India visa latest regulations 2022

Passport

Required materials: one application form; one photo; proof of identity; opinions from the unit; guardian materials; materials related to the reason for application. Note: The above are common materials required by various regions. Different regions may require other materials due to differences in policies. Please consult each region for details in advance.

Fees: First-time application: 200 yuan/book; Renewal: 220 yuan/book (including replacement and refill fees); Reissue after invalidation: 220 yuan/book (including previous license and refill fees); Reissue if stolen or damaged: 220 yuan/copy (including reissue and reissue fees); reissue if lost: 420 yuan/copy (including reissue and reissue fees); reissue: 20 yuan/copy.

Remarks:

1. Passport application policies vary from place to place. It is recommended to call in advance for detailed information.

2. The applicant needs to submit the application in person at the entry-exit permit hall, and cannot entrust an agent to handle it.

3. Ordinary passports are valid for five years for those under 16 years old, and ten-year passports are issued for those over 16 years old (inclusive).

4. Areas that require online reservation application need to submit the application online first. After the reservation is successful, go to the reservation location according to the reservation time. It is recommended to call in advance to inquire whether online reservation is required.

5. Preparing the required application materials in advance is the key to applying for a passport efficiently.

6. The application is generally processed within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the application materials; if the corresponding expedited certification materials are provided, the exit and entry management agency of the public security organ will expedite the processing. The situation may vary from place to place and depends on the situation in each place.

Visa

1. Indian visa authorities: The visa authorities outside India are Indian embassies, consulates and high commissions in various countries. The visa authorities in India are the Foreigners Regulation Office (FRRO) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs. There are foreigner management offices in every state, city and international airport in India.

2. Responsibilities and powers of the Indian visa authorities: The Indian embassy and consulates in China accept applications for various visas from Chinese citizens. Indian embassies, consulates or high commissions in other countries also accept various types of visa applications from Chinese citizens, but they need to be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs of India for approval. The Ministry of External Affairs of India handles diplomatic and official visa matters. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and its affiliated Foreigners Management Office handle other types of visas, visa extensions, and foreigner residence permits. The Foreigners Administration Office at the Indian International Airport is responsible for immigration inspection and port visa processing. Currently, only citizens of a few countries can apply for Indian port visas. Chinese citizens must obtain a visa in advance before entering India.

3. Materials and related information required to apply for an Indian visa. No matter what kind of visa you apply for, you need to provide the original passport, which is valid for at least six months; fill in the visa application form in triplicate and submit three recent passport photos. In addition, depending on the type of visa applied for, other relevant materials are required. Indian visas are divided into the following types:

(1), Business Visa (BusinessVisa). Short-term visitors to India to engage in trade, engineering or other business can apply for a business visa at the Indian embassy or consulate in China. To apply for a business visa, you need to provide a letter from an authorized unit in China and an invitation letter from an accredited institution in India. "Chinese authorized units" refer to Chinese ministries and commissions, the people's governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government and their foreign affairs offices, Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, as well as units and departments recognized by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Indian Accredited Institution" means a chamber of commerce, industry federation or other trading entity, a state-owned institution, a government-approved joint venture, a liaison office or a private enterprise within a chamber of commerce, industry federation or other trading entity in India. If you apply for a business visa that is valid for multiple times for six months and the stay does not exceed ninety days each time, you must provide a letter from the authorized unit in China and an invitation letter from an accredited institution in India. If you cannot provide a letter from an authorized Chinese unit or an invitation letter from an accredited institution in India, or it is your first visit to India, you will only be able to obtain a valid visa for a stay of two months or one month. It usually takes three to four working days to apply for a valid business visa. Applying for a multiple-entry business visa takes approximately six to eight weeks or more.

(2), Employment Visa (EmploymentVisa). Our permanent representatives and deputy representatives of companies or representative offices in India and Chinese personnel employed by India (including contracted engineering personnel) can apply for work visas at the Indian embassy or consulate in China. The Indian side relies on the visa notification from the Ministry of Interior, the consent letter and establishment conditions provided by the Indian Ministry of Interior allowing it to establish a company or representative office provided by my permanent representative or deputy representative, or a copy of the Indian company's information provided by my employee. The appointment letter and the confirmation letter issued by the Indian engineering department on the project and the need to hire Chinese personnel are required to apply for a work visa valid for three months. Accompanying family members can obtain a three-month single-entry visa after providing proof of kinship and an invitation letter from their employer. The above-mentioned persons should apply for residence procedures and multiple entry-exit visas at the Ministry of Home Affairs of India within thirty days after entering the country and within thirty days before their visas expire. The validity period of foreigner's residence permit and multiple entry-entry visa is generally not more than one year, but extension procedures can be processed every year as needed. Applying for a work visa takes approximately six to eight weeks or more.

(3), TouristVisa. Those who want to travel to India or visit relatives can apply for an Indian tourist visa. To apply for an Indian tourist visa, you need to provide confirmed connecting air tickets and proof of expenses in India. Those visiting relatives also need to provide an invitation letter from the unit of their relatives in India.

More than four people can apply for a group tourist visa, but they need to provide a letter and tour group list from the Chinese travel agency, an invitation letter from the Indian host travel agency, and a detailed travel route and schedule. For Chinese citizens traveling in groups to India, travel agencies designated by the governments of China and India are responsible for handling relevant business and issuing visas. Tourist visas are generally valid for three months. If there is a real need and sufficient reasons, you can also apply for a second or multiple visa. Applying for a tourist visa takes approximately six weeks. It takes about three to four days for a travel agency designated by the Chinese government to process a group tourist visa.

(4), StudentVisa. To apply for a student visa, you must provide an admission notice issued by an educational institution recognized by India and proof that the applicant can bear all expenses in India and round-trip travel expenses. Personnel engaged in cultural and educational exchange projects must provide relevant letters from the competent authorities of China and India. Student visas are generally valid for three months. You should apply for residence procedures and multiple entry and exit visas at the Indian Ministry of Interior and Foreigners Management Office within 30 days after entry and within 30 days before the visa expires. Applying for a student visa takes approximately six to eight weeks.

(5), Conference Visa (ConferenceVisa). Those who go to India to participate in conferences, seminars or other short-term academic exchanges must provide an invitation letter from the Indian conference sponsoring organization. Conference visas are generally valid once a month. Applying for a conference visa takes approximately three to four days.

4. India charges visa fees for Chinese citizens: for all other visas except transit and student visas, RMB340 is required for six to six months; RMB550 for six to twelve months; From one year to five years, RMB1,100 is required. Transit visa, one-time or two-time, costs RMB85. A student visa for less than six months costs RMB 340; for six to twelve months, it costs RMB 550; for one to five years, it costs RMB 630.

5. Things to note

(1) Correctly understand the validity period and stay period of the visa. The validity period of a visa refers to the period during which the holder can enter India, while the period of stay refers to the period during which the holder can stay in India after entering the country. Indian visa is valid from the date of issuance. If the period of stay is marked on the visa, you should enter the country within the validity period of the visa. The length of stay in India from the date of entry cannot exceed the period of stay specified on the visa. At the same time, no matter whether you have stayed in India for the length of time specified on the visa or not, you must enter the country within the validity period of the visa. Must leave India within the validity of the visa. If the period of stay is not indicated on the visa, it means that the validity period of the visa is consistent with the period of stay, that is, you enter India within the validity period of the visa, and you can stay until the last day of the visa validity period.

(2) Apply for visa extension in a timely manner. If necessary, you can apply for a visa extension in India. The application for visa extension should be handled by the Indian reception unit. Generally, the application is submitted to the Ministry of Interior of India first, and then the specific procedures are completed at the Foreigners Management Office (FRRO) with the approval letter from the Ministry of Interior of India. Visa extension should be processed before the visa expires. It is illegal to stay in India with an expired visa, and you may be fined or deported, or you may be sentenced to imprisonment or a fixed-term relocation sentence.

(3) Visa types cannot be converted. After entering India, you cannot apply for changing visa types. If you want to convert a business or other type of visa into a work visa, you must return to China and apply at the Indian embassy or consulate in China.

(4) Residence permit for foreigners. No matter what kind of visa you hold, if you stay in India continuously for more than six months, you should apply for residence procedures and obtain a foreigner's residence permit at the Indian Ministry of Interior or the Foreigners Management Office, and handle the extension procedures for the residence permit in a timely manner according to regulations.