All foreign nationals,
including children, require a visa to enter India. Please do
not finalise your travel arrangements to India before ascertaining
the visa requirements.
The Consulate General of India in Birmingham and the Consulate
General of India in Edinburgh also issue Indian visas. Persons
wishing to apply at the Consulates should obtain the visa
application form and other relevant details directly from
them.
GENERAL VISA REQUIREMENTS
The general requirements for visas are:
Original passport valid for at least six months |
|
Correct visa fee |
|
Two Recent passport-size photographs (five photographs
in case of Pakistani nationals) |
|
Supporting documents, where necessary
|
|
Duly completed application form (Pakistani and Bangladeshi
nationals need to apply on special application forms)
|
Indian Visa Application
Form-
Download from here
VISA APPLICATION
Visas can be applied for in person or by post at the High
Commission of India in London. Visa applications from persons
not ordinarily residing in the UK or from people of Pakistani,
Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan origin are considered only in the
High Commission of India, London and Consulate General of
India, Birmingham and their processing may take one week or
in some cases much longer. Applicants not ordinarily resident
in the UK and Sri Lankan nationals are required to complete
an additional form. Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals have
to file special visa application forms.
In the following cases processing of applications will take
longer:
|
British nationals holding dual nationality or of other
origin, |
|
Applicants not resident in the UK, |
|
Where clearance from India is mandatory, |
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Visitors to restricted areas and |
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Certain cases where documents may need to be verified.
|
Visa Section will contact the applicant about
the time of delivery for such passports. Please note that
each application is examined individually and the time taken
for issuing visas will vary from case to case.
Visitors to restricted/protected areas need special permits
and for this purpose an additional form has to be completed.
Please contact the High Commission of India, London if you
wish to ascertain whether any of the places you intend to
visit fall in the category of restricted/protected areas.
All types of visa application forms can be obtained free
of charge in any of the following ways:
Collected from the India Place window of the High Commission
of India at Aldwych, London from 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
and from 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, except
holidays. However, for processing of visa applications
at the counters, queue numbers are issued to applicants
only between 8.30 a.m. and 12.00 noon. |
Obtained through fax back service - please dial 0906 844
4543. (To use this service, you need to dial the number
from an ordinary telephone, follow instructions and you
must have a fax machine on which you can receive the form
returned by the High Commission.) |
Obtained through the post by sending a stamped self-addressed
envelope to the Visa Section of the High Commission of
India at India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA. |
Please
ensure that your letters sent to us also have your full
address (sender's address) clearly written down on the
envelope. |
Specific visas are granted for a variety of purposes. The
principal types of visas issued are Tourist Visa, Business
visa, Student and employment visa and Entry visa. Please contact
the High Commission of India for further details if you are
visiting India for purposes other than tourism, such as journalism,
conferences, yoga, voluntary work, mountaineering or other
expeditions. The visa application form is, however, the same.
Separate forms are available for Pakistani and Bangladeshi
Nationals.
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
TOURIST VISA
Tourists wishing to visit India are normally granted short-term
tourist visas, effective from the date of issue. Tourist visas
are non-extendible and non-convertible. Travel agents who
have to visit India frequently may be granted tourist visas
for a longer duration.
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
BUSINESS VISA
Business Visas are normally granted for three or six months.
However, multiple-entry Business Visas for up to two years
validity may be granted to technicians/experts going to India
in pursuance of bilateral agreements or joint venture projects
having government approval.
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
ENTRY VISAS
Entry Visas are issued to persons of Indian origin for duration
of up to five years. These can be obtained, depending on the
purpose of visit and eligibility, on a case-by-case basis.
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
VISA EXEMPTION LETTERS FOR MINORS
Visa Exemption Letters previously granted to children of Indian
origin (for a maximum validity of 90 days from the date of
issue) have been discontinued since 1 July 1999. Visa Exemption
Letters issued in the past are hence no longer valid. All
children holding separate passports are now required to obtain
regular visas.
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
VISA SURGERIES
The High Commission of India holds Visa Surgeries at various
locations around the UK. For more information on dates and
location of these surgeries, please call the Visa section
on 020 7836 8484
VISA FEE AND ADDITIONAL CHARGE
Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to change without
notice. The High Commission reserves the right on granting
and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees
tendered at the time of making application. Granting of visa
does not confer the right of entry to India and is subject
to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.
Visa Fees (Last updated 31 December 2001)
Please refer to Additional Charges and Notes below for special
fees applicable to nationals of certain countries.
| Tourist Visa |
Fee £30.00, this
is a short duration visa for the purpose of holiday or
visiting relatives. |
| Business
Visa* |
Fee £30.00,
valid up to 6 months, £50.00 for
1 year and £90.00 for 2 years.
A letter explaining the nature of business and duration
from UK company and a letter of invitation from an Indian
company should be submitted. |
| Entry Visa* |
Fee £90.00, valid
for 5 years is issued to people of Indian origin only. |
| Long Term Visa* |
Fee £90.00, valid
for 5 years. This is a settlement visa for the people
of Indian origin. |
Additional Charges (payable in addition to the normal
Visa Fees):
| £15.00 |
To all applicants holding US
passports. |
| £25.00 |
Applicants arriving to submit applications beyond Visa
Counter hours (08:30-12:00 hrs on working days) on emergency
grounds. |
| £10.00 |
Non-UK passport holders.
Proof of stay of at least one year required to be produced
for exemption. |
| £30.00 |
Service charges for applicants holding Russian
passports. |
| £5.00 |
Service charges for applicants holding Romanian
passports |
Note:
The fees above do not apply to applicants holding
Japanese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan or Bangladeshi passports,
or passports of countries that provide Gratis Visas to
Indian passport holders.
|
Nationals of Japan are charged a fee of £6.00
for any type of visa for any duration, except for Transit
Visas, which are issued to them for £0.75.
There is no charge for transfer of long-term visas issued
to Japanese nationals. |
Nationals of Pakistan are charged a fee
of £0.50.
|
Visa
fees applicable to holders of Sri Lankan
passports:
| Business
Visa |
£3.00,
single-entry valid for up to six months
£8.00,
multiple-entry valid for up to one year |
| Tourist
Visa |
£3.00,
single-entry valid for up to six months
£6.00,
multiple-entry valid for up to one year
|
|
Nationals of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh,
Jamaica, Maldives, Mongolia, Mauritius, North Korea (DPRK),
Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa and Uruguay are
not charged any visa fees. These applicants should contact
the High Commission or its Birmingham or Edinburgh missions
for further information. |
| Visa
fees can be altered at short notice. |
|
Visa fees are not refundable. |
Indian Visa Application
Form-
Download from here
WHERE TO OBTAIN VISA IN THE UK
Indian visas can be obtained in the UK from the High Commission
of India, London or other Consulates at the addresses mentioned
below:
High Commission of India
India House
Aldwych
London WC2B 4NA
Working Hours: Queue numbers are issued
to visa applicants 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
Please contact the Consulate for the current working hours
for Visa Services
Tel: 0121 212 2782
Consulate General of India, Edinburgh
17 Rutland Square
Edinburgh, EH1 2BB
Please contact the Consulate for the current working hours
for Visa services
Tel: 0131 229 2144
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
LOCATION AND TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
Postal Address of the High Commission of India in London is:
High Commission of India
India House
Aldwych
London
WC2B 4NA
Getting to the High Commission:
| By Underground: |
Nearby stations include
Holborn (Piccadilly and Central Lines)
Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)
Charing Cross (Northern and Jubilee Lines)
Temple (Circle and District Lines) |
| By Bus: |
Some of the buses stopping close to the High Commission
include 9, 11, 15, 23, 68, 77, 168. |
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Main switchboard (during office hours): (020) 7836 8484 (please
ask for the relevant department/Person but please note that
Visa enquiries are not entertained on this number. See below
for the telephone number for visa enquiries.)
Night line (operational outside office hours): 020 7379 6242
Visa Services:
| Information* |
(0906) 844 4544 |
| Enquiries |
(3138) 7240 1012 |
| Application form fax-back* |
(0906) 844 4543 |
* Calls to these 0906 numbers are charged at 60 pence per
minute
Indian Visa Application Form-
Download from here
|
