The Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920, Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950, Foreigners Act 1946 & the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992 are the acts and rules which governs entry and exit of foreigners into India?
The acts, policy and rules relating to entry and exit of foreigners into India are created and governed by the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs), Government of India.
All foreign nationals, including children, need a visa for entering India. The only exceptions countries are Nepal and Bhutan who can enter India without a visa. People of Nepal and Bhutan needs a visa if they are entering India from China, Visa fees once deposited cannot be refunded even if requested service is modified or not granted. Validity of the visa begins from the date of issue by the High Commission of India & not from the date of travel mentioned on your application form
Foreigners entering India on long term visas valid for more than 180 days need to follow the relevant registration formalities. All persons who are carrying Student Visa, Employment & Research Visa which are valid for more than 180 days are needed to get themselves registered with the nearest Foreign Registration Office (FRO) or Foreigners Regional Registration Office aka FRRO within 14 days of arrival in India.
The Indian government has now introduced 1-month, 1-year, and 5year electronic visas for citizens of most countries. The e-visas are available for these purpose like tourism, business, medical conference etc. Nowadays, an e-Visa will be sufficient for most visitors, mostly people prefer e-visa before arriving in India. However, citizens of the United States can get a regular Tourist visa that is valid for up to 10 years.
What are the Types of VISA?
As per the rule applicants can submit their visa applications with prior appointments only. These are the types of Visa you can apply for visiting into India according to your need: –
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Urgent Business Visa
- Employment Visa
- Student Visa
- Entry Visa
- Film Visa
- Conference Visa
- Journalist Visa
- Research Visa
- Transit Visa
- Medical Visa
- Medical Escort Visa
- Intern Visa
Visa Requirements for India
| Visa Type | How Long Is It Valid? | Required Documents |
| Tourist Visa | Up to ten years, for stays of 180 days or less | Travel itinerary |
| Entry Visa | 6 months or more with a valid extension | Proof of accommodation through hotel reservation |
| Employment Visa | Up to 5 years | Employment contract copy |
| Intern Visa | Up to one year, or the internship duration | Letter from company sponsoring internship Proof of financial support |
| Business Visa | 1 year or 10 years | A letter from company that they intend to do business with |
| Student Visa | 5 years or the duration of the course | LOA (Letter of acceptance) which also confirms financial arrangements |
| Conference Visa | 3 months | Copy of conference invitation MHA event clearance letter MEA political clearance letter |
| Journalist Visa | 3 months | Media accreditation card or a document from their organization clearly describing the nature of their work |
| Research Visa | 1 year | Proof of the research project, including details of places to be visited Proof of financial resources |
| Medical Visa | 1 year or the duration of the treatment | Medical advice certificate from the country of residence Proof of financial resources |
| Transit Visa | 15 days, for stays of 72 hours or less | A confirmed airline booking showing onward travel |