Journalist Visa (J)

This visa is for media-related visits including journalists, photographers, and videographers.

 

Approximate processing time:

Two to four weeks

Difficulty to get:

Moderate to difficult depending on the subject you are exploring

Maximum validity:

Typically three months, single entry, can be extended

Maximum continuous stay:

Length of visa or 180 days

What you can do:

• Work in a branch office of a foreign media company
• Make a documentary film (with prior approval)
• Take professional photographs
• Professional travel writing
• Professional travel journalism
• Travel promotion
• Write articles for major publications about fashion, costumes, sport

What you cannot do:

• Same as tourist visa

Rules:

• Extensions have to be granted by the Ministry of External Affairs.
• You must already be an existing journalist (or media related profession) to apply for this visa.
• If you are employed by a media company or are in a media related profession, you may be given this visa by default, even if you just want to come as a tourist. See the notes on the visa application guide.

 

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Student Visa (S)

The student visa is for anyone who wants to study a certain subject in India.

 

Approximate processing time:

One to three weeks

Difficulty to get:

Moderate

Maximum validity:

Duration of your studies or five years; multiple entry if it is long-term, single/double for shorter terms; can be extended up to five years

Maximum continuous stay:

180 days unless you register

What you can do:

• Study at an officially recognized institution in India
• Study yoga, Vedic culture, Indian dance/music/art at a recognized institution in India

What you cannot do:

• Make money from an Indian company or conduct business

Rules:

• You need a confirmation letter from the institution.
• If it is pertaining to a medical course, you need approval from the Ministry of Health.
• If you want to explore possibilities, you can apply for a provisional Student visa. This can be converted to a full Student Visa at the FRRO.
• You must register at the FRRO within 14 days if your visa is valid for more than 180 days.

 

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Transit Visa (TR)

Transit visas are available if you are passing through India to another country and want to stay for a maximum of 72 hours.

 

Approximate processing time:

Less than a week

Difficulty to get:

Easy

Maximum validity:

15 Days, double entry, cannot be extended

Maximum continuous stay:

72 hours

What you can do:

• See Tourist visa

What you cannot do:

• See Tourist visa

Rules:

 

 

• Remember that your validity starts on the day it is issued and not when you enter India.
• You must show proof that you have booked a flight out of the country (with a valid visa to that country) within 72 hours of landing.
• Can be applied for from any Indian consulate around the world (not just your residence).

 

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Diplomat Visa (D)

This visa is given to diplomats and UN workers assigned to a specific post/mission/project in India.

 

Approximate processing time:

One week

Difficulty to get:

Easy, assuming proper paperwork from your government

Maximum validity:

Term of service

Maximum continuous stay:

See visa

What you can do:

• Be a diplomat for your country

What you cannot do:

• Work for a different country
• Earn money from an Indian company

 

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Entry Visa (X)

This visa is for foreigners of Indian origin coming to visit, spouses and children of Indian citizens, and dependents of foreigners on longer term visas such as Employment, Student, and Research visas (but not Business – spouses and children should apply for tourist visas).

 

Approximate processing time:

One to three weeks

Difficulty to get:

Easy, if the main visa holder has been approved

Maximum validity:

Either five years or the same validity of the main visa holder, multiple entry

Maximum continuous stay:

180 days unless you register

What you can do:

• Same as Tourist visa as well as:
• Study in a school up to 12^th standard if you are a minor
• Participate in a sporting event if you are an athlete
• Mountaineering expeditions

What you cannot do:

• Same as Tourist visa, as well as:
• Vote
• Have a ration card

Rules:

If you are coming for mountaineering on restricted peaks, you will to use this visa and not the tourist and get a special endorsement allowing you access.

 

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Employment Visa (E)

This visa is for those who are living, working, and earning money in India

 

Approximate processing time:

One to three weeks

Difficulty to get:

Difficult

Maximum validity:

Usually one year, multiple entry, can be extended every year (in India) up to five years

Maximum continuous stay:

One year plus any extension

What you can do:

• Earn money from an Indian company, or the Indian branch of a foreign company
• Perform as an artist
• Coach or play for an official sports team
• Install equipment/machines/tools
• Do warranty or annual maintenance work
• Do training for an Indian company
• Consult with an Indian company
• Execute a project in India

What you cannot do:

• Work for any other company

Rules:

• You must be “highly skilled” in your industry. This is usually a senior level person or technical expert (no clerical roles). You must be doing a job that very few, if any, Indians can do.
• You will need to show an employment contract from an Indian employer that includes a salary of US $25,000 per year. This can include allowances paid in cash which are used to calculate your Indian Income tax (quantified and included in the contract). It does not include things paid in kind such as transportation and free housing. Exemptions are ethnic cooks, foreign language teachers (not English), and embassy staff. If you are going to be in India less than a year, the $25,000 can be prorated by months. Any money you earn is subject to tax liabilities
• There was a rule about companies only employing a certain number of foreign staff, but it has been removed.
• You must register with the FRRO within 14 days.
• Spouses and children will be on Entry visas.
• If you are doing NGO/Volunteering Work: You will get a special endorsement on your visa which reads “To work with NGO” and then gives the name of the NGO and the place of work. You will also need an invitation/contract letter from the NGO as well as proof that the NGO is registered in India. You will need to prove you can financially support yourself and also give your resume. You may receive a maximum of Rs. 10,000 per month.

 

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Business Visa (B)

The Business visa is meant for people coming to set up and amplify business relationships in India. The key difference between this and the employment visa is the salary restrictions.

 

Approximate processing time:

One to two weeks

Difficulty to get:

Easy, given the proper paperwork

Maximum validity:

Five years, multiple entry (Ten years if you are setting up a joint venture), extendable if less than five years. Validity varies by country and most countries cannot get business visas for more than 2 years.

Maximum continuous stay:

180 days, unless you register

What you can do:

• Establish a business venture or explore possibilities to do so
• Purchase/sell industrial or commercial products
• Oversee projects of “national importance” (public sector undertakings)
• Attend board meetings, general company meetings, technical meetings
• Recruit manpower
• Function as a Director of a company
• Participate in exhibitions, trade fairs, etc.
• Find suppliers, evaluate quality, give specifications, negotiate, place orders
• Meet with Indian customers
• Come for in-house training if you work for a multi-national
• Have an internship on project based work approved by the AIESEC
• Provide technical guidance on a project

What you cannot do:

• Money lending
• Petty trading
• You should not earn a full-time salary from an Indian company

Rules:

• Any money you earn (such as being a director, serving on a board) is subject to tax liabilities.
• You will need an invitation letter from an Indian company asking them to come visit them.
• To extend the visa (up to five years), the total turnover of the business activities should not be less than one crore rupees within two years of setting up the business.

 

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Formerly misleadingly known as an Indian Tourist Visa on Arrival, this system was expanded in November 2014. For most countries in the world, you cannot show up in India without a visa. This visa is a simpler and quicker way to get a traditional tourist visa and doesn’t require you to send anything to a local consulate. It is best for people making a quick trip to India that they do not plan on repeating any time soon. You must apply for the visa through this website.

You can use the regular Indian Visa Online Application Guide to help you navigate the application process.

Approximate processing time:

3-5 days

Difficulty to get:

Easy

Maximum validity:

30 days from the date of approval, single entry, cannot be extended or transferred

Maximum continuous stay:

30 days

What you can do:

• Same as Tourist Visa:
• Recreational activities
• Sight seeing
• Have a casual visit with friends and relatives
• Casual business visits (I’m sure this is open to interpretation)
• Short duration medical treatment

What you cannot do:

• Earn any money
• Volunteer for an NGO or charity
• Study
• Conduct any kind of business

Rules:

• You must apply no less than five days and no more than thirty days before your arrival.
• It is a flat US$60 fee that you must pay on the website at least four days before you travel.
• After you are approved, you will receive the ETA by email. Print this out and carry it with you at all times.
• It can be used a maximum of two times in a year, but you must have a two month gap between visits.
• You must enter the country by one of these airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Trivandrum.
• You may need to show your return ticket to the immigration officer.
• You are ineligible for the ETA if you, your parents, or your grandparents were born or ever lived in Pakistan. You should apply for a normal tourist visa.
• You must be a citizen of one of the approved countries:

 

• Anguilla
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Cambodia
• Canada
• Cayman Island
• Chile
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominic an Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Grenada
• Haiti
• HolySee (Vatican)
• Honduras
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Laos
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macedonia
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Myanmar
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niue Island
• Norway
• Oman
• Palau
• Palestine
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Philippines
• Russia
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• St.Kitts & Nevis
• Thailand
• Tongo
• Tuvalu
• UAE
• Ukraine
• USA
• Vanuatu
• Vietnam

 

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