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A Complete Guide on Indian Visa The government of India grants different Types of visas like E-Visa, Regular Visa, and Visa on Arrivals for Foreigners for Travel in India.  E-visa and Regular Visas are granted to a foreigner whose objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visits to meet friends or family, attending a short-term yoga program, medical treatment, doing work and business In India. Types of visa in India Foreign nationals can Apply for an E-Visa online over the e-Visa Portal and a Regular visa needs to be applied at the nearest Indian High Commission. E-visa processes take 2 to 3 working days and Regular Visa takes 1 to 2 weeks. Applicants can apply for E-Visa and Regular before 120 days in advance of their expected date of travel to India. There are 3 subcategories for e-Visa in India. List of Countries whose nationals are eligible for e- Visa facility Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cambodia, Cameroon Union Republic, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger Republic, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, SamoaSan Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Island, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe Entry Points for Visa Holders in India Persons holding e-Visa/Regular Visa are allowed to enter India only through the designated international airports following Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin, Goa, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy, Varanasi, Calicut, Mangalore, Pune, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bag Dogra, Guwahati, Chandigarh, and Visakhapatnam. These Are Major Types of Visa for India 1. E-Tourist Visa: – An e-tourist visa is for recreation, sightseeing, casual visits to meet friends/Family/relatives, and attending a short-term yoga program in India. There are 30 days with a single entry, 60 days with double entries, one year and 5-year visas with multiple entries in India. This is a non-convertible and non-extendable visa in India except in specific cases. 2. E-Business Visa: – E-Business Visa For all activities permitted under normal Business Visa. It has 90 days with double entries, one year and 5-year visa with multiple entries in India. This is a non-convertible and non-extendable visa in India except in specific cases (Like Married to Indian and Indian Origin). 3. E-Medical Visa: – E- medical Visa is for medical treatment, including treatment under Indian systems of medicine. E-Visas are non-extendable, but in the case of e-Medical Visa as mentioned in para 5 above.  You can apply for Visa Extension as per the doctors’ recommendation in India. 4. Business Visa (Regular Visa): – For a business visa, foreigners must follow Indian government guidelines before applying in at the Indian high commission. Foreign nationals who wish to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up an industrial or business venture, other than Proprietorship Firms and Partnership Firms, in India can apply for it. Registration: – All Business Visa holders are required to register themselves with the Concern FRRO in case their stay in India on a Business Visa exceeds 180 days stay during a calendar year. 5. Employment Visa (Regular Visa): – An Employment Visa is granted to foreigners who are highly skilled and highly professional. Employment Visa is not granted to for jobs for which qualified Indians are already available in India for ordinary or secretarial/clerical jobs. Also, An Employment Visa is Not Granted to A Citizen of Pakistan Registration:  If the Employment visa is valid for a period of more than 180 days/Long Term Visa, the foreigners need to register their Employment Visa with Concern FRRO/FRO within 14 days of arrival In India. In the case of Employment Visa issued for a period of 180 days or less, Employment Visa registration is not required. 6. Entry Visa (Regular Visa): – Entry Visa (X Visa) granted to a foreigner under these conditions in India. A Person of Indian Origin, who does not hold an OCI Card, can be granted an Entry Visa (X Visa) for a period of up to five years (Long Term visa) at a time, with multiple entry. Spouse and children of an Indian citizen/Indian Origin/OCI cardholder are eligible for an Entry Visa (X-2 Visa) for a long-term visa period of up to five years at a time, with multiple entries. Who is a Person of Indian Origin? A person who held an Indian Passport. Person who or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great-grandparents, was born in, and is permanently resident in India. These are the major Types of visa for Foreigners That usually travel to India. Instead of these government provide many other visas like – Missionary Visa, Film Visa, Journalist Visa, Mountaineering Visa, Sports Visa, Conference Visa, Student and Research Visa, Project Visa, Transit Visa, E-conference Visa, E-medical Attendant Visa, E-Ayush Visa, E- Ayush Attendant Visa, And E-emergency X-misc Visa. Please read all the Instructions very carefully before applying for any Visa Process.

Eligibility Criteria for an OCI Card  A foreign national was a citizen of India at the time of, or at any time after 26th January and a minor child and whose parents are citizens of India or one of the parents is a citizen of India is eligible for registration as OCI cardholder. Also, a spouse of foreign origin of a citizen of India or Indian Citizen or spouse of an Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder whose marriage has been registered and subsisted for a continuous period of more than two years, except whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are or had been citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh. Benefits and Privileges of holding an OCI card in India An OCI card holder has several benefits and privileges in India, including the ability to live, study, do business, and work in India. You do not need to apply for FRRO registration with the Foreign Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) and are eligible to open bank accounts and purchase property in India. Limitations and Restrictions for an OCI Cardholder There are several benefits to holding an OCI Card in India, but there are some limitations and restrictions for them, as OCI cardholders are not eligible to vote and cannot purchase agricultural or farming properties in India.   What are the documents required for an OCI card? A Valid Foreign Passport with Validity of Minimum 6 Months at the time of submission of OCI Application.  Copy of Certificate of registration of Citizenship/Naturalization (if acquired foreign nationality).  Cancelled/ Surrender Indian Passport with surrender Certificate (for those who have surrendered Indian Passport in or after 2010).  Address proof in India: – A. Copy of the last 3 Months Electricity bill / Telephone bill in own/ Parents/ Grandparents/Spouse Name. B. If the above is in any other relatives Name, we need an undertaking from the relative stating that the foreigners are residing with him/her. c. Lease license in case of talent.   Copy of Indian Visa [Foreign nationals holding Tourist visa cannot apply for registration as OCI cardholder in India] with 3 months validity at the time of submission of application.  Applicant Passport size photograph 51 mm (about 2.01 in) X 51 mm (with 80% Coverage of face) plain light colour background (not white).  Copy of applicant’s Birth certificate for Indian origin (if the birth certificate is solemnized in a foreign country. It should be an apostle/certified from the concerned department.   Copy of applicant’s Marriage certificate. [Married Indian citizen]: – A. If the marriage is solemnized in India, a marriage certificate issued by the Marriage Registrar is required. B. If the marriage certificate is solemnized outside India. It should be an apostle from a concerned authority. NOC letter from parents. (if minor)  An INR 15,000/- Demand Draft in Favor of.  “PAY & ACCOUNTS OFFICER (SECRETARIAT) Ministry of Home Affairs” payable at New Delhi. In addition to these documents, applicants may also be required to provide additional documents depending on their specific circumstances. It is important to carefully review the requirements and ensure that all necessary documents are included with the application.  Fees and Payment The fee for an OCI Card application depends on the type of application being submitted. An INR 15,000/ Demand draft for New OCI Registration, INR 5,500/ Demand Draft OCI Registration (For PIO Card Holder), INR 1,400/ Demand draft Miscellaneous OCI Services  A Demand Draft in Favor of.  “PAY & ACCOUNTS OFFICER (SECRETARIAT) Ministry of Home Affairs” payable at New Delhi.  What is OCI Application Process ? The Application Process for an OCI Card has several steps. First, applicants must complete the online application over the government portal and upload all required documents. Once the application has been submitted successfully, applicants must request an appointment at the concerned FRRO in India or the Indian embassy or consulate abroad.     The OCI card is issued to foreign nationals who are of Indian origin or have an Indian national spouse. The OCI card is valid for the lifetime of the cardholder if the cardholder’s passport is valid. An Indian national spouse must surrender his/her OCI card after the divorce. The OCI card has a multi-entry, multipurpose lifelong visa for a stay in India.

FRRO (Foreign Regional Registrar’s Office) is an Indian government agency responsible for administering foreign registration and immigration-related services for Foreigners in India. The parent agency is the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), which works under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to administer immigration-related functions such as immigration facilitation services at Seaports, Integrated Check Posts and Airports, and foreign registration in India. What does FRRO do for Foreigners in India? FRRO is part of the Bureau of Immigration, which helps to ensure the safety and security of foreign nationals who visit India. It keeps track of the movements of Expats and makes sure that they are following the rules and regulations of the country. FRRO Provides services to foreigners for Visa and Immigration Services in India like Indian Visa Registration, Indian Visa Extension, Indian Visa Conversion, Exit Permit, etc. All Expats who travel to India on a long-term visa need to register their Visas with FRRO before 180 days of stay In India. FRRO Offices in India Foreigners Need to Visit FRRO Offices for OCI Card Interviews, Visa Interviews, and Document Verification. The following FRRO’s according to their jurisdictional control as mentioned against per FRRO: – FRRO, Amritsar Bureau of Immigration, D-123, Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar – 143001 Tel: 0183-2500464 Email: frroasr@nic.in. In India, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh fall under its jurisdiction. FRRO, Bangalore, 5th Floor, A. Block, TTMC, BMTC Bus Stand Building, K.H. Road, Shantinagar, Bangalore-560027, Tel.: 080-22218195;22218183, Email: frroblr-ka@nic.in. In India, Karnataka falls under its jurisdiction. FRRO, Chennai No.26, Shastri Bhawan Annexe, Building, 26 Haddows Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai- 600006 Tel: 044-23454970;28251721, Email: frrochn@nic.in,chiochn@nic.in. In India, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands fall under its jurisdiction. FRRO, Delhi, East Block VIII, Level 2, Sector-1, R.K.Puram, New Delhi – 110066 Tel.: 011-26711384, Support Centre:011-26711443; 26713851, Email: frrodli@nic.in. In India, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand fall under its jurisdiction. FRRO, Goa, Foreign Branch, Goa Police Head Quarters, Opposite Azad Maidan, Panaji – 403001 Tel.: 0832-2426545, Email: frrogoa@nic.in. In India, Goa, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli (However, till further orders, cases pertaining to Goa and Dadra & Nagar Haveli will be handled by the FRRO, Mumbai) fall under its jurisdiction. FRRO, Hyderabad, Bureau of Immigration, Room, no.301, 3rd Floor, CGO Tower, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad-500080 Tel.: 040-27541022 Email: frrohyd@nic.in. In India, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh fall under its jurisdiction. FRRO, Kochi (Cochin) 2nd Floor, Airlines Building, Cochin, International Airport Ltd., Airport P.O., Kochi – 683111, Tel.: 0484-2611277, Email:frrococ@nic.in. frro.cochin@nic.in. Kerala (excluding the jurisdiction of other FRROs in Kerala) falls under its jurisdiction. FRRO, Kolkata 237, A.J.C.Bose Road, Kolkata Tel.: 033-22900549 Email: frrokol@nic.in In India, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura falls under their jurisdiction. FRRO, Kozhikode Presently Calicut 6th Floor, Nikarathil Chambers, Mini Bypass Rd, Near Baby Memorial Hospital, Thiruthiyad, Kozhikode, Kerala– 673004, Tel: 0495-2323550, Email: frrocal@nic.in frro-clt@nic.in In India, Kerala (excluding jurisdiction of other FRRO’s in Kerala) falls under their jurisdiction. FRRO, Lucknow, 557, Hind Nagar, Kanpur Road, Near Old Chungi, Lucknow – 226012 Tel: 0522-2432431, Email: frrolko@nic.in In India, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand falls under their jurisdiction. FRRO, Mumbai 78/1, Badruddin Tayabji Marg, Dhobi Talao, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001 Tel.: 022-22621169, 022-22621167 (OCI enquiry)Email: frromum@nic.in. In India, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Daman & Diu. Till further orders, cases pertaining to Goa and Dadra & Nagar Haveli will also be handled by the FRRO, Mumbai falls under their jurisdiction. FRRO, Thiruvananthapuram T.C.14/1377, Vazhuthacaud, opposite Ganapati Temple, Thycaud P.O., Thiruvananthapuram – 14 Tel.: 0471-2333515 Email: frrotvm@nic.in. In India, Kerala (excluding the jurisdiction of other FRRO‘s in Kerala) and Lakshadweep fall under their jurisdiction. Step to register Indian Visa over FRRO Portal Foreigners traveling to India on Long term e-visa/Stamp Visa need to register their visa with Concern FRRO within 14 days of Arrival in India. Along with registration, FRRO Provides Visa extension, Exit Permit, and OCI Card Services in India. Applicants need to follow the following steps: – Register your email over the FRRO Portal. Verify your email and set up an Account. Select on the new Application button. Select your nationality and FRRO Jurisdiction in India Select Your service like – Registration, Visa Extension, Exit Permit, Visa Conversion, Change of address, Changes of Passport. Fill out the Application form. Upload passport size photographs in JPEG format and documents in PDF format. Submit your application and download it. Check your application status regularly and wait for further instructions from FRRO. Conclusion Foreigners who traveling to India need to follow the FRRO instructions very carefully. Any delay in registration, your Indian visa or overstay in India leads to Fines and Imprisonment of up to 5 years and even a ban on entering India. It’s very important for foreign nationals to follow Indian law during their stay period, otherwise they will face a lot of difficulties in India like-No hotels will provide accommodation; Indian Sim Card will be deactivating same day of visa expiry.

Everything You Should Know About Registering for and Extending an Indian Visa Extension in India Indian Visa Registration and Extension Issued by The FRRO. Extending your visa and completing the registration process in India is crucial to ensure your legal status in the country. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you understand the process of Indian visa extension and registration: Indian Visa Registration 1. Indian Visa Registration Within 14 Days: Foreign nationals staying in India for more than 180 days are required to register themselves with the local FRRO or the Foreigners’ Registration Office within 14 days of arrival. 2.  Indian Visa Required Documents: Passport and visa copies. Passport-sized photographs. A completed registration form. Proof of residence in India. 3. Visit the Local FRRO or FRO: Visit the FRRO or FRO office and submit the necessary documents. Pay any applicable registration fees. 4. Acknowledgment Slip: After submission, you’ll receive an acknowledgment slip. 5. Awaiting Registration Certificate: The registration process can take several weeks, and you may need to make a follow-up visit.   6. Carry Registration Certificate: Once your registration is approved, you will receive a Registration Certificate in your email. Always carry this certificate with you as proof of your legal status in India.   Indian Visa Extension 1. Determine Eligibility: Not all Visa Types are extendable, so check the specific guidelines for your visa category. Start the extension process well before your current visa expires. 2. Required List of Documents for Indian Visa Extension: The list of documents depends on the Visa Type, here are the details.  Passport with at least six months validity beyond your intended stay. Indian Visa Extension Application Form (available at the Foreign Regional Registration Office or FRRO). A cover letter explaining the reason for the extension. Proof of financial sustainability during your extended stay. Any additional documents specific to your visa type. 3. Visit the FRRO OFFICE: Visit the nearest Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the Foreigners’ Registration Office (FRO). Submit your application and documents. Pay the visa extension fee. Fees vary based on visa type and extension duration. 4. Interview and Verification: You may be required to attend an interview. FRRO may conduct background checks or verify the information provided in your application. 5. Awaiting Decision: The extension processing time varies but can take several weeks. Keep your visa status legal while your extension is pending. 6. Get a Visa Certificate: Once your extension is approved, collect your Get Visa Over the Email.   General Tips for Indian Visa: Always keep copies of all your visa and registration documents, and maintain records of your fee receipts. Be aware of the specific rules and requirements for your visa category, as they may differ. If you’re uncertain about any aspect of the process, consult the nearest FRRO or FRO office or the official website of the Bureau of Immigration, India. The information provided here is a general guideline, and the specific requirements and processes may change over time. It is essential to stay updated with the latest information and requirements from the relevant authorities to ensure a smooth visa process.