Visa Requirement

Visa

Foreign Nationals desirous of coming into India are required to possess a valid passport of their country and a valid Indian Visa.
There is no provision of 'Visa on Arrival' in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before they start their journey to India except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan who do not require visa to enter India and nationals of Maldives who do not require visa for entry in India for a period up to 90 days (a separate Visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders).
The Consular Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for issuance of Indian visas to the foreign nationals for their visit for various purposes. This facility is granted through various Indian missions abroad.
Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. The High Commission reserves the right on granting and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees tendered at the time of making application. Granting of Visa does not confer the right of entry to India and is subject to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.
Specific Visas are granted for a variety of purposes. Listed below in a tabular form are the types of visa; categorised on the basis of purpose of staying in India.

Visa Application Form

Visa application form is available at the office of Indian Embassy in the country where the NRI/PIO resides. Visa form for nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh are generally different. All NRIs/PIOs, including children (who don't possess OCI or PIO card) need to apply for Visa in separate visa forms.

Procedure for obtaining Visa

Visas can be applied for in person or by post at the High Commission of India based in the country from where the candidate intends to depart for India. Specific visas are granted for a variety of purposes that are aforementioned.

Requirements for Visa

Generally the following documents are required for obtaining Indian Visa. However, the requirement may vary from country to country.

Visa for NRIs and PIOs

Persons of Indian Origins and Non-Resident Indians who possess either OCI (Overseas Indian Citizenship) or PIO card don't need Indian Visa. OCI and PIO give them the freedom to visit India without visa. OCI and PIO cards are multi-purpose life long visa for visiting India.
However, those NRIs and PIOs who don't have OCI or PIO card can apply for and get Indian visa through the procedure mentioned above.
For more details please  visit  'Indian Missions/Embassies Abroad'

For more information on passport and visa rules please visit www.passport.nic.in & www.india.gov.in

Registration of Visas

Foreigners Registration in Kerala

Commissioner / Superintendent of Police of Cities / Districts are the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) . Now you can submit Form C to the concerned FROs through  the official website of Kerala Police(www.keralapolice.org)

For online registration of Form C click here>>
Sl.No.              Foreigners Registration Office/Officer  E-Mail                           Fax

RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO FOREIGNER'S WHO WISH TO STAY IN INDIA AS A TOURIST

Tourist means a foreigner having no residence or occupation in India and whose stay in India does not ordinarily exceed 6 months (180 days). He is visiting India only for recreation and sight seeing.
Every tourist who enters India must hold a tourist visa issued by the Indian missions abroad. The Indian missions abroad will issue visas for the tourist for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 5 years. But 5 years tourist visa will be issued only to the citizens of the country in which the Indian mission is located.

1. VALIDITY OF THE TOURIST VISA

The validity of the tourist visa comes into effect from the date of issue. But the validity of the three months tourist visa will come into effect from the date of first entry.

2. REGISTRATION OF THE VISA

Every foreigner who arrives in India on the strength of a tourist visa having duration of more than 180 days (6 months) should register his/her visa with the nearest foreigner's registration officer concerned within 15 days of arrival to India. In Kerala Superintendent of Police or Commissioners of Police are acting as the foreigner's Registration Officer (in some other states District Collector is acting as the Foreigners Registration Officer). After necessary verification the Foreigner's Registration Officer will issue the registration certificate and residential permit to the foreigner.

3. EXTENSION OF VISA

Tourist visas are non-extendable. Therefore the tourist (foreigner) should leave India on or before the expiry of the validity of the visa. But the tourist visa having duration of Three months are eligible for an extension of an additional Three months by Foreigner's Registration Officer, subject to the payment of the required fee. However in emergent situations the State Government can grant an extension of 15 days.

4. CONVERSION OF THE VISA

The Foreigners, who come to India on the strength of a tourist visa are not eligible to convert the tourist visa into any other type of visas, and are not eligible to engage any other activities other than tourism.

5. OVER STAY

The foreign tourists who have been over staying in India are liable to be prosecuted.

6. DEPARTURE FROM INDIA

If the registration documents issued by the Foreigner's Registration Officer to the foreigner are valid, he/she can leave India simply on production of the confirmed ticket to the port authorities concerned (after surrendering the registration document to the port).

7. STUDY OF YOGA OR MEDITATION

Several Foreigners are coming to India with tourist visa’s will usually seek admission for studying yoga and meditation. But as per the prevailing norms they should hold proper student visa for studying yoga meditation etc. And their venue of study should be clearly recorded on the side of the visa stamp. (The institution should be an authorised one). More over change of institution is also not permitted.

8. LOSS OF PASSPORT

If the passport of the foreigner is irrecoverably lost he should report the same to the nearest police station, and obtain a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) in the case of theft or a certificate if it is lost otherwise. The Foreigners should obtain new passport/emergency certificate from their missions in India. Before leaving India the foreigner should seek an exit permit from the Chief Immigration Officer, Madras or from the Foreigner's Regional Registration Officers of Mumbai, Calcutta or New Delhi and produce the same at the port of embarkation.

9. SHIFTING OF RESIDENCE

At the time of lodging an application for registration of visa the foreigner should furnish his address in India and which is known as his registered address. Whenever the foreigner shifts his residence he should intimate the same to Foreigner's Registration Officer and also intimate the same to the Foreigner's Registration Officer of his new residence. Based on the enquiry report his registration documents will be forwarded to the new Foreigner's Registration Officer.

10. REPORTING OF OCCUPATION OF HOUSES

If a foreign tourist is occupying houses on rental basis the house owner is obliged to report the details to the police authorities concerned within 24 hours of occupation. The foreigner should ensure that house owner has intimated the same to police authorities.
All Foreigners who are visiting Kerala are requested to abide by the above rules and regulations positively and violations of above conditions and overstay will be treated as an offence and will be punished as per the relevant rules prevailing in India.
For more information and guidelines in  please visit  www.keralapolice.org

For online registration of Form C click here>>