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IMMIGRATION PASSPORT |
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Citizens of all countries,
except Nepal &Bhutan, require a valid national passport or valid
travel documents and a valid visa granted by Missions abroad for
entering India. Nepalese or Bhutanese citizens need no passport or
visa but should possess suitable documents for their identification
when proceeding from their respective countries.
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VISAS |
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Requirement For Visa :
Foreigners
desirous of visiting India can do so after obtaining visa from the
Indian Mission in their country of their residence. They should
possess a valid National Passport - except in the case of nationals
of Bhutan & Nepal, who may carry only suitable means of
identification.
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Tourist Visas :
Usually, a multi-entry
visa, valid for a period of 180 days, is granted for the purpose of
tourism. The visa is valid from the date of issue.
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Collective Visas :
The facility also
exists for the issue of collective visas to group tours consisting
of not less than four members and sponsored by a travel agency recognized
by the Government of India. Such groups may split into smaller
groups for visiting different places in India after obtaining a
collective "license to travel" from the immigration authorities
in India. However, they must reassemble and depart as the original group.
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Transit Visas :
Transit
visas are granted by Indian Missions abroad for a maximum period of
15 days.
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Exemption from
Registration :
Foreigners
coming to India on tourist visas for 180 days or shorter period are
not required to register themselves with any authority in India.
They can move about freely in the country, except to
restricted/protected areas and prohibited places.
Nationals
of Bangladesh are exempted from registration up to six months. If
their stay exceeds six months, they have to register themselves. Individuals without
nationality (stateless persons; IRO refugees, persons receiving legal
or political protection, holders of Nansen passport etc.) should have
valid passports, identity documents or sworn affidavits along with the
visa for which they should apply two months in advance.
Family
passports issued by other governments are recognized without
discrimination.
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Landing Permit Facility
: Tourists
may note the no Landing Permit Facility is available to any
foreign tourist landing without a visa. A limited facility exists
only for group tours consisting of four or more members and
sponsored by a travel agency recognized by the Government of India.
Children of foreigners of Indian origin below the age of 12 may be granted
landing permit by the immigration authorities up to a period of 90 days to
see their relatives, in case they happen to come without a visa.
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Tourist Groups :
A tourist group
arriving by air, ship or by a chartered or scheduled flight may be granted
a collective landing permit for a period of up to 30 days by the
immigration authorities on landing, provided the group is sponsored
by a recognized travel agency and a predrawn itinerary's presented
along with details of passport etc. of the members, and the travel
agency gives an undertaking to conduct the group together.
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Extension of Visa :
As a rule
no extension of stay is granted on a Tourist Visa.
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Other Types of Visas :
If a foreigner wishes to come to India for a
purpose other than tourism, he should come after obtaining one of
the following visas.
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Business Visa :
A foreigner can
obtain one from an Indian Embassy abroad. A multiple entry visa is
valid for 5years, provided he wishes to come for some business.
Foreigners of Indian origin can obtain a 5 year multiple entry visa
for business, to meet their relatives etc.
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Student Visa :
A student visa
can be obtained from the Indian Embassy on the production of proof
of admission and means of sustenance while in India, etc. The visa
is valid for one year but can be extended in India for the duration
of the course.
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Conference Visa :
Delegates
coming to attend international conferences in India can be granted
Conference Visa to cover the conference as well as for tourism in
India. Delegates are advised to apply to Indian Embassies well in
advance. ** Employment Visa : Foreigners desirous of coming to India
for taking up employment should apply for an Employment Visa, which
are issued by Indian Missions abroad. Initially granted for a period
of one year, it can be extended in India up to the period of
contract. ** Recreation : Foreigners wishing to undertake any international
sporting event, trekking, botanical expeditions, yoga, journalists, media
men, documentary and feature film makers may obtain visas after due formalities
from the Indian Embassy.
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CUSTOMS
FORMALITIES & REGULATIONS |
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Visitors
are generally required to make an oral baggage declaration in
respect of baggage and foreign currency in their possession. They
are also required to obtain the Currency Declaration Form from the
Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to
them by the airline during the course of the flight. There are two channels for
clearance :
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Green Channel :
For passengers not in possession
of any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage.
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Red Channel :
For passengers with
dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high value articles to
be entered on the tourist Baggage Re-Export Form.
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CURRENCY
REGULATIONS
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There
are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers'
cheques a tourist may bring into India provided he makes a
declaration in the Currency Declaration Form given to him on arrival.
This will enable him not only to exchange the currency bought in,
but also to take the unspent currency out of India on departure. Cash, bank
notes and travelers' cheques up to US$ 1,000 or equivalent, need not
be declared at the time of entry.
Any money in the form of travelers' cheques, drafts, bills, cheques,
etc. in convertible currencies, which tourists wish to convert into
Indian currency, should be exchanged only through authorized money
changers and banks who will issue an encashment certificate that is
required at the time of reconversion of any unspent money into
foreign currency. Exchanging of foreign currency other than banks or
authorized money changers is an offense under Foreign Exchange
Regulations Act 1973.
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ARRIVAL
& DEPARTURE FORMALITIES |
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Arrival Formalities :
If the visa, for stay
in India, is for more than 180 days, a Registration Certificate and Residential
Permit should be obtained from the nearest Foreigners' Registration Office
within 15 days of arrival. All persons including Indian nationals are
required to fill in a Disembarkation Card, at the time of arrival. Four
photographs are also required for registration. The foreigners registered at
Foreigners' Registration Office are required to report change of their addresses.
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Departure from India :
All persons,
except nationals of Bhutan &Nepal, leaving by air, road or rail
have to fill in an Embarkation Card at the time of departure.
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Exit Formalities :
Every foreigner who is
about to depart finally from India shall surrender his Certificate
of Registration either to the Registration Officer of the place
where he is registered or of the place from where he intends to
depart or to the Immigration Officer at the Port/Check post of exit
from India.
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HEALTH
REGULATIONS |
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Foreign tourists should be in possession
of their Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate conforming to
International Health Regulation, if they are originating or
transiting through Yellow Fever endemic countries.
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AIRPORTS |
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The
international airports in the metro cities offer a range of services
ensuring that the traveler on business can continue working while
waiting to board an international connection, or when transferring between
international flights. These include restaurants, business centers, rest
rooms and handy telephones booths. Business centers are equipped with state-of-the-art
equipment including word processors and telefax.
Airports also offer tourist duty-free & handicrafts shopping, informal snack
bars, nursery and baby care rooms, and even an art gallery. Duty
free prices in the airport shops are very competitive, offering you bargains on
international merchandise.
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FOREIGN
TRAVEL TAX |
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Passengers
embarking on journeys to any place outside India from a Customs
airport/seaport will have to pay a Foreign Travel Tax (FTT) of Rs.
300 and Rs. 150 on journeys to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SriLanka and Maldives. No tax is payable
on journeys performed by ship from Rameshwaram to Talaimanar and in case of
transit passengers, provided they do not leave the customs barrier. Transit
passengers traveling by air who have to leave the airport on account
of mechanical trouble but continue their journey by the same
aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also
exempt from FTT. Transit sea passengers leaving the ship for
sightseeing, shopping etc. during the ships' call at any of the
Indian ports will not be required to pay FTT.
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