Comprehensive Visa Guidelines

All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document with a minimum remaining validity of six months in the form of a national passport or any other internationally recognized travel document establishing his/her nationality with a valid visa obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad.  Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan are however, exempted from this requirement.

       Omani  nationals as also nationals of other countries residing in the Sultanate of Oman are required to apply in the prescribed form for visa. The application, complete in all respects, with 2 recent passport-size photographs and a photocopy of the passport & Civil Card etc. should be submitted in person with the prescribed fee at the designated counter in the Embassy between 0900 hrs. and 1230 hrs. on any working day. The visa is normally  processed the same day and the passport returned between 1500 hrs. and 1600 hrs. This time schedule does not apply to services where prior approval is required from authorities in India, or other Indian embassies for non Omani Resident applicants. The prescribed application form may be obtained from  the Embassy or downloaded from the Embassy’s website

Foreigners visiting India should ensure that while visiting India, they should abide by the law of the land and refrain from contracting Muttah marriage or indulge in sex tourism.  Indulgence in any such unlawful or undesirable practices will be dealt with strictly

Please ensure the following, when submitting your application:-  

1. Passport should be valid for a minimum of six months on the date of application with at least two   blank pages.

2. Paste one recent photo and staple the other one on the form at a specified place.

3. The application forms should be filled only in English.  Applications filled in Arabic will not be accepted.  Please fill all columns and do not leave any column blank, otherwise it is liable to be rejected.

4. Special Visa application forms should be filled in by citizens of Pakistan (6 copies with 12 photos), and Bangladesh (2 copies with 2 photos).

5. Srilankan nationals are required to fill up an additional reference form, (available at the designated counter in the Embassy) along with the prescribed form for visa.

6. Each visa application is considered on its merits and the Embassy may ask for additional information at any stage during the processing of the application.  Submission of application along with prescribed fee does not guarantee issuance of visa.

7.   Applicants who are not citizens/residents of Oman and hold a tourist or other short-term visa for Oman should normally apply for Indian visas in the countries of their permanent residence.  In case of emergency or special circumstances, an application could be made at the Embassy.  In addition to the relevant visa fee they should remit an additional Omani Rials 8.000 for reference to be made to the country of their original residence.  The processing time in such cases is usually 5 working days.        

Category of Visas

TOURIST VISA: Apply in the prescribed application form, which may be downloaded, along with two recent passport size photographs and passport in original and a photocopy of its first five pages.  A confirmed return air ticket in original and a photocopy should be presented along with application.  Tourist visa is valid for a maximum period of 6 months with single or multiple entry. 

BUSINESS VISA : Valid for a maximum of 5 years  with single/multiple entries.  However, the period of stay in India at a time  under this category is limited to six months only. Application in the prescribed form, which may be downloaded, supported by a letter from the sponsoring organization indicating nature of applicant’s business, probable duration of stay, validity of visa, places and organizations to be visited and also a guarantee to meet maintenance etc. and letter of invitation received from business houses or companies in India, along with two passport sized photographs, the passport in original and a photocopy of the first five pages of the passport should be submitted at the Embassy.  The passport and resident visa should have at least six months validity. If all documents are in order, the passport will be returned on the same day with visa stamped thereon .

STUDENT VISA:   Valid for the period of study (Maximum period of validity is five years) in India. Multiple-entry visas are given to bona fide students to pursue studies at recognized institutions in India.  A letter confirming admission from such an institution along with satisfactory evidence of financial support and a letter from the Ministry of Higher Education, Sultanate of Oman, should accompany the application.  A letter of approval or No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Ministry of Health in case of admission to medical or para-medical course is also to be submitted with the application. The letter of approval or NOC can be obtained from the college/institute where admission has been confirmed.

PROVISIONAL STUDENT VISA :   There might be some cases where the applicants do not have firm letters of admission from the college/institute because of the procedure which requires admission tests etc.  Such students may apply for Provisional Student Visa on the basis of Provisional Admission Certificate issued by the university/institute. Visa in such cases will be limited to a period of six months. Further renewal of student visa can be done through the State Government/Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) who are empowered to grant a regular student visa for the duration of the course or a period of 5 years, whichever is less.

RESEARCH VISA: Approval of Ministry of Human Resources Development (Department of Education), New Delhi, should accompany the visa application.  The validity of the visa would coincide with the research period.

TRANSIT VISA :   A transit visa is granted for the sole purpose of enabling the holder to travel through India to reach his/her ultimate destination.  Change of purpose is not allowed.  The visa will ordinarily be valid for a single/double journey and for entry within 15 days of date of issue.  The transit visa is valid for direct transit only for a maximum period of 3 days.  Confirmed air ticket for onward journey and valid visa for final destination are required.  For a stay in India beyond 3 days, an appropriate visa should be obtained.

MEDICAL VISA:   A medical visa is granted to the applicant who has sought preliminary medical advice from his country of origin/country of residence and has been advised to go to India for specialized medical treatment. The visa is granted for a maximum period of  one year or for the period of treatment whichever is less for seeking medical attendance only in reputed/recognized specialized hospitals/treatment centers in India. It is mandatory for the foreigners coming on Medical visa to get themselves registered well within the period of 14 days from the date of arrival with the concerned FRROs/FROs. Medical attendant visa is granted to spouse/children or those with a  blood relation with the patient coming to India for medical treatment. Such a visa can be issued to a maximum of two persons and is co-terminus with the medical visa of the patient.

MISSIONARIES: Single entry visa valid for the duration approved by the Government of India is issued.  Three copies of the letter from the sponsoring organization indicating intended destination in India, expected length of stay, and nature of work to be discharged should be attached along with a guarantee for applicant’s maintenance while in India.

(Note: Processing of application for a Missionary Visa may take up to 3 months.)

JOURNALIST VISA: Issued to professional journalists and photographers visiting India.  The applicants are required to contact the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs on arrival in New Delhi,  and in other places, the Office of the Government of India’s Press Information Bureau.

CONFERENCE VISA: A letter of invitation from the organizer of the conference is to be submitted along with the visa application. Visas for international conferences or on certain subjects, as decided by the Government of India from time to time can be issued only after clearance for the said conference is received from the Government of India.

EMPLOYMENT VISA: Issued (maximum validity one year) to skilled and qualified professionals or persons who are engaged or appointed by companies, organizations, economic undertakings as technicians, technical experts, senior executives etc.  Applicants are required to submit proof of contract/employment/engagement of foreign nationals by the company or organization and copy of the agreement of the company approved by the Government of India.

PAKISTANI NATIONALS: Pakistani nationals resident in Oman may submit 6 sets of prescribed application form duly filled in with 12 recent passport sized photographs, present and all previous passports, a photocopy of the first five pages of the current passport and documentary evidence as may be required.  Visitor visa is granted to Pakistani nationals, to meet relatives or friends in India or for any other legitimate purpose, and documentary proof in support thereof should be furnished The document should provide a complete, verifiable address of the relative in India.  Application should be complete in all respects and should in particular, indicate port of arrival as well as details of previous visits to India, If any.  The visa fee is Omani Rials 0.200 (Two hundred baiza).  Applications for business visas should be supported by a letter from the Chamber of Commerce & Industry/sponsor and invitations from companies in India.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

·        The duration of stay in India, for each visit on a tourist visa or business visa is only for a period of 6 months at a time even though a valid visa may be for more than 6 months.

·        Visa is given for a period for which passport is valid.  For example, if a passport is valid until April 30, 2010 and an applicant is applying for 5 years visa on Oct. 31,2007, the applicant will not be issued a 5 years visa as the passport expires before the 5 years visa.

·        Validity of all visas is counted from the date of the issue of visa and not from the date of entry into India.

·        Registration with the concerned FRRO/FRO is compulsory within 14 days of first arrival in India if such an endorsement appears on the visa.

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