Visa application instructions for India – January 2013
About two years ago The Government of India introduced an ONLINE application process. This can be complex and we recommend you read the following carefully before dispatching your application either to us or submitting it direct to the government’s authorised processing centres, VFS Global Visa Services.
Online application form:
The online application form can be found on: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/onlineapplication.html
The form is located towards the bottom of the home page and has to be completed /submitted online. The form consists of three pages.
Every traveller is required to complete a separate form. Once completed you need to print, date and sign the forms. Two signatures are required, one beneath the photograph on the first page and at the second at the bottom of page two.
Declaration form:
Each traveller is also required to print and sign a declaration form. This is also located at the bottom of the webpage, and is accessed using the ‘click here’ link.
Visa duration:
Usually a 6 month, single entry visa is sufficient for a holiday, unless your holiday includes a visit to a neighbouring country and a return entry into India. Please select your visa type carefully.
Restricted area permits:
If your travel plans include the North Eastern states of India, including Sikkim, you will need to download the relevant ‘special permit’ form and complete/submit this with your application.
For visits to other restricted areas like the Laccadive, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, our local agents will arrange the special permit in India.
Photographs:
You need to attach two photographs for each traveller. These need to be a specific size (50mm x 50mm), with a white background. (Standard ‘photo booth’ photographs are not acceptable).
You can obtain the correct specification photograph from the coin operated vending machine at the VFS application centres. Otherwise, most high street photographers usually provide this service.
Visa Fees:
The cost of a 6 month single entry visa is £92.20 per person. Please check other prices online. All payments are payable online or by postal order if applying directly by post. Cash, Credit and Debit Cards and cheques will not be accepted for postal applications. If applying through TransIndus the payment can be made by cheque or credit/debit card.
Passport:
The visa is endorsed in your passport. Please do not forget to enclose it with your application.
Submitting the application:
Once the online form is completed and printed, you can choose to either post it to VFS (Postal applications must be sent to their Hayes address: 1-3, Canalside, Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB4 0JN) or take it personally to one of the VFS centres. They will normally return your passport within 3 weeks, duly endorsed with the visa, for postal orders. Personal applications take a minimum of 2 to 3 working days but can take longer. Alternatively you can ask us at TransIndus to procure the visa.
We will generally turn it around within two weeks, from the date we receive it. Our standard service charge is £32.80 per visa. If you require an urgent service, we can usually have your passport back within 8 working days. The charge for this urgent service is £52.80 per visa. These service charges are in addition to the visa fee.
If you ask us to procure your visa you will need to send/bring all documents, including your passport to us. Our postal address is: 75 St Mary’s Road, London W5 5RH.
Guidance notes on completing the online form:
Purpose of Visit:
Please write ‘Tourism’ (Writing Business, may lead to a delay in your application).
Profession:
Please give your profession in this field or write retired, if retired.
If you are a journalist, writer, reporter, correspondent, author, lawyer, film producer, social worker, artist, media professional, airline employee, government official or a member of the armed forces you will need to provide a letter from your employer confirming your employment and that you are taking leave to visit India for tourism only. Your application may also take longer to process than usual, even if you are travelling to India on a holiday.
Minors/Children:
If the applicant is under 16 years of age, a copy of their birth certificate and letter of declaration signed by both parents certifying they are travelling with their permission. This is required even when the children are travelling with the parents.
Referees:
The application form asks for a referee in the UK & India:
For the UK referee, you may give details of your friends/relatives or our London office:
TransIndus Limited, 75 St Mary’s Road, Ealing, London, W5 5RH. Tel: 020 8566 3739.
For the India referee, you can give details of our local offices in Delhi:
TransIndus Destination Management (Pvt) Ltd, C-31 Nathu Singh Market, Vasant Kunj, Delhi 110070.
Tel: 011 4339 3300
Completion the online form:
You will need to fill the entire application for each person in one go. If the application is left incomplete your information will not be saved and you will need start from the beginning on resumption.
If you require further assistance with your visa application please get in touch with us on 020 8566 3739.
