Complete Guide to Understanding Indian Transit Visa
Indian visas are required for most foreigners, regardless of the length of their stay or the purpose of their visit.Whether it is for visiting India for any specific purpose or even passing through India for transit, majority of travellers will need an Indian visa, en route to another destination.
Indian visas are required for most foreigners, regardless of the length of their stay or the purpose of their visit. Bhutan and Nepal are the only countries that can enter India visa-free, for an unlimited period.
Whether it is for visiting India for any specific purpose or even passing through India for transit majority of travellers will need an Indian visa, en route to another destination. Nonetheless, it also depends on how long the traveller will spend their time in India and whether they plan to leave the Transit area of the Airport or not.
Keeping in mind the above-mentioned factors, many travellers from certain nationalities are required to apply for an Indian transit visa in advance either from an embassy or consulate. Nevertheless, most foreign passport holders can now apply for an Indian transit visa online using a simple online application.
You require India e-Tourist Visa (eVisa India or Indian Visa Online to witness the amazing places and experiences as a foreign tourist in India. Alternatively, you could be visiting India on an India e-Business Visa and want to do some recreation and sightseeing in India. The Indian Immigration Authority encourages visitors to India to apply for Indian Visa Online (India e-Visa) rather than visiting Indian Consulate or Indian Embassy.
Do you need a Visa for Transit in India?
As per the Indian visa requirements, to transit through India, all non-visa-exempt travellers must obtain a visa if they will be at an Indian airport for more than 24 hours, or if they intend to leave the airport Transit area.
Owing to this, India transit visas are required for connecting flights with a wait time exceeding 24 hours, based on the scheduled arrival and departure times.
It is possible that the traveller will need to leave the airport Transit Area even though they have a connecting flight within 24 hours of their arrival in India for one reason or another.
For instance, the Indian transit visa may be required to fulfil the following purposes:
- To clear immigration procedure
- For the purpose of re-checking luggage for a connecting flight, or
- To stay in a hotel outside the transit area, as per the traveller’s wish.
In such circumstances, obtaining an Indian transit visa in advance through the online Indian visa application is essential.
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The culture, natural charm and untouched regions of Nagaland located on the northeast side of the country would make this place appear to you as one of the most welcoming states in the country. Learn more at Travel Guide to Nagaland, India.
Can I Transit through India without a Visa?
To be safe apply for 30 days Tourist Visa.
Note: Travellers entering India by the sea do not have the requirement of obtaining an Indian transit visa for India, provided they remain on board their ship while it is docked at an Indian port.
Alternatively, travellers who already possess a valid visa for India, such as an approved business visa or medical visa, are not required to obtain an Indian transit visa if they are passing through India for a period of more than 24 hours. The reason for this is that the Indian visa types are usually multiple-entry visas that allow the holders to enter India multiple times within the visa validity.
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If you are a US Citizen planning to visit India, getting an eVisa is the easiest way to fasten your visa application process. Learn more at India Visa Application Process for US Citizens.
How long does it take to get a Transit Visa from India?
Travellers eligible to apply for the Indian transit visa online, can fill up and complete the online visa application form within a few minutes. The application form requires applicants to fill in their basic passport, personal, and travel information.
While completing and filling out the travellers are required to mandatorily specify the type of Indian visa required. In this case, however, travellers must specify that they require an Indian transit visa.
Furthermore, to submit and process the Indian visa online application form, applicants are also required to provide their expected date of arrival and intended port of entry to India and pay the visa fee using their valid debit or credit card.
After submission, the visa application for the Indian transit visa takes around 4 days to be approved. Applicants must make sure to submit their online visa application form at least 4 days before their intended date of entry to India to permit sufficient processing time for the visa.
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Applying for a 5-year Indian Tourist Visa is easy since the government also provides the facility of an e-tourist visa for 5 years. Through this, foreign nationals who wish to visit India can apply for a visa without actually visiting an Embassy. Learn more at 5 years Indian Tourist Visa.
What happens after the Indian Transit Visa has been approved?
After the Indian transit visa gets approved, it gets sent to the applicant’s email address provided in their online visa application form.
The traveller should then print a copy of the transit visa and carry the hard copy along with themselves while travelling to present it alongside their passport at border control in India.
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With the Indian Medical Attendant visa, or what is known as the e-Medical Attendant visa, the holder can visit India to accompany a patient who wants to get medical treatment in the country. Learn more at What is the Medical Attendant eVisa to visit India?
What is the validity of the Indian Transit Visa?
The validity of an approved Indian transit visa, available as either a single or multiple entry visa, is 15 days from the date of the visa issuance.
The Indian transit visa allows the holders a maximum stay of 3 days in India and is valid only for direct transit.
Note: Applicants who wish to stay in India for longer than 3 days must apply for a different type of Indian visa that is relevant to the purpose of their visit to India. This can be an Indian tourist visa, a business visa and more.
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The culture, natural charm and untouched regions of Nagaland located on the northeast side of the country would make this place appear to you as one of the most welcoming states in the country. Learn more at Travel Guide to Nagaland, India.
Citizens of many countries including United States, France, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Italy are eligible for India e-Visa(Indian Visa Online). You can apply for the Indian e-Visa Online Application right here.
Should you have any doubts or require assistance for your trip to India or India e-Visa,contact Indian Visa Help Desk for support and guidance.