Foreign Nationals coming to India
are required to possess a genuine and valid national passport or any
other internationally recognized travel document establishing his/her
nationality and identity and bearing photograph of the foreigner.
Nepal and Bhutan nationals if entering India by land
or air from the Nepal or Bhutan border respectively do not require a
passport for entering into India. However, they are required to
possess, authorized identity proof. Further if they are entering India
from a place other than their own country then possession of passport
is a must.
1.Visa Requirements:
Different categories
of visas with specific endorsement of numbers of entries allowed and
duration of stay in India are mentioned on the visa depending upon
request and subsequent decision of the visa issuing authority.
Foreigners may also look for specific endorsement if any, on the visa
for their guidance. In case of any doubt, they may seek clarification
from any of the Indian Missions abroad.
Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan do not require visa to enter India. However, citizens of Nepal & Bhutan require a visa when entering India from China.
Nationals of Maldives do not require a visa for entry into India for tourism purpose and stay up to 90 days.
"A separate Visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders".
Immigration officer may grant TLP (Temporary Landing Permit)
up to a maximum period of 72 hours by retention of passport/document
of identity to the immigration authorities at the port, if the foreigner
is not having a valid visa, and if he is satisfied of the purpose and
that the transiting foreigners must have a confirmed onward journey
tickets within 72 hours for grant of TLP.
On production of bonafide proof and on satisfaction of FRRO/FRO cum District Superintendent of Police, Temporary Landing Facility (TLF)
can be granted to the foreigners arriving in India without valid
VISA, in emergent situation, like death/illness in the family, in case
of OCI Card holder arriving without 'U' visa sticker and enters India
under emergency circumstances and in extreme emergency like strike,
traffic disruption, inclement weathe etc for which the exigency exists
up to a period of 15 days. For further extension of stay in such
cases, the foreigner concerned should report to Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Jaisalmer House, 26, Man Singh Road, New Delhi before the expiry of the TLF period.
Indian currency equivalent to US$40 is charged for TLP/TLF .
A foreigner may be refused entry in one of the following cases
i).If he/she is entering India from the designated port and is not in possession of valid passport and visa.ii).is insane oriii).is suffering from infectious or loathsome disease which is prejudicial to public health, oriv). is involved in an extraditable offence orv). his/her entry is prohibited under the specific order of the Central government.
2.Immigration Check Requirements on Reaching India:
Immigration check is carried out for all passengers at the port of arrival in India.
The passengers are required to furnish true particulars in the disembarkation card( Arrival Card)
as to his name and nationality, his age, sex, place of birth and
address or intended address in India, the purpose of his visit and the
proposed length of stay in India.
Immigration check
includes checking of Passport, Visa, Disembarkation Card, entering
foreigner’s particulars in computer, retention of Arrival Card and
stamping of passport of the foreigner.
Pakistan
nationals other than those on Diplomatic visa are required to carry a
Visa application form (duplicate copies) which will be issued in
addition to regular visa on their passport by the Indian Mission
concerned. On presentation at immigration check post, they are issued
Regular Residential Permit and are required to report at the FRRO/FRO
or concerned Police Station in their places of stay within 24 Hrs
unless and until they are officially exempted from police reporting.
Citizens of SAARC Countries
(a) Citizens
of SAARC Countries categorized as Group 'A' (Diginatories, Government
Officials, Participants of SAARC meetings and officials of SAARC
Secretariat and its Regional Centers) who are coming under "SAARC Visa
Exemption Scheme" are exempted from requirment of a visa and Police
Reporting.
(b) Citizens
of SAARC Countries categorized as Group 'B' (General/Public categories
including Businessmen, Journalists, Sportsmen etc) who are coming under
"Visa Liberlization Scheme" are exempted from requirment of Visa and
Police Reporting.
Afghanistan Nationals are issued Temporary Residential Permit
at the immigration Check post, with a direction to get themselves
registered within 14 days with the concerned FRRO/FRO of their place
of stay.
"Foreigners may
ensure that they enter India ONLY AFTER an immigration stamp with the
correct date is affixed on their passport by the Immigration Officer."
Foreigners carrying a valid PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card or OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card
along with their valid national passport are authorized to enter
India without obtaining Indian visa separately. It is compulsary for
foreigners who are OCIs to also carry the passport bearing the OCI 'U'
visa sticker.
3. Requirements concerning stay of Foreigners in India
"Foreigners are
required to comply with the purpose for which a visa was initially
applied, and also to abide by conditions, endorsed on the visa". If
the visa is valid for more than 180 days
and the foreigner intends to stay in India continuously for more than
180 days, then every such foreigner entering India or resident in
India shall present in person or alongwith an authorized
representative to the satisfaction of the appropriate Registration
Officer at the place of his stay within the specified period mentioned
on visa except certain visa categories requiring registration within
the specified time. Such registration shall not be necessary in the case of a foreigner entering India on a visa valid for a period of not more than 180 days and
who does not remain in India beyond the said period, unless, specific
endorsement/observation is made on the visa by the Indian Mission.
For further
information on registration requirement & visa, enter for specific
category of visa concerned page on this website.
In addition, specific
endorsement or guideline on registration formalities made on the
Indian visa, if any, needs to be adhered to.
At the time of
Registration every foreigner shall furnish accurate information, to
the satisfaction of the Registration Officer and shall, sign the
Registration Report, in the presence of the said officer. The foreigner
shall also be provided a copy of Certificate of Registration (Part III
of Form A).
Foreigners may go
through the instructions given on Registration Certificates for their
guidance concerning stay and future reporting.
Every foreigner shall
within twenty-four hours of demand being made a Registration Officer,
magistrate or police officer, not below the rank of a head constable,
produce, at such place as may be specified in his passport or such
other proof of his identity and/or Registration Certificate as may be
required for any purpose connected with the enforcement of Foreigners
Act/Registration of Foreigners Rules.
