Visas Citizens of all countries (including Commonwealth) require a valid passport and an appropriate (entry, transit or tourist) Visa (obtained abroad from an Indian Mission). If you are planning to visit a neighboring country, like Nepal, then on re-entering India, a double/multiple entry visa is required.


You will need:

• Original passport valid for at least six months
• Correct visa fee.
• Two passport-size photographs (five photographs in case of Pakistani nationals)
• Supporting documents, where necessary
• Duly completed application form (Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals need to apply on special application forms)

Visa tidbits:

• Validity: Visa's to India are always valid for 90 days. They are usually multiple entry visas and are valid for either 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or 10 years. The validity of your visa will depend on the service you request. For tourist or business visa, the duration of stay in India is for six months. Usually, a multi-entry visa, valid from the date of issue for a period of 180 days, is granted for the purpose of tourism. If you leave before 180 days, you need not register yourself with any authority in India. That is to say, you can move freely in the country, except to restricted/protected areas and prohibited places.
• Visa Application: We recommend that you apply for your visa 3 weeks before your travel date. India is currently NOT issuing SAME DAY visas. India visas are take an average of 10 business days to process for applicants who live outside the New York jurisdiction (for which India generally processes visas in 3 business days).
• For groups (not less than 4 members) collective visas can be arranged.
• Transit visas are granted by Indian Missions abroad for a maximum period of 15 days.
• Employment visas are granted to skilled and qualifies professionals or individuals who are appointed in Indian offices. Applicants are required to submit proof of contract/employment/engagement by the company or organization.
• For Visa extension you have to apply to:
  Ministry of Home Affairs
  Lok Nayak Bhavan, 1st floor,
  Khan Market, New Delhi 110003
  Phone: 24693334, 24612543, 24617649
  
  The letter of permission will have to be taken to the Foreigner's Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is located at:
  Hans Bhavan
  Tilak Bridge, New Delhi
  Phone: 23319489, 23318179
  Timings: 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm
  (weekends and national holidays closed)
  

Zones where you require permits

• Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland: These are designated protected areas and foreigners have to apply for permits to the ministry of Home Affairs at least 4 weeks before the expected visit.
• Sikkim & Manipur: Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Zongri in West Sikkim and Pemayangtse are declared as restricted areas. For foreigners, permits for a 15 days stay are issued by all Indian Missions abroad, all FRROs, Immigration Officers at Airports in all the metros. Permits for Manipur (3-5 days) are issued by all Missions abroad, all FRROs and Home Commissioner, Manipur, Imphal. Permits are no longer required for Darjeeling, Assam, Meghalaya & Tripura.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Foreign tourists, with prior permits, can visit Port Blair Municipal Area, Havelock Island, Long Island, Neil Island, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Rangat, where a night halt is allowed and Jolly Buoy, South Cinque, Red Skin, Mount Harriet, Madhuban where only day visits are allowed.
• Lakshadweep Islands: Only Bangaram and Subeli Islands are open to foreign tourists. Permits are required, obtainable from the Lakshadweep Administration, Wellington Island, Harbour Road, Kochi -3.

Custom blues Rules are that visitors make an oral declaration of their baggage items and foreign currency in their possession and obtain the Currency Declaration Form from the Customs. They are also required to fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the airline during the course of the flight. Dutiable articles / high-value articles must be jotted on a Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form (TBRE) and produced on departure, else there is a fine levied for each missing item. The following duty-free possessions are permissible- clothes and jewelery (of gold/silver up to 1 lakh in value, and after obtaining RBI permit if in excess), cameras and up to five rolls of film; binoculars, a portable musical instrument, a radio or portable tape recorder, a tent and camping equipment, fishing rod, a pair of skis, two tennis rackets, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 95 L of liquor, and gifts not exceeding a value of Rs. 600 (about $20). Chances are you can even enter a portable computer on a TBRE form if the Custom's officer is one you can call a 'sweetheart'.


Money matters Any amount of cash or travelers' cheque can be carried. Just that you have to make a declaration for the same in the Currency Declaration Form given to you on arrival (only if the figures are above US$ 1,000). Always go for through authorized money changers and banks when it comes to converting your travelers' cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc. into cash and preserve the encashment certificate for you are going to need it at the time of reconversion of any unspent money


..bags are packed and you're ready to go You will have to fill an Embarkation Card and also surrender your Certificate of Registration either to the Registration Officer of the place where you are registered or of the place from where you plan to depart or to the Immigration Officer at the Port/Checkpost of exit from India. Rupees are not allowed out of India. Airports have money exchanging facilities.

Export of most wildlife products is prohibited or strictly regulated; therefore generally avoid buying anything made of ivory, reptile skin, tortoise shells and any part of wild animals lest they end up in the Customs heirloom. There are DUTY-FREE shops at the airport both in the Arrival and Departure lounges.