Passport and visa regulations

Nationalities

	Passport required	visa required	Return ticket required
Switzerland	Yes	Yes, 1	no
Other EU countries	Yes	Yes, 1	no
Turkey	Yes	Yes	no
Austria	Yes	Yes, 1	no
Germany	Yes	Yes, 1	no

Passport information

Generally required, must be valid for at least 6 months after the visa expires and contain at least two blank pages. Note: It is highly recommended to double check with Indian consulates regarding passport requirements in person.

Note on the passport

Since the entry regulations often change at short notice, it is strongly recommended to contact an Indian consular representation in good time. Special permits from the embassy or the Indian government are required for travel to some parts of the country. The status of these Protected Areas and Restricted Areas can change at short notice. Restrictions currently apply to the states or union territories of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram as well as to the Andaman and Laccadive archipelagos. Further information is available from the embassies or the tourist office (see contact addresses). When entering the country, it is important to ensure that that passports are stamped correctly by the border authorities. Without an entry stamp, there are considerable difficulties when leaving the country. Delays of several days due to obtaining an exit permit from the FRO and Ministry of Home Affairs (only in Delhi) are the norm.

Visa information

A visa is generally required for nationals of the following countries listed in the table above, among others: EU countries, Switzerland and Turkey. e-Tourist Visa and e-Business [1] E.g. Citizens of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and all EU countries must apply for an e-tourist visa at least 4 days before the planned entry. The e-Visa entitles you to stay up to 30 days and for a single entry (extension not possible) for tourist travel purposes or for visits or for a stay of up to 180 days for business travelers (multiple entries). To apply for an e-Visa, one must complete an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) application online at indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html at least 4 days before traveling to India. However, there is no guarantee of entry.

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Note on the visa

Again and again, travelers are deported because the Indian authorities consider their activities in India to be incompatible with tourist visa status. It is recommended to apply for visas specific to the occasion, e.g. conference visas or business/employment/entry(X) visas for volunteer work.

Costs

Germany: The following fees apply to Germans. Tourist visa: €87 consular fee (valid for up to 1 year, single and multiple entry) + processing fee of the consular provider. Business visa: €103 consular fee (up to 1 year, multiple entries) + consular provider processing fee; Work visa: €103 consular fee (valid for up to 6 months, multiple entries); €170 consular fee (up to 1 year, multiple entries, only available with an employment contract from the destination country.); e-Business Visa: US$ 80 Student Visa: €70 consular fee (1-5 years, multiple entries) Transit Visa: €20 consular fee (valid for 14 days, stay of 72 hours). In addition to the visa fees, there is a €3 processing fee and the consular provider fee. e-Tourist Visa (single entry, max 30 days stay): free e-Tourist Visa (double entry): US$25 from July to March plus credit card fees; US$10 from April to June plus credit card fees. The additional fee for visas for Restricted or Protected Areas is €29. If the application is submitted via Indo German Consultancy Services Ltd. in Frankfurt or Hamburg, there is a processing fee of €17.70 in Frankfurt am Main and €16.95 in Hamburg in addition to the visa fees. Austria: The following fees apply to Austrians. Tourist visa: €84 consular fee (valid for up to 12 months, multiple entries); Business visa: €100 consular fee (up to 1 year, multiple entries); €208 consular fee (up to 5 years, multiple entries). Work visa: €100 consular fee (valid for up to 6 months, multiple entries); €167 consular fee (up to 1 year, multiple entries. Only available with an employment contract from the destination country.); €250 consular fee (up to 5 years, multiple entries). e-Business Visa: 80 US$ Student Visa: 67 € consular fee (1-5 years, multiple entries). Transit visa: €17 consular fee (valid for 15 days, stay of 72 hours). In addition to the visa fees, there is a €3 processing fee and the consular provider fee. The company BLS International Visa Services Austria, which is responsible for issuing visas in Austria, charges a processing fee of €6.80. e-Tourist Visa (single entry, max. 30 days stay): free e-Tourist Visa (double entry): US$25 from July to March plus credit card fees; US$10 from April to June plus credit card fees. Switzerland: The following fees apply to Swiss. Tourist visa: 93 CHF consular fee (valid for up to 12 months, multiple entries). Business visa: €111 consular fee (valid for up to 1 year, multiple entries); €231 consular fee (valid for up to 5 years, multiple entries). Work visa: 111 CHF consular fee (valid for up to 1 year, multiple entries. Only available with an employment contract from the target country.); 277 CHF consular fee (valid for up to 5 years, multiple entries). e-Business Visa: US$80. Student visa: 74 CHF consular fee (1-5 years, multiple entries). Transit visa: 19 CHF consular fee (valid for 15 days, stay of 72 hours). The embassy’s processing fee of CHF 3 is added to the visa fees. There are additional processing fees of CHF 9.70 at the Visa Application Center – VFS Global in Bern. e-Tourist Visa (single entry, max 30 days stay): free e-Tourist Visa (double entry): US$25 from July to March plus credit card fees; US$10 from April to June plus credit card fees. 70 CHF at the Visa Application Center – VFS Global in Bern. e-Tourist Visa (single entry, max 30 days stay): free e-Tourist Visa (double entry): US$25 from July to March plus credit card fees; US$10 from April to June plus credit card fees. 70 CHF at the Visa Application Center – VFS Global in Bern. e-Tourist Visa (single entry, max 30 days stay): free e-Tourist Visa (double entry): US$25 from July to March plus credit card fees; US$10 from April to June plus credit card fees.

Visa types and costs

Transit, tourist, business, work, student, conference, entry and journalist visas, e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) etc. for Germans can be applied for. There is also the e-Business Visa and the e-Medical Visa, among others. Attention: Business Visa: For all business travelers who are sent to India by their German company. Work visas: For all other business trip reasons if an Indian employment contract is in place, as well as for fitters and technicians who are sent to India by their German company. The required visa category for technicians and fitters has recently changed several times at short notice. Contacting the embassy is strongly recommended. The correct visa category is not only important when applying for a visa, but also when entering the country and during your stay. Anyone who wants to enter India or is already staying there and does not have the appropriate visa category for the purpose of the trip must expect to be rejected or expelled.

Validity

A visa is valid from the date of issue until the end of the period specified on the visa. Normally, the validity is six months (tourist and business visa) up to five years. Transit visa: 14 or 15 days from date of issue for stays of up to 72 hours. e-Tourist visa: valid for 365 days from date of issue. Eligible for a maximum stay of 90 days from entry. It is issued no more than three times per calendar year. e-Tourist Visa (e-Tv): multiple entry e-Business Visa: multiple entry, valid for 365 days, stay up to 180 days e-Medical Visa: triple entry Note: Those who exceed the validity period of the visa are subject to prison terms and several years Calculate entry bans.

Transit

Travelers who otherwise require a visa and who are traveling on with the first connecting flight within 24 hours, have valid documents for the onward journey and do not leave the transit area do not require a transit visa. It is strongly recommended that you have this regulation confirmed by the responsible consular representation in each individual case (see contact addresses). Germany: At the responsible Indian consular representation or with a consular provider: Indo-German Consultancy Services Ltd. Visa applications are currently being rejected due to incompleteness and even up to three months are blocked for a new application. Complete and detailed completion of the online application is therefore essential. Contacting the consular representation is recommended. e-Tourist Visa online application at least 4 days prior to departure at indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html. A recent passport photo and relevant passport pages must be uploaded when applying online and visa fees must be paid online. The ETA is sent to the applicant via email. The ETA must be presented upon entry.

Application required

(a) 1 online application form ( https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/). (b) 2 recent color passport photos (5.1 x 5.1 cm). The image background must be white, just a light image background is not enough. (c) Passport that is valid for at least 6 months (for business trips: 12 months) and contains two blank pages. (d) Visa fee (postal order, cash only at the counter or bank transfer) and the processing fee of €3. (e) For postal application: €5.50 stamped and addressed return envelope (registered mail). (f) If applicable, residence permit for Germany, Austria or Switzerland, which proves that the applicant has been resident in the respective country for at least 24 months or, if applicable, completed additional form. Tourist visa: (a) – (f) and (g) booking confirmation for a return or onward ticket (Swiss nationals also need a copy of the booking confirmation for the outbound flight). Business Visa: (a) – (f) and (h) Letter of assignment from the company stating the reason and purpose of the trip and details of all the places to be visited and confirmation of the assumption of costs. (i) Invitation letter from the Indian company with full details of traveler’s name, purpose and length of stay and CIN (Corporate Identity Number). The content of the letter of secondment and the letter of invitation must match. (j) Extract from the commercial register of the inviting company. (k) Credentials and Qualifications. Attention: For a work visa (employment visa) additional documents (e.g a curriculum vitae and a letter of undertaking are required. In addition, all documents must be translated into English and the exact address of the place of work must be included in the official invitation. Especially for technicians and fitters, the visa category has recently changed several times at short notice. Anyone planning a business trip should definitely inquire about the correct visa category and the documents to be submitted. Student Visa: (a) – (f) and (j) Confirmation of enrollment from school or university in India. (k) Proof of Sufficient Funds. e-Tourist Visa (a) ETA delivered via email after online application. (b) digital, recent, square, borderless photo with light or white background (minimum 10 KB, maximum 1 MB), (People who wear glasses must remove their glasses for the photo). (c) Passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon entry. (d) Scan of the pages of the passport with personal data and passport photo in pdf format (e) Return flight ticket or onward flight ticket. (f) sufficient funds for the stay. (g) Paying the visa fee when applying online. A special permit is required for restricted areas (see note). Note: When applying for a visa at the Indian Consulate General in Munich, all previously issued visas for India must be presented in the original or as a copy. If the passports containing these old visas have been destroyed, the applicant must declare this in writing. In individual cases, confirmation from the local registration office that the passport had been confiscated and destroyed was required. Application Note: There are strict rules on how to formally submit the application. It must not be creased, must be in an envelope or plastic sleeve and the individual pages must not be stapled together. Passport photos, the only acceptable format of which is 5 x 5 cm, may only be attached to the application with a paper clip. The applicant’s signature under the passport photo must fit exactly in the text box provided. Applications that do not meet these conditions are likely to be rejected. Note on foreign applicants: Turkish (and other non-German) applicants must add the following declaration to their visa application by hand: “I am aware that

Processing time

In general, the processing time for visas varies depending on the application location and should be inquired about in individual cases. The following periods apply, but cannot be guaranteed: Personally: I. d. R. 3-5 days. Same-day processing possible in Berlin, but not in Switzerland. 1-2 working days in Austria. Sameday or express processing in Hamburg is currently not possible. Express processing is currently not possible in Munich. Postal (each plus post): Germany: Approx. 5 working days from receipt of the fees (Frankfurt: 7-10 days, Munich: 6 days). Austria: 10-12 working days. Switzerland: 5-7 working days (tourist visa up to 6 months) or at least 7-10 working days (tourist visa up to 1 year). Business and work visas: in Frankfurt currently at least 5 days, in Munich currently at least 10 days, in Hamburg up to 2 weeks. Long-term visas can take several weeks to months to process. The processing time for foreign applicants is i. Generally longer than for German, Austrian or Swiss applicants. For example, people of Pakistani origin (even if they have a Swiss, German or Austrian passport) must allow for a longer period of time for obtaining a visa when entering India for the first time. It takes at least 45 days as the documents need to be sent to Delhi for verification. e-Visa The e-Visa can be applied for at least 4 days and at most 120 days before departure.

Legally Required Registration

All foreign nationals who intend to stay in India for more than 6 months or, subject to conditions, regardless of the planned length of stay, must register online with the responsible District Foreigners Registration Officer / Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) within 14 days of entering India register: www.boi.gov.in/content/online-registration.

Extension of stay

An extension of the validity of the tourist visa in India itself by the competent local Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) only takes place in justified exceptional cases, such as serious illness at the holiday destination, etc.

Entry with children

German: Machine-readable children’s passport or your own passport with at least two free pages. Austrians: Own passport with at least two blank pages. Swiss: Own passport with at least two free pages. Turks: Own passport with at least two blank pages. Note: It is strongly recommended to check with the relevant consular post regarding the rules on the recognition of children’s identity documents. The same visa regulations apply to the children as to their parents. Note: Unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 must have a declaration of consent and a copy of both parents’ passports. minors, traveling with only one parent require the declaration of consent and a copy of the passport of the other parent. Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.

Entry with pets

For pets (max. 2 animals per passenger) a health certificate (date of issue max. 1 week before departure) and a rabies vaccination certificate from the country of origin are required. For pets, a “No Objection Certificate” must also be obtained from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Services at least 2 weeks before departure. Pets will be vet checked upon arrival, which must be notified in advance.