The Fabulous World of Visas - India

Hello peeps!

Second installment of the serie.
 
Remember how border crossing in the Maldives was easy peasy?Well, let me introduce to visa procedure, Indian style!


All the official info is available here: http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

If you have a passport from Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand or Singapore then lucky you little bugger - no need for advance procedure, you can get a 30 days visa with single entry on arrival in Delhi and Mumbai ONLY.
 
The rest of us will need to get a tourist visa before entering the country. Usually a 3 to 6 months visa with single, double or multiple entries, no extension possible.

You will need for the application:

• Passport valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages.
• 2 recent 50*50 size photographs. Check they are the correct size!
• The online application form with signed declaration.
• For the double entry visa you will also need to submit a tentative travel itinerary

That's only the start.

If you are like me a non UK passport holder you will also need the following:  

- If you have been in the UK more than 2yrs, you will need to provide:

•  A stamp of indefinite stay OR
• A utility bill for the current month and for at least 2yrs back. Only landline phone, gas, electricity, water, council tax and tenancy agreement are accepted - no bank statements and no mix and match of the utility bills.

- If you have been in the UK for less than two years there is a form to fill in and processing time will be minimum 10-15 working days in this case.

The application form is filled in online, then you print it with all the forms and document check lists required. Make sure everything is signed where needs to be.

Either post everything including your passport to the Hayes mission or book an appointment and drop the paperwork at your local application centre. The appointment time is issued when you do the online application but can be modified after.

It takes about 1wk to process the application. You can choose the delivery option for your passport when you do the online application.

Happy days :)