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All foreign nationals require a visa to enter the Indian territory. However, Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals are excluded from visa requirements, unless they are entering India through China. It means UK citizens or any other foreign national must apply for an Indian visa. Indian visas are granted for tourism, business, employment, educational, and even medical purposes. Keep reading to learn about the Visa for India from the UK: entry requirements, risks, visa types, application process, application processing time, and more.
This Blog Includes:
Types of Visa for India from UK
There are different types of Indian visas. Depending on the purpose of the travel UK citizens can apply for the visa.
| Visa Type | Purpose |
| Indian tourist visa | Tourism purposes |
| Business visa | For business purposes |
| Employment visa | Travelling to India for employment purposes |
| Urgent Business visa (suspended temporarily) | For urgent business travel |
| Student visa | For educational purposes |
| Conference visa | For attending a conference in India |
| Medical visa | For getting treatment at a medical institution in India |
| Journalist Visa | For journalism purposes |
| Transit Visa | For travelling through India to reach the destination |
| Medical Escort Visa | For those accompanying a patient travelling to India |
Visa for India from UK: Entry Requirements
Foreigners wanting to travel to India must meet the Indian entry requirements. These are as follows:
- Must have a passport with a validity of 6 months. Moreover, 2 pages of the passport must be blank.
- It is important to apply for the right type of visa for travel. A wrong visa can result in deportation or refusal of entry.
- Must meet the requirements of a visa or an e-visa (depending on the visa applying for)
- Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders do not require a visa to enter India. They must have an OCI card and passport to enter India.
- Vaccinations for polio and yellow fever must be done 8 weeks before the trip, and the vaccination certificate for the same must be submitted
- Satellite phones and listening devices are not allowed in India. Similarly, taking money to India is not allowed. Moreover, those who are bringing money to the country must declare any amount above 5000 US dollars/10,000 US dollars in notes
Also Read: UK Visa Requirements for Indians
Indian Visa Document Requirements
The document requirements for an Indian visa can vary depending on the visa type. Therefore, we have provided the documents required for a specific visa type.
| Indian Visa Type | Documents Required |
| Tourist Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa |
| Business Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa, etc |
| Employment Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa, Employment Visa Undertaking, copy of an employment contract, copy of the Registration papers, etc |
| Student Visa/Research Visa | Letter of admission from a recognized Indian educational institution with duration of the course, Receipt of the fee paid to the school/college, a Bonafide letter from the school/college, a Document showing financial support for the tuition fee and stay in India |
| Entry Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa, Copy of Surrender Certificate, and Copy of the Cancelled Indian Passport, |
| Conference Visa | A copy of the signed Letter of Invitation for the Conference from the organizer in India, a copy of event clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Administrative approval of the Nodal Ministry GOI, Political clearance, etc |
| Journalist Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa. Journalist visa undertaking, employer’s letter stating the purpose of travel, etc |
| Transit Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa, evidence of onward and return travel to India, |
| Medical Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa, and relevant letters signed and stamped by the hospital concerned in India |
| Medical Escort Visa | Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days, Two recent photographs, application form, and photocopy of the previous visa, Relevant letters signed and stamped by the hospital concerned in India as well as UK.Indian Hospital Registration certificate, etc |
Visa for India from UK: Fees
The cost of a visa for India from UK is £3 Consular Surcharge and VFS Visa Application Service charge-£11.57. The visa application fees can be paid either by Cash, Debit/ Credit Card, Postal Order or Bank Draft. The visa application fees is the same for all types of visas.
Also Read: Visa-Free Countries For India In 2023
Visa for India from UK: Processing Time
The processing time for the visa for India from UK can vary on the basis of the nationality of the applicant. The visa application processing time is as follows:
| Nationality | Minimum Visa Application Processing Time |
| Non-UK passport holders residing in the UK for less than 2 years | 6-8 working days |
| Origin of Pakistan or Pakistani Nationals | 7-8 week |
| Sri Lanka, China, Bangladesh, Afghanistan | 15 working days |
| Regular cases | 3 to 5 working days. |
Visa for India from UK: Application Process
The step-by-step application process for a visa for India from the UK is as follows:
- Identify visa type, learn about the documents, and fees required for the visa application
- Complete an online form operated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
- Book an appointment at the visa application center.
- Pay the required amount of fees.
- Visit a visa application center, and lastly track the status of the application
Watch the video below to learn about E tourist visa application process
Visa Extension
A visa extension is not possible if you have applied for an E-visa (visitor). Only other types of visas can be extended. That too, only in exceptional circumstances. For example, in case of a theft of a passport, or any medical emergencies. To apply for a visa extension you can visit the offical website of the government. You must provide a valid reason for the visa extension. For example, a police report, a letter from a hospital. After you have applied for a visa extension you will be called for an in-person interview. The interview will be conducted at the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Delhi. In case a fee is charged you must pay the same.
FAQs
Visa for India from UK: Risks of Travel
The following are some of the risks of traveling to India. Before applying for visa for India from UK, it is important to be aware of the risks.
- Terrorism
- Political situations like strikes
- Crime- Scams, Drink, and food spiking, etc
Also Read: Know all About Australia Visa Before Applying
To apply for a visa to India from the UK it is important to fill out an online application form. The form is provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The visa fee for a 6-month short visa is INR 10,299/. However, the visa fees for 2 years Long Term UK Visa INR 34,649/-. Similarly, the visa fee would vary depending on the duration of stay.
Due to a political dispute between India and Britian regarding access to Britian for Indian visitors, the eVisa has been banned. The decision was made during the Covid times.
The minimum processing time for UK passport holders applying for a short visa is between 10-15 days.
We hope you now understand what a Visa for India from UK is, its requirements, the application process, etc. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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