Do You Need a Visa for Andaman & Nicobar? Travel Requirements Explained!

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are perfect tourist destinations for Indian and international travellers. The Islands are popular among the marine life enthusiasts for beaches, wildlife, aquatic creatures, history, and activities like diving and snorkeling. To visit, you need to know about the Andaman and Nicobar visa requirements. While all outsiders need an Indian visa, Indians can visit without restrictions. After all, it is a Union territory of India. The paradise for birds is open to visitors. You can read this blog to understand if you need a visa and if so, what the visa requirements are. You will understand the Andaman and Nicobar visa requirements in detail and learn about eligibility, the application process, fees, and more.

Note- There is no separate Anadaman and Nicobar Islands visa. You have to apply for an Indian visa. That is, you can apply for an Indian E-visa. The visa is valid for travelling to India, including Anadaman and Nicobar (Indian Union territory).

Who Needs a Visa to go to Andaman?

Before understanding the Andaman and Nicobar Island requirements, you need to know whether you need a visa or not. The requirements differ based on your nationality:

1. If you are an Indian national, you do not need a visa. However, you might need permits to enter specific tribal areas.
2. If you are a foreign national, you need an Indian visa, a passport, and a Restricted Area Permit (RAP).

Types of e-visa to Visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands

There are three types of Andaman and Nicobar e-visa/sub-categories of e-visa mentioned below-

1. e-Tourist -The e-tourist visa is the primary visa you need as a tourist. You need this visa for casual visits, -sightseeing, and short-term yoga programs. 
2. e-Business -This visa is given for short-term business activities like attending a meeting.
3. e-Medical visa-You can get this visa for any specific medical treatment that you want to get done.
4. Other medical visas- You can also apply for an e-medical attendant visa (if you are a medical attendant), e-Ayush Visa (to get medical treatment, e-Ayush medical attendant visa (for medical attendants), or e-Emergency X-Misc Visa (for emergencies)
5. E-student visa- If you want to study in India or the Andaman Nicobar Islands for a short period.
6. e-Student Dependent Visa– Those who are dependents of the student can apply to stay for the short term.

Validity of e-visa

Here we will get to know about the Andaman and Nicobar validity time period for e-visa. The e-visa will be granted for a period of up to 60 days with double entry on an e-Tourist visa and e-Business visa and triple entry on an e-Medicine visa. Only in the case of a Medical visa extension can be granted for 6 months on a case-to-case basis on the merits of each case by the FRO.

E-Visa Type	Validity
e-Tourist Visa	30 days, 1 year, or 5 years (with double entries or multiple entries)
e-Business Visa	1 year (multiple entries permitted)
e-Medical Visa	60 days (triple entries are permitted)
E-student visa	One year (365 Days) from the date of grant of ETA. (4 entries)
Other e- medical visas	Sixty days (60 days) from the date of entry. (triple entries permitted)

Also, read about a comprehensive guide to 8 common visas

Eligibility Criteria for the Andaman and Nicobar e-Visa

The Anadaman and Nicobar requirements (in terms of eligibility criteria) is as follows:

1. Hold a passport that is valid for at least 6 months 
2. Must have sufficient funds to cover your expenses
3. Must have a return ticket to your home country 
4. Come from one of the 166 eligible countries
5. Must not be of Pakistani origin or hold a Pakistani passport

To apply for e-tourist and e-business visas, a four-day window before the arrival should be kept.

Documents Required for an Indian e-Visa

The Anadaman and Nicobar visa requirements (documents) are provided below. Note- The exact documentation requirements can vary depending on the visa type.

1. A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of stay
2. Your passport copies 
3. Recent passport-size photographs (JPEG, 10 KB-1 MB)
4. Return tickets to your home country 
5. Proof that you have enough money to cover your expenses for the duration of your stay
6. Yellow fever certificate (if you are from a country that is exposed to yellow fever)

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Additional Documents You Require Based on the E-Visa Type

To meet the Anadaman and Nicobar visa requirements, submit additional documents. The additional documents you need based on the E-visa you are applying for are provided below:

E-Visa Type	Additional Documents Required
e-Tourist Visa	Submit additional documents if requested by a consular officer
E-confrence visa	Invitation from the conference organi, and Ministry of External Affairs issued political, and clearence. You also need to submit event clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs
e-Medical Visa	Letter from the Ayush treatment center or emergency travel justification
Letter from a hospital declaring the medical treatment	Letter from the Ayush treatment center, or emergency travel justification
e-Student Visa	Admission letter from a recongised university in Anadaman and Nicobar Islands or the Indian mainland
e-Student Dependent Visa	Submit proof of Proof of relationship with the student.

Step-by-Step Visa Application Process

To apply for an Andaman and Nicobar visa, as we know earlier in this article, we have to apply for an Indian visa after fulfilling the Andaman and Nicobar visa requirements, and for that, detailed steps are mentioned below for your convenience.

1. To apply for an e-visa, you have to visit the indianvisaonline.gov.in website.
2. Choose the e- visa you want to apply for
3. Fill out the provided visa application form
4. Apply for the e-visa by submitting all documents.  You can get a sample of the e-visa application there.
5. You can pay the fees for the visa using your debit or credit card or payment wallet 
6. Get the e-visa via email. You will get this within 3-5 business days
7. Print out the e-visa and carry it with you for immigration clearance 

Andaman and Nicobar Visa Fees

Another main Andaman and Nicobar visa requirement is to pay the visa fees. The visa fees payable are provided below:

Particulars	Fees
30-day e-Tourist Visa	USD 10-USD 25
One-year e-Tourist Visa:	USD 40
Five-year e-Tourist Visa	USD 80

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Andaman and Nicobar Visa Processing Time

Once the Andaman and Nicobar visa requirements are met and you have submitted your visa application, your visa application is processed. The application processing times are as follows:

Particulars	Processing Time
E-Visa	24 to 72 hours.

Note: It is best to apply at least 4 days early to get your visa on time.

Cost Of Living In Andaman and Nicobar

Before visiting anywhere, people always give priority to checking their budget to get an idea. Here is the cost of some basic amenities in Andaman and Nicobar per month in INR. 

Amenities	Cost
Food	5000INR-7000INR
Transportation	2000INR-3000INR
Rent	3000INR-500INR
In Total	15,000INR-20,000INR

What is a Restricted Area Permit (RAP)?

A Resticted Area Permit (RAP) is a document you need to visit protected or restricted areas in a country. Foreigners typically require an RAP to enter specific areas within the Anadamand and Nicobar Islands. Access to restricted areas are controlled by the government.

Restricted Area Permit (RAP) Entry Formalities & Other Details 

Andaman and Nicobar visa requirements include getting the RAP. Therefore, we have provided the RAP entry formalities below:

1. You can get this if you arrive at Port Blair (ship or flight)
2. It is valid for 30 days and is extendable for 15 more days. However, you need to get permission from the Superintendent of Police of Port Blair. You can also get it at Foreigners Registration Offices in the main cities like Delhi or Mumbai.
3. You can also get it from the Immigration Authorities at Mumbai, Chennai, and other main cities.
4. You need to show your passport at the immigration counters for verification purposes.
5. Approximately 30 Islands are exempted from this requirement. For example. East Island, Smith Island, and North Andaman.

5 Tips for Visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

These are some tips that will be useful if you are planning to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

1. Due to bad weather, the ferries can get cancelled. Therefore, you need to know this to plan your hotel stay.
2. Book the ferry with a gap of 1.5-2 hours  after landing 
3. There is a poor internet connection. Therefore, ensure you have at least INR 10,000-15,000 in cash to avoid transaction troubles.
4. BSNL and Airtel are the popular mobile network providers in the region. You will not get connectivity if you get a sim from any other region.
5. Ensure you have all the documents with you like your RAP, passport, and driver’s license.

To learn more about travelling to Anadaman and Nicobar Islands, watch this video:

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