UK OR USA VISA
- Recent Passport
- PR card / work permit
- Job letter
- Name, Phone and Address to visit in UK or USA
- Bank Statement of last 3 months to be taken at appointment
- for student * transcripts /study permit
INDIA VISA
- Canadian passport
- Cancelled Indian passport (if available)
- Surrender certificate (if available)
- Landed paper (if available)
- Recent address letter or utility bill & ids
- Oath /citizenship certificate (if available)
For child/infant
- Canadian Passport, birth certificate (long one), letter from school / child
benefit letter from govt. - Marriage certificate & all above mentioned documents of parents.
INDIAN PASSPORT RENEWAL
- Indian passport
- PR card /work permit /student permit
- Landed paper
- Canadian address proof /utility bill or tax paper or driving licence
- Indian address proof (Aadhar card, driver’s licence or voter id)
For child/infant
- Birth certificate
- All above mentioned documents of child and parents & marriage certificate of parents
SURRENDER OF INDIAN PASSPORT
- Indian passport
- oath certificate
- Canadian passport
- landed paper
- Recent address letter or utility bill
OCI
- Canadian passport (original and copy)
- Cancelled Indian passport (original and copy)
- Surrender certificate (original and copy)
- Landed paper (copy)
- Recent address letter or utility bill or photo id
- Oath /citizenship certificate (copy)
- Registered Marriage certificate only or death certificate (in case of deceased spouse)
- Spouse’s passport copy and oci card (if available)
For child/infant
- Canadian Passport, birth certificate (long one), letter from school / child benefit letter from govt.
- Marriage certificate & all above mentioned documents of parents
Do some background reading before visiting India, so that your visit becomes a great experience, something you had never dream could happen to you.
Don’t be concerned about living conditions in India. The 5-star and 4-star hotels are of international standards and the comforts and cuisine they provide compare with any in the world. The deluxe and palace hotels are a world apart and many have been accorded ‘Leading hotels of the world’ status. The 3-star hotels are there for the medium budget traveler, and 1-star and 2-star hotels, Travelers lodges, Tourist Bungalows, Holiday Homes, Youth hostels, YMCA/YWCA’s are for those with small budgets.
Your travel arrangements should be made well in advance, especially if you are traveling between October- March (high tourist season) and May- June, the Indian holiday season. Travel facilities are limited in relation to demand so prior bookings are a must.
English is spoken at almost all tourist centers, but you can also request us to book Government-trained and approved guides who also speak German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian or Russian. Tour guides will help you not only in your sightseeing, but also help you understand India better.
Indians are hospitable and friendly people, if they stare at you, do not consider it rude, it is only a matter of curiosity. A tourist need never be lost in India; most people are more than willing to go out of their way to guide you to your destination.
As with any foreign destination, the tourist is advised to drink bottled water, bottled drinks, coffee or tea. Most premier hotels have their own filtration system.
Avoid eating spicy food all at one time soon after you arrive in India. Take one Indian dish only with each meal and ask the waiter to cut down on the chilies. Within a few days your system will get used to Indian food, one of the most delicious of world cuisine. It is advisable to stick to only cooked foods and to eat fresh fruits whose skin you can peel off or remove.
Bring your own medicines, since all medications in India are locally manufactured and you may not find the same brand names. There are very good druggists and doctors everywhere, and they can advise on substitutes. If the necessity arises, ask your hotel to recommend a doctor.
Do not forget to remove your footwear when visiting a place of worship or mausoleum. Also some temples do not permit any leather articles at all on their premises. Certain areas of temples are not open to Non-Hindus.
It is safe to travel in India, as you will find out for yourself. Even if you read of some trouble in any town or region, do not be discouraged, since most of India is safe at all times.
The electric current in India is 220/ 250 volts and 50 cycles. It is AC practically everywhere.
India is a shoppers dream. Shopping is recommended from Government Emporia and suggested shops by us. Most of the large stores will ship your purchases for you, though, for convenience and to avoid postal delays, it is advisable to carry your shopping with you or to book it as baggage.
Amateur photography of national monuments, there are no restrictions on taking photographs.Photography is prohibited in places of military importance, i.e. airports, bridges, sensitive border regions. Certain temples may prohibit interior or exterior photography. Charges may be levied to photograph some monuments, forts or temples.
Inside museums, or when photographing art works, flash cameras are prohibited. Photography inside the Taj Mahal is prohibited but prior permission can be requested from the Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi, 110 001.
The units of Indian currency are the Rupee and Paisa (100Paisa equal 1 Rupee). Paper money is in denominations of Rupees 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of Rupees 1, 2 and 5. There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers’ checks a tourist may import, provided a Declaration form is completed on arrival. This will facilitate the exchange of imported currency as well as the export of unspent currency on departure. Cash, bank notes and traveler’s cheques up to US $ 10,000 or equivalent need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of traveler’s cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc., which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency should be exchanged only through authorized money- changers.
Tourists are warned that changing money through unauthorized persons is not only illegal but also involves the risk of receiving counterfeit currency. To exchange foreign money other than through banks or authorized money- changers is an offence. Please note that no Indian currency whatsoever can be imported or exported, except for Rupee travelers’ cheques. Banks abroad to keep Rupee balances with their agents in India and are able to draw upon these balances to issue Rupee travelers’ cheques to intending tourists. There are 24-hour exchange facilities available at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai international airports.
The Consular Passport and Visa division is responsible for issuance of passport and visa to persons of Indian Origin. You can download a form as well as browse for information on at http://passport.nic.in/.
Some other very useful links are:
The fee structure depends on the nationality of the passport holder and type/duration of visa applied. It ranges from $5 for a to $50 for a visa with a one-year validity.
Visa is required by all except nationals of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives (latter for a stay of 90 days only). Visitors should apply for visa at the Indian Diplomatic Missions in their country of residence or nearest Mission en route.The information given here is general in nature, for specific queries please check with the Indian High Commission in your country, Ministry of External Affairs and Home Affairs, New Delhi.
Type of Visa
Tourist Visa
Is given for 6 months normally, rest specifically depends on the country of residence. The applicant is required to produce/submit documents in proof of his financial standing. Tourists travelling in groups of not less than four members under the auspices of a recognised travel agency may be considered for grant of collective tourist visa.
Business Visa
Visa is valid for one or more years with multiple entries. A letter from a sponsoring organization indicating nature of business, probable duration of stay, places and organizations to be visited, incorporating therein a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses, etc. should accompany the application.
Student Visa
Are issued for the duration of the academic course of study or for a period of five years whichever is less, on the basis of firm letters of admission from universities/recognised colleges or educational institutions in India. Change of purpose and institutions are not permissible.
Transit Visa
Are issued for a maximum period of 15-days with single/double entry facilities to bonafide transit passengers only.
Visa to Missionaries
Are valid for single entry and duration as permitted by government of India. A letter in triplicate from sponsoring organization indicating intended destination in India, probable length of stay, and nature of duties to be discharged should be submitted along with guarantee for applicant’s maintenance while in India.
Journalist Visa
Are issued to professional journalists and photographers for visiting India. The applicants are required to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places, the Office of the Government of India’s Press Information Bureaus.
Conference Visa
Are issued for attending conferences/seminars/meetings in India. A letter of invitation from the organiser of the conference is to be submitted along with the visa application. Delegates coming to attend conferences may combine tourism with attending conferences.
Employment Visa
Are issued to skilled and qualified professionals or persons who are engaged or appointed by companies, organisations, 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 organisation.
Other Information
Visa fees are payable in local currencies as well. Visa fees are not refundable except in cases where a visa already issued is cancelled thereafter.
Processing Duration : Depends on the type of visa applied.
Miscellaneous Information : The duration of stay in India, for each visit on a tourist or business visa, is only for a period of 6 months 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, 2003 and an applicant is applying for 5 years visa on December 31, 1999, the applicant will not be issue a 5 years visa as the passport expires before the 5 year visa.
Validity of all visas is counted from the date of their issue.
Tourist visa upto 5 years may be grantsd if the foreigner is connected with the tourism trade.
If visa is for more than 180 days, registration is compulsory within 14 days of first arrival in India.