Processing Times

Important note
It is strongly advised that applicants do not make any travel arrangements before obtaining an Indian visa. The Embassy of India and VF Services (UK) Limited cannot, in any circumstances, be held responsible for any applications which are not completed in time for your intended date of departure. Kindly note that obtaining a visa is not automatic; your visa application may be accepted, modified or refused by the Embassy of India in its full right.

Factors determining the processing time of your application
The time taken to process a visa application is determined by several factors such as the visa category applied for, nationality of your passport, your origin, personal details relevant to your application but also the number of applications being submitted at the time of your application (visa applications are seasonal and numbers increase and decrease throughout the year depending on tourist activity at the time).

For this reason, the processing times shown below are an indication of the minimum processing times observed by our offices and can vary. It is very often, and perfectly normal, that applications of members of the same family are returned from the Embassy on different days. Furthermore, the Embassy of India reserves the right to keep applications for a longer period than those indicated below, in order to carry out more detailed investigation of the file.

URGENT APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
The urgent application procedure is only possible for the holders of a French passport applying at the urgent counter of the India Visa Application Centre in Paris (timings and conditions to consult on the page In Paris). An application submitted in the morning as part of the urgent applications procedure will be returned from the Embassy of India on the same evening. You will also be required to pay the additional fees of the " Urgent service ".

Please note that the urgent application procedure is not possible if:

• You hold a foreign passport
  
• You hold a travel document
  
• You hold a French passport but are of Sri Lankan, Pakistani, Chinese, Bangladeshi or Afghan origin
  
• You are applying for an Employment visa or a Journalist visa
  

The urgent application procedure is highly recommended to any applicant having a close departure, having already purchased a plane ticket or needing his passport urgently for other travels.

Please Note: The exact time of return of the passports is at the discretion of the Indian Embassy. Urgent applications can be submitted for Entry and Student visas, however the Embassy of India reserves the right to keep the files and not return it on the same day.The Embassy of India has instructed us that the urgent procedure is no longer possible for Journalist visas.

NORMAL APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
The processing times given below are minimum processing times for complete applications submitted at the counter at the India Visa Application Centre in Paris. For other modes of submission, please consult the section below " Variation of processing time according to the mode of submission "

Processing times for French passports submitted at the Visa Application Centre in Paris:

The processing time of a visa application for French passport holders is a minimum of 3 working days (except applicants of Sri Lankan, Pakistani, Chinese, Bangladeshi or Afghan origin).

Please Note: Employment visas require a few more days to process. In some cases, files of Student, Entry and Employment visa application are sent to India for approval. In these cases, processing time is significantly longer and varies on a case by case basis. Under no circumstances should you purchase your travel ticket before obtaining a visa, when applying for these visa categories.

Processing times for foreign passports submitted at the Visa Application Centre in Paris:

Processing time of applications for foreign passports is a minimum of 7 to 10 working days. (except Sri Lanka, China, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan)

Please Note: Reasons for processing times varying considerably from one nationality to another is due to the fact that applications are investigated in relation to your country of origin. For this reason, we can only give approximate processing times. Under no circumstances should you purchase your travel ticket before obtaining a visa.

Processing times for applicants of Sri Lankan, Chinese, Pakistani, Afghan or Bangladeshi nationality/origin who have submitted an application at the Visa Application Centre in Paris:
Processing time for an application made by an applicant of Sri Lankan, Chinese, Pakistani, Afghan or Bangladeshi nationality/origin is a minimum of 3 weeks.

Your visa application is reviewed directly by the Indian Government and not by the Embassy of India in Paris. The response of the Indian Government is compulsory for the visa to be granted. In some special cases, processing can take several months, and it is for this reason that your travel arrangements should always be made after you have obtained your visa. Furthermore, your travel dates will have to be organised according to the validity of the visa granted to you. You must never purchase your travel ticket or plan your travel before obtaining a visa.

Please Note: Processing times can vary greatly amongst members of one family making an application at the same time, since all visa applications are treated individually.

Variation of processing time according to the mode of submission:
The above processing times are those observed for applications submitted at the counter at the Visa Application Centre in Paris. Should you wish to use another mode of submission, you will have to add the following processing time to those given for the Paris Centre:

Application submitted in Marseille: 5 additional working days
Application submitted in Lyon: 5 additional working days
Application sent by post: 10 additional working days
Application submitted at a Drop off Point: 12 additional working days
Application submitted via a visa agency: ask your visa agency