General Requirement

1. Original passport valid for at least 6 months
U.S. Passport or passport of any other nationality must have at least 6 months remaining validity and with at least two blank pages from the day of entry into the country for which VISA has been applied for Six-month multiple-entry tourist visas (valid from the date of issue) are granted to nationals of most countries regardless of how long you intend to stay.

2. Correct visa fee
Visas are priced in the local currency and vary for different nationals. The nationals are advised to contact the embassy to check the cost.

3. Two passport size photographs (5 photographs in case of Pakistani Nationals).

4. Supporting documents, where necessary.

5. Duly completed application form (Pakistani and Bangladeshi Nationals need to apply on special application forms).

Additional Requirement for different types of Visa

Tourist Visa
Tourists wishing to visit India will normally be granted tourist Visa, effective from the date of issue. Tourist Visa are non-extendible and non-convertible. Travel Agents who have to visit India frequently may be granted tourist Visa for a longer duration.

Business Visa
Business Visa are normally granted for 3 or 6 months. However, multiple-entry Business Visa for up to 2 years validity may be granted to technicians/experts going to India in pursuance of bilateral agreements or joint venture projects having government approval.

Student and Employment Visa
Student Visa can be obtained on furnishing proof of admission to recognized Universities/Institutions in India. Employment Visa can also be obtained on furnishing of proof of employment with companies in India.

Transit Visa
Transit Visa are valid for halts of up to 72 hours in India within 15 days from the date of issue of the visa and must be obtained before departure. Transit Visa cannot be obtained from immigration counters at ports of entry in India. Evidence of onward travel to a destination outside India is required.

Entry Visa
Entry Visa are issued to persons of Indian origin for a duration of up to 5 years. These can be obtained, depending on the purpose of visit and eligibility, on a case by case basis.

Transit Visa
Transit Visa is valid for halts of up to 72 hours in India within 15 days from the date of issue of the visa and must be obtained before departure. Transit Visa cannot be obtained from immigration counters at ports of entry in India. Evidence of onward travel to a destination outside India is required.

For more information, please visit the site http://passport.gov.in

*** Please note: Any holder of a Tourist Visa who wishes to re-visit must wait at least two months before re-entering. This time will be factored into the total duration of your visa (usually either 90 or 180 days). For Tourist Visa holders who wish to visit India within 2 months of their last visit, an application for a Permit to re-enter India is necessary.

• The letter must highlight the urgency of the visit and the purpose of the visit must be for recreation/sight- seeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives/others (to be specified).
• They may not be engaged in Business Activities/Employment or pursuing studies/research, etc.

Application can be made for a more flexible arrangement through nearest Indian Mission/Post. See the FAQ section of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs website for more information.

Persons holding long term Visa (having validity exceeding 6 months) are normally not expected to stay in India more than 6 months during each visit. Please refer to the boxed note further down for requirement to register with the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO)/Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).  5 year and 10 year visas are available only to US citizens under a bilateral arrangement.

• All non-US passport holders are only eligible for up to a Six (6) month Tourist visa.
• There are additional restrictions on travellers from Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as certain Eastern European, African and Central Asian countries. Check any special conditions for your nationality with the Indian embassy in your country.
• Here is a useful link that does a quick check to let you know if you need a visa at all. It can be used for all countries http://www.visatoindia.com/  .
• Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. The High Commission reserves the right on granting and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees tendered at the time of making application.

• Fourteen-day visa extensions are possible at the discretion of the Ministry of Home Affairs (011-23385748; 26 Jaisalmer House, Man Singh Rd, Delhi; inquiries 9-11am Mon-Fri).
• In case of a need to request an extension, you should contact the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO; 011-26195530; frrodelhi@hotmail.com ; Level 2, East Block 8, Sector 1, Rama Krishna Puram, Delhi; 9.30am-1.30pm & 2-3pm Mon-Fri), just around the corner from the Hyatt Regency hotel. This is also the place to come for a replacement visa if you've had your lost/stolen passport replaced (required before you can leave the country).
• The FRRO is permitted to issue an extension of 14 days, free for nationals of all countries except Japan (Rs 390), Sri Lanka (Rs 135 to 405, depending on the number of entries), Russia (Rs 1860) and Romania (Rs 500). You must bring your confirmed air ticket, one passport photo and a photocopy of your passport (information and visa pages).
• Extended visas (up to five years) are possible for people of Indian descent (excluding those in Pakistan and Bangladesh) who hold a non-Indian passport and live abroad. Contact your embassy for more details.

Location of Embassies/ Consulates

This section provides a list of all the Foreign Embassies and Consulates in West Bengal. You can also access their addresses and contact details. The section will surely prove to be a boon for those planning to visit West Bengal.