The Indian immigration services have created four new visa categories hat can be applied for online: a transit visa, a visa for mountaineers, a visa for film or television crews, and a visa for travellers of Indian origin. The total amount of electronic visas for India is now thirteen.
e-Transit visa
The first of these new types of visas is the e-Transit visa. It is intended for travellers making a stop over in India. Please note that, in many cases, you can make a stop over in India without a visa. Travellers who do not leave the airport transit area and therefore do not have to go through passport control upon arrival in India may enter the country without a visa. However, in certain cases, travellers must leave the airport transit area, for example if they need to collect their luggage and check in again for their connecting flight.
Travellers who are in this situation can apply for an e-transit visa before their stopover. The e-transit is a double entry visa, and is valid for 30 days. Because this visa allows to travel twice to India, travellers can use it for a stopover during their return flight. On the e-Transit visa application form, travellers must provide information about the destination they are travelling from India. If the final destination requires a visa, travellers will need to provide their visa details. Besides a passport scan and a digital photograph, you must also submit a confirmation of your connecting flight tickets.
e-Mountaineering visa
The second variant of the electronic visa, introduced recently, is intended for those who are going mountaineering or trekking in India. The electronic visa for mountaineering is valid for six months from the date of approval. It is a single entry visa, that is, it allows entry into the country only once.
In addition to general travel and passport details, travellers must also indicate the name of the mountain they intend to climb. The mountain must be included in the list of eligible peaks, which includes more than 300 in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand. In addition to a passport photo and a digital copy of their passport, travellers must attach a letter of approval from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.
e-Film visa
The e-Film visa is intended for individuals participating in Indian films, series, or television programmes. This e-visa is valid for one year and permits an unlimited number of stays in India. To obtain this type of visa, travellers must submit a letter of authorisation to the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as well as a statement of intent with the following information: the shooting schedule, data about the cast and crew, the shooting location and a list of the film equipment to be brought.
e-Entry visa
Finally, the immigration services have also created a new e-visa for travellers of Indian origin who do not have an OCI card (< i>Overseas Citizen of India), or the children or spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders. The e-visa for India allows for an unlimited number of entries into the country and a maximum stay in India of 3 months. Applicants must submit a passport copy of the spouse or parent with Indian nationality or an OCI card. They must also submit a copy of their birth or marriage certificate.
Electronic visa for tourist and business travel
Travellers visiting India for holidays or business or to visit family or friends can apply for an e-Tourist visa or a e-Business visa. Both visas can be easily applied for through e-Visa.ie. On this website, you will find an application form additional explanations for each section. In addition, you can contact a team of visa specialists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, who can answer any questions you may have about the visa. Generally, the visa is approved within 7 days and then sent by email.