Complete Guide to Understanding Indian Transit Visa
Regardless of the length of stay or the reason for the trip, most foreign nationals must get a visa to enter India. Some nations are needed to apply in advance at an embassy or consulate for a transit visa to India. However, most holders of foreign passports may now apply for an Indian eVisa online to get one for transit.
Regardless of the length of stay or the reason for the trip, most foreign nationals must get a visa to enter India. Bhutan and Nepal are the only two (2) nations that can travel to India without a visa at any time.
Even if they are only using India as a transit country on their route to another country, most passengers will still require a visa for India. This, however, depends on how long the passenger will be in India and whether they want to depart via the airport's Transit Area.
Some nations are needed to apply in advance at an embassy or consulate for a transit visa to India. However, most holders of foreign passports may now apply for an Indian eVisa online to get one for transit.
You require India e-Tourist Visa (eVisa India or Indian Visa Online) to witness the amazing places and experiences as a foreign tourist in India. Alternatively, you could be visiting India on a India e-Business Visa and want to do some recreation and sight-seeing in northern India and foothills of Himalayas. The Indian Immigration Authority encourages visitors to India to apply for Indian Visa Online (India e-Visa) rather than visiting Indian Consulate or Indian Embassy.
Is A Transit Visa Required to Enter India?
According to Indian visa regulations, any non-visa-exempt visitors who are transiting through an Indian airport for a period longer than 24 hours or who want to exit the airport Transit Area must obtain a visa to do so.
It is possible that the passenger will need to depart the airport transit area for a variety of reasons, even though they have a connecting flight within 24 hours after landing in India. For instance, clearing immigration may be essential if the traveller wants to stay in a hotel outside of the transit region or needs to recheck bags for the connecting aircraft.
In such circumstances, a transit visa for India will need to be obtained in advance using the Indian electronic visa application website.
Can I Travel to India In Transit Without A Visa?
Transiting through an airport in India without a visa is feasible if:
- The passenger has tickets to a third nation that have been verified.
- In an airport in India, the planned layover period is under 24 hours.
- The passenger stays inside the airport's authorised Transit Area.
Booking the connecting flight on the same ticket as the journey to India is suggested for those who would be passing through India for less than 24 hours. By doing this, re-checking bags for the connecting aircraft will not need to leave the designated Transit Area, negating the requirement for a transit visa.
If a visitor stays on board their ship while it is parked in an Indian port, they are exempt from needing a transit visa for India.
If transiting through India for a period longer than 24 hours, those who already have a valid eVisa for India, such as an authorised business visa or medical visa, will not need to apply for a transit visa. As multiple-entry visas for India, these varieties let the bearer enter India many times while the visa is valid.
How Long Does It Take to Obtain An India Transit Visa?
The online eVisa application form, which is just only a few minutes to fill out with basic passport, passport, and travel information, is accessible to qualified candidates for a transit visa for India.
You must specify the sort of visa you need - in this example, an Indian transit visa - when filling out the form. To submit the application, you must also include the anticipated arrival date and the proposed port of entry into India, as well as pay the visa cost using a legitimate debit or credit card.
The transit visa application might be accepted in as little as 4 days after being filed. To provide enough processing time, applicants should submit an eVisa form at least 4 days prior to the desired date of arrival in India.
An email address supplied by the applicant on the eVisa form is where the transit visa will be emailed after it has been accepted. The tourist can then print a copy of the transit visa to bring with them along with their passport to Indian border control.
A transit visa that has been accepted for admission into India is available as a single entry or double entry visa and is good for 15 days after the date of issuance. It is only valid for direct travel and has a 3-day maximum stay restriction in India.
People who desire to stay in India for more than 3 days must apply for a different visa applicable to their visit, such as an India tourist visa.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
As it relies on several circumstances, including whether you leave the airport and the length of the layover, many tourists are unsure about whether they need a visa to transit through India and reach another location.
You may use these FAQs to navigate your way quickly and conveniently through the airports in India.
When is a transit visa required to enter India?
In general, you need a transit visa if your stay in India is going to be between 24 and 72 hours. If you will be in India for a stay longer than 72 hours, you will require the proper visa, such as a Visa on Arrival. Please be aware that even if your stopover is under 24 hours, you will still need a visa in order to get through customs. It can be an India e-Tourist Visa or another sort of visa, such as a transit visa (eTV).
When may I traverse India without a visa, then?
You can pass through India without a visa if you satisfy all the requirements listed below. The requirements are:
- Having confirmed airline tickets to a different nation; • Having a layover of fewer than 24 hours as measured by scheduled arrival and departure schedules; • Remaining in the designated Transit Area (means no clearing immigration, no re-checking your luggage).
- The issue is that, for one reason or another, you frequently have to leave the transit area and pass-through customs.
- If your connecting flight does not leave on the same day and you wish to stay the night in a hotel outside the region, for instance, you may need to re-check your bags to your ultimate destination because the airline will not do it for you. In each of these scenarios, you must apply for an entry and stay visa in advance to transit through India.
- For this reason, we constantly suggest to our clients to obtain a transit visa in advance or, at the least, to book the connecting flight on the same ticket as the travel to India. A single booking enables you to change flights without having to go through immigration and reclaim your bags.
If you reserve the connecting flight separately, it is very likely that your luggage will not be transferred to the connecting airline (unless the two (2) airlines are codeshare partners and have an interline agreement for luggage transfer). In this case, you will need to reclaim your bags, go through customs, and get a visa. You may have heard tales of passengers being assisted by airline personnel to have their luggage changed to subsequent flights, but do not believe them.
Is it feasible to obtain a transit visa at the airport in India?
No, transit visas cannot be obtained at the immigration desks at India's ports of entry. Before leaving, you must apply for it in advance. Alternatively, if you match the requirements, you can apply for a Visa on Arrival.
Can I transit across India using a tourist visa instead of a transit visa?
Yes, there are chances you can do that. However, now, only nationals of the following nations can obtain an Indian "Visa on Arrival": Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Finland, Singapore, Luxembourg, Cambodia, Philippines, Japan, New Zealand and Indonesia. Additionally, it is only good for a single admission for a 30-day period. Thus, do not rely on it.
How long is an Indian tourist visa valid? How long am I allowed to remain in India on a transit visa?
A transit visa is good for one or two trips and can be used for entrance within 15 days of the date of issuance. It must be used within 15 days after the issuance date, though. Each visit to India is limited to a maximum of 72 hours. Furthermore, the Transit Visa cannot be renewed.
What should I do if my vacation lasts more than 15 days because my transit visa won't be valid for my return transit through India?
You may need to apply for the second one in this situation. In fact, getting a regular double entry visa for India from the start is advised since it would provide you more peace of mind. Check out the many India visa options.
How long does it take to process a transit visa?
Visa processing times range from 3 to 6 working days depending on the country.
Where can I apply for a transit visa for India?
The applicant must fill out an online application for a visa at our website and then visit their local embassy or outsourced agent's office with a printout of the completed application and all necessary travel papers. Some nations will accept submissions sent by mail or through a travel agent, but not all nations will. Here is a link to a list of Indian consulates and embassies across the world.
Note - Private agents now provide numerous nations' visa-related services. USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, and other nations are among them. For information on your place of submission and any special requirements, kindly contact the Indian Embassy office or official website in the nation where you now reside.
What conditions must be met in order to apply for an India transit visa?
- Passport has at least two blank pages that are valid for at least 180 days.
- The proper visa fee (see below)
- Two current 2x2 passport-style photos in colour, front view, with the eyes open, and a backdrop with a light hue.
- A properly completed and signed online application form.
- A confirmed plane ticket for the onward or return trip as proof of further travel to India.
- The original surrender certificate and a copy of the cancelled Indian passport are needed by anyone whose prior nationality was India before obtaining a foreign one.
If you have already visited India, a previous passport with an Indian visa is needed. There is a chance that the Indian High Commission or one of its consulates may need further paperwork.
How much does a transit visa to India cost?
Depending on the agreement between governments, the cost of an Indian Transit Visa may vary for people of different nations. The cost of a visa may be broken down into other categories, including the basic visa price, the reference fee, and additional service fees. The cost of a visa is waived or reduced for citizens of some nations, including Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, South Africa, Japan, the Maldives, and Mauritius.
What other sorts of visas are available to foreigners besides transit visas?
The type of visa required by Indian immigration regulations would depend on the reason for your intended visit as well as other factors. You must demonstrate as a visa application that you fulfil all requirements for the kind of visa you are asking for. If you request a visa at an Indian embassy or consulate, a consular official will assess your eligibility for one based on applicable laws and, if so, which visa type is best for you. Check out the many India visa options.
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Foreign tourists coming to India on e-Visa must arrive at one of the designated airports .
Citizens of many countries including United States, Canada, France, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, United Kingdom, are eligible for Indian Visa Online (eVisa India) including visiting beaches of India on tourist visa. Resident of over 180 countries quality for Indian Visa Online (eVisa India) as per Indian Visa Eligibility and apply the Indian Visa Online offered by the Government of India.