An Indian Visa is a legal authorization by the Government of India, granting a foreign national an entry into, residence in, or travel through India for a particular reason and duration. Depending on travel reasons such as leisure, business, medical attention, studies, or visits to meet family members, foreign nationals have to procure the right visa to enter India. Every visa classification has varying eligibilities, time limits, and requirements according to the travel reason.
Key Points Regarding Indian Visa:
Purpose-Specific Visa:
- Indian Visa is granted according to the purpose of visit, i.e., tourism, business, work, medical treatment, study, or visiting family. The right type of visa has to be chosen by the applicant according to the purpose of the visit.
Compulsory for Foreign Nationals:
- Any individual with a foreign passport who wants to visit India needs to apply for an Indian visa except if they are an OCI cardholder or exempted under special arrangements.
Validity and Duration:
- The validity of an Indian Visa ranges from short-term (30 days) to long-term (10 years), depending on the visa type. The duration of stay per visit is usually specified within the visa, e.g., 90 days per visit for tourism.
OCI Card Holders are Exempt
- OCI cardholders are not needed to obtain an Indian visa. Their OCI card itself acts as a lifelong visa for travel to India numerous times without any time limit.
Strict Compliance Required:
- Visa holders are required to adhere strictly to the conditions of their visa, such as length of stay and purpose. Any overstaying or abuse of visa can result in fines, deportation, or even prohibition from further travel to India.
Travel on an Indian Passport After Gaining Foreign Citizenship:
- If an Indian-origin person takes foreign citizenship and possesses a foreign passport, but has not surrendered the Indian passport, they can enter India on their Indian passport for a period of 90 days. But using the Indian passport for more than 90 days is illegal according to Indian law. After this phase, the person has to submit their Indian passport and either opt for an OCI card or suitable visa to come to India at a later point in time.
