Indian Business Visa Requirements for US Citizens:
A valid passport and visa are required to travel to this destination.
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Passport Requirements: Original, signed passport valid for 6 months from day of application, and with at least two blank visa pages for Indian visa stamps. Amendment pages are not acceptable for visa stamps.
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Indian Visa Application Form:
One signed India visa application form plus one copy. Only on-line Indian visa application forms are accepted. Once the application form has been printed, no corrections can be made. The new online Indian visa application form requires a signature on both pages. The applicant must sign under the photo on the first page, and at the bottom of the second page. Improperly completed India visa application forms will delay the processing of your visa. We recommend that you complete your Global Service Order Form before you complete the Indian Visa Application Form; it is important to select the same type of visa and number of months on both forms.
Please read the New India Visa Application Guide before you begin the online visa application form. 3
Photo Requirements: Two recent 2 x 2 passport type photographs, in color, front view and with a plain/white background. Glasses should not be worn in these photos; photos should not be stapled to the application.
OR - you can upload a passport photo to the Global Service Order Form when you place your order, instead of providing physical passport photos.
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Other Forms: Proof of Residential Address: Clear photocopy of applicant's proof of residence/address that matches the present address on the visa application exactly. Photocopy of state issued ID (Driver License or ID), major utility bill (Water, Gas, Electric, Sewage) or a copy of a valid/current lease containing both the landlord and tenant signatures must be submitted. Do not cut your driver’s license copy down to a smaller size. Please leave the copy on regular sized paper.
For Flight Attendants or Pilots: Pilots and Crew members of all Chartered, Private jets, Cargo, Demonstration and Trainers Flights are in the category of Unscheduled Airlines and are treated as Reference cases, needing prior clearance from competent authorities in India. The minimum time required for processing such Visa applications is five (5) weeks. No Visa will be issued without the mandatory clearance. The following additional forms are required:
1) The landing permit issued to the airline or cargo operator by the DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation) in India
2) A Copy of A999 (Air Operators Certificate) issued by the FAA
3) A copy of ICAO issued by the FAA
4) A Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Government of India to the company's India office
When completing an application for a flight crew business visa the specific job title must be on the application "crew member" is not an acceptable occupation. Please specifically designate Pilot or Flight Attendant in occupation.
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Letter Of Invitation from India: A letter of invitation on company letterhead from sponsor (either host company or individual) explaining the relationship to the applicant and the purpose of travel. In addition, the letter must indicate the length of stay, place of stay, and contact information. The invitation should also confirm the validity of visa applied for (1 Year, 5 Year or 10 Year).
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Business Letter:
Letter from employer or sponsoring company in the United States, on company letterhead, introducing the applicant, indicating the applicant's employment status/position held in the company, and clearly stating the purpose of visit to India. Detailed contact information for the organizations to be visited must be included. The business letter must also state the validity of visa applied for (1 Year, 5 Year or 10 Year) and indicate who will be financially responsible for the applicant. For 5 year or 10 year requests, the letter must explain the need for future trips planned. Please Note:10 Year validity is not currently being granted in New York.
To generate an Indian Business Cover Letter on-line, fill out this
Business Letter Form and print the completed letter on your company letterhead.
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Other Requirements: Spouse and dependent family members accompanying the Business Visa applicant must apply for an Entry Visa (not Tourist Visa), for the same period.
To attend a conference/seminar/workshop being organized in India by a private company, a 3 month single entry business visa may be issued. To attend a conference/seminar/workshop being organized in India by any organization owned and controlled by the Government of India or State Government, UN or its specialized agencies and reputed NGOs, see conference visa requirements.
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Special Instructions: For Applicants of Indian Origin: There are additional procedures and visa requirements for applicants of Indian origin. Please carefully review the
requirements for applicants of Indian origin and include all necessary documents and fees with the visa application.
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Global Service Order Form: This is Travisa's service order form, where you will provide your contact and shipping information, choose the visa processing needed and make your payment. You must print the completed form and send it to Travisa with all other supporting documents.
India Visa Validity: Visas are usually granted for 1 year. Visas may be issued for 5 or 10 years at the discretion of the consulate. 10 year visas are not issued in New York.
Important: Travelers must leave India on or before the expiration of their visa. Travelers who remain in India beyond the validity of their visa could face detention and significant penalties. If your intended length of stay in India exceeds the validity of your existing visa, you must apply for a new visa.
How to read your
Indian Visa.
Indian Visa Processing Time: Visa processing time varies in different locations, depending on the state of residence of the applicant (see jurisdiction list below). Please visit our Consular Fee chart for estimated processing time in each location.
In order to ensure that visa applications for most embassies/consulates are submitted on the day that we receive them, they should be shipped to us via FedEx Priority Overnight (not First Overnight or Standard Overnight).
Non-refundable tickets or reservations should not be purchased until all visas and passports are secured and in your possession.