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Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need a visa to go to India?
- Can I get a visa on arrival to enter India?
- I want to visit India for tourism/to attend
a friend's marriage/ to meet my friends. Which visa should I apply
for?
- I travel to India frequently for business meetings/to
explore opportunities for partnerships with Indian companies.
Which visa should I apply for?
- I will be changing flights/airports in India
to travel to my final destination (say Nepal, Thailand etc.) Do
I need a visa to change flights/airport terminals?
- I have to participate in a conference/seminar/workshop
in India. Which visa should I apply for?
- I have to go for internship/training in a university/institute/company
in India for a short period. Which visa should I apply for?
- I will be going to India for work/employment
along with my family. Which visa should I apply for? Would my
children be able to study in India?
- I will be studying in India for one semester/trimester
in an IIT/IIM/IISc/Indian university. Which visa should I apply
for?
- I have to travel to India on an emergency.
Is there any extra charge for the same?
- I had applied for a visa for India but I have
changed my mind about visiting the country. Can I claim a refund
of the visa fee?
- Do I need a visa for my pet that I'm taking
to India?
- It's been a while since I submitted my application
and passport. How can I find out the status of my application?
- Can I study in India?
- Can I work in India?
- How do I know when my passport is ready for
collection from the India Visa Application Center?
- Can I collect my passport from the High Commission
of India, London or the consulates in Edinburgh and Birmingham?
- Do I have to submit my passport and visa application
only at the India Visa Application Center?
- How do I pay for the visa and service charges?
- Will I be allowed to carry liquor to India?
- Do all the applicants need to be present at
the time of submitting an application?
- Will I be seen at the appointed time if I
book an appointment online – It is a processing group or a time
slot?
- My visa application is embassy pending, what
should I do?
- How do I make an appointment to submit my
visa application?
- What if I cannot make the time that I have
been allocated?
- I have completed an online visa application
but forgot to note down my web reference number, how do I retrieve
this?
- I want to submit a PIO / OCI application,
where do I do this?
- I want to submit my Liquor Permit application
along with my visa application, how can I do this?
- I have applied for a 1 year tourist visa but
I have only been issued a 6 months tourist visa, has there been
a mistake? How do I claim for a refund or can I have the visa
extended to a year?
- I have a family emergency in India, how do
I apply for an emergency visa?
- I have completed an online application and
made payment but now I have to cancel my trip to India, how do
I get a refund?
- I am travelling to India in 3 months time and
wish to apply for a visa as soon as possible, can I apply now?
- I would like to go to India for doing voluntary work. Which visa should I apply for?
- Do I need a visa to go to India?
Yes, all foreigners except for nationals of Nepal and Bhutan need
a visa to enter India.
- Can I get a visa on arrival to enter India?
No, you must obtain a visa before taking a flight to India. You
cannot obtain a visa on arrival in India, and immigration authorities
will not permit any foreigner to enter the country.
- I want to visit India for tourism/to attend a friend's marriage/
to meet my friends. Which visa should I apply for?
You should apply for a tourist visa
which is normally valid for multiple entries and a maximum stay
of six months in India. Note that the tourist visa is non-extendable
and cannot be converted into any other type of visa.
- I travel to India frequently for business meetings/to explore
opportunities for partnerships with Indian companies. Which visa
should I apply for?
You may apply for a business visa
valid for multiple entries for either six months or one year along
with the requisite documents as per the checklist. Note that a
business visa does not permit you to work in India. If you want
to work in India, you should apply for an employment visa.
- I will be changing flights/airports in India to travel to
my final destination (say Nepal, Thailand etc.) Do I need a visa
to change flights/airport terminals?
You need to apply for a transit visa
if you are going to change from an international terminal to a
domestic terminal of any Indian airport or if you are going to
stay in an airport hotel even for a few hours. You don't need
a transit visa if you stay in the waiting area reserved for international
transit passengers in an Indian airport. Note that you can stay
for a maximum period of 72 hours in India on a transit visa. You
should have a confirmed air ticket for the onward journey.
- I have to participate in a conference/seminar/workshop in
India. Which visa should I apply for?
You should apply for a conference
visa along with an invitation letter, details of the conference
etc. Clearance from competent authority from India is required.
- I have to go for internship/training in a university/institute/company
in India for a short period. Which visa should I apply for?
You should apply for an entry visa
along with a copy of the offer letter stating the terms of internship.
You may also be required to submit a copy of the inter-university
student exchange agreement if the proposed internship is a component
of such an agreement. If you receive any monetary compensation/salary
from the Indian organisation, you will have to apply for a business
visa.
- I will be going to India for work/employment along with
my family. Which visa should I apply for? Would my children be
able to study in India?
You must apply for an employment visa
along with the requisite documents. Once your visa application
is approved, your wife and children may apply for entry
visas . Your children will be able to get admission in schools/colleges
in India once they have been granted entry visas. Note that you
have to undergo mandatory registration formalities at the nearest
office of the
FRRO/FRO within 14 days of your arrival in India if you are
planning to stay in the country for more than 180 days.
- I will be studying in India for one semester/trimester in
an IIT/IIM/IISc/Indian university. Which visa should I apply for?
You should apply for a student visa
along with a copy of the letter from the institute/university
confirming your acceptance as a student.
- I have to travel to India on an emergency. Is there any
extra charge for the same?
Visas are granted on holidays and after service hours in case of a genuine emergency like death or medical emergency subject to production of sufficient documentary proof. The decision of the Consular officer in this regard shall be final. . Mention: Emergency visas are granted by the HCI and from the HCI with documentary proof. It is advised that you visit one of the VFS centres and get your documentation looked at before submitting.
- I had applied for a visa for India but I have changed my
mind about visiting the country. Can I claim a refund of the visa
fee?
Visa Fees are non-refundable once the visa application is accepted and visa fee cannot be refunded even if the visa is refused. Please refer to our terms and conditions.
- Do I need a visa for my pet that I'm taking to India?
You do not need a visa for your pet. But you have to comply with
certain customs and vaccination-related regulations. Consult your
airline/travel agent for details of these regulations and the
necessary documents needed to take your pet.
- It's been a while since I submitted my
application and passport. How can I find out the status of my
application?
You can trace your application online by visiting our website
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk
or by calling our helpline Mondays to Fridays between 0830 hrs to 1730 hrs
- Can I study in India?
Yes. With a valid student visa.
- Can I work in India?
Yes. With a valid employment visa.
- How do I know when my passport is ready for collection from
the India Visa Application Center?
Please track your passport either by logging on
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk You can also call our helpline number
to check the status of your passport.
- Can I collect my passport from the High Commission of India,
London or the Consulate General in Edinburgh and Birmingham?
No. You have to collect your passport from the India Visa Application Center where you made the application or request for special delivery by DX courier Service to delivery at the requested address.
- Do I have to submit my passport and visa application only
at the India Visa Application Center?
Yes. However, diplomatic and official passport holders can submit
visa applications to the High Commission of India/Consulate directly.
- How do I pay for the visa and service charges?
You can pay by cash or through debit cards or credit cards (only
Visa, Mastercard), postal order or bank drafts.
- Will I be allowed to carry liquor to India?
Yes. But if you are traveling to Gujarat, you will have to apply
for a liquor permit along with your visa application. Please check
with your airline for other restrictions on alcohol.
- Do all the applicants need to be present at the time of
submitting an application?
No, you can submit the application of your family / friend / colleague’s behalf as long as you have all the requisite documents and signed application forms.
- Will I be seen at the appointed time if I book an appointment
online – It is a processing group or a time slot?
You may have to wait before you are served at the counter.
- My visa application is embassy pending, what should I do?
Please call our helpdesk or email us on info.inuk@vfshelpline.com
for information on the next steps you need to take in order to
complete your application.
- How do I make an appointment to submit my visa application?
To make an appointment, you are required to complete an online
visa application form, once you have completed the application
form you will be prompted onto a screen where you can select an
appointment date which is convenient for you (please note the
time of your appointment will be computer generated).
- What if I cannot make the time that I have been allocated?
While every effort should be made to submit your application
at the time you have been allocated. However we understand this
is not always possible. Therefore if you cannot make the allocated
time, then please ensure you submit your application on the date
of your appointment anytime between the hours of 0830 - 1430.
- I have completed an online visa application but forgot to
note down my web reference number, how do I retrieve this?
If you require your web reference number to retrieve, modify
or print your application, please email our information desk (info.inuk@vfshelpline.com)
or call our helpdesk on 0905 757 0045)
-
I want to submit a PIO / OCI application, where do I do
this?
For all PIO or OCI applications or queries, you will be
required to apply directly at the India High Commission or the
Consulate General in UK.
- I want to submit my Liquor Permit application along with
my visa application, how can I do this?
Please note if you have been granted a visa, then you are
required to apply for a Liqour Permit directly at the India High
Commission or the Consulate General in the UK.
- I have applied for a 1 year tourist visa but I have only
been issued a 6 months tourist visa, has there been a mistake?
How do I claim for a refund or can I have the visa extended to
a year?
Please note VFS is not involved in the process of assessment of
visa applications, or their grant or refusal
The assessment of visa applications is carried out by the High
Commission of India or its Consulates, and the grant or refusal
of India visas is at their sole discretion. If you have completed
and submitted an application for an Indian Visa you have agreed
to our terms and conditions.
As you will note from our terms and conditions, fees are not refundable,
and in particular fees are payable whether or not a visa is ultimately
granted
- I have a family emergency in India, how do I apply for an
emergency visa?
High Commission of India considers certain medical emergency situations like a critical illness
in the family or a death of a close relative for processing visa on an emergency.
Please note that relevant proof of the emergency e.g. Doctor or hospital letter
explaining the critical illness or a death certificate in case of death is required by
the High commission of India in order consider this visa category. The documents should be
first presented at any of the India visa application centres and the staff will accordingly
guide you on the procedure thereafter. Grant of an emergency visa is at sole discretion of the
High commission of India, London & cannot be guaranteed
- I have completed an online application and made payment
but now I have to cancel my trip to India, how do I get a refund?
If you decide to cancel your visa application before submitting
your application at the centre, you will be eligible for a refund
of the visa fees only. (See link for T&Cs).
See link
to the relevant section of our website where you can cancel your
online application. Subsequently your refund will be initiated
and processed in 5-7 working days.
- I am travelling to India in 3 months time and wish to apply
for a visa as soon as possible, can I apply now?
As visas are valid from the date of issue and not the date
of travel, it is applicant's responsibility to ensure that the
visa they have been granted is valid for the duration of their
stay in India.
- I would like to go to India for doing voluntary work. Which visa should I apply for?
You must apply for an employment visa along with the requisite documents listed below. Note that you have to undergo mandatory registration formalities at the nearest office of the FRRO/FRO within 14 days of your arrival in India if you are planning to stay in the country for more than 180 days.
- Proof of his/her Employment letter/ Invitation Letter for Voluntary Work from Registered NGO,
- Name and Place of work in India and
- Duration of the Voluntary Work.
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