VISA and other formalities in India.

Entering India by air or land is relatively straightforward, with standard immigration and customs procedures. A frustrating law barring re-entry into India within two months of the previous date of departure has now been done away with (except for citizens of some Asian countries), thus allowing most travelers to combine their India tour with side trips to neighboring countries.

Currency Regulations

Import of Foreign currencies : unlimited. However, amounts exceeding USD 5,000.- (or equivalent) in cash, or USD 10,000.- (or equivalent) in traveller's cheques must be declared;

In importing of Local currency (Indian Rupee-INR): Import of INR, any passenger excluding citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh can carry Indian currency up to  INR 25,000, in India,  without declaration and above that amount need to fill Indian Customs declaration form.
 
any passenger excluding citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh (except in Nepal and Bhutan) can carry Indian currency up to  INR 25,000, out of India

Foreign currencies include currency notes, traveller's cheques, cheques, drafts etc. (Re)exchange only through banks and authorized money exchange points

Passports

To enter India you need a valid passport and an onward/return ticket. You'll also need a visa, which some nationalities can now obtain on arrival. Other nationalities or those wishing to stay more than 30 days need to get their visa beforehand. See the Visa section for details. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in India. If your passport is lost or stolen, immediately contact your country’s representative. Keep photocopies of your airline ticket and the identity and visa pages of your passport in case of emergency. Better yet, scan and email copies to yourself. Check with the Indian embassy in your home country for any special conditions that may exist for your nationality.

Visas

Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Island,Chile, China, China- SAR Hongkong, China- SAR Macau, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand,Nicaragua, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Turks & Caicos Island, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam.  are currently granted a 30-day single-entry visa on arrival (VOA) at 16 designated Airports i.e. Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum & Varanasi. However, the foreigner can take exit from any of the authorized Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) in India.

However, to participate in the scheme, you need to apply online at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), a minimum of four and a maximum of 30 days before you are due to travel. The fee is US$60, and you have to upload a photograph as well as a copy of your passport. Travellers have reported being asked for documentation showing their hotel confirmation at the airport, though this is not specified on the VOA website. The VOA is valid from the date of arrival.

It’s intended that the scheme will be rolled out to 180 nations, including the UK and China, so check online for any updates.

Entry Requirements

Foreign Nationals coming to India are required to possess a genuine and valid national passport or any other internationally recognized travel document establishing his/her nationality and identity and bearing photograph of the foreigner. Nepal and Bhutan nationals if entering India by land or air from the Nepal or Bhutan border respectively do not require a passport for entering into India. However, they are required to possess, authorized identity proof. Further if they are entering India from a place other than their own country then possession of their national passport is a must

Re-entry Requirements

Most tourists are permitted to transit freely between India and its neighbouring countries. However, citizens of China, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sudan, are barred from re-entering India within two months of the date of their previous exit.

Visa Extensions

Requirments for Extension of Visa

Extension requirements for foreign national:

Foreigners must submit application for extension of   residential permit / visa at least 60 days before the date of expiry of respective residential permit/visa .

Over stay:

In the event of overstay foreigner is liable for prosecution under Foreigners Act 1946 and imprisonment up to 5 years with fine & expulsion from India.

Late Renewal of Residential Permit:

A foreigner who has delayed for renewal of RP, on application, if delay is  condoned will be charged a penalty in Indian currency equivalent to US $30/- for late renewal.

Report of absence from Registered Address

If at any time a foreigner proposes to be absent from his / her   registered address for a continuous period of eight weeks or more or change his / her registered address then the foreigner is required to inform in person or through an authorized representative or by registered post to his / her Registration Officer of his / her intention to change his registered address or to leave either temporarily or permanently the jurisdiction of the Registration Officer. In case of return, the foreigner should inform the Registration Officer of the date of return and in case the foreigner is moving away inform the change of address. Any changes made subsequently should also be intimated to the Registration Officer. Every foreigner, who stays for a period of more than eight weeks at any place in any district other than the district in which his / her registered address is situated, shall inform the Registration Officer of that district of his / her presence. This can be made in writing and the requirements deemed to have been fulfilled if, prior to arrival the foreigner furnishes to the Registration Officer of the said district intimating the dates of his proposed arrival and departure from the district

Change in Registered address:

A foreigner shall be deemed to have changed his registered address, if he  changes his residence from one place to another place in India and if having no residence, he leaves his registered  address knowing that he is not likely to return within six months of leaving it.

Reports of other changes except address

Every foreigner is required to furnish to the Registration Officer of the district in which his registered address is situated, particulars of any circumstances affecting in any manner  the accuracy of the particulars recorded in his certificate of registration within fourteen days after the circumstance has occurred, and generally shall provide to the Registration Officer all information as may be  necessary for maintaining the accuracy of the certificate.

Surrender of certificates of registration on departure :

Every foreigner who is about to depart finally from  India shall surrender his certificate of registration either to the Registration Officer of the place where he is  registered or of the place from where he intends to depart or to the Immigration Officer at the Port/Check post of exit at the time of final departure from India. If the certificate is surrendered other than to the Immigration Officer of the port or check post of exit, a receipt indicating such surrender of the document may be obtained and  shown to the Immigration Officer at the time of final departure

Duplicate certificate of registration:

If any certificate of registration, issued under existing Acts / Rules is  lost or destroyed, the foreigner to whom it was issued, shall make or send to the Registration Officer of the district  of his registered address a report of circumstances in which it was so lost or destroyed along with an application in  writing and a copy of police report in order to issue a duplicate copy of the certificate of registration.

Travel Permits

Travel to the seven sister states of North East India by foreigners or Indians can be limited and requires the use of permits in some states. Ethnic issues as well as the sensitive nature and proximity to the borders of China, Bhutan, and Myanmar deems this necessary. A similar permit is needed for travel along the eastern border of Himachal Pradesh and Tibet, 

Arunachal Pradesh

Domestic Indian tourists need an Inner Line Permit or ILP. This is available from any Government of Arunachal Pradesh office or from the Govt. of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi. There is a cost of Rs 100 per permit issued. Domestic tourists may also apply for an Arunachal Pradesh Inner Line Permit online. 

Foreign tourists may visit in a group of two or more persons for a stay not to exceed 30 days. Foreign Tourists intending to visit Arunachal Pradesh require a Protected Area Permit or PAP. Foreign tourists will have to pay $50 USD “Royalty to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh” and application for PAP is advertised to be “applied through local approved tour operators only”. However, foreigners can obtain the Protected Area Permit from, All Indian Missions abroad, All Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRRO) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai, Home Ministry, Govt. of India and Home Commissioner, and Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar. Read complete regulations here. 

Manipur

Domestic Indian tourists: visiting Manipur via Dimapur/Kohima require a Manipur Inner Line Permit to pass through Nagaland, valid for 10 days. These are issue by the Liaision Officers of the Government of Nagaland at New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong and the Sub- divisional officer (Civil), Dimapur and the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal can also issue permits to tourist travelling by road from Imphal to Kohima and Dimapur in Nagaland. 

Foreign tourists: Foreigners are required to register themselves at the local Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the district they visit within 24 hours of their arrival. Citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan and foreign nationals having their origin in these countries require an approval from the Home Ministry to visit Manipur. Additionally, Citizens of Myanmar visiting the state of Manipur beyond 16 kms. from the Indo-Myanmar border would continue to require prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs before visiting the State. 

Mizoram 

Domestic Indian tourists need an Inner Line Permit. The ILP can be obtained Liaison Officer, Government of Mizoram from the following cities: Kolkata, Silchar, Shillong, Guwahati and New Delhi. Government employees travelling for official purposes are exempted from obtaining ILP but are required to carry a photo identification card with them at all times. Addtionally, domestic tourists arriving by flight may obtain a Mizoram Inner Line Permit from the Security Officer on arrival at Lengpui Airport, Aizawl. 

Foreign tourists must register themselves at the office of Superintendent of Police (CID/SB) Mizoram who is the designated Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the State within 24 hours of arrival. Citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan and foreign nationals having their origin in these countries require prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs before entering the state. 

Nagaland 

Domestic Indian tourists:require an Inner Line Permit. This is available from The Deputy Residential Commissioner,Nagaland House in Kolkatta and/or New Delhi, as well as The Deputy Commissioner in Dimapur, Guwahati and Kohima. 

Foreign tourists:must register with the Foreigner’s Registration Officer (FRO) of the District they visit or the nearest Police Station within 24 hours of their arrival.

HISTORY OF INDIAN PASSPORT

source :http://passportindia.gov.in/

1. There was no practice of issuing Indian passports before the First World War. During the War, the Government of India enacted Defence of India Act in 1914 and promulgated rules thereunder, which made it compulsory to possess a passport for egress from and ingress into India. The Act expired six months after the end of the War. It was, however, desired that the Government of India should retain power to continue that system in whole or in part for the purpose of bringing the Indian practice into line with that of other parts of the erstwhile British Empire and of other countries.
2. The Government of India, therefore, enacted the Indian Passports Act, 1920 which substantially retained the earlier provisions. This Act was renamed "The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920".
3. Though 'Emigration' continued as a Central subject even after passing of Government of India Act, 1935, the Central Government delegated to the State Governments the power to issue passports on its behalf. Some of the State Governments viz., Mumbai, C.P. & Berar, Delhi, United Provinces etc., opened regular passport offices for this purpose functioning under their Home Departments.
4. Subsequently, the issue of passports became a Central subject under the Indian Constitution and was allotted to the Ministry of External Affairs. Till 1954, this work was continued to be carried out by the respective State Governments on behalf of this Ministry. It was in 1954 that the first five Regional Passport Offices at Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai and Nagpur were set up. This necessitated the setting up of a separate organization and the Central Passport and Emigration Organization was created in 1959 as a Subordinate Office of this Ministry. The Central Passport Organization (CPO) has sanctioned strength of about 2,697 officers and staff members as on 01-04-2013.
5. Up to 1966, the issue of passports was regulated through administrative instructions. The power to issue passports was exercised by the Government by virtue of Article 73 read with List I, Item 19 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. However, as the Parliament was not in session, the Government promulgated the Passports Ordinance, 1967 and after six months replaced it with the present Passports Act, 1967,which came into force on June 24, 1967.This day is now celebrated as Passport Seva Divas.
6. Under the Passports Act, 1967, the Central Government has the powers to frame rules thereunder. The first such Rules called the Passport Rules, 1967 were thus framed the same year. Following various amendments in course of time, these were consolidated and the Rules were last issued as the Passport Rules 1980 which have been further modified partially.

Types of Indian Passport

What is Passport?

Every Indian who is willing to travel to other country from India is required to hold a valid passport or travel document. Under the Passports Act 1967, the Government of India may issue different types of passports and travel documents.

Types of Passport issued by Govt. of India:

1.      Ordinary / Regular Passport: The ordinary/ regular passport is issued to general citizens of India for ordinary travel purposes such as for doing jobs in other countries, for studies abroad and for business trips. This is a Type “P” passport  where P stands for personal. It has a deep Blue Cover & has 36 pages or 60 pages.

2.      Diplomatic Passport: A diplomatic passport is a passport which is issued to someone who must travel internationally on official duty abroad. Diplomatic passports are classically given to diplomats, consuls, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers when they are posted overseas, and they may be issued to other people within the government as well, depending on the circumstances.Usually applications for Diplomatic & Official passports are entertained only at the Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, Patiala House, New Delhi. But, you can also apply at the Passport Office (regional passport office) attached to your present residential address, if you live in outside the National Capital Region.This is a Type “D” passport  where D stands for Diplomat. It has a Maroon Cover.

3.      Official Passport: An official passport is a passport which is issued to someone who has to travel internationally on official state business (on Government work). These passports are issued mainly to people who should travel, rather than to people who are being assigned or posted outside the country.       This is a Type “S” passport  where S stands for Service. It has a White Cover. 

4.      Emergency Certificate and Certificate of Identity: Requirements for issue of an Emergency Certificate for one-way travel to India in case of non-availability of a valid Passport with the applicant and where a new passport cannot be issued immediately.No passport will ordinarily be issued in such cases. The applicant will be issued an Emergency Certificate after confirmation of his / her personal details and after his / her claim to be an Indian national is fully recognized through documents or by concerned Indian authorities.