The Consular Passport and Visa division is responsible for issuance of passport and visa to persons of Indian Origin. You can download a form as well as browse for information on at http://passport.nic.in/.

For visitors to the country, visas are available from the Indian missions in each country. Six month multiple-entry visas are now issued to most nationals regardless of the intended duration of stay.

The fee structure depends on the nationality of the passport holder and type/duration of visa applied. It ranges from $5 for a to $50 for a visa with a one-year validity.

Visa is required by all except nationals of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives (latter for a stay of 90 days only). Visitors should apply for visa at the Indian Diplomatic Missions in their country of residence or nearest Mission en route.The information given here is general in nature, for specific queries please check with the Indian High Commission in your country, Ministry of External Affairs and Home Affairs, New Delhi
 

Tourist Visa
Is given for 6 months normally, rest specifically depends on the country of residence. The applicant is required to produce/submit documents in proof of his financial standing. Tourists travelling in groups of not less than four members under the auspices of a recognised travel agency may be considered for grant of collective tourist visa.

Business Visa
Visa is valid for one or more years with multiple entries. A letter from a sponsoring organization indicating nature of business, probable duration of stay, places and organizations to be visited, incorporating therein a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses, etc. should accompany the application.

Student Visa
Are issued for the duration of the academic course of study or for a period of five years whichever is less, on the basis of firm letters of admission from universities/recognised colleges or educational institutions in India. Change of purpose and institutions are not permissible.

Transit Visa
Are issued for a maximum period of 15-days with single/double entry facilities to bonafide transit passengers only.

Visa to Missionaries
Are valid for single entry and duration as permitted by government of India. A letter in triplicate from sponsoring organization indicating intended destination in India, probable length of stay, and nature of duties to be discharged should be submitted along with guarantee for applicant's maintenance while in India.

Journalist Visa
Are issued to professional journalists and photographers for visiting India. The applicants are required to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places, the Office of the Government of India's Press Information Bureaus.

Conference Visa
Are issued for attending conferences/seminars/meetings in India. A letter of invitation from the organiser of the conference is to be submitted along with the visa application. Delegates coming to attend conferences may combine tourism with attending conferences.

Employment Visa
Are issued to skilled and qualified professionals or persons who are engaged or appointed by companies, organisations, economic undertakings as technicians, technical experts, senior executives etc. Applicants are required to submit proof of contract/employment/engagement of foreign nationals by the company or organisation.

Visa fees are payable in local currencies as well. Visa fees are not refundable except in cases where a visa already issued is cancelled thereafter.

Processing Duration : Depends on the type of visa applied.

Miscellaneous Information : The duration of stay in India, for each visit on a tourist or business visa, is only for a period of 6 months even though a valid visa may be for more than 6 months.

Visa is given for a period for which passport is valid. For example, if a passport is valid until April 30, 2003 and an applicant is applying for 5 years visa on December 31, 1999, the applicant will not be issue a 5 years visa as the passport expires before the 5 year visa.
Validity of all visas is counted from the date of their issue.

Tourist visa upto 5 years may be grantsd if the foreigner is connected with the tourism trade.
If visa is for more than 180 days, registration is compulsory within 14 days of first arrival in India.

Special Permits : Some areas in India - usually border districts - are out of bounds for normal travellers due to political and security reasons. However, some of these are extremely beautiful and fascinating places, their remoteness lending them a special quality, and special permits may be procured if one wishes to visit them.

Permits are usually provided to groups and for a limited number of days. There is no extra charge for acquiring the permits and they may be obtained from the Indian Missions abroad or governmental agencies within India