Get an India Visa
Sample of the Business Travel Requirements for an India Visa for UK Citizens
Passport
The applicant's actual passport. The passport must:
- Have at least two blank visa pages
- Be valid for at least 180 days beyond exit date
Photographs
Two Indian passport sized colour photographs. The photographs must:
- Measure 5cm x 5cm without including the borders
- Have a white background
- Include the applicant's shoulders
- Be taken within the last six months
- Be identical
Business Introduction Letter
An original letter of introduction from the applicant's UK employer. This letter must:
- Be addressed to:"The Indian High Commission, India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA"
- Be on company letterhead paper with the name and address matching exactly to that which is stated on the visa form
- Include the name of the applicant
- Specify the purpose of journey
- Specify the exact nature of the business being conducted
- Include the name of the organisation(s) to be visited
- Specify the requested number of entries and the length of visa required
- Include an acceptance of financial responsibility for the applicant
- Be signed by the applicant's supervisor or the company's HR department
A sample Business Introduction Letter can be found in the VisaExpress Application Pack
Letter of Invitation
A letter of invitation from the company to be visited in India. A copy is acceptable. This letter must:
- Be addressed to:"The Indian High Commission, India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA"
- Be on company letterhead paper with the name and address matching exactly to that which is stated on the visa form
- Include the name of the applicant
- Specify the purpose of journey
- Specify the exact nature of the business being conducted
- Specify the requested number of entries and the length of visa required
Visa Application Form
One fully completed and signed application form. This form must:
-
Be completed online at: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ihcukredirection.html
- Be printed on two separate pages, forms that are copied back to back are not accepted;
- Be signed in the original on both pages in black ink only
- Request the correct "period of visa" to be issued
- Have section G completed in full
- Have no handwritten corrections/modifications
- Bear a signature that matches the applicant's passport
- Be submitted to the Embassy within 45 calendar days of completion
Alternatively VisaExpress can assist the traveller in completing the online application form as a Premium Service at a cost of £20. In order to facilitate this, please complete the VisaExpress India Form Fill Request which can be found within the VisaExpress Application Pack.
Online application form fill requests must be received at VisaExpress before 14.00 hours in order to have it returned to you that day. Once VisaExpress have completed your online application we will send it to you for your signature. An original signature is required so it is mandatory to return the form to us by post or courier once signed.
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Visa Validity
Visas are ordinarily issued for "up to six months". Applicants who would like a visa valid for longer than six months must request this on the visa application form, the business introduction letter and the invitation letter. Applicants are advised that the issuance of a visa valid for longer than six months is not guaranteed and is issued solely at the visa officers discretion.
VisaExpress Order Confirmation
For orders placed on the VisaExpress website, a copy of the Online Order Confirmation which is sent to you via email, must be submitted.
For all other orders, and where applicable, a completed Manual Order Form should be submitted.
Please note that all card payments will only be made upon completion of the visa application process.
Same Day Service
The same day service is available for urgent business travel. Processing time only starts once a complete application has been received and submitted to the Embassy. Applications submitted on the same day service are currently being released late in the evening of the same day. Direct delivery or airport meet & greet services are available for applicants requiring their passports urgently. All other applications submitted on this service will be despatched from our offices on the next working day.
Applications must be received at VisaExpress before 08.00 hours in order to be processed on the same day service.
Charity and Media Professionals
Visa approvals for applicants working in charity or media related professions will be referred to officials in India. As a result, processing time may extend for up to twelve weeks and additional consular fees may be charged. Applicants with charity or media related professions are usually only issued a three month single entry "J" visa by the High Commission.
Applicants of Pakistani Origin
There are different visa requirements for Applicants of Pakistani origin. For a complete set of requirements return to our Visa Search box and next to the statement "I will be travelling for" select the appropriate visa type with the annotation "(Applicants of Pakistani Origin)"
Former Indian Nationals
Under the Indian law, people of Indian origin, who have acquired foreign nationality, are required to surrender their Indian passport to the High Commission of India before submitting their visa applications. Once this process is complete, a Surrender Certificate will be issued. A copy of the certificate will need to be submitted with the application or, if travelled to India before, a previous passport with India visa(s). In case the applicant does not have the Indian passports in their possession for any reason, they are required to furnish duly notarised affidavit in this regard. A police report is also required if the passport has been declared lost or stolen.
Processing Time
Visa approval for applicants of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Somalia or Sri Lanka origin will be sought from officials in India. Passports will be retained by the Indian High Commission until approval is received. Processing time will be considerably longer and additional consular fees may be charged.
Applicants of Bangladesh, China and Sri Lanka origin are advised to access visa information according to their country of origin as an additional supplementary visa form will be required.
The current processing time is the minimum of eight weeks.
Photo Resizing
VisaExpress can assist the traveller in resizing their passport photos to conform to the India High Commission guidelines. This is offered as a Premium Service and quoted on our rates sheet in the supplementary fees section. This fee is in addition to all other service fees and current VisaExpress handling fees.
In order to facilitate this, please select the photo resizing service when completing your online order.
Photos must be received at VisaExpress before 13.00 hours the day prior to lodging to enable VisaExpress to fulfill this requirement.
Sample of the Tourist Travel Requirements for an India Visa for UK Citizens
Passport
The applicant's actual passport. The passport must:
- Have at least two blank visa pages
- Be valid for at least 180 days beyond exit date
Photographs
Two Indian passport sized colour photographs. The photographs must:
- Measure 5cm x 5cm without including the borders
- Have a white background
- Include the applicant's shoulders
- Be taken within the last six months
- Be identical
Visa Application Form
One fully completed and signed application form. This form must:
-
Be completed online at: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/ihcukredirection.html
- Be printed on two separate pages, forms that are copied back to back are not accepted;
- Be signed in the original on both pages in black ink only
- Request the correct "period of visa" to be issued
- Have section G completed in full
- Have no handwritten corrections/modifications
- Bear a signature that matches the applicant's passport
- Be submitted to the Embassy within 45 calendar days of completion
Alternatively VisaExpress can assist the traveller in completing the online application form as a Premium Service at a cost of £20. In order to facilitate this, please complete the VisaExpress India Form Fill Request which can be found within the VisaExpress Application Pack.
Online application form fill requests must be received at VisaExpress before 14.00 hours in order to have it returned to you that day. Once VisaExpress have completed your online application we will send it to you for your signature. An original signature is required so it is mandatory to return the form to us by post or courier once signed.
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VisaExpress Order Confirmation
For orders placed on the VisaExpress website, a copy of the Online Order Confirmation which is sent to you via email, must be submitted.
For all other orders, and where applicable, a completed Manual Order Form should be submitted.
Please note that all card payments will only be made upon completion of the visa application process.
Applicants of Pakistani Origin
There are different visa requirements for Applicants of Pakistani origin. For a complete set of requirements return to our Visa Search box and next to the statement "I will be travelling for" select the appropriate visa type with the annotation "(Applicants of Pakistani Origin)"
Charity and Media Professionals
Visa approvals for applicants working in charity or media related professions will be referred to officials in India. As a result, processing time may extend for up to twelve weeks and additional consular fees may be charged. Applicants with charity or media related professions are usually only issued a three month single entry "J" visa by the High Commission.
Former Indian Nationals
Under the Indian law, people of Indian origin, who have acquired foreign nationality, are required to surrender their Indian passport to the High Commission of India before submitting their visa applications. Once this process is complete, a Surrender Certificate will be issued. A copy of the certificate will need to be submitted with the application or, if travelled to India before, a previous passport with India visa(s). In case the applicant does not have the Indian passports in their possession for any reason, they are required to furnish duly notarised affidavit in this regard. A police report is also required if the passport has been declared lost or stolen.
Processing Time
Visa approval for applicants of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Somalia or Sri Lanka origin will be sought from officials in India. Passports will be retained by the Indian High Commission until approval is received. Processing time will be considerably longer and additional consular fees may be charged.
Applicants of Bangladesh, China and Sri Lanka origin are advised to access visa information according to their country of origin as an additional supplementary visa form will be required.
The current processing time is the minimum of eight weeks.
Children Under the Age of 16
Applicants under 16 years of age must provide the following additional supporting documents:
- Copy of birth certificate (long version)
- A clear copy of the information page(s) from both parents passports
- A clear copy of any current Indian visa held by either parent
- An original and dated letter of consent signed by both parents which must be addressed to:"The Indian High Commission, India House, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4NA"
- In case of divorce, Child Custody Letter from court
- In case of single parent, Solicitor's Letter and Child Benefit Letter
- Application form must be signed by applicant's parent(s)
Requirements for Selected Professionals
Applicants whose occupation includes Media Related Professionals, Police, Researcher, Lawyer, Armed Forces, Commercial Pilots, Medical Personnel, Teachers, Charity/Social Workers and Priests must:
- Include a copy of a letter of employment from the applicant's UK employer stating purpose of travel
- Include an undertaking letter stating no professional related activities will be undertaken during their stay for applicants who are self employed media related professionals
Applicants with these occupations are usually only issued a three month single entry visa and may be charged additional consular fees.Photo Resizing
VisaExpress can assist the traveller in resizing their passport photos to conform to the India High Commission guidelines. This is offered as a Premium Service and quoted on our rates sheet in the supplementary fees section. This fee is in addition to all other service fees and current VisaExpress handling fees.
In order to facilitate this, please select the photo resizing service when completing your online order.
Photos must be received at VisaExpress before 13.00 hours the day prior to lodging to enable VisaExpress to fulfill this requirement.