As many countries have now opened their borders for travellers from India, owing to the improving Covid-19 situation in the country, people have already started to make their travel plans. A Travel/Tourist visa is given to those visiting from India for purposes related to recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends/relatives etc. and no other purpose. Tourist visa applicants should not have a residence or occupation in Visiting country.

Validity:   

As part of liberalization, simplification and rationalization of visa regime in Countries, Tourist Visas are issued with 5 years duration as a default option with 90 days validity in each visit. However, on the basis of a specific request for requirement of a shorter period, a short validity visa can be issued to the applicant.

Apart from standard requirements, media related professionals, journalists and Armed forces or Police personnel traveling to India on Tourist Visa need to submit any of the below, as the case may be:

1. Letter from the employer stating the purpose of travel; or

2. An undertaking stating that the applicant will not undertake any media related work during his/ her stay in India.

Exceptions:

• Indian national married to Foreign national should apply for Entry (X) visa instead of Tourist visa.

• Spouse or children of an related country card holder should apply for Entry (X) visa instead of Tourist visa.

• Persons who have a residence or occupation in another country should apply for Entry (X) visa.

• Journalists, even when going for tourism, should apply for ‘J’ visa.

Visa applications in advance of arrival give countries a chance to consider the applicant’s circumstances, such as financial security, reason for travel, and details of previous visits to the country. Visitors may also be required to undergo and pass security or health checks upon arrival at the port of entry.

Some visas can be granted on arrival or by prior application at the country’s embassy or consulate, or through a private visa service specialist who is specialized in the issuance of international travel documents. These agencies are authorized by the foreign authority, embassy, or consulate to represent international travellers who are unable or unwilling to travel to the embassy and apply in person. Private visa and passport services collect an additional fee for verifying customer applications, supporting documents, and submitting them to the appropriate authority. If there is no embassy or consulate in one’s home country, then one would have to travel to a third country (or apply by post) and try to get a visa issued there. Alternatively, in such cases visas may be pre-arranged for collection on arrival at the border. The need or absence of need of a visa generally depends on the citizenship of the applicant, the intended duration of the stay, and the activities that the applicant may wish to undertake in the country he visits; these may delineate different formal categories of visas, with different issue conditions.