Foreign nationals desirous of coming into India are required to possess valid passports of their country and a valid Indian visa. Those arriving in India without a visa bearing the correct validity dates and number entries are subject to immediate deportation on a return flight. The US Embassy and Consulates in India are unable to assist when US citizens arrive without visas.

There is no provision of Visa on Arrival in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before they start their journey to India. Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan do not require a visa to enter India, and nationals of Maldives do not require a visa to enter India for a period up to 90 days (a separate visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders). If a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan enters India without a passport from any country other than Nepal or Bhutan, entry into India will be refused. Nepal and Bhutan require a passport to enter India if coming from countries other than Nepal and Bhutan respectively. Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens are exempt from the requirement of passports if entering India from Nepal or Bhutan, respectively only.

However, there is a provision granting TLF (Temporary Landing Facility) or TLP (Temporary Landing Permit) to allow entry of foreigners arriving in emergent situations like death/serious illness in the family without an Indian visa on cash payment of US$40/- (Indian Rupee equivalent, i.e. Rs. 1600/-). This facility can also be extended to transiting foreigners who have confirmed onward journey tickets within 72 hours. Apart from this, foreign tourists in groups of four or more arriving by air or sea, sponsored by recognized Indian travel agencies and with a pre-drawn itinerary, can be granted a collective landing permit for a specified period of time. This is only on the written request of the travel agencies to the immigration officer giving full personal and passport details of the group members, as well as intent to conduct the group as per the itinerary, with assurance that no individual is allowed to leave the group at any destination. The above-mentioned provisions of TLF/TLP, however, are not available to the nationals of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Algeria.

Depending on the purpose of stay in India, there are different visa categories.

Persons of Indian origin, their spouses and children may have several additional options in lieu of an India visa:
PIO Card
OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India)
PIO vs OCI - Comparison

Of course, such persons can still get Indian visas if they so desire.

In addition to getting an Indian visa (or PIO or OCI as applicable), foreigners are required to get a  Protected/Restricted Area Permit if they are planning to visit any of the protected/restricted areas.

Effective October 1, 2007, Indian Embassy and Consulates in the USA have outsourced the visa collection and delivery processing to Travisa Outsourcing Inc.

Please note that this outsourcing is only for the visa processing. Indian Embassy and Consulates still handle the following themselves:

• Emergency visa cases from applicants of Indian origin on extreme compassionate ground.
• Diplomatic/Official/Laissez-Passers passport holders.
• OCI Card.
• PIO Card.
• Indian Passport Services.

Anyone who applied directly with Indian Embassy/Consulate after October 1, 2007, should check directly with the given Embassy/Consulate, as Travisa Outsourcing has no information regarding such cases.

Transfer of a valid Indian visa to a new passport is handled by Travisa. When applying, make sure to specify that you are applying for a Transfer of Visa.

Visa applications must be made at the appropriate Travisa location, depending upon your state of residence.

Visas are granted on Saturdays and Indian National Holidays to persons of Indian origin between 11:00AM and 1:00PM in case of a genuine emergency, such as death or illness of a blood relation, and are subject to proof and confirmed air tickets. No other services are available on Sundays and Consulate holidays. The decision of the Consular Officer will be final in this matter.