Frequently Asked Questions

General questions
What is a visa?
Can I get my visa at the airport on arrival in India?
I would like to travel to India with an animal - does an animal require a visa?
My child is endorsed on my passport – does he need a visa?

Questions regarding visa types and their specificities
I need an exemption from the 2-month gap rule on tourist visas, how can I apply for it?
I have bought a one-way ticket to India - which visa do I require?
I am moving to India for work, will my children be able to study there?

Questions regarding your visa application
Must I pay the service charges and the consular fees separately?
Can I claim a refund of my visa fees?
How do I cancel my visa application and get my passport returned to me?
Can I call you to know if my visa was granted?
Can I collect my passport directly at the Embassy of India?
I am holding a foreign passport and need to travel shortly to India; can I apply through the urgent procedure?

Specific requests
I wish to visit one of the following regions: Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland…
Can I transfer my visa from my old passport to a new passport?
My passport is damaged - may I still apply for a visa?
I am travelling to India in a few months - can the validity of my visa begin on my departure date if I apply today?

What is a visa?
A visa is an authorisation delivered by a government representative of a country, permitting a non resident of that country to pass its borders. It is therefore a permission agreed by the country to where you wish to travel, and is under no circumstances a right that can be claimed.

Can I get my visa at the airport on arrival in India?
No. You need to have a valid visa before arriving in India. Immigration in India will not allow anyone not holding a valid visa to enter Indian Territory.

I would like to travel to India with an animal - does an animal require a visa?
A visa is not required to take an animal to India. However there are customs and vaccination rules to respect. Please consult your travel agent or the Indian Tourist Board in order to obtain the relevant information.

My child is endorsed on my passport – does he need a visa?
If your child is over 15, he must present his own passport and submit his own visa application. If your child is under 15 and is endorsed on a parent’s passport, the child may travel with the parent in certain conditions. The concerned parent must make a request for it when submitting their visa application: question 9 of the visa application form must be filled in with the full details of each child wishing to travel (may be filled by hand if necessary), a photo of each child must be glued on the parent’s visa application form and the additional documents for minors must be supplied (kindly refer to the check-lists as per your visa category on the page Visa Categories). If your request is accepted, the number of children allowed to travel will be written on the parent’s visa. The child will not be able to travel alone and must be accompanied by the parent holding his visa.

I need an exemption from the 2-month gap rule on tourist visas, how can I apply for it?
According to new immigration regulations, there must be a 2-month gap between 2 visits made to India on a tourist visa. An exemption from this rule can be applied for, however, it will be granted, or not, at the discretion of the Embassy.

* If you haven’t applied for your visa yet, and need an exemption on account of neighbouring tourism (visiting Nepal etc…), you can apply for it when submitting your visa application to VFS only if you can provide documentary evidence of your trip (i.e. travel tickets, letter from a tour operator) . Please refer to the checklist for Tourist visas in our “visa categories” section.

*If you are about to apply for a visa and intend to return to India before two months, you can apply for a re-entry permit at Consular Wing of the Embassy of India when you return from your first trip (see procedure below)

*In all other cases you will need to apply for an authorisation for re-entry directly at the Consular Wing of the Embassy of India in Paris after obtaining your visa.This is also valid if you already are in possession of a Tourist visa.

Address of the Consular Wing of the Embassy of India:
20-22, rue Albéric Magnard, 75016 Paris
Submission of application:
* In person at the Consulate: fee: 25€, to be paid by cash. Processing time: minimum of 2 working days (Please check with the Embassy directly for exact processing times)
* By post: fee: 31€ to be paid by certified cheque addressed to “Embassy of India, Paris”. Processing time: minimum of 5 working days (Please check with the Embassy directly for exact processing times). Include a self-addressed Chronopost envelope for your passport to be sent back.
Documents required:
* Passport
* Hand written letter in English giving reasons for re-entry request + the Undertaking for re-entry requests (to be downloaded below)+ documentary evidence if available 

Print the undertaking for re-entry requests to be submitted at the Embassy of India

This information may be changed without notice by the Embassy of India.

I have bought a one-way ticket to India - which visa do I require?
The object of your travel determines the type of visa required, and not your travel ticket. Furthermore, we do not advise applicants to make any travel arrangements before obtaining a visa.

I am moving to India for work, will my children be able to study there?
If you have been granted an Employment Visa, your family will be required to apply for an Entry Visa in order to come and settle down in India with you. This visa allows your children to enrol in school.

Must I pay the service charges and the consular fees separately?
No. Your complete payment must be given to VF Services (UK) Limited via a single mode of payment. You are allowed to provide a single payment for multiple visa applications should you wish to do so.

Can I claim a refund of my visa fees?
No. The payment of the visa fees allows you to submit a visa application. This application may then be accepted, modified or refused by the Embassy of India in its full right. The fees are strictly non-refundable even in the case of a visa refusal or a cancellation of your application.

How do I cancel my visa application and get my passport returned to me?
You must complete the visa application cancellation form (available on the page Additional Forms) and submit it to the Visa Application Centre in Paris (in person or by post). As soon as your request is received by our services, your request will be forwarded to the Embassy of India. You passport will be available as soon as the Embassy of India returns it to us. It usually takes about 48h for your passport to become available.

Can I call you to know if my visa was granted?
You passport is returned to us by the Embassy of India in a sealed envelope. You may contact us to know whether your passport is ready; however, we are not aware of the decision taken by the Embassy of India regarding the granting or the refusal of your visa.

Can I collect my passport directly at the Embassy of India?
No. The Indian Consulate is not open to the public for matters relating to visas. All visa-related matters must go through one of the India Visa Application Centres who will forward your requests to the Embassy of India if need be.

I am holding a foreign passport and need to travel shortly to India; can I apply through the urgent procedure?
No, you cannot apply through the urgent (same day) procedure. On a case by case basis and in exceptional circumstances (family emergency and urgent business meetings only), and for certain nationalities only, the processing times may be reduced to about 4 working days for applications submitted at the counter in Paris. Please enquire directly at the Visa Application Center.

I wish to visit one of the following regions: Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland…
Certain regions of India are protected and a normal tourist visa will not allow you access to these regions. When submitting your visa application you may request a special authorisation to visit the region of Sikkim for a maximum of 15 days. To stay there longer, or to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland, you will require an RAP/PAP (Restricted/Protected Area Permit). This permit must be requested directly in India at the FRO (Foreigner's Registration Office in New Delhi) or the FRRO (Foreigner's Regional Registration Office).

Can I transfer my visa from my old passport to a new passport?
Yes, under certain conditions. The transfer of a visa from an old passport to a new passport is only possible for people of Indian origin having an Entry visa with a validity of 5 years. Furthermore, your visa must have been granted by the Indian Consulate in Paris (cf. the official stamp on your visa). You must then submit the following documents: new passport, old passport, 1 visa application form with 2 photographs and your payment of 20 € (14 € service charge and 6 € consular fees). The processing time is is the same as that of a tourist visa. Do note that your payment allows you to deposit a transfer request. The latter can be accepted, refused or modified by the Embassy of India in its full right.

My passport is damaged; may I still apply for a visa?
No. Your passport must be in perfect condition: the cover must not be damaged, the photo should not be detached, the passport pages must be firmly bound and must not be torn. The Embassy of India will refuse your visa application if your passport is damaged and the fees paid will be lost. Furthermore, having a valid visa does not guarantee your access to the Indian Territory: this decision is taken by the customs officer at the border. People arriving in India with a damaged passport could be refused entry on Indian Territory and sent back to France. It is your responsibility to maintain your passport in good condition: neither the Embassy of India, nor VF Services (UK) Limited could be held liable for any inconvenience caused by the use of a damaged passport.

I am travelling to India in a few months; can the validity of my visa begin on my departure date if I apply today?
No. The validity of a visa begins on the date it is issued by the Embassy of India.