INDIAN TOURIST VISA -FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As per the extant instructions of the Government of India, a Tourist
Visa can only be granted to a foreigner who does not have a residence or
occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation,
sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives etc. No other activity is
permissible on a Tourist Visa. The Tourist Visa is non-extendable and
non-convertible.
2. It has come to the notice of the Government that there has been
abuse/misuse of the Tourist Visa. With a view to curb the abuse/misuse of
the Tourist Visa, instructions have been issued by the Government imposing
the following restrictions:-
(a) In respect of foreign nationals holding Tourist Visas with multiple
entry facility, there should be a gap of at least 2 months between
two visits to the country on such a Tourist Visa.
(b) If any foreign national is required to visit the country again within
a period of 2 months of his last departure, such foreign national
should obtain special permission from the Mission/Post
concerned. The Mission/Post may consider such requests on
merits of each case.
3. Frequently asked questions with regard to the above issues and
replies thereto are outlined below for information, guidance and
compliance of all concerned:-
Q.1: Whether the gap of two months between two visits would apply to
all Tourist Visa holders ?
Ans. : The gap of two months between two visits would apply to all Tourist
Visa holders.
Q.2 : Whether the gap of two months between two visits would apply
irrespective of the duration of stay in India during the previous visit?
Ans.: The intention behind the stipulation of a gap of two months between
two visits on a Tourist Visa is to curb the abuse/misuse of the
Tourist Visa. With a view to ensure that the genuine tourists are not
affected by the recent guidelines, the following clarifications are
furnished:
(I) Foreigners holding Tourist Visas, who after initial entry into India
plan to visit another country largely on account of
neighbourhood tourism related travel and re-enter India before
finally exiting, may be permitted two or three entries, as the
case may be (need based), by the Indian Missions/Posts subject
to their submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting
documentation (ticket bookings). If they are already outside of
their country of origin, they can also get such an endorsement
from the nearest Indian Mission/Post.
(II) The Immigration authorities in all the Immigration Check Posts
may also allow such foreign nationals on Tourist Visas arriving in
India without the specific authorization from the Indian
Missions/Posts to make two or three entries into the country
(need based) subject to production of an itinerary and
supporting documentation (ticket bookings).
(III) The total period of stay in the country counted from the date of
first entry into the country shall not exceed the stay stipulation
period of 180 days or 90 days, as the case may be.
(IV) Once such a foreign national finally exits the country after
availing the facility of two or three entries (within the stay
stipulation period of 180 days or 90 days as the case may be),
there should be a gap of at least 2 months before he/she can
come again to the country.
(V) If any foreign national falling in the category as mentioned in
sub-para (IV) above is required to visit India again within a
period of 2 months after his/her last departure, such foreign
national should obtain special permission from the Mission/Post.
Such re-entry within the stipulated gap of two months may be
permitted only in emergent situations like death/serious illness in
the family, non-availability of connecting flights to return to
his/her country of origin or travel to another country or any
other exigent situation which can be duly justified with proper
documentation to the satisfaction of the Mission/ Post granting
the permission. The Mission/Post will have to examine each case
on merits before grant of requisite permission subject to the
following conditions:-
(a) The applicant should furnish an undertaking on the following
lines:-
(i) That the purpose of his/her visit is because of emergency
situation.
(ii) That he is not engaged in Business activities, nor in
Employment or pursuing studies/research etc.
(b) In all such cases i.e. those covered by sub-para V above, the
foreign national should register himself with the FRRO/FRO
concerned within 14 days of arrival. This registration may be
done with the FRRO/FRO concerned preferably at the first place
of entry. An endorsement to this effect will be made on the visa
sticker.
The requisite permission can be granted by the Mission/Post in any
country on merits of each case and subject to the conditions mentioned
above. However, intimation about the grant of permission must be
furnished by the Mission/Post granting such permission to the
Mission/Post from where the original Visa was issued.
VI. In emergent cases involving re-entry of persons of Indian origin on
Tourist Visa within the 2-month period of their earlier departure from
India, the FRROs/FROs may exercise their discretion in allowing such
passengers to enter the country after being convinced of the genuiness
of their visit.
VII. Mission/Post endorsing the requisite permission as explained in sub
paras (I) & (V) above may charge miscellaneous Consular Service fee
for making the requisite endorsement.
Q.3: Whether the permission for the second visit within the period of 2
months in respect of foreign nationals falling in the category mentioned in
sub para (V) in reply to Question (2) can be granted by the Posts?
Ans.: Yes.
Q.4: Whether the Mission/Post in any country can grant permission for the
second visit within the period of 2 months in respect of foreign
nationals falling in the category mentioned in sub para (V) in reply to
Question (2) or whether this can be granted only by the Mission/Post
in the country of origin of the applicant.
Ans.: The requisite permission can be granted by the Mission/Post in any
country on merits of each case and subject to the conditions
mentioned in sub-para (V) in reply to Question (2) above. Intimation
about the grant of permission may be furnished to the Ministry of
Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) and to the Mission/Post from
where the original Visa was issued.
Q.5: Are there any standard guidelines for the Indian Missions/Posts to
decide the requests for re-entry within the stipulated gap of two
months?
Ans.: The re-entry within the stipulated gap of two months, as mentioned
in sub para (V) in reply to Question (2), may be permitted only in
emergent situations like death/serious illness in the family, nonavailability
of connecting flights to return to his/her country of origin
or travel to another country or any other exigent situation which can
be duly justified with proper documentation to the satisfaction of the
Mission/Post granting the permission. The Mission/Post will have to
examine each case on merits before grant of requisite permission.
Q.6: In cases mentioned in sub para (V) in reply to Question 2, where will
the foreigner register himself?
Ans.: The registration should be done with the FRRO/FRO concerned
preferably at the first place of visit on re-entry.
Q.7: If a tourist’s passport is not stamped to indicate no re-entry within
two months, can the tourist assume that he will be allowed to reenter
India within two months?
Ans.: No. Even if the tourist’s passport is not stamped, the restrictions as
laid down will be applicable.
Q.8 Whether the restriction of two months gap for re-entering India is
applicable to PIO/OCI card holders and foreigners holding business,
employment, student and other categories of visa?
Ans.: No. The two months gap is applicable only to Tourist Visa
holders.
Q.9: Whether any fee is required to be charged for making the requisite
endorsement on the Passport.
Ans.: Miscellaneous Consular Service fee may be charged for making an
endorsement.
Q.10 : How will medical tourists who return regularly to India for onward
treatment be handled?
Ans.: For persons coming for medical treatment, there is a separate
category of Medical Visa. Foreign nationals coming for medical
treatment will have to come only on Medical Visa and not on Tourist
Visa.
Q.11: How will the family members of diplomatic households who do not
qualify for diplomatic visas (e.g. older children or domestic partners)
be handled?
Ans.: The family members of diplomatic households who do not qualify for
diplomatic visas may have to come on an ‘Entry(X)’ Visa if eligible. If
they come on Tourist Visa, the restrictions as laid down will be
applicable.
Q.12: How will individuals who come to India to volunteer for various
charity organizations be treated? Many of them travel around the
region while volunteering