a Research Visa. It is necessary that the scholar should be affiliated with a university/ Institution in India and a Certificate in this regard should be obtained and enclosed along with the application. If the applicant has the approval of the Department of Secondary & Higher Education of the Government of India, he may apply using the general visa application form plus TCN form if required, and should attach the Certificate of Affiliation and the approval of the Department of Secondary & Higher Education of Government of India. If such approval has not yet been obtained, then please apply using the Application for the Approval of Research Project and Authorisation of Visa. Download [pdf], in which case the applicant is required to submit seven copies each of the following (plus TCN form if required):
- Application for the Approval of Research Project and Authorisation of Visa duly filled in.
- Certificate of Affiliation duly signed and stamped by the Registrar/Vice Chancellor of the University or Head of the Institution for Higher Learning
- Passport size photographs.
- Synopsis of the research project as approved by the affiliating University/Institution.
- Itinerary in India.
As prior approval of the Department of Secondary & Higher Education of Government of India takes time to process, applicants are advised to apply at least 4 months in advance.
Visas for Pakistani Nationals (Visa form for Pakistani nationals plus TCN form)
Visitor visa is granted to Pakistani nationals and Australian nationals of Pakistan origin, who have relatives in India or wish to visit India for any other legitimate purpose, and should provide documentary proof in support thereof. Applicants should give complete verifiable addresses of the relatives/sponsors in India. Application should in particular indicate port of arrival as well as details of previous visits to India, if any. If the applicants had visited India earlier copies of the visas may be enclosed.
Visa to Pakistani nationals with dual nationality would be issued on the Pakistani passport only*. If the Pakistani passport cannot be produced, the applicant has to submit a Statutory Declaration duly attested by the competent authorities (Notary Public or Justice of Peace) stating that the applicant is not holding a Pakistani passport.
* Visa application should be in the form specified for Pakistani nationals and should be submitted in quadruplicate (four sets).
Application for Business Visa should be supported by a letter from the Australian company as well as invitation letter from the Indian company.
Since the approval of the concerned authorities in India is essential applicants are advised to apply at least 2-3 months in advance.
Visas for Sri Lankan Nationals (general visa application form plus TCN form)
Visa application should be in the general application form. Visa to Sri Lankan nationals with dual nationality would be issued on the Sri Lankan passport only. If the Sri Lankan passport cannot be produced, the applicant has to submit a Statutory Declaration duly attested by the competent authorities (Notary Public or Justice of Peace) stating that the applicant is not holding a Sri Lankan passport.
Visa for Bangladeshi Nationals (visa form for Bangladeshi nationals plus TCN form)
Visa application should be in the form specified for Bangladeshi nationals. Visa to Bangladeshi nationals with dual nationality would be issued on the Bangladeshi passport only. If the Bangladeshi passport cannot be produced, the applicant has to submit a Statutory Declaration duly attested by the competent authorities (Notary Public or Justice of Peace)stating that the applicant is not holding a Bangladeshi passport.
Visits to Restricted and Protected Areas
Certain areas in India have been designated as protected or restricted areas. Entry of foreigners to such areas is limited to certain tourist locations only. For such tourist visits, special endorsements/permits are required.
Protected Areas
- Whole of Nagaland
- Whole of Manipur
- Whole of Mizoram
- Whole of Arunachal Pradesh
- Parts of Sikkim
- Parts of Himachal Pradesh
- Parts of Uttarakhand
- Parts of Rajasthan
- Parts of Jammu and Kashmir
Restricted Areas
- Whole of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Parts of Sikkim
Only tourist groups, of 4 or more people, are allowed to visit Protected Areas. To obtain a Protected Area Permit, the group has to submit a letter of sponsorship from a recognized travel agency in India and also a pre-drawn itinerary together with their application. Validity of the Protected Area Permit varies from 5 days to 15 days depending on the places to be visited, so a confirmed itinerary showing duration of stay in each location is essential.
Permission to visit Restricted Areas can be given to individuals or to groups of 4 or more persons, but here also, a letter of sponsorship from a recognized travel agency in India and a confirmed, pre-drawn itinerary has to be submitted along with the application.
Registration
All persons who hold Student Visa, Employment Visa and Research Visa which are valid for more than 180 days are required to get themselves registered with the nearest Foreign Registration Office (FRO) or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival in India.
For all other types of visas which are valid for more than 180 days registration is required only if the person plans to stay more than 180 days on any single visit. This registration should be done at the earliest but definitely before expiry of 180 days from the date of entry into India.
Children below 16 years are exempted from Registration formalities.