INDIA

VISA REQUIRED

YOUR INFORMATION*

Nationality: United Kingdom
Destination: India
Purpose of trip: Business

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COUNTRY INFORMATION

(INCLUDING CONSULAR CLOSURES AND BUSINESS VISITOR ACTIVITIES)

https://www.globalvisas.co.uk/india

IMPORTANT

– Up to 1 year, single entry
– Up to 1 year, multiple entry
– Up to 5 years, multiple entry

All visa issuance is subject to consular discretion.

Please note that the India (VFSGlobal) Visa Application Centre in London only accepts visa applications via an appointment system.

Your visa agent will work with you to ensure this is arranged / your application is filed accordingly and in line with your travel plans. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE APPOINTMENT, UNLESS REQUESTED OR APPLYING FOR A 5 YEAR MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA (MANDATORY BIOMETRIC ENROLMENT REQUIRED – PLEASE SEE RED FLAGS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION).

Please do however be aware that all appointments are subject to availability. Moreover, an option of a next day submission at an additional cost of £15.00 is available, should such availability be limited.

IMPORTANT: The Indian High Commission in London reserves the right to request additional documentation in support of an application, and can amend / increase consular fees without prior notice. Before starting the request form, if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

NEXT STEPS

Review document list below, select visa type (see 'PROCESSING TIMES / FEES' below) and complete request form / payment.

Prepare documentation. Please do be mindful of originals and provide our team sufficient time for step 3 below.

Access the DRAG N’ DROP email (supported by Dropbox Inc.), where you can securely upload scans of all documentation for our review. This additional email will be sent to you within 1 – 2 business hours of completing the request form. You may also find further information on the DRAG N’ DROP process via the menu above. IT IS IMPORTANT WE COMPLETE THIS STEP AS TO AVOID REQUESTING AMENDS UPON RECEIPT OF ALL ORIGINALS. FURTHERMORE, YOU MUST ALLOW OUR TEAM 1 WORKING DAY TO COMPLETE THE REVIEW PROCESS.

Only once your documents have been reviewed, will our team provide instruction on sending us all originals or arrange for free collection if you are in the central London area, for submission ON YOUR BEHALF to the relevant Consulate / Embassy. All options, including return delivery, will be discussed in line with your travel plans.

INDIA BUSINESS VISA REQUIREMENTS

CLICK HERE AND/OR TOGGLE BELOW FOR DOCUMENT CHECKLIST

PASSPORT

ORIGINAL passport. This must:

be valid for at least 180 days beyond your intended departure date
have at least two blank visa pages

PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHS

Two ORIGINAL recent 5cm x 5cm colour photographs. These must:

be taken within the last month
be taken against a plain light background and printed on photographic paper
show full frontal face, have a neutral expression and your mouth closed
have eyes open and free from reflection or glare from glasses
not have hair in front of face or have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)

DO NOT ATTACH THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE APPLICATION FORM

APPLICATION FORM

Signed, dated and fully completed ORIGINAL application form. Please complete online at: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html. Please see additional instructions below:

Select ‘REGULAR/PAPER VISA APPLICATION’. On the first screen all fields cannot be changed once selected. For ‘Indian Mission’ please select LONDON.

DO NOT SUBMIT THE MAIN FORM UNTIL REVIEWED. Please complete as best as possible and take a note of the Temporary Application ID. Once you have got to the summary page (by skipping the photo upload page), please take a PDF print out of this page. Do not go past this summary page until our team has reviewed the application form – simply exit the page.
The final submitted form must be printed single sided and signed in original, in both places, where indicated. It must also be filed to the Embassy within 45 days of online submission. ALL SUCH FINAL INSTRUCTIONS / HOW TO SUBMIT FINAL FORM WILL BE PROVIDED IN FULL, UPON REVIEW OF THE SUMMARY PAGE.

LETTER OF INTRODUCTION

Signed and completed ORIGINAL letter of support from your home employer. This must be signed by a member of your HR, or a member of your management team. If the latter, this person must be at least a manager grade and/or at least the same grade as yourself, and must be aware of your trip.

Please see template attached: India – Business support letter. Alternatively, the letter must include the following information:

Addressed to the “Indian High Commission, India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA”
Letter needs to be on home employer headed paper and dated within the last month
Letter need to be signed by authorised signatory of the home employer
Purpose of visit
People / places and organisation to be visited, with contact phone numbers
Applicant’s name and nationality
Start date of employment and job title
Passport number and DOB
Start & Expiry date of the passport
Dates of travel to India
Validity of visa applied for
A guarantee to meet maintenance expenses
Medical insurance undertaking (if applicable)

INVITATION LETTER

Clear COLOR COPY of signed and completed invite letter from your inviting company.

Please see template attached: India – Invite letter. Alternatively, the letter must include the following information:

Addressed to the “The Indian High Commission, India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA”
Letter needs to be on inviting company headed paper and dated within the last month
Letter need to be signed by authorized signatory of the inviting company
Purpose of visit
People / places and organization to be visited, with contact numbers
Applicant’s name and nationality
Passport number and DOB
Start & Expiry date of the passport
Dates of travel to India
Validity of visa applied for
A guarantee to meet maintenance expenses
Contain the stamp of the inviting company (if applicable)
Medical insurance undertaking (if applicable)

DECLARATION FORM

Signed, dated and fully completed ORIGINAL Declaration Form. Please see attached: India – Declaration Form (BUSINESS).

RED FLAGS

5 YEAR VISA REQUEST (MANDATORY BIOMETRIC ENROLMENT)

All travellers requesting a 5 year multiple entry visa, must attend an appointment at the India (VFSGlobal) Visa Application Centre in London and submit MANDATORY biometric enrolment.

AS STATED ABOVE AND IF APPLICABLE, THIS STEP IS COMPULSORY AND VISA PROCESSING CANNOT COMMENCE UNTIL BIOMETRICS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.

LONGER THAN 1 YEAR VISA REQUEST

Applicant’s applying for longer than 1 year visa issuance, are reminded that issuance is subject to consular discretion. Normally you must provide evidence of a previously issued India visa and must clearly outline in your documentation the need for a longer length visa.

IF APPLICABLE, PLEASE DO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN PREPARING YOUR DOCUMENTATION.

FORMER INDIAN NATIONALS

Applicants whose previous nationality was Indian before acquiring foreign nationality, must evidence they have surrendered their Indian nationality. They may do this by providing:

A copy of the Surrender Certificate and a copy of the cancelled Indian passport

If they have travelled to India before on their foreign nationality, please provide any current/previous passports with Indian visas

IN CASE THE TRAVELLER CANNOT PROVIDE PROOF OF THE ABOVE, ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS WILL BE REQUIRED.

APPLICANTS OF PAKISTANI ORIGIN

The visa requirements for applicants of Pakistani origin differ to that outlined above. Similarly, the processing times and fees are also different (PROCESSING TIMES CAN TAKE A MINIMUM OF 7 – 8 WEEKS).

IF APPLICABLE, please ensure your speak to our team before submitting your online visa request form so that we advise you further on your specific India business visa requirements.

APPLICANTS OF AFGHAN, BANGLADESHI, CHINESE, IRAQI, IRANIAN, NIGERIAN, SOMALIAN OR SRI LANKAN ORIGIN

Applicants of Afghan, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Iraqi, Iranian, Nigerian, Somalian or Sri Lankan origin may be referred to the immigration authorities in India. They may also be requested to provide additional documentation, processing times will be CONSIDERABLY longer and may also incur additional fees.

IF APPLICABLE, please ensure your speak to our team before submitting your online visa request form so that we advise you further on the potential additional documentation and confirm up-to-date EXTENDED processing times.

CHARITY AND MEDIA WORKERS

Charity and media worker may be referred to the immigration authorities in India. As such, this will cause a delay in the processing times outlined below and may also incur additional fees.

FURTHERMORE, all such related application types / occupation holders are normally issued a 3 months, single entry ‘J’ visa.

PROCESSING TIMES / FEES

All fees are charged per individual traveller. Please click here to see the Global Visas service fees pricing structure, for cancelled cases.

All consular fees however are non-refundable once the application has been submitted; including if the application is then rejected or if you are issued a different visa validity to that requested.

PLEASE READ: ALL COLLECTION OF FEES ARE SUBJECT TO A 1.5% CHARGE (EUROPEAN CARDS) OR 3% CHARGE (NON-EUROPEAN CARDS) FOR PAYMENTS MADE VIA CREDIT / DEBIT CARD.

TO START THE REQUEST, PLEASE CLICK ON THE SELECT BUTTON, DEPENDING ON WHICH VISA COMBINATION YOU WISH TO APPLY FOR.

UP TO 1 YEAR, SINGLE ENTRY

Global Visas service fees:	£220.00
Consular fees:	£322.32

Global Visas service fees:
£220.00

Consular fees:
£322.32

UP TO 1 YEAR, MULTIPLE ENTRY

Global Visas service fees:	£220.00
Consular fees:	£322.32

Global Visas service fees:
£220.00

Consular fees:
£322.32

UP TO 5 YEARS, MULTIPLE ENTRY

Global Visas service fees:	£220.00
Consular fees:	£652.32

Global Visas service fees:
£220.00

Consular fees:
£652.32

UP TO 1 YEAR, SINGLE ENTRY

Global Visas service fees:	£160.00
Consular fees:	£179.57

Global Visas service fees:
£160.00

Consular fees:
£179.57

UP TO 1 YEAR, MULTIPLE ENTRY

Global Visas service fees:	£160.00
Consular fees:	£179.57

Global Visas service fees:
£160.00

Consular fees:
£179.57

UP TO 5 YEARS, MULTIPLE ENTRY

Global Visas service fees:	£160.00
Consular fees:	£509.57

Global Visas service fees:
£160.00

Consular fees:
£509.57

VISA TIPS

Be proactive. Review the whole application process and makes notes on anything you require clarity on. By addressing this with your visa agent will make the process easier and more efficient.

Be mindful that each document has its own requirements (i.e. passport validity / photo sizes / form signing / originals / information required for support letters etc). It is important that each requirement is adhered to.

Personal information must be accurate and consistent across all your documentation. Passport information, employment details, travel dates, postal addresses, points of contact etc. You must paint a consistent and accurate picture of your trip.

Always remember timescales. Some documents may take longer to obtain (i.e. documents from abroad / from official govt bodies / may require official certification or legalisation). Taking this into consideration along with processing times is very important.

Taking a practical approach to immigration is very important. Being considerate of consular closures, travel plans, processing times, delivery timeframes, receiving original supporting documents etc. You must be mindful and plan for such considerations.