India Tourist Visas
All non-Indian nationals who wish to travel to India for any length of time require a visa. India issues short-term temporary visas for those visiting the country as tourists, visiting family and friends and for receiving medical treatment. Indian visas for short-term visits are granted for 6 months and do not provide the opportunity to switch to a longer-term Indian immigration service or to reside in India permanently.
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As Indian immigration specialists, Global Visas offer the full range of India visas and work permits. To set your application for a visa to India in motion today, visit the online assessment area.
Applying for an Indian Tourist Visa
Indian tourist visas are issued for a maximum period of six months and are granted as a temporary immigration solution either to individuals, or collectively where a group of at least four people are travelling together. Tourist visas are issued to people entering India as tourists or to visit family and friends and cannot be extended beyond their initial grant. India also issues a transit visa for people who will be entering India for less than 15 days en route to another destination. Both tourist and transit visas require applicants to provide a current valid passport from their country of residence, however transit visas applications also require evidence of tickets for onward travel from India.
Applying for an Indian Business Visa
Unlike an tourist visa, Indian business visas may be issued for up to five years and can be granted as either a single entry permit or as a multiple entry permit. In most cases, Indian business visas do not allow applicants to take up employment in India and working in India will require a work permit application to be submitted. Business visas are issued to those who need to travel to India in order to participate in business related activities including attending meetings and conferences.
Business visa applications must be accompanied by a valid passport which has at least six months duration remaining and applicants must be sponsored by the relevant Indian company. Evidence of this sponsorship must be provided in a letter from the company which sets out the duration and purpose of the trip.
Indian Medical Visa
Travelling to India to undergo medical treatment is an increasingly popular practice and candidates will need to apply for an Indian Medical visa, often referred to as an M visa. Like all short stay India visas, M visas are issued as a temporary immigration service for short-term relocation to India. However, they may in some circumstances be extended where it can be shown that the treatment being administered requires the candidate to remain in India for an extended period. Medical visas for India are normally issued based on the anticipated time taken to complete the treatment being undertaken. Medical visas can be issued for up to one year, and may be extended by a further 12 months with permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Within the initial one-year grant, a patient may travel to and exit India up to three times with the possibility of a fourth in some circumstances.
India medical visa applications are carefully monitored to ensure that the medical treatment is the genuine reason for the candidate relocating to India. Applicants must be attending a recognised Indian medical institution and It must be shown that they have sought medical advice in their own country and been advised to seek specialist treatment. Priority will we given to medical visa applicants with certain conditions including ophthalmic disorders and heart problems as well as those requiring organ transplants or neuro-surgery.
All medical visa applicants must ensure that the register their arrival with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in India, within 14 days of arrival.
Indian Visas – Spouse and Dependent Immigration
All three Indian visas services outlined above are intended as temporary visas and as such, travel visas and business visas do not make provision for the immediate family members of the main applicant to enter India. Any dependents wishing to join applicants with these visas in India will need to apply for an Indian visa in their own right. However, medical visas which may in theory allow an applicant to remain in India for up to two years permit the applicant to be accompanied by two relatives. Such relatives, who must be related by blood will be issued with an MX visa and may remain in India for the same period granted to the main applicant.
You can take the first step towards your Indian visa application today by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area. Just complete an assessment form and a specialist Indian immigration consultant will contact you.
