Dreaming of seeing the Taj Mahal? Or perhaps, you want to take in the rich Indian culture? Whatever the reason is, you need a visa to go to India. There are two types of visa available here: e-Tourist and the regular tourist visa. The e-Tourist visa allows tourists to stay 30 days in the country, while a regular tourist visa allows 180 days and it is required when you plan to visit certain restricted areas.
If you’re a British passport holder, keep in mind that each visa application process is different. Here are some of the things to keep in mind:
- You need your own passport; otherwise, you can’t apply for a visa.
- Your passport must have at least 6 months validity from the date of your arrival in the country and must have at least two blank pages for immigration.
- You need a return journey ticket.
- You need to have your visa with you at all times.
- Have all the right documents scanned in .pdf format and photos in .jpg format.
- Photos must be in colour, 2×2 and must show your full face from the top of your hair to the bottom of your chin.
Applying for E-Tourist Visa (eTV)
The eTV is valid for 365 days from the date it was issued. Therefore, you can apply for this visa 12 months before the date of your return, but it’s advisable to apply for this 10 months from your return date for a bit of an overlap. Keep in mind that this visa isn’t allowed in protected or restricted areas.
To apply for an eTV, you need to fill out the application form, which is pretty straightforward. It gets tricky when it comes to uploading the photo because you need to ensure that it is the correct size. The photo must be between 10kb and 300kb, it should be square and a minimum of 350 x 350 pixels.
When you have completed the application, you get an Application ID number.
Regular Tourist Visa
If you plan to stay in India for more than 30 days or you plan to visit a restricted or a protected area, the regular tourist visa should be the one you apply for. You can do it online or make an appointment. The information that a regular tourist visa requires is similar to what an eTV needs.
Checking the Status of Your Visa
For either eTV or regular tourist visa, you can view the status of your application by using your application ID and passport number.
Get Your Visa Today
Indeed, visa applications, regardless of where you’re going, can get tricky, especially if it’s your first time. By following the basic tips listed in this post, you’re one step closer to getting a visa. You should also explore your options when applying for an Indian visa, such as hiring an agency to help you through the whole process. After all, a visa application can eat up a lot of time. With an agency by your side, you can free up your time and all you need to do is provide all the necessary documents and wait for your visa’s approval.
Need an agency to guide you throughout the entire process? Let us help you with your Indian visas here at Travcour. We’re located on Queens Rd. in Wimbledon. Contact us today!