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Tourist Visa
Who Can Apply?
A tourist visa can only be granted to a foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives, etc. No other activity is permissible on a tourist visa. A tourist visa may be issued normally for three months to six months with single or multiple entries and is non-extendable and non-convertible. The duration of the visa is the sole discretion of the Issuing Authority. Please note the validity of the visa is effective from the date of issue.

Single, Double and Multiple Entry Tourist Visa
Single Entry Tourist Visa
Applicant(s) on a Single Entry Tourist Visa can enter into India only once and required to apply for a new visa if he/she intends to travel again. The applicant(s) can apply for a new visa only after TWO MONTHS from the last exit from India.

If the applicant (s) needs to travel again without a GAP of Two Months, then he/she is required to apply for a special re-entry permit along with the new visa application.

Double Entry Tourist Visa
Applicant(s) on a Double Entry Tourist Visa can travel to a third country from India during their holidays and can re-enter into India without a GAP of Two Months to continue with their holidays. In such cases the visa will be issued with a permission to re-enter into India from the specific country (city), which allows the applicants to re-enter into India without a GAP of Two Months from their last exit date.

Applicant(s) are required to provide a tentative itinerary in order to apply for Double Entry Tourist Visa.

Re-entry on a double entry visa is allowed only from the neighbouring countries*. i.e Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand etc.

Multiple Entry Tourist Visa
Applicant(s) on a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa can travel to India multiple times within the visa duration permitted, but the applicant can re-enter into India only after a GAP of Two Months from the last exit date.

If the applicant(s) intends to travel without a GAP of Two Months from the last exit date, then he/she is required to obtain a special re-entry permit from the Local Indian Consulate/ Mission with the re-entry form..

The applicant(s) can re-enter into India without any permission only after a GAP of Two Months from their last exit date.


Applicants wish to travel on cruise or wish to apply for tourist visa in advance may require to provide tentative travel itinerary/Cruise Itinerary

Kindly ensure all the fields of the visa application form are completely filled before submitting including your UK and India referees. Please note if you are going for tourism purposes and do not have Indian referees kindly attach a self-undertaking that you will book your accommodation/ hotels on arrival in India.

Applicants wish to travel to Restricted/Protected Areas (Andaman-Nicobar/Sikkim) for tourism are required to obtain the Restricted Area Permit before their travel. Please fill the Additional Information Form for the restricted area permit.

Please refer the Tourist Visa Advisory for the restriction of 2 Months gap from your last exit from India on a Tourist Visa.

Please download the document
 
 
Dual Nationality Citizens
Applicants holding passports other than Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are required to apply on their British Passport.
Applicants from above countries are requested to apply on the passport of the country of origin if they are holding/ residing in UK on that Passport.

Kindly look into the following Important Notices and Documents required section before submitting your visa application:
 
 
Tourist Visa advisory
As per the rules and regulations set by the High Commission of India, the Visa Advisory informs that there should be a 2 months gap from your last exit from India on a Tourist Visa.

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Renunciation/Surrender of Indian Passports
Under the Indian law, people of Indian origin, who have acquired foreign nationality, are required to surrender their Indian passport (nationality) to the High Commission of India in London or at the respective Indian consulates at Birmingham and Edinburgh before submitting their visa applications.

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Introduction of "Tourist Visa-on-Arrival"
Citizens of Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, and Singapore have been granted the permission of attaining a Tourist Visa-on-arrival by the Government of India. This holds a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility from the immigrations at Delhi and Mumbai.

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Import of Satellite Phones into India
Due to the pertaining security reasons, the use and/or import of satellite phones being carried during your travel may be detained by the Department of Telecommunication. Please follow through the rules and regulations before your travel.

More....
 
 
Travel Advisory
In view of the spread of the Swine Influenza A (H1N1), all passengers travelling to India will be screened at the International Airports in India on their arrival and required to carry the declaration form (Health Card) at the Immigration. This may also involve quarantine and even hospitalisation, if detected, with any symptoms connected with the flu.

Kindly print the Health screening card from the link below, complete and sign it before travelling to India .Health screening Card front.pdf
 
 

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VISA APPLYING
PROCESS


Step 1
Click, “All About Visas”. Confirm the visa type based on your reason for travel; do not make any confirmed bookings.

Step 2
Complete your application online. Please note that on and after 23rd November 2010, no previous versions or handwritten forms will be available on the website or accepted at any of the India Visa Application Centers.

Step 3
If the application has been completed online you must download & print all form/s, read and complete Checklist.

Step 4
Check fees payable, payment options and documents required. All such details can be found in the respective visa categories under the section All About Your Visas.

Step 5
Sign form/s at all indicated places.

Step 6
Ensure photos are strictly as per New Photo Specifications

Step 7
Check processing time to plan your travel accordingly.

Step 8
Attach all supporting documents required as per the Checklist. Make sure your application is complete. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

Step 9
Submit your Application along with the passport and required documents at any of our India Visa Application centres in UK by person to the respective Jurisdiction or by post to our centralised postal processing centre. Postal applications need a minimum of 10 working days to be processed. This does not include the period they are in transit to and from the High Commission or the Consulate General.

Step 10

Step 11
Your passport will be returned to you by the mode of delivery opted by you when submitted. Allow for 2-3 days transit time for postal or courier return applications. Transit times differ by location and do not take into account any public holidays.