An Entry Visa is planned for individuals of Indian origin living overseas, yet without an OCI card but yet want to be in India on a long term basis. It is granted pursuant to the policies of the Government of India and has lesser terms and conditions vis-à-vis other visas. It is preferable for long-duration family visits or personal stay.
Key Points about Entry Visa:
- Entry Visa is more for those of Indian origin who are living abroad. Even if they don't have an OCI card, they can go in for an Entry Visa, which is essentially a more lenient choice with fewer restrictions.
- An Entry Visa has a longer validity period compared to a normal Visitor Visa and facilitates longer periods of stay within India without the hassle of repeated renewals.
- Applicants who formerly had Indian citizenship need to submit a Renunciation Certificate of their Indian passport in order to qualify for an Entry Visa. This shows that their Indian citizenship has been duly relinquished.
- When a person has failed to relinquish their Indian passport, the status of their Indian citizenship cannot be confirmed, and their visa application would be affected. The Indian government would regard the passport as invalid or expired by default.
- Indian citizenship automatically terminates after an individual attains foreign citizenship. Thus, voluntary renunciation of Indian citizenship is required to travel freely under an Entry Visa.
