chennai tourist visa

Here's how to get a visa to visit India

Dec 20, 2023 • 6 min read

From applying for an e-Visa to extending your stay, here's what you need to know about entry requirements for India © beavera / Getty Images

With its dense tapestry of cultures and landscapes, India feels like dozens of countries rolled into one, but a single visa will cover you for travel across more than 3 million sq km (more than a million sq miles) of territory, taking in everything from steamy jungles to the high passes of the Himalayas.

Every Indian state is as large and diverse as a nation, so take your time navigating this enormous and fascinating country. The good news is that visas are easy to obtain and allow plenty of time for exploring.

Here’s everything you need to know about visa requirements for India, from the application process for e-Visas to overland travel and extending your stay.

You'll probably need a visa to go to India

Almost everyone needs a visa to visit India , but for most nationalities, tourist visas are easy to obtain online or through your local Indian embassy or consulate. Citizens of 166 countries – including most nations in the EU and EEA, the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand, and many countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America – can apply for an e-Visa before traveling via a simple online form .

Applying online is a fairly painless process, and it will save you hours compared to applying in person at an embassy or through a visa agency (in countries where Indian embassies no longer issue visas directly). Tourist e-Visas are available with a validity of 30 days, one year or five years, with the one- and five-year visas allowing for multiple entries for a maximum stay of 180 days on each visit.

For one- and five-year tourist visas, applications are accepted up to 120 days in advance of travel. The 30-day visa allows two entries into India, which is handy if you’re planning a side trip to Nepal , and you can apply up to 30 days in advance of travel. All e-Visas take at least 72 hours to process, so be sure to apply in plenty of time (at least 4 days in advance is recommended).

Applying online is the most hassle-free way to obtain a visa

The Indian government’s online e-Visa portal can be used to apply for tourist visas, business visas, and visas for medical treatment and attending conferences. The cost and duration of the visa vary depending on your nationality, and you may need to show proof of return travel arrangements and sufficient funds to support yourself during your trip.

Rules for non-tourist visas can be complex. Business travelers usually need to provide letters of introduction from Indian companies and organizations that they plan to meet. Assuming you meet the requirements, business visas are usually valid for multiple entries over the space of one year.

Working for an Indian company is more complicated. You’ll need an employment visa and a work permit, and most people need a firm job offer and assistance from an Indian employer to complete the paperwork. As with all visa requirements, the situation is subject to change; contact your local Indian embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.

Applying for a tourist e-Visa is fairly straightforward

To apply for an Indian e-Visa, visit the government’s official e-Visa portal . You’ll need to upload a digital passport-style photo and copies of your passport ID pages, and pay the visa fee, which varies depending on your nationality.

Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry, and you’ll need two spare pages for the visa, which will be physically stamped into your passport on arrival. Assuming your application is accepted – which is the case for most applicants – you’ll receive a digital Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which you should print out and carry with you when you travel, so you can present it to the immigration authorities on arrival. 

Enter India via air or sea on your e-Visa

E-Visas allow entry to India through 25 designated airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Bengaluru (Bangalore), Hyderabad, Kochi (Cochin), Goa, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy (Tiruchirappalli), Varanasi, Kozhikode (Calicut), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Pune, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Chandigarh and Visakhapatnam.

They’re also valid for entry via the designated seaports at Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, New Mangalore and Mormugao (in Goa).

Apply for a visa before you travel to enter India overland

If you plan to enter India overland – for example, from Nepal or Pakistan – you’ll need a visa stamped into your passport before you leave home, which you’ll need to obtain from the Indian embassy or consulate in your home country, or through an approved visa application office.

If you plan to visit India and Nepal on the same trip, get a multiple-entry visa – it used to be possible to arrange a new Indian tourist visa through the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu , but the authorities may now insist on a two-month gap before issuing a new visa.

There’s no need to worry about applying for a visa for Nepal in advance – they’re available on arrival at border crossings (bring passport photos and US dollars to pay the fee).

If you can't apply for an e-Visa, get one in person in advance

Contact your local embassy or consulate to check the application process in your country; the Indian Ministry of External Affairs maintains a list of diplomatic missions online. It’s best to apply for a visa in your home country – obtaining an Indian visa from an embassy in another country can be tortuously slow, assuming it’s possible at all. Fees and the permitted duration of stay will vary depending on your nationality.

As an alternative to applying through an Indian embassy or consulate, you may be able to apply for a visa through a visa agency – however, this tends to be more expensive than applying directly. In practice, many of these agencies just collect together applications and then send over a staff member to the embassy to apply in person.

Student visas are available to those on full-time courses in India

Student visas are reserved for people enrolled in approved full-time educational courses in India (which can include training courses in yoga, meditation, and traditional Indian art forms). Student visas are valid for up to five years, depending on the length of the course, but the rules are strict, and you’ll need documentation from the institution where you are studying to apply. The Ministry of Home Affairs provides some information online, but contact your local Indian embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date requirements.

Extending your stay in India is for exceptional circumstances only

E-Visas cannot be extended, but other types of visas can, though only in exceptional circumstances, such as medical emergencies or theft of your passport. To apply, you’ll need to use the government’s special online portal , providing evidence of a valid reason for extending your stay in India (e.g., a letter from the hospital where you are being treated or a police report).

You may then be called in for an in-person interview at the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Delhi. If there is a fee, it will be made clear during the application process.

Some border areas in India require additional travel permits

Under a system carried over from British colonial rule, special permits (known as “protected area permits” or “restricted area permits”) are required to visit many areas close to India’s disputed external borders with China , Pakistan and other territories – a zone known as the “inner line.” Applying for these permits outside India is tricky, but you can apply locally in India without too much difficulty.

Permits are especially important for highly sensitive border areas (which tend to be off-limits to all travelers). Applications can be made through local government offices or local travel agencies; contact the state government offices for these regions to get the latest information. In some areas, you may need to register with the local Foreigners Regional Registration Office on arrival, but this is an easy process.

This article was first published Mar 12, 2022 and updated Dec 20, 2023.

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SINGAPORE TOURIST VISA

Singapore tourist visa required documents.

Original Passport (with Old Passport) Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Singapore)

2 Photo with white background 80% face coverage semi mate finish (3.5 x 4.5 cm)

Personal Covering Letter(Address to, The Visa Officer, Singapore Consulate, Chennai)

Last Three months bank statement

Last there months’ pays lip(if Working)

Leave approval letter/NOC from Employer

Company ID Card copy

• Ticket copy

Hotel Confirmation

Processing Time: 3-5 Working Days After submission

SINGAPORE BUSINESS VISA REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Original Passport (with Old Passport) Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Singapore

Personal Covering Letter With letter head(Address to, The Visa Officer, Singapore Consulate, Chennai)

Last Three months Company bank statement

Last year Company IT Return

Company GST/Registration copy

Invitation letter from invitee

Ticket Copy

MALAYSIAN TOURIST VISA

MALAYSIA TOURIST VISA REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. Passport first and last page Color clear scan copy (Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Malaysia)

2. Normal passport size photo with white background recently clicked (3.5 x 4.5 cm)

3. Ticket copy onward and return

4. Valid email id

Processing Time: 24-48 Hrs After submission

SRILANKAN VISA

Sri lanka tourist visa required documents.

• Passport First and last page (Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Sri Lanka)

HONGKONG VISA

HONG KONG TOURIST VISA REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• PRE ARRIVAL REGISTRATION (Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Hong Kong)

Processing Time: 24 Hrs After submission

THAILAND VISA

1. Passport first and last page color clear scan copy(Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Thailand)

2. Normal Passport size photo with white background recently clicked (3.5 x 4.5 cm)

3. Ticket onward and return

4. Hotel Confirmation

5.Evidence of permanent residence proof(non-Indian passport holder)

6.Last six months Bank statement with bank seal and signature balance is $600(individual)$800(Family)

7.Personal Covering Letter

Processing Time:4-5 Working days After submission

CHINA TOURIST

Valid Passport  with at least 6 months validity from the date of travel. The passport should also have a minimum of  two blank visa pages .

1 Form  typed or handwritten.

2 Photograph (Fresh ones i.e. NOT used earlier for any visa)  (recent color Photograph (Fresh ones i.e. NOT used earlier for any visa) with 80% face coverage.) detailed specifications provided in notes below

Detailed Original Covering Letter  addressed to  The Visa Officer Embassy of China New Delhi

Stay Itinerary (hotel)

Travel Itinerary (tickets)

Original bank statement  of 6 months with original seal and signature of Bank on all the pages and with minimum balance should be Rs 1.5 Lakhs per person.

Original bank Solvency Letter  with Bank original seal and signature

Day wise tour itinerary.

In case of any Foriegn passport holder, a recommendation letter for its respective Country Embassy is mandatory.

Any Foreigner working in India on Employement visa , FRRO authorisation letter also mandatory.

NOTE   The Embassy of China has started issuing few visas with limited stay and validity, i.e. with a validity of less than 3 months and stay shorter than 30 days. Hence, we recommend you to please SEND US THE ACTUAL TRAVEL ITINERARY along with your China visa applications, so that we may submit it along with the visa application accordingly.  1.As per the latest update from The Chinese Embassy, New Delhi there will be following THREE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS which will be required for visa processing if passport is issued outside the jurisdiction of Delhi Embassy (a) Company ID proof  of the applicant  (b) A NOC Letter from the company  (on company letterhead) for applicant`s China travel and also mentioning the working address of the applicant  (c) National Identity Card Copy  (e.g. Aadhar card, Voter ID card, Driving License, Ration Card etc.) of the applicant of the state falling in Delhi Jurisdiction. If the National ID Card is not available for Delhi Jurisdiction, then the application needs to be filed as per the Jurisdiction rules andnot in Delhi. (For further details on Jurisdiction, please refer to our website) All above 3 additional requirements are applicable with immediate effect and the China Embassy will  not process any visas if above documents are not submitted  along with the passports which are issued outside the jurisdiction of New Delhi.  

PHOTO SPECIFICATIONS:

It must be a color photo, taken recently within the last 6 months.

Of 35mm x 45mm dimension

With 80% face coverage

With WHITE background only and NOT wearing white clothes

On GLOSSY paper only (Matte and Semi Matte photographs will not be accepted)

Eyeglasses are allowed except thick-rimmed, tinted or glare glasses. There should NOT be any reflection due to eye glasses

No Urgent submission for Foreign passport holders. ( FOREIGN PASSPORT HOLDERS INDIAN VISA SHOULD BE VALID FOR MINIMUM 6 MONTHS)

Processing Time: 6-8 Working Days After submission

CHINA BUSINESS

1 Form  typed or handwritten.

2 Photograph (Fresh ones i.e. NOT used earlier for any visa)  (For specification please see the foot notes below)

Detailed Covering Letter  addressed to  The Visa Officer, Embassy of China  on Company Letterhead with entry and exit dates, PAX name and passport number.

Invitation  from Chinese Company / Invitee mentioning the name, designation and passport number of the applicant, with signatures of Authorized Signatory and Company Seal.

Company Bank statement last 6 months with bank seal signature

Passport copy  of front page and last page.

. In case of any Foriegn passport holder, a recommendation letter for its respective Embassy is mandatory.

NOTE  The Embassy of China has started issuing few visas with limited stay and validity, i.e. with a validity of less than 3 months and stay shorter than 30 days. Hence, we recommend you to please SEND US THE ACTUAL TRAVEL ITINERARY along with your China visa applications, so that we may submit it along with the visa application accordingly.   1.As per the latest update from The Chinese Embassy, New Delhi there will be following THREE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS which will be required for visa processing if passport is issued outside the jurisdiction of Delhi Embassy (a) Company ID proof  of the applicant  (b) A NOC Letter from the company  (on company letterhead) for applicant`s China travel and also mentioning the working address of the applicant  (c) National Identity Card Copy  (e.g. Aadhar card, Voter ID card, Driving License, Ration Card etc.) of the applicant of the state falling in Delhi Jurisdiction. If the National ID Card is not available for Delhi Jurisdiction, then the application needs to be filed as per the Jurisdiction rules andnot in Delhi. (For further details on Jurisdiction, please refer to our website) All above 3 additional requirements are applicable with immediate effect and the China Embassy will  not process any visas if above documents are not submitted  along with the passports which are issued outside the jurisdiction of New Delhi.  

No Urgent submission for Foreign passport holders. (  FOREIGN PASSPORT HOLDERS INDIAN VISA SHOULD BE VALID FOR MINIMUM 6 MONTHS)

Processing Time:6-8 Working Days After submission

The U.S. Consulate General, India processes applications for both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to the United States. Nonimmigrant visas are for people visiting the U.S. temporarily for tourism, business, education, medical treatment, or petition-based employment. The type of visa required depends on your purpose of travel. Immigrant visas are for applicants planning to permanently relocate to the United States. Consular Districts The U.S. Embassy, New Delhi provides consular services in the states of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and the country of Bhutan. If you are not in the Delhi Consular district, find your nearest consulate below.

The Consulate General in Chennai provides consular services for the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep islands, Pondicherry, and the Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The Consulate General in Hyderabad provides consular services for the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The Consulate General in Kolkata provides consular services for the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Assam.

The Consulate General in Mumbai provides consular services for the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. For more details on the documents required/category of Visa and scheduling an interview , please email us to [email protected] or call us on 044-42022244

SCHENGEN VISA

Existing Schengen countries are as follows:

Austria,Germany,Netherlands,Belgium,Greece,Norway,Denmark,Iceland,Portugal,Finland,Italy Tourist Visa,Spain,France,Luxembourg,Sweden.

The following Countries joined the Schengen Agreement on 21st December 2007

Czech Republic,Hungary,Estonia,Latvia,Lithuania,Malta,Poland,Slovakia,Slovenia

Travelling in Europe has been simplified with the introduction of the Schengen visa. As a visitor to the Schengen area, you will enjoy the many advantages of this unified visa system. Generally speaking with a Schengen visa, you may enter one country and travel freely throughout the Schengen region during the validity of the visa. Internal border controls are limited with no or few stops and checks.

Schengen countries / territories

On the 21st December, the Schengen zone was expanded to include nine new countries: Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia. Schengen States are a group of European countries which have signed an agreement to allow free circulation of people within the territory of the member countries. Please note that the UK and Ireland are not a part of the Schengen agreement.

Where to apply for Schengen visa

A Schengen Visa is applied for at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country which you will be spending the most nights on your trip to the Schengen Space. If you are only visiting one country on your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen country. For more details on Documents required and scheduling an appointment for Schengen Visa, please email to [email protected] or call us 044-4202 2244.

With effect from Monday 5 March 2012 all UK visa applicants need to complete the visa application form online. Manually completed applications will no longer be accepted At the same time, you are also required to make an online appointment to attend a visa application centre to submit your application. The only exception is if you would like to make an appointment to use Premium Lounge, Fast Track or Prime Time facilities. You may do so by separately requesting an appointment according to the guidance for use of additional services . For more details on Documents required and assistance on scheduling an appointment for Interview, please email to [email protected] or call us 044-42022244.

CAMBODIA VISA

1. Passport first and last page color clear scan copy(Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Cambodia)

Processing Time-2 Working Days After submission

1. Passport first and last page color clear scan copy(Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Dubai)

3. Pan card color Copy

Processing Time:3-4 Working Days After submission

VIETNAM VISA

1.Passport first and last page (Passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of exit from Vietnam)

2.Two Normal Passport size with white background recently clicked (3.5 x 4.5 cm)

3.Ticket onward and return

4.Hotel Confirmation

Processing Time-24-48 Hrs After submission

PHILIPPINES VISA

Original Valid passport  with at least six month validity from the date of travel ( Old Passports Mandatory) .

1 visa application Form  (Form Should be checked for Single Entry Visa only as the Embassy does not issues Multiple Entry Visas)  .

1 Photograph (Fresh ones i.e. NOT used earlier for any visa) . (with white background with 35 x 45mm – Without Cross sign).

Photocopy of the passport (1st page and last page) is MUST

Covering letter addressed to  The Visa Officer, Embassy of Phillipines  on Letterhead.

E ticket with ticket number showing departure after 10 working days from the date of submission .

Stay Itinerary (hotel)  .

Applicant`s direct contact number, either landline OR mobile.

Personal Bank Statement  for last Six months in original with original bank seal with minimum 1,25,000 balance .

Last six months’ payslip

NOC/Leave approval letter from employer

Last 3 years ITR OF applicant with  BARCODE

In case of a married couple  travelling together Marriage Certificate is required to be attested by HOME+MEA+EMBASSY and embassy can also ask the same for any couple at random.

If Children below 15 years not accompanied by the Parents  then VEG is required to be attested from HOME+MEA+EMBASSY.[Note: VEG is a NOC Letter signed by both the parents on a Stamp Paper attested by Local Govt].

If Spouse is Philippino  then Spouse Name should be indicated in the Visa Applicants passport copy and report of Marriage issued by the Philippines Embassy or Philippines Govt.

Processing Time:10 Working DaysAfter submission

OTHER COUNTRIES

We assist you in processing Visa for All Countries. Email us your rquirements to [email protected] or call for assistance at 044-4202 2244.

Quick Enquiry

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Welcome to Korea Visa Application Center

Select the jurisdiction you wish to apply from.

Embassy of the Republic of Korea

Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, Chennai

Vacancy Details

We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

The work schedule for this position is:

• Full Time (40 hours per week)

Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (8-12 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Incumbent performs complex, sensitive and highly varied work pertaining to Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) services in the world’s 12 th highest volume post which processes over 320,000 applicants annually. Duties include preloading and prescreening nonimmigrant visa applications, printing and pasting visas, providing NIV information to the public, and interpreting for American officers at the time of the visa interview. Drafts Security Advisory Opinion (SAO) cables for the Department and organizes evidence and drafts memoranda intended for use by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to revoke H-1B and L-1 visa cases. Analyzes and verifies documents submitted in connection with H and L visa petitions and/or applications which may indicate fraud and tracks cases through a computerized system.  Accepts cases from officers, works with them to write legal memos. Performs various portfolio duties assigned regularly on a rotational basis.  Cross-trained to perform American Citizen Services (ACS) functions and Consular Information Unit (CIU) functions.  May also act part-time or full-time as a Consular Cashier in NIV or ACS.

Qualifications and Evaluations

EXPERIENCE: Minimum three years’ experience of office clerical/administrative work, involving public contact / customer service.

Mandatory: Completion of two years of college studies is required.

This may be tested

LANGUAGE:  Mandatory:  Fluency in English (Speaking, Reading, Writing) & Good Working Knowledge in Speaking - TELUGU / MALAYALAM

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO):   The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.

All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info

Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.

For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.

The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:  Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER: 1. AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran* 2. AEFM / USEFM 3. FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

* IMPORTANT:  Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given. 

** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.

For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link .

How to Apply

All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance. 

To apply for this position click the “Submit Application” button.  For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested degree and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.

All Applicants: • Proof of completion of two years of college studies.  • Proof of citizenship

Eligible Family Member Applicants: • Copy of Sponsor's Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent) • DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable) • SF-50 (if applicable)

Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email. 

For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.

Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai.

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