Visa, Passport & Other Regulations - Tourist Visas for Foreign Nationals - PAGE 1

A foreigner who wants to enter India must have a valid visa affixed on his or her valid passport.

Tourist visa is obtainable from the Indian consulate of the respective country.

Tourist visas can be obtained for six months, one year or ten years calculation of this period starts from the date of issuance of the same.

Visa application form can be obtained from the Indian consulate, duly filled and filed with a recent passport size photograph.

All foreigners should enter India through authorized check post or airport only. They should under go immigration check at the airport or check post.

All foreigners who enter India or depart from India either by air or sea shall furnish a true statement of particulars setting it out in form 'D' Embarkation card.

All foreigners who desire to stay in India beyond 180 days have to register themselves at the Foreigners Registration office within 2 weeks of their arrival. Those who intend to stay for less than 180 days but ended up staying longer also have to register themselves. Any violation is dealt very strictly.

Visa for purposes other than tourism - Customs department formalities (These information are guidelines only and can change without notice)

Duty free items - One bottle of whisky 950 ml or less and 200 cigarettes.

Bringing in more than $1000 in cash or travelers cheque - must be declared in currency declaration in form.

If a foreigner wishes to come to India for a purpose other than tourism, he should come after obtaining one of the following visas :-

Recreation - Foreigner wishing to undertake any international sporting event, trekking, botanical expeditions, yoga, journalism, feature film making etc may obtain visas after due formalities from the Indian embassy in their respective countries.