A passport is a document, issued

by a national government, which certifies, for the

purpose of international travel, the identity and

nationality of its holder. The elements of

identity are name, date of birth,

sex, and place of birth

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

CONSULAR PASSPORT & VISA DIVISION

ISSUANCE OF PASSPORT & VISA

RPO/PSK’s/EMBASSY

There are 37 RPO's across the country and 77 PSK's in India

currently and 179 Indian missions abroad

IMPORTANT POINTS TO DISCUSS

•Validity of Passport

•Renewal of Passport

•Reissue of Passport

•Tatkaal Passport

TYPES OF PASSPORT

OTHER TYPES

• Emergency Passport

• Family Passport

• Collective Passport

Different types of visas are issueddepending on the nature of the visit.The main classifications are:

Immigrant or Permanent Visas.

Non-immigrant or Temporary Visas;and

Transit Visa.

1. IMMIGRATION OR PERMANENT VISA

This type of visa is issued to persons who intend to immigrate or settlepermanently in foreign country. Countries impose stricter regulations ingranting this. Some countries do not issue this type of visa (e.g.Germany)

2. NON – IMMIGRANT OR TEMPORARY VISA

A non-immigrant visa is issued for a temporary period after which theholder will have to return to his home country. Depending on the natureof the visit, different visas are issued as a temporary visa. Mainclassifications are as under.

• Visitors Visa

• Tourist Visa

• Student Visa

• Business Visa

• Work Visa

• Collective Visa

TRANSIT VISA

•Usually valid for 5days or less, forpassing throughthe country to athird destination.

•In India transit

visa is valid for 15

days

TOURIST VISA

• For a limited period of leisure travel,no business activities allowed.

• Exception: Saudi Arabia

In India issued for 180 days.

Tourist visa up to 5 years may be granted if the foreigner is connected with the tourism trade.

• Electronic visa: The visa is stored in acomputer and is electronically tied to thepassport number; no label, sticker orstamp is placed in the passport prior totravel.

• Australia pioneered electronic visaissuance with the Electronic TravelAuthority for tourists.

BUSINESS VISA

• For engaging in commerce in thecountry.

• In India ,the duration for whichbusiness visa is issued varies from 1-5years

TEMPORARY VISA

• For approved employment in the hostcountry. These are generally moredifficult to obtain but valid for longerperiods of time than a business visa.

EXAMPLES:

1) H-1B visa in USA

2) L-1 visa in USA

ON ARRIVAL VISA

On-arrival visa, granted at a port of entry. Thisis distinct from not requiring a visa at all, as thevisitor must still obtain the visa before they caneven try to pass through immigration.

TVOA IN INDIA

Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan , Laos,Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines,Singapore, Vietnam

STUDENT VISA

Proof of admission and means of sustenancewhile in India must be provided to the IndianEmbassy; a visa may be extended in India forthe duration of the course or 5 years,whichever is less. Foreigners who want tostudy yoga, music, Vedic culture; dance etcmust apply well in advance. Indian embassiesmay grant visas for up to 5 years

Students studying in Algeria, however, areissued tourist visas.

.

MEDICAL VISA

• Is issued to persons who are going for theirtreatment & surgery to foreign countries.

• In case of India duration of VISA is 6 months,but can be extended on prescription of thedoctor.

WORKING HOLIDAY VISA

For individuals travelling between nations offering a working holiday

programme, allowing young people to undertake temporary work while

travelling

DIPLOMATIC VISA

(sometimes official visa), whichconfers diplomatic status on itsholder and is normally only availableto bearers of diplomatic passports.

Immigrant-Visa

• granted for those intending to immigrate to theissuing country. They usually are issued for a singlejourney as the holder will, depending on thecountry, later be issued a permanent residentidentification card which will allow the traveller toenter to the issuing country an unlimited number oftimes. (for example, the United States PermanentResident Card)...

Collective Visas

Foreign tourists travelling in groups of at

least four, and under a recognized travel

agent, may be granted tourist visas or

collective visas without prior reference.

The procedure:

(i) At least three days before departure,

the agency sponsoring the group must

submit to the Indian Mission in that country

4 copies of a list containing particulars of

each member of the group;

(ii) After checking, the Mission stamps a

collective visa- it is not necessary to stamp

individual passports – and returns three

copies of the list to the sponsoring agency;

(i) The person in charge of the tourist group hands over two copies

of the list to the immigration authority on arrival in India.

(ii)Indian agents must furnish a list of group members to the

immigration authorities at least four hours before the flight arrives

If the tourist group is split into smaller

groups to visit different parts of India, the

Immigration authority grants a collective

“license to travel “, listing the particulars of

the members of the smaller groups.

Visa Provisions

Tourist visa up to five years may be

granted if the foreigner is

connected in tourism trade. If visa

is for more than 180 days,

registration is compulsory within 14

days of the arrival in India.

Type of Visa Period

for

which

granted

No. of

entries

in India

Documents required with

applicationExtendable

in India?

Tourist 180

days

Multiple No

Transit 15 days One Return/ Onward journey

ticket.

No

Business 1-5 years Multiple Documents to prove bona fide

purpose

Letter etc.)‏

(Company’s

Yes

Employme

nt

1 year

or

period

of

contract

Multiple Proof of employment as a skilled

worker or at a high post

(appointment document), terms

and conditions, by laws of

company.

Yes

Student Period

of

course

Multiple Proof of admission in

Indian institution

Yes

Foreigner

s of Indian

origin

1-5

years

Multiple Proof of being Indian origin Yes

Instructions have been issued where by

Nepalese and Indian citizens, while

traveling by air, between the two

countries must be in possession of any

of the following documents to prove their

nationality.

• Valid national passport

Valid photo identity card

issued be the Govt. of

India /state govt or Union

Territory

Administration/Election

commission of India

Emergency certificate

issued by the Embassy

of India, Kathmandu to

Indians, and by the

Embassy of Nepal in

Delhi in respect of

Nepalese citizens.

Exemption from registration:

Foreigners coming to India on tourist visas for 180 days or less do

not need to register with any authority; they may visit any part of the

country except restricted/protected areas and prohibited places.

Family passports issued by other governments are recognized

without discrimination.

CONFERENCE VISA

Delegates to international conferences inIndia can get a visa for the conferenceand for tourism. Delegates should applyto the Indian embassies as well inadvance.

Temporary Landing Permit

Nationals of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, and

Ethiopia are not granted TLP facility.

VWP Member Countries

• AndorraAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBruneiCzech RepublicDenmarckEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreece

• HungaryIcelanceIrelandItalyJapanLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMonacoNew Zealand

• NorwayPortugalRepublic of KoreaSan MarinoSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTaiwanThe NetherlandsUnited Kingdom

Requirements

• Possess a passport with an integratedchip (e-passport)

• Register on-line through the ElectronicSystem for Travel Authorization(ESTA)

VWP travelers are required to apply for authorization though the Electronic System for Travel Authorization

(ESTA), are screened at their port of entry into the United States, and are

enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT

program.

Non immigrant visa

• Each applicant - including children - must havetheir own Form DS-160 visa application. TheForm DS-160 must be completed andsubmitted online prior to your interview at theEmbassy or Consulate.

• The barcode number on the Form DS-160confirmation page is required in order to bookyour interview. The Form DS-160 must besubmitted online and the printed confirmationpage must be brought to the interview.

• The Embassy or Consulate will not accepthandwritten or typed applications and you willnot be permitted to attend your interviewwithout a Form DS-160 confirmation page.

Documents needed for DS-160 form • Passport

• Travel itinerary, if you have already made travelarrangements.

• Dates of your last five visits or trips to the UnitedStates, if you have previously travelled to the UnitedStates. You may also be asked for your internationaltravel history for the past five years.

• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae - You may be required toprovide information about your current and previouseducation and work history.

• Other Information - Some applicants, depending onthe intended purpose of travel, will be asked toprovide additional information when completing theDS-160.