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Passport/Visa Requirements for Visiting India
Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes No Australian Yes Yes No Canadian Yes Yes No USA Yes Yes No OtherEU Yes Yes No Japanese Yes Yes No
Restricted entry: Entry is refused to nationals of Afghanistan if their passport or ticket shows evidence of transit or boarding in Pakistan.
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except the following provided they are not missionaries or intending to take up employment:
(a) nationals of Bhutan and Nepal for a maximum stay of 3 months;
(b) nationals of the Maldives for a maximum stay of 90 days. The period of 90 days includes any prior period of stay during a period of 6 months immediately before the date of entry;
(c) transit passengers whose tickets show they intend to continue their journey from the airport, provided they do not leave the airport, and provided they continue their journey within 72 hours (24 hours via Mumbai). Nationals of Pakistan must travel via Amritsar, Delhi or Mumbai airports, continuing their journey the same day, and they are not allowed to leave the airport. Nationals of Bangladesh may require a visa if they have to leave the airport for a connecting flight.
Types of visa and cost:
- Tourist: £30 (3 months).
- Business: £30 (3 months); £50 (1 year); £90 (2 years).
- Transit: £8. Restricted Area Permits are needed to visit some areas (see below).
- Conference, Journalist and Student visas are also available (contact the Embassy or High Commission for details).
Nationals of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Hungary, Jamaica, Maldives, Mongolia, Mauritius, Korea (DPR), Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa and Uruquay are exempt from visa fees.
Note: (a) The High Commission in London reserves the right to decide on the duration of the visa notwithstanding the minimum fee. (b) 5-year visas are only issued to nationals of Indian origins. (c) Non-UK nationals applying in the UK need to pay an additional £10 (£15 for US passport holders) unless holding proof of at least 1-year residence in the UK. Validity: Tourist (up to 3 months); Business (up to 2 years); Transit (normally 72 hours, but 15 days if stamped by Immigration authorities). Long-term (up to 5 years). 3 months multiple entry Visas are issued as standard unless otherwise stated.
Application to: Embassy or High Commission (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see address section.
Application requirements:
- (a) Completed application form. Nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh must complete special application forms.
- (b) Passport valid for at least 6 months.
- (c) 2 passport-size photos.
- (d) Fee (postal orders only for postal applications).
- (e) Stamped addressed special delivery envelope for postal applications.
- (f) Business visa applicants need to present a letter from their employee stating the reason of the visit and an invitation from the company in India.
Working days required:
- Visas: 1 day (personal applications); 1 week for persons not ordinarily resident in the UK and for nationals of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; 4-6 weeks (postal applications); up to 3 months (if the application needs to be sent to India). Restricted Area Permits: 7 days.
Temporary residence: Prior permission should be sought before entry into India.
Restricted and protected areas:
Certain parts of the country have been designated protected or restricted areas that require special permits and in some cases prior government authorisation which is easily obtained. Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be granted to visit that region only. Passengers are advised to check with the Government of India Tourist Office (GITO) for up-to-date information before departure. The following states are subject to some restrictions: Arunachul Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim. Contact the Embassy or High Commission for more details (see address section).
Visa Offices in the UK
High Commission of India, India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA Queue numbers are issued between 8.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon Mondays to Fridays, except holidays
Consulate General of India, Birmingham 20 Augusta Street, Jewellery Quarter, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6JL. Tel: 0121 212 2782
Consulate General of India, Edinburgh 17 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BB. Tel: 0131 229 2144
Visa offices observe holidays on the following days:
- New Year's Day 2nd January,
- Idu'l Zuha (Bakrid) 11th January,
- Republic Day 26th January,
- Muharram 9th February,
- Milad-Un-Nabi, (Birthday of Prophet Md.) 11th April,
- Good Friday 14th April,
- Easter Monday 17th April,
- Buddha Purnima 13th May,
- Independence Day 15th August,
- Janmashtami 16th August,
- Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday 2nd October,
- Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) 2nd October,
- Diwali (Deepavali) 21st October,
- Id-ut-Fitr 25th October,
- Guru Nanak's Birthday 5th November,
- Christmas Day 25th December,
- Boxing Day 26th December
