Passports: All travellers to India must possess a valid passport. Except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan, who need identification papers. It is advisable to carry your passport on your person all the while in India for identification requirements.

Visas: All foreign tourists to India, except nationals of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, must possess a valid visa. Visas are not issued on arrival. The cost of the visa is US$40 for up to six months, US$ 65 for up to one year and US$ 130 for more than one year and up to five years. Contact the Indian embassy or consulate in your country for issuing of visas. A tourist visa is valid for three to six months.

Tourist visas allow multiple entry to simplify visits to neighbouring countries. You will be required to fill in a disembarkation card on your way to India, which will have to be submitted at the immigration counter at the entry airport.

Collective Visas: Foreign tourists travelling in groups of not less than four, under a recognised travel agent can be granted tourist visas without prior reference, or even granted collective visas for tourism to India. In such cases the following procedure may be adopted:
(i) The agency sponsoring the group should furnish four copies of a list containing the full name, address, date and place of birth and passport particulars of each member of the group to the Indian Mission in the country from which the tour starts, at least three days prior to the date of departure
(ii) after necessary checks, the Mission will stamp a collective visa and it will not be necessary to stamp each individual passport. Three copies of the list will be returned to the sponsoring agency
(iii) the person in charge of the tourist group will hand over two copies of the list to the immigration authority at the point of arrival in India
(iv) the agents in India will also have to furnish a list of the members of the group at least four hours before the arrival of the flight, to the immigration authority. This will facilitate an advance check of the additions before arrival of the flight;
(v) in cases where the tourist group splits into smaller groups for travel to different parts within India, the immigration authority would grant a collective Ôlicence to travelÕ listing the particulars of the members of the smaller groups.

Transit Visas: Transit visas are granted by Indian Missions abroad for a maximum period of 15 days.

Exemption from Registration: Foreigners coming to India on tourist visas for 180 days or a shorter period are not required to register themselves with any authority. They can move about freely in the country, except to restricted/protected areas and prohibited places.

Nationals of Bangladesh are exempt from registration for up to six months. If their stay exceeds six months, they have to register themselves. Family passports issued by other governments are recognised without discrimination.

Landing Permit Facility (for group tourists): Foreign tourists in groups of four or more arriving by air or sea, sponsored by recognised Indian travel agencies and with a pre-drawn itinerary, may be granted a collective landing permit for a specified period of time on the written request of the travel agencies. The Immigration Officer must have full personal and passport details of the group members, the itinerary, an undertaking to conduct the group as per their itinerary and an assurance that no individual will be allowed to drop out from the group at any place. However, such landing permits do not entitle Israeli group tourists to visit the state of J&K unless they are specifically cleared by the MHA.

Tourist Groups: A tourist group arriving by air, ship or by a chartered or scheduled flight may be granted a collective landing permit for up to 30 days by the immigration authorities on landing, provided the group is sponsored by a recognised travel agency and a pre-drawn itinerary is presented along with details of passports, etc. of the members and the travel agency gives an undertaking to conduct the group together.

Extension of Visa: As a rule, no extension of stay is granted on a tourist visa. Tourist visas are available for a maximum period of 180 days. No charges are levied for visa extension within the maximum period of 180 days. Identical passport photographs are required.

However, in the case of an extension beyond 180 days, which is allowed only in exceptional cases, an extension fee which varies from country to country is charged. In case a foreign tourist has obtained extension beyond three months of stay in India, he will have to surrender his Certificate of Registration and Residential Permit before leaving India.

For the extension of your tourist visa in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai, contact:

• The FRRO in any of the cities mentioned above.

• In state capitals and district headquarters, submit your application to:

• The Home Department in the state capital or as applicable.

• The Police Commissioner's Office.

• The Senior Superintendent of Police.

Other Types of Visas: If a foreigner wishes to come for a purpose other than tourism, he should obtain an appropriate visa from the following:

• Business Visa: A foreigner can obtain one from an Indian embassy abroad. A multiple-entry business visa is valid for five years, provided he wants to come for business. Foreigners of Indian origin can obtain a five-year multiple- entry visa for business, to meet their relatives, etc.

• Student Visa: This can be obtained from the Indian Embassy on the production of proof of admission and means of sustenance while in India. The visa is valid for one year but can be extended in India for the duration of the course. The visa will be valid for the duration of the course or five years, whichever is less.

• Foreigners wanting to study yoga, music, Vedic culture, dance, etc, are required to apply well in advance with all necessary particulars. Indian embassies may grant visas for up to a period of five years.

• Conference Visa: Delegates coming to attend international conferences in India can be granted Conference Visas to cover the conference as well as for tourism purposes. Delegates are advised to apply to the Indian embassies well in advance.

• Foreigners wishing to undertake trekking, etc, in a team, may be granted visas for the required duration on presentation of full details.

• Sports teams or individual sportsmen wishing to participate in international sports events being held in India may be granted visas.

• Foreign journalists, mediapersons, documentary and feature filmmakers may obtain necessary visas after due formalities from the Indian Embassy.

• Employment Visa: Foreigners wanting to come to India for employment should apply for an Employment Visa issued by Indian missions. Initially granted for one year, it can be extended in India up to the period of contract.

If you face a problem at Immigration, contact the Assistant Commissioner of Police at the Airport Immigration Office.

Special Permits
Some areas in India - usually border districts - are out of bounds for normal travellers due to political and security reasons. However, some of these are extremely beautiful and fascinating places, their remoteness lending them a special quality, and special permits may be procured if you wish to visit these.

Permits are usually provided to groups and for a limited number of days. There is no extra charge for acquiring the permits and they may be obtained from the Indian missions abroad or governmental agencies within India. (Please see the pages of the concerned state in the Travel Planner for details of Restricted Areas and Permits.)

Customs on Arrival
There are two customs clearance channels. The green channel is for travellers carrying non-dutiable items while the red channel is for travellers carrying dutiable items.

• Duty-free items: Duty-free items which you may bring to India include personal effects, like clothing and other articles but not if this is a commercial merchandise. All expensive electronic equipment must be declared at the Customs on arrival - which will be re-checked on departure. Take care to obtain an Export Certificate for these items if you are travelling to neighbouring countries and intend a multiple entry.

You cannot bring in gold coins, gold or silver bullion into the country. Possession of narcotics is strictly prohibited. Weapons brought into the country should be licensed; declare them at Customs. Any cash or travellers's cheques over US$10,000 or the equivalent must be declared. You must carry back with you personal effects not used during your stay.

Mishandled / Lost Baggage
If your baggage is mishandled or lost in transit, obtain a certificate to this effect from the airline and have it countersigned by the Customs, indicating specifically how much of your duty-free allowance is unutilised.

Customs Enquiry/Complaints:
Assistant Collector of Customs at the international airport, or Commissioner of Customs
New Customs House near IGI Airport
New Delhi 110 037
Tel: 25652990;
E-mail: cusdel@excise.nic.in

Customs on Departure
Prohibited items of export:

• Gold jewellery valued at above Rs. 6,000.

• Animal skins or skin products

• Antiques (over 100 years old). For verification, contact Archaeological Survey of India, Janpath, New Delhi tel: 23019446 or ASI offices in other states.

• Wild plants, seeds or parts.

Visitors leaving India within six months are exempt from Income Tax clearance procedures, but do keep your foreign currency encashment certificates handy in case of enquiry.

A Foreign Travel Tax must be paid by tourists: Rs. 150 for departures to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives, and Rs. 500 for all other countries.

Foreigners' Regional Registration Offices
New Delhi
Level II, East, Block VIII,
R.K.Puram, Sector 1, New Delhi
Tel: 011-26102622

Mumbai
Annex II, 3rd Floor,
Crawford Market, Mumbai-400 001
Tel: 22621169; Fax: 22620721

Kolkata
Office of Deputy Commissioner of Police,
Security Control, 237,
Acharya Jagdish Chander Bose Road, Kolkata-700 020
Tel: 22470549; Fax: 22470549, 2262049

Chennai
Shastri Bhawan Annex, No. 26, Haddows Road,
Nungambakkam, Chennai-600 006
Tel: 28232642; Fax: 28240338.

Amritsar
Additional Deputy Director,
Bureau of Immigration, Block 3,
Ranjit Avenue, Amritsar
Tel: 2580250.