Tourist Visa advisory

"This is for information that there should be a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to India on a Tourist Visa. 

In case of requirement to visit India within 2 months, permission should be sought from the High Commission of India, London or the Indian Consulates at Birmingham and Edinburgh directly without going through VF Services (UK) Ltd. Where permission is accorded by High Commission of India in such cases, registration with the local FRRO/FRO would be required within 14 days of arrival in India .  Processing time of the request will be 3-4 working days.

However, applicants  , who after initial entry into India plan to visit another country and re-enter India before finally exiting, could be permitted more than one entry, as the case may be subject to their submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting documents . For such cases, the tourist visa will be issued for those specific entries only and not multiple entry.

Renunciation/Surrender of Indian Passports

Under Indian law, Persons of Indian Origin, who have acquired foreign citizenship, are required to surrender their Indian passports to the nearest Indian Mission/Post immediately after acquisition of foreign citizenship.

The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, does not allow dual citizenship. Holding Indian passport/acquiring Indian passport/travelling on Indian passport after acquisition of foreign citizenship constitutes an offence under the Indian Passport Act, 1967, and attracts penalties. The Government of India has prescribed imposition of penalty on a graded scale, depending on number of trips made on Indian passport after acquiring foreign nationality, for the violation of Passport Rules ranging from a minimum of Rs. 10,000/- (£125 at the current Official Rate of Exchange) to a maximum of Rs. 50,000/- (£625 at the current Official Rate of Exchange).

 In view of these provisions, Persons of Indian Origin, intending to apply for OCI/PIO Cards, should surrender their Indian passports and then apply for these ervices. In case they do not have the Indian passports in their possession for any reason (loss/misplacement/submission to Home Office long time back, etc.), they are required to furnish duly notarised affidavit in this regard. If the Indian passport is still valid but has been misplaced/lost, then Police report should be submitted additionally (to rule out any misuse).

Persons of Indian Origin applying for Indian visa for the first time after acquiring foreign nationality are required to first renounce/surrender their Indian passports.

: applicationform.pdf