India is a country with some of the most ancient civilisation in the world. It is an excellent destination for people enchanted with history. The country is also famous for its reputable doctors and quality medical services.
This article aims to provide valuable tips and information on how you can apply for an Indian Visa.
Summary
| Requirement type | Mandatory for UK citizens |
| Travel purpose | Tourist, business or medical |
| Validity period | 365 days, unlimited number of trips |
| Stay | 90 or 180 days at most (tourist, depending on passport), or 180 days per visit (business) |
| Delivery time | Normal; an average of one week
Urgent applications; an average within three working days |
| Charges | £109.95 per Visa |
| Application | Online |
| Payment method | Visa, MasterCard, American Express or PayPal |
What is India Visa?
Since 2019, all the issued India business and tourist e-visas are valid for 365 days.
The Indian Visa or e-visa is an electronic document mandatory for all travels to India. You can apply for it through the High Commission of India website.
Although a traveller can make an unlimited number of trips to India, you can only leave the country at any point with an Immigration Check Post.
Types of India Visas
| Visa type | Relevance | Validity period |
| Tourist Visa | Visiting India for tourism | 30 days (not extendable in India) |
| Employment Visa | Skilled people who wish to take up employment | Five years or period of the contract (extendable in India) |
| Project Visa | For executing projects in Power and Steel sectors | A year or for the actual duration of the project |
| ‘X’ or Entry Visa | For individuals accompanying families of foreign nationals | Five years (extendable in India) |
| Research Visa | For Pursuing research in any field | Five years (extendable in India) |
| Transit Visa | Travellers passing through India to a different destination | 15 days (not extendable in India) |
| Conference Visa | International seminars or seminars held by government PSUs or NGOs | Duration of the conference |
| Medical Visa | Individuals seeking treatment in India at recognised and specialised hospitals and treatment centres
|
A year |
| Student Visa | For individuals who wish the qualified educational institutions | Five years or the period of the course, whichever is less (extendable in India) |
| Business Visa | Issued to persons travelling to India for business purposes, including;
a) meetings, b) signing of contracts, c) product inspection, d) market survey, plus more. |
Valid for the period of contract |
Requirements for the India Visa
The general requirements for the India Visa are;
- A scanned passport, valid for at least one year
- A blank page for the Visa
- One recent colour passport size photograph.
- Return tickets
- Proof of reservations made in India
For an employment visa, you may also need;
- An invitation letter from a company or agent in India addressed to the Embassy of India. The letter must explain the kind of job the applicant is to perform.
For a Research Visa, you will need;
- Details on the subject, places to visit and total duration of the research in India.
- Confirmation of admission in an institute in India, where the research will occur.
- Recommendation letter from the institution where the applicant is currently studying or working.
- Proof of financial sources to finance the research.
For a transit visa, you also need;
- A copy of SEAMAN’S BOOK (in case of seamen)
- Letter from the employer with the reason(s) for requesting transit
- The employer must sign and stamp the letter
- A signed and stamped letter from the Indian agent with complete information on the visit. Address the letter to the Embassy of India, Warsaw (in case of seamen)
For a Conference Visa;
- Submit an invitation letter from the conference organiser along with the Visa
- If an NGO organises the conference, you will require the following clearances:
- A copy of security clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs, India
- A copy of political clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, India
- A copy of the administrative approval from the Nodal Ministry, India
- A copy of clearance from the concerned state of government
For a medical Visa;
- Letter from Indian hospital, with confirmation of patient’s admission.
- A letter from the Indian doctor or hospital with details of the person who will attend to the patient.
- Copies of previous treatment reports.
For a student visa, you will need;
- A letter from the university the applicant will be attending. It should show the time the studies will take and confirm admission to the institution.
- Bank statement of the applicant. The Embassy of India requires this information to see if the student can take care of themselves.
Who Needs an India Visa?
All travellers from the UK to India must have a visa, except for minors (under 16 years). If travelling with a minor;
- You must provide a copy of the information pages on their passports. If the parents do not have passports, include a notarised statement stating this.
- A photocopy of the minor’s birth certificate must translate into English.
Additionally, all minors above five years must sign their name in the signature box.
NOTE: Both parents need to fill in and sign the Parental Authorisation Form for minors
How Long Does the India Visa Last?
Visitors with a British passport can stay in India for a maximum of 180 days. Those travelling for business purposes can also stay for a maximum of 180 days. However, travellers who wish to extend their stay need to register at the FRRO office in India before the 160th day.
A medical Visa is valid for 60 days.
How Long Does It Take to Get an India Visa?
India e-visa takes an average of one week to process. However, you can have an urgent application processed within three days.
With manual processing, application delivery times are inconsistent and often delayed.
How Much Does the India Visa Cost?
India e-visa applications costs £109.95 per person. You can pay for the Visa through American Express, Visa, MasterCard or PayPal. Get more information on e- Visa here.
Extra Tips
- Applying for the India e-Visa requires several documents in PDF format for easy upload. For documents needed in hardcopy, print in colour and A4 format.
- Applicants must apply for the Visa 30 days before the intended date of travel.
- You can change the date and location of arrival or departure after your Visa application. Ensure that your changes meet the Visa requirements.
- Travellers who wish to prolong their stay for more than 180 days cannot use the e-visa in India. Instead, they need to get stamps in the passport Embassy. Costs are higher, and the application takes longer.
- Diplomatic passport holders of many nationalities get exemption from the Indian Visa. Access this list here.
- A visitor from a country with the risk of yellow fever must have proof of yellow fever vaccination.
- Biometric enrolment is a must for the issue of visas of 5years and above.
- All visa fee is non-refundable once paid.
- Due to COVID-19, limited flights between India and the UK continue to operate. All passengers of international arrivals undergo screening on arrival. Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 must go to a medical facility for more tests.
- As of February 22, all travellers must upload a self-declaration form and upload a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel. Also, they must declare via the portal that they will agree to quarantine for 14 days.
- Travellers from the UK or the Middle East must fill in a form declaring their travel history of the past 14 days.
Get Your India Visa Today
Whether you plan to visit India for tourism, study or medical services, you need a Visa. The Indian government issues travellers with e-visas to allow them to explore the country. Visa application only takes a few minutes to process and complete. Start here.