Immigration: Foreigners Coming to India

Travel Documents Required:

• Foreign Nationals coming to India are required to possess a genuine and valid national passport or any other internationally recognized travel document establishing his/her nationality and identity and bearing photograph of the foreigner.

• Nepal and Bhutan nationals if entering India by land or air from the Nepal or Bhutan border respectively do not require a passport for entering into India. However, they are required to possess, authorized identity proof. Further if they are entering India from a place other than their own country then possession of passport is a must.

Visa Requirements:

§        There is no provision of 'Visa on Arrival' in India. Foreigners are advised to ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before they start their journey to India.

§      Different categories of visas with specific endorsement of numbers of entries allowed and duration of stay in India are mentioned on the visa depending upon request and subsequent decision of the visa issuing authority. Foreigners may also look for specific endorsement if any, on the visa for their guidance. In case of any doubt, they may seek clarification from any of the Indian Missions abroad.

§      Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan do not require visa to enter India. However, citizens of Nepal require a visa when entering India from China.

§      Nationals of Maldives do not require a visa for entry into India for tourism purpose and stay up to 90 days.

§      A separate Visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders.

§      Immigration officer may grant TLP (Temporary Landing Permit) up to a maximum period of 72 hours by retention of passport, if the foreigner is not having a valid visa, and if he is satisfied of the purpose and that the transiting foreigners must have a confirmed onward journey tickets within 72 hours for grant of TLP. Nationals of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia are not granted TLP facility.

§       On production of bonafide proof and on satisfaction of FRRO/FRO cum District Superintendent of Police, Temporary Landing Facility (TLF) can be granted to the foreigners arriving in India without valid VISA, in emergent situation, like death/illness in the family up to a period of 15 days.  For further extension of stay in such cases, the foreigner concerned should report to Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Jaisalmer House, 26, Man Singh Road, New Delhi.

§      Indian currency equivalent to US$40 is charged for TLP/TLF. 

§      A foreigner may be  refused entry, if he/she is not entering India from the designated port, not in possession of valid passport and visa, is insane or  suffering from infectious or loathsome disease which is prejudicial to public health, involved in an extraditable offence or his/her entry is prohibited under the specific order of the Central government.

Immigration Check Requirements on Reaching India:

•   Immigration check is carried out for all passengers at the port of arrival in India.

§        The passengers are required to furnish true particulars in the disembarkation card (Arrival Card) as to his name and nationality, his age, sex, place of birth and address or intended address in India, the purpose of his visit and the proposed length of stay in India.

§      Immigration check includes checking of Passport, Visa, Disembarkation Card, entering foreigner’s particulars in computer, retention of Arrival Card and stamping of passport of the foreigner.

§      Pakistan nationals other than those on Diplomatic visa are required to carry a Visa application form (duplicate copies) which will be issued in addition to regular visa on their passport by the Indian Mission concerned. On presentation at immigration check post, they are issued Regular Residential Permit and are required to report at the designated office or concerned Police Station in their places of stay within 24 Hrs unless and until they are officially exempted from police reporting.

• Afghanistan Nationals are issued Temporary Residential Permit at the immigration Check post, with a direction to get themselves registered within 7 days with the concerned FRRO/FRO of their place of stay.

• Passengers may ensure that their passports are duly stamped before leaving the immigration counter.

• Foreigners carrying a valid PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Card or OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card along with their valid national passport are authorized to enter India without obtaining India visa separately.

For more information, please visit the link below:

http://immigrationindia.nic.in/instructions_foreigners.htm