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The first and foremost requirement for foreign nationals to enter in the country is to get a valid travel India Visa and should possess valid passport of their country.
There are three kinds of Travel visas for tourists.
1. The 15-day single I double entry transit visa. This Travel visa is valid for 30 days from the date of its issue.
2. The 3-month multiple entry visa. This Travel visa is valid for 90 days from the date of first entry into India, which must be within 30 days from the date of its issue.
3. The 6-month multiple-entry visa. This Travel visa is valid for 180 days from the date of its issue, not from the date of entry into India.
It is virtually impossible to get the 15-day or 3-mont visa extended. Only the 6-month tourist visa can be extended. It can be quite a bother to extend it beyond a 15-day period. Avoid it unless there is an emergency. A 15-day extension on the 6-month visa is issued b Foreigner's Regional Registration Office (FRRO)
There is no provision of 'Visa on Arrival' in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before they start their journey to India except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan who do not require visa to enter India and nationals of Maldives who do not require visa for entry in India for a period up to 90 days (a separate Visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders).
For the convenience of the foreigners, however, the FRROs/CHIO/FROs are empowered to make extensions / conversions for certain types of Visas without referring the same to MHA. The details of such powers vested with FRROs etc. are: -
In case of foreigners of Indian origin/foreigner married to Indian citizen/foreigner staying in India for more than 20 years, extension can be given on entry Visa by FRROs for a period of 5 years.
FRRO can extend the Travel VISA India for three months in case of Employment & Business VISAs and forward the case for further extension upto 1 year, to MHA. After obtaining approval from MHA, FRRO can extend that VISA for further four years on year-to-year basis.
FRRO can convert visa and grant extension of stay to foreign students studying upto 12th standard, whose parents are of Indian origin or whose parents are Indian nationals- on year to year basis. Same facility is also available for children of foreigners residing in India on long-term basis (studying up 12th Standard) on valid visas such as Employment, Business, Research, Entry Student etc.
FRRO can grant 15 days extension of stay on all types of visas on production of confirmed ticket for departure.
For student VISA holders: - FRRO can extend the Student Visa for duration of the course or for a maximum period of 5 years, whichever is less, to bonafide students coming to India to join well-known institutions subject to fulfillment of conditions prescribed. The visa fee for a student for the duration of the course or for a maximum period of 5 years, whichever is less, is US$ 75, but it remains a one time fee for duration of the course and all extensions within this duration are given free of cost. An additional fee of US$ 75 has to be charged for change in course/subsequent course. FRRO may allow change in Institution/course (on payment of fee) provided the new institution and course are also fully recognized/approved and are full-time proper courses. In case of PG Courses, fee has to be charged (except ICCR Scholars & students of gratis countries) for extension of visa o the basis of bnafide certificates.
For Research VISA holders: FRRO can extend the VISA on the accreditation of the Ministry of Human Resource Development till the completion of Research work.
In case of Bangladeshi Nationals: FRRO can extend the short term single journey Visa in case of non-tourists up to a maximum of 3 months on medical grounds.
For journalist VISA holder: FRRO can extend the VISA on the accreditation of Min. of external Affairs
FRRO can condone overstay only up to 3 months, after charging overstay fees of US $ 40 equivalent. Cases of overstay exceeding 3 months are decided by MHA.
FRRO can convert the category of the visa from Tourism to Entry visa in case of foreigners of Indian origin and grant extension up to 5 years with multiple entry facility. For other foreign nationals, only MHA is empowered to convert the category of the visa.
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