A visa is as important as a passport for persons travelling
from one country to the other. Those persons desirous of entering
India from foreign countries must possess a valid visa in addition
to a valid passport and the same applies to other countries as
well.
A visa cannot be obtained on arrival to India as the many Indian
missions abroad are authorized to issue visas to India from the
countries they are travelling from.
The fees taken to process a visa is non-refundable and can be
changed without notice. The decision of granting a visa lies with
the High Commission alone. The duration and the type of visa lies
with the authorities and at the same time if a visa is granted
this does not confer an individual the right to enter India. The
entry is subject to the immigration authorities’ discretion.
Various types of Visas
1. Tourist visas are very commonly obtained by millions of people
who are visiting India to experience its varied heritage and the
see the beautiful cities in the country. This can be obtained
for a period of 6 months according to the supporting documents
and a person’s financial strength.
2. A business visa can be obtained for a minimum of one year
to up to five years by getting a letter from the organization
that sponsors the individual.
3. Student visas are got on submission of the admission notice
from a recognized university or institution in India. This is
valid for the entire duration of the respective course or for
a five year period which is less.
4. Conference visas are short terms visas and last till the duration
of the conference on producing a letter of participation from
the organizers.
5. Transit visas are considered visiting visas which are for
15 days only allowing a passenger to stop over in India en route
to other countries.
The application form for obtaining visas is available at the Indian
Embassy. However, the procedure for obtaining visas for NRI and
PIO can be done at the country of their residence. Bangladeshis
and Pakistanis have a different procedure for obtaining visa.
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