The principal types of visa issued are mentioned below:
Please note: Change of purpose is not permitted once you have reached India. Apply for the correct category of Visa before departure according to your requirement.
TOURIST VISA: Tourist Visa is granted to a Foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight-seeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives. No other activity is permissible on a Tourist Visa. Documents like copy of air-ticket, itinerary, hotel booking confirmation, details of contacts/friends etc are required.
TRANSIT VISA: This is granted for the sole purpose of enabling the holder to travel through India to reach his/her ultimate destination. Change of purpose is not allowed. The visa will be valid for a single journey and for entry within fifteen days from the date of issue. The Transit visa is valid for direct transit only for a maximum period of 03 days of stay in India. Confirmed Air Ticket for onward journey and valid visa for final destination are required. For a stay in India beyond 03 days an appropriate visa should be obtained.
ENTRY VISA: Valid for six months to five years stay with multiple entry. This is given only to persons of INDIAN origin. However, members of the family of a person employed in India are also eligible for an entry visa.
BUSINESS VISA: The Business Visa is granted to a foreign national who wants to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture, wants to purchase/sell industrial products in India, foreign nationals coming to India for technical meetings/discussions, attending Board meetings or general business services meetings, participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, etc. The applicant should be a person of assured financial standing and has the expertise in the field of the intended business. It is not granted for petty trading. For more information on Business visa click on the link http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/work_visa_faq.pdf
Documents required for Business Visa: Local company letter and company registration, Invitation letter from the company/agency in India indicating name, passport no., purpose of visit to India, duration of visit to India etc and the company registration along with forms, two colour photos in white background ( Size 2” X 2”), original Passport.
ENTRY VISA: Entry Visa is granted to person’s spouses and dependent family members of a foreign national coming to India on long term visas like Employment and Research etc. It is also granted to Persons of Indian Origin, his/her spouse and dependent children subject to production of proof of the PIO status, marriage certificate (in respect of spouse) and birth certificate (in respect of children). Spouses of an OCI/PIO card holders and dependent children can also apply for Entry Visa subject to production of necessary proof.
EMPLOYMENT VISA: The Employment visa is granted to foreigners desiring to come to India for the purpose of employment. The applicant should be a skilled and qualified professional or person who is being engaged or appointed by a company, organization, industry or undertaking, etc. in India on contract or employment basis at a senior level, skilled position such as technical expert, senior executive, or in a managerial position. For more information on Employment visa click on the link http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/work_visa_faq.pdf.
Documents required: Letter of signed contract/appointment, applicants resume and proof that the organization is registered in India are required, letter from the concerned company to the Consulate giving details of employment, remuneration, etc. Duration of the visa will depend on the period of employment/contract.
STUDENT VISA: For bona fide students to pursue regular studies at recognized institutions in India. A letter of confirmed admission (original letter) from the institution along with evidence of financial support from parents etc for the duration of stay in India should accompany the applications.
RESEARCH VISA: Validity of the visa would normally depend upon the research period. The applicants should produce original letters of admission from the approved Indian universities/Institutions.(e-mails or photocopies of admission letters will not be accepted.) along with evidence of financial resources for the duration of stay in India should accompany with the applications.
JOURNALIST VISA: This visa is given to professional journalists and photographers for upto THREE months stay in India. (If you intend to make a FILM or DOCUMENTARY in India, please contact the Consulate General of India, Ho Chi Minh City ).
*/ TOURIST VISA-ON-ARRIVAL
Tourists from Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Philippines (w.e.f 1.1.2011) can apply for “Tourist Visa-on-Arrival” with a maximum validity of 30 days with single entry facility. “Tourist Visa-on-Arrival” shall be granted by the Immigration Officers at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi and Trivanduram airports. Tourists from the said countries can also procure their visas from the Indian Missions / Posts in the normal course. For further information, please visit the website of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (http://tourism.gov.in/)
*/ Tourist Visa issued for people holding Taiwan Passport will be valid after 10 days from the date of issue.
*/ Advisory on prohibition of the use of satellite phone services in India:
The Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City would like to give the following Advisory for the information of all people wishing to travel to India. All visa applicants are requested to carefully read this Advisory for a safe and pleasant stay in India.
Kindly note that satellite telephone services are not permitted in India. Under Section 6 of Indian Wireless Act and Section 20 of Indian Telegraph Act, any person found holding satellite phone or using satellite phone can be arrested and prosecuted for the above offence. These laws apply to foreign nationals visiting India also. Accordingly, any foreign national visiting India found to be making inauthorized use of satellite telephone services as e.g. Thuraya and Irridium will be prosecuted and all the sets found in his/her possession will be seized.
The Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City also requests that the above information may please be shared with friends, colleagues, business partners, family members etc. wishing to travel to India in order to avoid any situation leading to seizure of equipments, their detention and prosecution in India, for unauthorized use of satellite telephone services under the Indian laws.
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