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Regulations
& Procedures
The formalities to be complied with and the applicable
procedures have been detailed in the succeeding paras.
For the sake of easier reference, the requirements have
been classified in the following broad categories :
- Obtaining
Visa prior to arrival ;
- Formalities
to be completed on arrival and stay in India ;
- Formalities
to be completed before final departure from India
;
- Special
concessions granted by registration authorities
OBTAINING
VISA PRIOR TO APPROVAL
Visitors
to India, whether for business visits or for tourism,
are required to obtain appropriate visa endorsement
on their passport, before coming to India. Visa is granted
by the concerned Indian High Commission/Consulate/Embassy.
Normally,
visitors who intend to visit India are required to disclose
purpose of visit and furnish necessary documentation,
in order to obtain the appropriate visas like tourism,
transit, business, student, diplomatic, official etc.
It is necessary that persons visiting India for business
should clearly state the purpose as being ‘Business’
and obtain ‘Business Visa’.
Business
Visa : Business Visas are granted for business visits,
employment or for training purposes. Validity of Business
visa, can vary between 1 week to 5 years, depending
upon the need of visitor and subject to satisfaction
of authorities.
Ordinarily
business visas are granted for a period upto 6 months.
Visitors
for business proposing to stay in India for longer periods
(more than 6 months), it is suggested that suitable
application for Long-Term Business Visa be made to the
Indian Embassy. Suitable documentation indicating need
for long term visa is at times required to be produced.
This may include information or evidence in respect
of relevant contract between the employer and the Indian
company necessitating deputation of personnel, supporting
letter of the Indian company. Where the employer is
a foreign enterprise, evidence regarding its business,
supporting letter from its office in India etc. be produced.
For
securing more than 6 months visa it may be desirable
to initiate action, in advance, as the Indian Embassy,
at times, requires confirmation from local authorities
in India.
Multiple
Entry Visa (MEV) : Depending upon the requirements,
it is generally advisable to seek Business Visa with
multiple entries facility. This requires endorsement
in the Visa. MEV facility is granted upon consideration
of nature of visit, trips required and availability
of reciprocal facility to Indian travellers with the
concerned country.
In
most cases, visa authorities normally impose the following
conditions while issuing Visas :
- Change
of purpose not allowed :
Travellers
who have obtained a particular type of visa, are not
allowed to change status thereof, while in India. For
example, in case of visitors taking up employment in
India, business visa endorsement is required on their
passport. Where a foreigner enters into India initially
on a tourist visa, necessary change in visa endorsement
is required, if he subsequently proposes to engage in
work, employment. This amounts to a change in purpose
of visit, which can only be regularised in exceptional
cases.
- Not
valid for Restricted/Protected Areas :
Certain
border areas and other sensitive, strategically located
places in India, are open to visits by foreigners. Visits
to these places can be made for business/tourism purposes,
only after obtaining a Special Area Permit/Restricted
Area Permit (RAP) from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
in New Delhi. In order to obtain the same, full details
regarding itinerary, places to be visited and purpose
therefor are required to be given to MHA in advance.
Separate prescribed form is to be filled for obtaining
these permits.
Registration
required if continuous stay exceeds 180 days :
This
formality is required to be completed by all foreigners,
their dependants etc. where stay in India exceeds, or
is likely to exceed, 180 days. Full details and procedures
for the same, are detailed in Part B (b).
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