Types of Visas and their requirements

TYPES OF VISA AND REQUIREMENTS

TOURIST VISA: This category of visa will be applicable to foreign nationals whose sole objective of visiting India is for recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short-term yoga programme, short-duration medical treatment including treatment under Ayush systems / Indian systems of medicine, short-term courses on local languages, music, dance, arts & crafts, cooking, medicine etc. which should not be a formal or structured course/programme (courses not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/diploma etc.), mountaineering expeditions and voluntary work of short duration (for a maximum period of one month, which does not involve any monetary payment or consideration of any kind in return.

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 Detailed itinerary duly signed by the applicant

 Copy of the air ticket for return /onward journey

 Proof of accommodation

 Bank Statement of the applicant for the last three months with sufficient funds

Note:

 Tourist visa is neither extendable nor convertible into any other visa except in emergent cases such as acute illness or similar exigencies.

 Continuous Stay on each entry on a Tourist Visa should not exceed 90 days and Aggregate Stay in a calendar year on a Tourist Visa should not exceed 180 days.

 No other purpose/activity is allowed.

BUSINESS VISA: This category of visa will be applicable to foreign nationals who wish to visit India to/for:-

 establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up an industrial/business venture, other than Proprietorship Firms and Partnership Firms, in India.  purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables.  technical meetings/discussions, attending Board meetings or general meetings for providing business services support.

 recruitment of manpower.

 Foreign nationals who are partners in the business and/or functioning as Directors of the company.

 consultations regarding exhibitions or for participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, business fairs etc.

 transact business with suppliers/potential suppliers at locations in India, to evaluate or monitor quality, give specifications, place orders, negotiate further supplies etc., relating to goods or services procured from India.

 Foreign experts/specialists on a visit of short duration in connection with an ongoing project with the objective of monitoring the progress of the work, conducting meetings with Indian customers and/or to provide technical guidance.

 pre-sales or post-sales activity not amounting to actual execution of any contract or project.  Foreign trainees of multinational companies/corporate houses coming for in-house training in the regional hubs of the concerned company located in India.

 Foreign nationals coming as tour conductors and travel agents and /or conducting business tours of foreigners or business relating to it, etc.

 Foreign academicians/ experts coming under GIAN (Global Initiative for Academic Networks).  Crew members of scheduled/ non-scheduled flights operated by scheduled airlines, non scheduled and chartered flights operated by non-scheduled airlines and special flights.  Foreign nationals intending to visit India to participate in cultural/commercial performances or

concerts and also for those involves I performative arts like acting, dance etc. (B-3 visa)  Visiting faculty for teaching in purely private institutes

 Foreign nationals who are attending international conference/seminars/workshops (B-5 visa)  Foreign nationals who are visiting for shooting of feature films, reality TV serials/shows and web shows/series for location recce (B-6 visa).

 Foreign nationals who are visiting as sports persons and coaches including those engaged in commercial sports events in India on contracts with remuneration.

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 Original / Fax copy of Invitation letter from a recognized Indian company bearing the complete passport details of the applicants.

 Certificate of Incorporation of Indian company

 Recommendation letter from the company of applicant giving a brief introduction of the South African company and the purpose of visit

 Certificate of incorporation of the South African company

 Return air-ticket.

 Proof of residence

 Proof of accommodation

 Bank Statement of the applicant for the last three months with sufficient funds

Following documents are required for applicants who are visiting India for attending Conferences/Seminars/workshops (B-5 Visa):

 Invitation/recommendation letter from organizer.

 Necessary clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)/Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

Note: B-6 Visa is only granted to an applicant who is coming for shooting of a feature film / reality TV show and / or commercial TV serials. The validity of Film visa (F) will be upto one year with multiple entry. The permission for shooting these categories of production is granted by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi. The proposals are accepted and processed by the Film Facilitation Office (FFO). The international cast and crew coming to India on a Film visa for the film shoot shall be employed by the company seeking permission to shoot the film and the company shall take the responsibility for the cast and crew coming to India for filming.

STUDENT VISA: This category of visa allows you to travel to India to study at a university or technological institute, take part in an academic exchange program, follow a course in Yoga, Vedic culture, Indian systems of dance and music, professors or scholars intending to conduct research work in India and applicants intending to pursue internship in an Indian Company/Educational Institution/NGO/Foreign Missions/ Posts and foreign government organizations ((including those coming under French VIE programme) in India.

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 Original letter of Admission/sponsorship from the recognized Indian Institute / University  Proof of finances to cover to and fro traveling expenses and all expenditure in India in connection with education and stay.

 Mandatorily registration on SII-Poral

 Proof of educational qualification required to pursue the study/course chosen by the applicant.  Proof of residence

Internship:

Applicants intending to pursue internship in India are required to meet the following conditions: 1. The visa will be granted at any time during the course of study; or immediately after completion of graduation/ post-graduation (masters level) but the duration of the internship should not be more than two years.

Visa will be granted only on the basis of a letter from the Indian Company/Educational Institution/ NGO, Foreign Missions/ Posts in India and foreign government organizations concerned sponsoring the applicant for the internship programme and clearly indicating the period of internship.
In case of internship in a Company, the applicant being sponsored for internship should draw a minimum remuneration of Rs.3.60 Lakhs (US $ 4,500) per annum.
There will be no minimum salary limit in case of internship in Educational Institutions, NGOs, Foreign Missions/Posts in India and foreign government organizations.
Earnings from internship of the applicant with Indian companies/Educational Institutions/ NGOs will be subject to the Indian Income Tax regulations.
Under no circumstances, the intern will be allowed to take up employment in India immediately after completion of the internship programme.
All applicants who want to do internship on their own and not arranged by any Institution from South Africa should apply Business visa and not a student visa.

Note:

 International students applying for an Indian student visa must use the Study in India (SII) Portal at https://www.studyinindia.gov.in/ for registration and admission to generate a mandatory unique SII-ID. No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Government of India (G.O.I.) is necessary for grant of student visa to pursue a medical/ para-medical course in recognized medical colleges and diploma/degree/post-graduate courses in recognized engineering institutions/polytechnics. Aspiring students are advised to obtain G.O.I’s NOC from the institution before applying for visa.

 Students after their arrival in India will be required to register in the nearest FRRO/FRO within 14 days from the date of arrival.

MEDICAL VISA: This category of visa will be applicable to foreign nationals whose sole purpose is to seek medical treatment in established/recognized/ specialized hospitals/ treatment centres in India. Serious ailments such as neuro-surgery; ophthalmic disorders; heart related problems; renal disorders; organ transplantations; plastic surgery; joint replacement etc will be of primary consideration for grant of medical visas. Upto two Medical Attendant can visit with the patient and validity of which will be co terminus with the Medical Visa.

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 The applicant should have recommendation from South Africa/Lesotho doctor advising the applicant to seek specialized medical treatment in India.

 A letter of admission from the recognized hospital or treatment centres in India, where patient is desirous of getting the treatment

 Proof of finances to cover the cost of the treatment and other expenses in India.  Proof of residence

 Travel Itinerary

WORK VISA: Work visa is granted to an applicant who is highly skilled or qualified professional. It is not meant for unskilled or routine/ordinary secretarial or clerical jobs. The foreign nationals being sponsored for Employment in any sector in India should draw a minimum salary of US$ 25,000 per annum. This annual salary limit does not apply to (a) Ethnic cooks, Language Teachers (Other than English language teachers), translators and officials working in Embassies or High Commissions in India. Employment Visa may be granted to professionals engaged in following categories of employment in a company/firm/organization registered in India or for employment in a foreign

company/firm/organization engaged for execution of some project in India.

 Engineers/technicians in installation and commissioning of equipment/ machines/ tools.  Personnel deputed for providing technical support/services, transfer of know-how/ services supplies.

 Consultants on contract for whom the Indian company pays a fixed remuneration.  For employment in NGOs

 For those coming to execute projects in Power & Steel sectors

 Artists engaged to conduct regular performances for the duration of the employment contract given by Hotels, Clubs, and other organizations

 Foreign nationals whose sole objective of visiting India is Missionary work (E-3 Visa) Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 A signed contract with the Indian company, which clearly mentions the salary (which should not be less than $25000 per annum, and other benefits, including tax which needs to be paid on income in India.

 An invitation letter from the Indian company as well as a brief profile of the company.  In case the inviting company is a foreign company then RBI permission in order to establish business/office in India.

 Police Clearance Certificate.

 Proof of the educational qualification.

 Professional expertise certificate

 Registration certificate of the employing company under the Companies Act / Proof of registration of the firm in the State industries department or the Export Promotion Council.  Proof of finances to cover the cost of the treatment and other expenses in India.  Proof of residence

 Travel Itinerary

Note:

 It is obligatory for any visa extension or renewal of Employment visa to be requested in India at the FRO (Foreigner's Registration Office in Delhi) or the FRRO (Foreigner's Regional Registration Office).

 This visa permits unlimited stay during the validity of the visa but any stay exceeding 6 months requires a registration at the FRO/FRRO within 14 days of arrival in India.

JOURNALIST VISA: Journalist visas are issued to professional journalists and photographers for visiting India. On some occasions, the applications for Journalist Visas need to be referred to the authorities in India and hence processing time could be long. On obtaining the visa, the journalists are advised to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places, the Office of the Government of India's Press Information Bureaus. This category of visa will be applicable to foreign nationals:-

 who are professional journalists, photographers, documentary film producers or Directors (other than of commercial films), representatives of a radio and/or television organization, travel writers/ travel promotion photographers etc;

 who are Journalists visiting India for any other purpose, such as attending a Conference, tourism, meeting relatives etc.

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 Proof of identity as a journalist

 All relevant supporting documents for the assignment

 Proof of finances to cover the cost of the treatment and other expenses in India.  Proof of residence

 Travel Itinerary

 If Journalist if going for Tourism Purpose he need give undertaking that his visit is only for tourism and he / she will not take part in activities related to their profession, while in India

Note: Journalist visas are extendable after arrival in India, for representatives of established media organizations, on the basis of letters of nomination specifying the duration of assignment and provided they hold valid PIB accreditation. Extensions are issued for up to one year at a time. Visa extensions are issued by the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) in the city where the journalist is based.

MISCELLANEOUS VISA: This visa category is for applicants who is/are:-

A person of Indian origin (X-1)
Spouse and children of a person of Indian nationality or origin (X-1)

iii. Applicants coming to join Auroville Foundation / Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry / Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata / similar approved organizations, temples and foreign Buddhist monks coming to join Buddhist Monasteries/other Buddhist organizations for charity work (X-2) iv. Purpose of visit does not cover under any other visa category (X-Misc)

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 Names and complete addresses of relatives to be visited in India. Relationship certificate (marriage certificate / birth certificate)

 Documentary evidence to establish the Indian origin.

 Proof of finances to cover the cost of the treatment and other expenses in India.  Proof of residence

 Travel Itinerary

FAMILY VISA: This category of visa will be applicable to family members/dependents of a foreign national, who holds employment/business/student/medical/journalist visa and will be granted visa co-terminus with the validity of the visa of the principal applicant.

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 Relationship certificate (marriage certificate/birth certificate)

 Principal Applicant passport & Indian visa copy

 Proof of finances to cover the cost of the treatment and other expenses in India.  Proof of residence

 Travel Itinerary

TRANSIT VISA: Transit visa is granted for the sole purpose of enabling the holder to travel through India to reach his/her ultimate destination. If the holder intends to perform some work or business in India, irrespective of the duration of his/her proposed stay, he /she should obtain a visa of appropriate category. Transit Visas are valid for maximum 15 days and are utilizable for a maximum stay of 3 days in India. Validity of the visa starts from the date of issue. If the journey is not performed within this period, a fresh transit visa will be required. Double Entry Transit Visas can be granted for stay in transit up to 3 days on each visit. A transit visa is not required by a foreigner passing through, in direct transit by air, and traveling onward through India, provided he/she does not leave the specified precincts of the airport.

Documents Required:

 Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space.

 Copy of the Passport and original

 Copy of air-ticket booking from India to place of final destination.

 Evidence of joining a sea vessel from the Indian port to port of final destination (in the form of letter from the shipping company)

 Visa for the final destination

 Proof of finances to cover the cost of the treatment and other expenses in India.  Proof of residence

 Travel Itinerary

Note:

Apart from the above-listed requirements for different types of visas, the applicants must be willing to provide any other documents that may be required by the High Commission of India, Pretoria to prove the genuineness of the visa applicants.