Entry is refused to nationals of Afghanistan if their
passport or ticket shows evidence of transit or boarding in
Pakistan.
Passport valid for at least 6 months required by all.
Required by all except the following provided they are not
missionaries or intending to take up employment:
(a)
nationals of Bhutan and Nepal for a maximum stay of 3 months;
(b)
nationals of the Maldives for a maximum stay of 90 days. The
period of 90 days includes any prior period of stay during a
period of 6 months immediately before the date of entry;
(c)
transit passengers whose tickets show they intend to continue
their journey from the airport, provided they do not leave the
airport, and provided they continue their journey within 72
hours (24 hours via Mumbai). Nationals of Pakistan must travel
via Amritsar, Delhi or Mumbai airports, continuing their
journey the same day, and they are not allowed to leave the
airport. Nationals of Bangladesh may require a visa if they
have to leave the airport for a connecting flight.
Tourist: £30 (6 months). Business: $30 (6 months); $50 (1 year);
$90 (2 years). Transit: $8 (72 hours).
Long-term/Entry (these are only issued to nationals of Indian
origins): $90(5 years). Conference, Journalist and Student
visas are also available (contact the Embassy or High
Commission for details). Nationals of Afghanistan, Argentina,
Bangladesh, Jamaica, Korea (Dem. Rep. of), Maldives, Mongolia,
Mauritius, Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa and Uruguay
are exempt from visa fees.
(a) The High Commission in London reserves the right to
decide on the duration of the visa notwithstanding the minimum
fee. (b) Restricted Area Permits are needed to visit some
areas (see below). (c) Non-UK nationals applying in the UK
need to pay an additional $10 ($15 for US passport
holders) unless holding proof of at least 1-year residence in
the UK.(d) A $1 fee is required for postal applications.
Tourist (up to 6 months); Business (up to 2 years); Transit
(normally 72 hours, but 15 days if stamped by Immigration
authorities). Long-term (up to 5 years).
Embassy or High Commission (or Consular section at Embassy
or High Commission).
(a) Passport valid for at least 6 months. (b) Completed
application form. Nationals of Pakistan and Bangladesh must
complete special application forms. (c) 2 passport-size photos
Nationals of Pakistan will require 5. (d) Fee (postal orders
only for postal applications). (e) Stamped addressed special
delivery envelope for postal applications. (f) Business visa
applicants need to present a letter from their employee
stating the reason of the visit and an invitation from the
company in India and a letter of introduction from UK company
addressed to the Embassy. (g) Transit visa applicants need
proof of travel ticket for third destination.
Visas: 4 days (personal applications); 1 week for persons
not ordinarily resident in the UK and for nationals of
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka; 4-6 weeks (postal
applications); up to 3 months (if the application needs to be
sent to India). Restricted Area Permits: 7 days.
Prior permission should be sought before entry into India.
Certain parts of the country have been designated protected
or restricted areas that require special permits and in some
cases prior government authorisation which is easily obtained.
Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be
indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be
granted to visit that region only. Passengers are advised to
check with the Government of India Tourist Office (GITO) for
up-to-date information before departure.
The following
states are subject to some restrictions: Arunachul Pradesh,
Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, Manipur,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim.
88 Janpath, New Delhi 110 001, India
Tel: (11) 332 0342 or
332 0005 or 332 0008. Fax: (11) 332 0109.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
http://www.tourismofindia.com/
Jeevan Vihar, Third Floor, 3 Sansad Marg, New Delhi 110
001, India
Tel: (11) 310 923 or 332 4422. Fax: 334
3167 or 344 415.
Website: http://www.theashokgroup.com/
Any person (including infants over six months old) arriving
by air or sea without a yellow fever certificate is detained
in isolation for a period of up to 6 days if arriving within 6
days of departure from or transit through an infected area (30
days if travelling by ship). When a case of yellow fever is
reported from any country, that country is regarded by the
government of India as being infected.
Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera
vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to India.
However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and
precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought
before deciding whether these precautions should include
vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its
effectiveness.
Poliomyelitis is widespread. Immunisation is
generally recommended.
Malaria risk exists, mainly in the benign vivax form, throughout the year in the whole country below 2000m
excluding parts of the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir and Sikkim. High resistance to chloroquine is reported
in the malignant falciparum form.
All water should be regarded as being potentially
contaminated. Well water near the Ganges and in West Bengal
may contain traces of arsenic chemical. Water used for
drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been
boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and
should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is
advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure
water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made
from unboiled milk. Only eat well cooked meat and fish,
preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry
increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
A sharp rise in the incidence of visceral
leishmaniasis has been observed. Cutaneous
leishmaniasis occurs in Rajasthan. Filariasis is
common throughout India and sandfly fever is
increasing. An outbreak of plague occurred in 1994 and
was contained by adequate government measures. Tick-borne
relapsing fever is reported, as is typhus, and
outbreaks of haemorrhagic dengue fever have occurred in
eastern India. Tick-borne haemorrhagic fever has been
reported in the forest areas in Karnataka State. Hepatitis
A and E are common. Hepatitis B is endemic.
Outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis have been
reported. Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis occur,
particularly in Andhra Pradesh. Meningitis is present
in Delhi from November to May. Vaccination is
advisable.
Rabies is present. For those at high
risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you
are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more
information, consult the Health appendix.
All visitors aged between 18-70 years of age who are
wishing to extend their visa for a year or more are required
to take an AIDS test.
Health care facilities are limited and travellers are
strongly advised to take out full medical insurance before
departing for India. It is advisable to bring specific
medicines from the UK. There are state-operated facilities in
all towns and cities and private consultants and specialists
in urban areas.
Visitors leaving for countries which impose health
restrictions on arrivals from India are required to be in
possession of a valid certificate of inoculation and
vaccination.
Jan 26 Republic Day. Feb 23 Idu’z
Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 25 Muharram
(Islamic New Year). Mar 29 Good Friday. Apr 25 Mahavir
Jayanti. May 25
Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the
Prophet). May 26 Buddha Purnima. Aug 15 Independence Day.
Oct 2
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday. Oct 15 Vijaya Dasami/Dussera.
Nov 4 Diwali. Nov 19 Guru Nanak’s Birthday. Dec 6-8 Eid
al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan
26 2003 Republic Day. Feb 13 Idu’z Zuha/Bakrid
(Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar/Apr Mahavir Jayanti. Mar 6 Muharram (Islamic New Year).
Apr 18 Good
Friday. May Buddha Purnima. May 15 Milad-Un-Nabi
(Birth of the Prophet). Aug 15 Independence Day. Sep/Oct Dussera.
Oct 2
Mahatma Gandhi’s
Birthday. Oct 25 Diwali. Nov 19 Guru Nanak’s
Birthday. Nov 25-27 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Dec 25 Christmas Day.
(a) Public holidays in India tend to be observed on a
strictly regional basis. Only the secular holidays of Republic
Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday are
universally observed. The above dates are Government of India
holidays, when government offices will be closed nationwide.
In addition, there are numerous festivals and fairs which are
also observed in some States as holidays, the dates of which
change from year to year. For more details, contact the
Government of India Tourist Office (see address section). See
also under the heading Special Events in the Social
Profile section.
(b) Muslim festivals are timed according
to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates
given above are approximations. During the lunar month of
Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day
and feast at night and normal business patterns may be
interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and
there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking.
Destination Guide – India
Passport and Visa Application
Health
Holidays
Restricted entry
Passports
Visas
Types of visa and cost
Note
Validity
Application to
Application requirements
Working days required
Temporary residence
Restricted and protected areas
Addresses
1
2
3
4
5
Other risks
Note
Health care
On leaving India
Public Holidays
Notes
| Country | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| British | yes | yes | no |
| Australian | yes | yes | no |
| Canadian | yes | yes | no |
| USA | yes | yes | no |
| Other EU | yes | yes | no |
| Japanese | yes | yes | no |
| Government of India Tourist Office (GITO) |
| India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (ITDC) |
|
|
| Health Precaution | Special Precaution | Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | yes | 1 |
| Cholera | yes | 2 |
| Typhoid and Polio | 3 | n/a |
| Malaria | 4 | n/a |
| Food and Drink | 5 | n/a |
|
|