Exploring Different Visa Categories in India: A Brief Guide

By - July 24, 2023 - India
Different Visa Categories in India

India with its warm culture, friendly tourism, and all-inclusive philosophy serves as the perfect melting pot that exemplifies the age-old adage of ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’meaning the world is one family. No wonder a recent study indicates that approximately 6.19 million tourists visited India in 2022 from different countries across the globe which is four times the foreign entries in 2021. While most people visit India as students, for business, jobs or to experience the spirituality of this ancient land, a huge percentage of them come as tourists to explore the heritage and grandeur of our majestic past.

All foreign travelers coming to India are required to hold a valid visa throughout their stay in India. A visa issued by the Government of India is a legal document that authenticates a foreigner’s visit to India. Keep reading to know more about the different types of visas in India, who can apply for them, their duration, and everything that makes them different from each other.

An Overview of Different Visa Types in India: A Quick Guide:

1. Tourist Visa: A tourist visa is issued to a foreign national who does not have a residence or occupation in India and is coming simply for recreation, sightseeing, holidaying, or visiting family and friends. The normal duration of a tourist visa is six months but may differ for travelers visiting from some specific nations. US nationals can apply for multiple-entry tourist visas with a maximum stay of ten years.

However, the single stay should not exceed 180 days at a stretch. Foreign travelers from the United Kingdom are also entitled to a multiple-entry visa but the maximum duration of their stay is limited to five years. Similarly, those travelling from countries like Argentina, Chile, Finland, Brazil, Iceland, France Germany, Mexico, Luxembourg, Japan, Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, South Korea, and Vietnam are also entitled to a multiple entry visa that holds a maximum validity of five years. The stay is restricted to a maximum of 90 days with an interval of at least two months between two back-to-back visits.

2. Student Visa: Foreign students who wish to visit India to pursue education at a recognized university need to hold a student visa. This type of visa has a maximum duration of five years or a period equal to the duration of the educational course. If the educational course extends beyond five years, then the student visa can either be renewed for another five years or extended as per requirement.

Being a multiple-entry visa, students are not required to reapply for a visa each time they go back home and return to India. Foreign students also get the facility of a provisional visa which has a validity of three months with no extensions.

3. Business Visa: India holds plenty of business opportunities, attracting investment and trade from foreign nationals. Foreign nationals can establish a business or conduct trade only if they apply for a business visa. However, a business visa should not be confused with an employment visa because both are different with distinct criteria.

Holders of business visas need not be employed or work with an Indian company. A business visa has a validity of 5-10 years but those who have not registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office can stay only for 180 days at a stretch.

Suggested Itineraries for India:

4. Employment Visa: A foreign national can work for an Indian company in India only if he holds a valid Employment visa. Employment visas have a validity of one year or the duration of the employment contract.

5. Medical Visa: Today India boasts of advanced and economical medical facilities which means more foreign nationals visiting India to avail of them. They may undergo different medical treatments like organ transplants, radiotherapy, joint replacement, or gene therapy.

Medical visas are issued for treatment in a recognized hospital or treatment center and are valid for one year or the duration of the treatment whichever is less. Since patients are often accompanied by close relatives a Medical Attendant Visa is issued to up to two blood relatives of a medical visa holder.

6. Conference Visa: Modern-day India hosts various global seminars, conferences, workshops, and seminars. A conference visa is issued to foreign delegates visiting India to attend any of the above events.

It is imperative to note that delegates are issued a Conference visa only if the event is conducted by a government organization or department, for all private events the delegates are issued a business visa. The validity of the Conference visa is only three months and is a single entry visa.

7. Diplomatic Visa: Foreign nationals who hold a diplomatic or official passport are eligible to apply for a diplomatic visa. Diplomatic visas are issued by the Indian Embassy and the Indian Consulates. This type of visa carries no fees or additional charges.

8. Entry Visa: An entry visa is issued if the spouse or children of the principal visa holder are of Indian origin or if the principal holder has been of Indian origin at some point of time in his life. It is also issued to the spouse and children of a principal holder who is traveling on a business visa, employment, student visa, or any other long-term visa.

An entry visa has the same duration as that of the principal visa and can be applied for only after the principal visa has been issued and approved.

9. Journalist Visa: Journalists or photographers of foreign origin who want to do journalism in India can apply for a journalist visa which has a duration of just three months.

10. Missionary Visa: Foreign nationals visiting India for religious or spiritual purposes are issued missionary visa, whose duration and validity is decided by the government of India.

11. Emergency Visa: In case of an emergency, a person of Indian origin holding a US passport can apply for an emergency visa. The Consular office has the sole authority to decide whether the purpose of the visit falls under the category of emergency or not and issues or denies the visa application accordingly.

Takeaway

With an in-depth understanding of Indian Visas hope you now know which visa to apply for if you are traveling to India. Apply for the correct visa and enjoy a hassle-free stay in India, because when it comes to hospitality, there is no other country as embracing as our Motherland.

Further Reading:

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