SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH VISA CATEGORY

(1) TOURIST VISA (T) (GENERAL GUIDELINES):

• It is non-extendable and non – convertible to other types of visas and its misuse would entail deportation by Indian authorities. It may also entail denial of visa by the Mission.
• Proof of financial solvency and proof of confirmed return tickets may be sought in some cases.

(2) II BUSINESS VISA (B):

• It is generally granted for short visits to India for engaging in business or attending business meeting/negotiations. Stay or seeking employment in India under Business visa is illegal. This visa is to be used for short visits and not for continuous stay in India for engaging in business.
• Appropriate endorsement of occupation/profession on the passport as businessman is necessary.
• Also, documents such as company registration certificate, position held by the applicant in the company, invitation letters from company in India or a letter from applicant’s company sponsoring the business visit to India indicating nature of applicant’s business, probable duration of stay, places and companies in India to be visited, are to be enclosed.
• Copy of Business Registration Certification issued by the Sri Lankan authorities should be enclosed along with application. Applicants desiring Multiple entries should enclose the recent copy of “Bill of Lading” issued by Indian/Sri Lankan authorities.

(3) STUDENT VISA (S):

• It is granted for study only in Government of India recognized educational institutions/Colleges for foreigners to pursue a recognized course. Before seeking admission, Students are advised to confirm these two aspects, as production of documents relating to recognitions of the institute/college for study by foreigners and recognition of the course will be necessary for grant of student visa. Please also note that some new courses run by a few established colleges have not yet been recognized by the Government.
• Tourist Visa is not convertible to Student Visa. Seeking admission /studying in India under Tourist visa is illegal.
• Student visa would be granted only for full term of the course. Student visa for primary school education will not be entertained. Bonafide certificate, issued by the educational authorities in India, should indicate the full term of the course as well as the relevant year in which the applicant would be pursing the course.
• Submission of proof of Academic records in respect of education completed will be necessary. Evidence of admission to the Institute/Course from recognized University / Board (Indicate name of Institution/address/Tel & Fax no. & e-mail/website address); bonafide certificate as a student if already pursuing studies in India, Photocopies of relevant academic certificates on the basis of which admission is sought or has been obtained and Satisfactory evidence of financial support - bank guarantee / letter of support from parent / guardian. The Student should also produce evidence of transfer of funds for at least 4 months sustenance in India or show Traveler’s Cheques for a similar amount.
• 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. It may please be noted that admission to professional courses is regulated by GOI and institutions cannot grant admission directly without the consent/approval of the GOI/concerned state Government.

As regards institutions/procedures, aspiring students may take guidance from the Education Wing of the High Commission. (Details on our website).

(4) EMPLOYMENT VISA (E):

• Copy of the Contract/Agreement of Employment with the Indian employer in Senior Managerial/Executive positions or jobs needing very special skills, will be necessary.
• Proof of registration of the company under relevant provisions of the Government of India rules,
• A letter from the employer indicating nature of the job, salary structure and duration of hire
• Justification letter from the employer for proposing to hire a foreigner should be submitted. Proof of qualifications and work experience of the applicant also need to be enclosed.
• The spouse and children accompanying the applicant would be issued the visa only after the applicant obtains employment visa. The copy of the applicant‘s employment visa should be attached with the spouse/children application along with a copy of marriage/birth certificate/s.
• Employment visa is extendable in India by Immigration Department. Registration is mandatory.
• Non-residents of Sri Lanka will not be issued Employment visa by our Mission.

(5) TRANSIT VISA (TR):

• It is granted for the sole purpose of enabling a foreigner to travel through India to reach his ultimate destination
• For stay in India beyond 3 days, appropriate visa must be obtained.
• or stay in India beyond 3 days, appropriate visa must be obtained. Applicant must submit detailed travel plans along with his/her form and produce confirmed tickets.
• No transit visa is required for a person passing through in direct transit by air, where then is no through flight, provided he/she does not leave the specified precincts of the Airport.

(6) CONFERENCE VISA (C):

• Conference Visas are given to foreign delegates to International conferences/seminars/workshops/meetings/symposia held by Government bodies, International Organizations, Public sector units, NGO’s, etc.
• The conferences, etc. should have been cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), nodal Ministry, concerned State Government/UT and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. It is the responsibility of the Organizers to obtain clearances through the nodal ministries from MHA, MEA and concerned State Government/UT before sending the invitation letters to the foreign participants. The applicants for the conference visa should produce the invitation letters at the time of application.
• Applicants are advised to apply well in advance and ensure that the organizers who are inviting by them have obtained necessary approval from the MHA, concerned State Governments/UT, nodal Ministries and MEA, Government of India.

The following Documents are required to be attached along with the application for a Conference Visa:

1. Invitation letter from the organizer.
2. Security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.
3. Administrative approval of the nodal Ministry.
4. Political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India.
5. Clearance from the State Government/UT concerned.

(7) JOURNALIST VISA (J):

• Applicants representing recognized print/electronic media and visiting India on professional work must apply well in advance.
• They can contact the Press, Information & Culture division at the Mission for details.

(8) ENTRY VISA:

• It is granted to spouse of Indian nationals, particularly those who want to live in India with their Indian wife/husband. Permanent place of residence of the Indian national in India is necessary.
• The spouse of the Indian national must enclose along with the application form, a copy of the Indian passport of his/her spouse with the applicant’s name duly endorsed in the Indian passport, along with a copy of the marriage certificate. Such marriage certificates should be duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka (in case marriage is solemnized in Sri Lanka) or Ministry of External Affairs, government of India (in case marriage is solemnized in India). Original marriage certificate should be shown at the time of visa application.
• It is extendable in India. Return to Sri Lanka is not necessary to renew the visa.
• Foreigners coming to India for learning Yoga/Vedic Culture in recognised institutions in India will also get Entry Visa.

(9) MEDICAL VISA (Med) & MEDICAL ATTENDANT VISA (Med-1):

Applicants going to India for medical treatment need to submit the following:

• Original medical papers indicating appointment in India and treatment in Sri Lanka.
• Appointment from the Indian hospital, on the hospital letter head, mentioning clearly the names and passport numbers of the patient and the medical attendants, as well as the ailment and expected duration of the treatment.
• A maximum of 2 (two) attendants per patient would be allowed.
• Bank statement for 6 months and solvency certificate from bank.

(10) REGISTRATION OF FOREIGNERS IN INDIA:

• It is necessary when a foreigner intends to stay in India continuously for a period beyond 180 days. It is mandatory in respect of foreigners visiting India on Student/Employment/Research/Entry/Medical/Medical Attendant Visas.
• The registration has to be done within 14 days of his/her first arrival with the concerned Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in India.
• Registration is not endorsed on passport and acceptance of disembarkation card on arrival by Immigration officials does not amount to registration. A separate Certificate of Registration / Residential Permit (RP) is issued by Immigration officials in India on fulfillment of certain conditions.
• Registration is required only once during the validity of a long-term visa, irrespective of number of times the foreigner is visiting/departing India on a multi-entry facility.
• The registration document is required to be shown to the Immigration officials at the port of departure, every time, while departing India. It is required to be surrendered to the immigration officials at the port of departure at the time of last departure, when another immediate visit on the same visa is not anticipated.
• For more details, log-on to" boi.gov.in".