Guidelines for obtaining visa

Notice

A decision has been taken by the Government of India to make it a mandatory requirement for all applicants to apply online for an Indian visa. Therefore, with effect from 19.11.2012 all online visa applications by ordinary passport holders will be accepted for scrutiny and processing at India Visa Service Centre (IVSC), House No.296, Kapurdhara Marg (adjacent to Indian Embassy, Kathmandu). Online applications of Diplomatic, Official, UNLP & Other International Organizations will continue to be accepted at the Indian Embassy.

VISA - Introductory Information

• Except Bhutan & Nepal Nationals all foreign nationals including children MUST obtain a visa to travel to India
• Please do not finalize your travel arrangements to India before ascertaining the visa requirements.
• Validity of Visa is effective from the date of issue and not from the date of entry into India
• The Embassy of India, Kathmandu reserves the right to delay/refuse visa without assigning any reasons. Visas are issued subject to various checks and clearances. Visa fee once deposited will not be refunded.
• The Embassy of India, Kathmandu reserves the right of granting and deciding type of visa / duration of visa / number of entries, irrespective of the fees rendered.
• Passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months and in cases of long term visas, at least till the duration of the visa requested for.
• Acceptance of visa application and fee does not necessarily mean grant of visa.
• Suppression of facts or furnishing misleading/false information will result in denial of visa without assigning any reasons.
• Granting of visa does not confer the right of entry and is subject to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.
• Canvassing for visa, suppression of material facts or submission of forged / false documents is a disqualification. Overstay of visa or violation of visa rules is a disqualification for grant of visa.
• No objection letter from either of the parents is required if a minor is traveling with one parent.
• If the minor is traveling alone or with relatives, consent letter signed by both the parents is required
• Visa applications of non-resident foreign nationals will be entertained for short term Tourist visa (3 month or 6 month/single entry). They are advised to obtain long term Tourist visas and other categories of visas from the country of their origin.

VISA SERVICE - General Information

• With effect from 19.11.2012 all visa applications submitted at the Indian Visa Service Centre (IVSC) (i.e. by the ordinary passport holders) and at the Embassy of India, Kathmandu (i.e. by Diplomatic, Official and UNLP passport holders) will only be accepted in the online form.
• Online visa applications and Telex forms can be submitted at the visa counter of the IVSC between 0930 hrs to 1200 hrs on all working days.
• Processing time is 7-10 days or even more depending on the visa regulations laid down by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu.
• Delivery of passports affixed with visas can be collected next day from the counter of the IVSC between 1500 hrs to 1700 hrs.

GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING AND OBTAINING MANDATORY ONLINE VISA

• Visit www.indianvisaonline.gov.in where you will find all relevant information pertaining to the visa category selected therein. You may then click on “Online Application Link” to be redirected to the Government of India Visa Online Application Form.
• Carefully note down the Temporary Application ID number (15 characters) consisting of numbers and alphabets, which will be displayed immediately on the Government of India Visa Online application form. This can be saved to retrieve your application and continue in case you wish to complete part of the application later.
• Complete the application online. You will receive a Web Reference Confirmation Number. The completed Government of India Visa Application form will open up in PDF format at this stage. Save the form and print out the same for submission to the Indian Visa Service Centre, House No.296, Kapurdhara Marg, Kathmandu (Adjacent Embassy of India, Kathmandu) only on the next day of applying online.
• When filing the Online Form, please do ensure that all details entered are accurate. The option to edit text is not available once the form has been saved and printed. In such a case, a new form need to be filled again with all correct information entered.
• You can use either an Ink-Jet or Laser printer to print the completed Visa Application Form once you have submitted online.
• This site is best viewed in Chrome/Internet Explorer (Windows) version 8.0 and above.
• You must also have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7.0 or a higher version installed on your PC in order to download and print the completed application form.
• Once you have completed your online application form, please save, print and sign and present it along with the supporting documents and passport to Indian Visa Service Centre, Kathmandu on the next day.
• Submission of all relevant documents mentioned in the checklist on the website is important for acceptance of the visa application at the Indian Visa Service Centre/Embassy of India, Kathmandu.
 
• It is a mandatory requirement to ensure that your photo is 2 inch x 2 inch (51mm x 51mm) in size with white background. Photos which do not meet this specification will not be accepted. Detail requirements regarding the photo can be found in the Indian Online Visa Site.
• The online visa application form should be filled at least one day in advance of submission of application form print-out at the Indian Visa Service Centre/Embassy of India, Kathmandu.
 
• In case of any difficulty in filling up of visa application forms, applicants may please call us at 00977 1 4001516.
 

Note:

• Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, it may take several minutes to download the initial and completed copies of the form/s.
• Once you have completed your online application form please ensure that you bring a hard copy of the completed signed form with you while visiting the Indian Visa Service Centre. Incomplete applications or those signed by other than the applicant or containing incorrect information are liable for rejection without any claim for fee refund. Applications can be submitted in person or through their representative/s.

On first day of visit to the IVSC

• Produce your online visa application and your passport for scrutiny and processing of your visa request.
• Pay the requisite fees (Telex + Visa + Service Charge).
• Collect your receipt and note the date for your next visit.
• Keep the fee receipt carefully. Present the same during your subsequent visit.
• Transit visa will be granted on the next day of submitting the online visa application form at Indian Visa Service Centre.

 

General Conditions/Requirements for grant of visa

A) Business visa

• Business visa will be granted to a foreign businessman who wants to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture.
• Business visa will also be granted to a person who intends to visit India for purchase and sale of industrial products.
• Business visa will not be granted to foreign nationals coming for executing projects/contracts in India. •Business Visa needs to be obtained from Indian Mission of the country of origin of the applicant or from the country of domicile of the foreigner provided the period of permanent residence of that applicant in that particular country is for more than two years.
•A foreign national coming for executing projects/contracts will not be granted Business Visa. They may apply for grant of Employment Visa in Indian Mission in country of origin of the applicant.
•In respect of family members of a foreign national who is granted Business Visa may apply for grant of an 'X' Visa (i.e. Dependent Visa). The validity of 'X' Visa could be co-terminus with the validity of the principal Visa holder.

 

B) Employment visa

• The Employment visa needs to be obtained only from the Indian Mission in the country of origin of the applicant.

•The Employment Visa will be issued from the country of origin of the applicant, or from the country of domicile provided the period of permanent residence of the applicant in that particular country is for more than 2 years.

 

C) Student Visa

• Proof of confirmed admission to a full time course in a recognized/approved educational institution in India.
• To show satisfactory evidence of financial support for the academic period.

D) Provisional visa for students

• A provisional student visa for 3 months will be issued on the basis of provisional admission certificate/letter of offer issued by the university/recognized college or educational institution in India.
• If the admission is not given/ confirmed within the stipulated period, the student will have to leave India.

E) Research visa

• The foreigner who desires to undertake research in India should apply to the concerned Indian Mission with the subject of research projects, details of places to be visited, previous visits, whether the scholar has secured admission into recognized or reputed institutions and evidence of financial resources.

F) Journalist visa

• Letter from the news agency requesting for grant of visa mentioning the purpose and place of work.

G) Entry visa

• The entry visa is granted to spouse of Indian citizens and person of Indian origin.
• The Entry visa is also granted to children and spouse of those foreigners who are on long term (Business, Employment etc.) visa to India.

H) Transit visa

• Transit visa is issued for direct transit through India on production of confirmed onward journey ticket from India.
• Transit visa is valid for 15 days from the date of issue and stay in India should not exceed more than 3 days from the date of entry.
• For a stay in India beyond 3 days a visa of the appropriate category should be obtained.
• Transit visa is meant only for bonafide transit and not for tourism.

I) Tourist visa

• Tourist visa, maximum period of 6 months validity, will be granted to the foreigners.
• Tourist visa are granted only to those who have no residence or occupation in India and whose objective is tourism or casual visits to friends and relatives in India.
• Repeated applications for Tourist visa will not be entertained.

•Application made for grant of Tourist Visa frequently ie within one month of expiry of the previous Tourist Visa required clearance from the Ministry also and visa will be issued after receiving clearance only.