Get a India Visa
Visa Application Requirements for an India Tourist Visa
Passport
You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information page of your passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months and contain at least two blank visa pages.
Photographs
You must provide two color, identical passport-type photographs. The photographs must have a white background and glasses should not be worn for the photographs.
Special Instructions
Under certain circumstances, we may need to contact you for more information per the Indian government's request. If you are of Indian or Pakistani origin, or are traveling with minors 17 and younger, or a frequent traveler to India, please contact us at 800-929-2428 prior to sumbitting your documentation.
Visa Questionnaire
As a Cox & Kings guest, you are pre-enrolled in a service that will make your visa application process easier. The process has two steps:
- Fill out the Visa Application Questionnaire provided within this kit and send it to CIBTvisas. We will complete your on-line visa application and send it to you for your inspection via email, or if you prefer, overnight courier (shipping charges may apply)
- Sign your completed visa application and include it with rest of the required documents and send them to CIBTvisas.
Driver's License
You must provide a copy of your driver's license or other state issued identification card showing your home address.
CIBTvisas Order Form
You must provide one completed CIBT order form.
Additional Particulars Form
You must sign and complete the Additional Particulars Form found in this kit. All questions must be answered with a "yes" or "no". Do not use N/A on the form.
In the case of an application for a minor child, both parents must sign the Additional Particulars Form.
Former Armed Forces
Applicants who previously served in the armed forces may not apply for long validity visas for India. The consulate will only issue a 1-year validity visa to these travelers.
Visa Application Requirements for an India Business Visa
Mandatory Arrival Card
All travellers to India are required to apply for a mandatory e-Arrival Card 3 days prior to arrival. The e-Arrival card can be applied here free of charge.
Passport
You must provide your actual signed passport. Your passport must:
- Be valid for six months beyond the validity of your requested visa
- Contain at least two blank visa pages
- Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in some other way
Copy of Passport
You must provide a copy of your passport information page.
Photographs
You must provide two color, passport-type photographs that meets the following criteria:
- Be taken within the last six months and printed on high-quality photo paper
- Be taken against an all white background
- Be two inches by two inches
- Provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression
- You may wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes
- Your photos should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples
Proof of Address
You must provide a proof of your current home address. This must be a copy of one of the following documents:
- A valid driving license that displays your home address as it appears on your visa application form
or - A valid state issued ID that displays your home address as it appears on your visa application form
or - A utility bill (gas, water, electricity) issued within the last three months
- A valid driving license that displays your home address as it appears on your visa application form
Business Cover Letter
You are required to provide an original Business Cover Letter from your U.S.-based company. All letters must be printed on company letterhead that displays a U.S. mailing address. Use the included sample Business Cover Letter to complete your letter.
Letter of Invitation
You must provide an original letter of invitation from the organization or entity that you are visiting. The invitation must:
- Be on company letterhead paper
- Include your name, gender, and date of birth
- Provide information about the entity to be visited. Include the full name, contact information, telephone number and address
- Detail the purpose of your trip including the places to be visited
- Specify your arrival and departure dates
- Specify the validity of the visa requested
- Specify who is financially responsible for the trip
- Be signed
- Have company or organization seal/stamp
Certificate of Incorporation
You must provide a copy of the Letter of Incorporation from the company that is inviting you to India.
Additional Particulars Form
You must sign and complete the Additional Particulars Form found in this kit. All questions must be answered with a "yes" or "no". Do not use N/A on the form.
In the case of an application for a minor child, both parents must sign the Additional Particulars Form.
Visa Application Form
The Consulate of India requires a visa application form that is completed online. To access the form follow this link: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html. Click on the blue button labeled "Regular Visa Application" in the bottom-left corner to begin the process. Your application must:
- Display your name exactly as it appears in your passport
- Include answers for all fields
- Type of visa and length of validity requested must match listing on all other documentation
- Include 2 signatures: one on page 1 under the photo (do not sign outside of the box on page 1), and a signature on page 2. Both signatures must match the signature in your passport.
- Include your email address on the online application. Applications missing a personal email address will be rejected by the consulate
- Be printed on single-sided sheets of paper. Double-sided applications will be rejected. You must fully print the bar code on the bottom of page 1
CIBTvisas Order Form
Provide the CIBTvisas Order Form included in this kit.
Persons of Indian Origin Only
If you are of Indian origin you are required to renounce your Indian citizenship in order to apply for an Indian visa. Please note CIBTvisas cannot submit your request for a visa without the renunciation certificate. You must provide proof your of renunciation as one of the following:
- A Certificate of Renunciation issued by an Embassy or Consulate of India
or - A Deemed Surrender Certificate issued by an Embassy or Consulate of India
- A Certificate of Renunciation issued by an Embassy or Consulate of India
Urgent Applications
If you have an urgent visa application that carries a tight deadline, CIBTvisas can help you to save valuable time and avoid expensive delays. A CIBTvisas expert will review all of your documents to certify your application is accurate, complete and ready for submission. We will contact you personally to quickly handle any mistakes ensuring your application is submitted correctly. Visit https://cibtvisas.com/visa-pre-check-service to learn more about this service.
India Visa FAQ
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When is the best time to apply for my India visa?
The best time to apply for your India visa is 1-2 months before your travel date. -
Do I have to send you my passport to get a India visa? Is it safe to send a passport?
You will need to send your actual passport, not a copy of it. The India visa is stamped on your passport and will become one of your passport pages. Visa requests cannot be processed without your original passport. Because of the importance of your passport, we strongly suggest that you send your application and passport to CIBTvisas in a secure way, using a traceable courier such as FedEx, UPS, Express Mail or Certified Mail.
