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Visa for Journalists

All Foreign journalists travelling to India for any purpose are required to obtain a 'J' (Journalist) visa, including those who are visiting for tourism or for attending conferences. They should approach the nearest Indian Mission for obtaining the visa and other travel documents.Foreign journalists including interns / trainees coming to India to work in Indian media organizations require 'E' (Employment) visa, which are governed by specific rules as per the Visa Manual.

Clearance for OCI Journalists

An OCI travelling to India for undertaking journalistic work is required to contact the nearest Indian Mission abroad for clearance. He may apply for the required permission at following link https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome under the tab named ‘Apply for Special Permission’ and fill up the given online form.

OCI who is already in India and intend to take up any journalistic work here is also required to seek prior clearance. He may visit the abovementioned link and fill up the online form for the clearance.

Extension of visa for foreign Journalists

External Publicity (XP) Division can endorse an application for extension of visa for bonafide journalists (who arrive on a short term visa visualized at point I above), based on which the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Ministry of Home Affairs, extends the visa.

Journalists seeking extension of visa are required to report to XP Division, Ministry of External Affairs on arrival and submit an online application at following link: https://meacms.mea.gov.in/meaindiabeat/Foreign_Journalists_Registration.aspx (for the journalist and family members), with supporting letter of employment/assignment from the parent organization, residential proof, valid passport (with previous visa stamp), copy of PIB accreditation card, copies of recent publications, one photograph each of self and family members and other required supporting document to :

• Deputy Secretary (Press Relations) XP Division Ministry of External Affairs Room 138, A-Wing, Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi- 110001 23381594 uspr[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

Clearances for visiting restricted/protected areas

Foreign journalists wishing to travel to restricted or protected areas have to apply to XP Division, MEA in the prescribed format along with the documents listed below. The application would be forwarded to MHA by XP Division. The permission is issued by XP Division in consultation with MHA. Foreign journalists are required to send the following documents through email to Deputy Secretary (Press Relations, XP Division at uspr[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in, with a copy to poxfm[at]meaindia[dot]com.

• Letter from organization
• Copy of Passport (PDF file)
• Copy of latest visa (PDF file)
• Photograph (JPEG format)
• Tentative itinerary including dates of travel.

OCI journalists wishing to travel to restricted or protected areas need to apply on the following link https://ociservices.gov.in/welcome under the tab named ‘Apply for Special Permission’ and fill up the given online form.

Orientation Programme for Foreign Journalists

XP Division organizes periodic orientation programmes for Foreign Journalists based in India, during which information about governmental setup, visa, regulatory requirements and other inputs are made available. Journalists on first arrival are advised to contact DS (PR), XP Division for registering themselves for the said programme. They would be informed of the date and venue of the programme as and when such programmes are organized.

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Home » NRI » India Visa » India Journalist Visa

India Journalist Visa

Eligibility.

A Journalist Visa is available for all foreign journalists, irrespective of whether traveling for journalism, tourism or other purposes. J visa may be granted to a professional journalist, columnist, cartoonist/editor, photographer, film producer or director other than of commercial films), a representative of a radio and/or television organization, travel writer/travel promotion photographer, etc or any professional journalist/owner working for an association or a company engaged in the production or broadcast of audiovisual news or current affairs programs through the print, electronic or any other electronic form or any other mode of mass communication.

A ‘JOURNALIST VISA’ will be granted to:

• Media Person
• News Broadcaster
• TV Producer
• Columnist, cartoonist/editor
• Photographer
• Film producer or director (other than commercial films)
• A representative of a radio or television organization
• Travel writer
• Travel promotion photographer
• Any professional journalist/owner working for an association or a company engaged in the production or broadcast of audiovisual news or current affairs programs through the print, electronic, or any other electronic form or any other mode of mass communication.

One will be issued a ‘J’ Visa – with an endorsement – FOR TOURISM ONLY, NOT VALID FOR PROFESSIONAL WORK/REPORTING when a Journalist visits India for Tourism purpose.

Spouse and Dependent Family Members

Spouse and dependent family members must apply for a Journalist visa, not a tourist visa or entry visa. Their visa validity duration will coincide with that of the principal visa holder.

Duration and Validity

Journalist visa is generally issues for 3 months, single entry.

Visa duration starts on the day of issuance, and not on the day of entry into India.

You should apply for visa at least 15 days in advance of intended travel date.

Documentary film / Ad films making in India

Before applying for visa, you need to obtain approval/clearance of the Government of India for filming a documentary in India. Please send an email according to your Consular Jurisdiction to:

• Washington DC: [email protected]
• New York: [email protected]
• San Francisco: [email protected]
• Atlanta: [email protected] eatlanta.org
• Houston: [email protected]
• Chicago: [email protected]

Others Journalists or intern journalists who intend to travel to India to work in India media organizations need to apply for Employment Visa instead.

Those that want to study journalism in India should apply for Student Visa instead.

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Consulate General of India San Francisco, California, Serving the States of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah and Territory of Guam

• Home ›   Consular Services ›   Visa Services ›   Journalist Visas / Documentary Filming in India

Requirements: Journalist visas are given to professional journalists and photographers for up to three months' stay in India. Applicants are requested to obtain visas through the Consulate. Website: Click here > Journalists, Editors/Writers of Television networks and Radio Stations traveling to India on work or vacation are required to apply along with a copy of their Media Accreditation Card and/or a document from their organization describing clearly the nature of their work and whether they are traveling on work or as tourists. Visa for Documentary Film Making in India by Foreign Audio Visual Agencies  Obtaining visa for the purpose of documentary film making in India is a two stage process: a) Applying for clearance of documentary film Documentary film makers are required to obtain approval/clearance of the Government of India for filming a documentary in India, which may take  2 to 8 weeks’ time  to come through. For obtaining clearance for a documentary film, the following documents are required to be submitted to the Consulate:

• The completed  APPLICATION FOR FILMING DOCUMENTARIES IN INDIA  (pdf document) and  SIGNED UNDERTAKING FOR FILMING DOCUMENTARIES IN INDIA  (pdf document)
• A detailed synopsis/treatment of the theme
• Details of locations and visits schedule
• Details of the producers and production company
• List of crew members and cinematic equipment  (pdf document) to be carried by them, to obtain customs permit for temporary import of cinematic equipment to India for Filming

Please send all the above documents by email to the Consulate at San Francisco to Consul (CIC) at [email protected] Applications from media persons/agencies based in other areas (other than those under jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India, San Francisco) may be submitted to the concerned Embassy/Consulate. Please refer to  Consular Jurisdiction . b) Applying for visa for documentary  On receipt of clearance from India, Embassy will issue a ‘No Objection’ for the documentary. Documentary Visa application may then be submitted to the Consulate along with a copy of Consulate’s ‘No Objection. Upon receipt of customs permit for import of filming equipment, Consulate will issue a ‘J’ (Journalist ) Visa to the crew members for travel to India. Documentary filming is not permissible on other types of visas (e.g. tourist/business visas). Those traveling to India, as crew members, for shooting a Feature Film/Realty Show/Commercial TV Show, are advised to apply for a ‘B ’(Business) Visa and not a ‘J’ (Journalist) Visa.

Visas to Foreign Nationals Seeking to Work in Indian Media Organizations  Journalists or intern journalists who intend to travel to India to work in Indian media organizations should apply for Employment ‘E’ visas. E Visa applicants are required to submit the following documents along with the visa application:

• Request from the company;
• A copy of contract with the company;
• Registration details of the Indian company; and
• An undertaking from the  Indian employer  (pdf document)

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter India:

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• Home > Media / Culture > Media > Journalist Visas/Documentary Filming in India

Requirements:     Journalist visas are given to professional journalists and photographers for up to three months' stay in India. Applicants are requested to obtain visas through VFS Global (All queries relating to Indian visa services should be directed to them)

Website: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind      Journalists, Editors/Writers of Television networks and Radio Stations traveling to India on work or vacation are required to apply along with a copy of their Media Accreditation Card and/or a document from their organization describing clearly the nature of their work and whether they are traveling on work or as tourists. Journalists may be called for a interview at the Embassy of India. Visa for Documentary Film Making in India by Foreign Audio Visual Agencies      Obtaining visa for the purpose of documentary film making in India is a two stage process: a)  Applying for clearance of documentary film       Documentary film makers are required to obtain approval/clearance of the Government of India for filming a documentary in India, which may take  2 to 8 weeks’ time to come through.  For obtaining clearance for a documentary film, the following documents are required to be submitted to the Embassy: • The completed APPLICATION FOR FILMING DOCUMENTARIES IN INDIA and SIGNED UNDERTAKING FOR FILMING DOCUMENTARIES IN INDIA •A detailed synopsis/treatment of the theme •Details of locations and visits schedule •Details of the producers and production company  • List of crew members and cinematic equipment (pdf document) to be carried by  them, to obtain  customs permit for  temporary import of cinematic equipment  to India for Filming     Please send all the above documents by email to attpress.washington[at]mea.gov.in. Applications from media persons/agencies based in other areas (other than those under jurisdiction of the Embassy in Washington, DC) may be submitted to the concerned Consulate. Please refer to  Consular Jurisdiction . b)      Applying for visa for documentary      On receipt of clearance from India, Embassy will issue a 'No Objection' for the documentary. Documentary Visa application may then be submitted to VFS Global for journalist visa along with a copy of Embassy's No Objection. Upon receipt of customs permit for import of filming equipment, Embassy will issue a 'J' (Journalist ) Visa to the crew members for travel to India. .       Documentary filming is not permissible on other types of visas (e.g. tourist/business visas). Those traveling to India, crew members as well as crew members, for shooting a Feature Film/Realty Show/Commercial TV Show,  are advised to apply for a ‘B ’(Business) Visa and not a ‘J’ (Journalist) Visa. Visas to Foreign Nationals Seeking to Work in Indian Media Organizations.     Journalists or intern journalists who intend to travel to India to work in Indian media organizations should apply for Employment ‘E’ visas. E Visa applicants are required to submit the following documents along with the visa application: •Request from the company •A copy of contract with the company •Registration details of the Indian company and •An undertaking from the Indian employer Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter India: •Bhutan •Nepal

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• Home › Consular Services › Visa Services › E - Visa

1. Service of e-Visa involves a completely online application for which no facilitation is required by any intermediary/agent etc. Applicants are also advised to be careful of fraudulent websites offering e-visa services for India and only use the Government of India portal which is https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html .

It may be noted that Consulate does not process e-visas and any inquiries in this regard will need to be made directly on the e-visa portal.

In case if you stuck somewhere or face any problem please contact e visa help desk i.e.

+91 11 24300666

[email protected]

2. International travelers whose sole objective for visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine, business purpose, as attendant to e-Medical visa holder, attending a conference/ seminar/ workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments or UT Administrations etc. & their subordinate/ attached organizations & PSUs and no other purpose/activity, can apply for e-Visa.

3. e-Visa has 7 sub-categories viz. e-Tourist Visa (for 30 days/01 year/ 05 years), e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa, e-Ayush Visa, e-Ayush Attendant visa and e-Conference Visa . A foreigner (other than those applying for e-Conference Visa) will be allowed to club activities permitted under these categories. Foreigners applying for e-Conference visa will be permitted to club the activities permitted under e-Tourist visa only (validity co-terminus with e-Conference Visa only i.e. 30 days). Only two e-Medical Attendant Visas will be granted against one e- Medical Visa.

4. For e-Tourist and e-Business visa, Applicants may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival.

5. For e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant and e-Conference visa, Applicants may apply online minimum 4 days in advance of the date of arrival with a window of 120 days. Example: If you are applying on 1st Sept then applicant can select arrival date from 5th Sept to 2nd Jan.

6. Recent front facing photograph with white background and photo page of Passport containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc are to be uploaded mandatory by the applicant. Additionally one more document depending upon the e-Visa type would also be required to be uploaded. The application is liable to be rejected if the uploaded documents and photograph are not clear / as per specification.

7. The revised fee structure for e-Tourist visa is as under:-

8. Bank transaction charges of 2.5% will be charged additionally on applicable e-Visa fees. The fee must be paid at least 4 days before the expected date of travel otherwise application will not be processed.

9. e-Visa fee once submitted is non-refundable as the fee is for processing of the application and is not dependent on either Grant or Rejection of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).Applicant should carry a copy of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) along with him/her at the time of travel. Please confirm that your ETA status is shown as 'GRANTED' on this website prior to commencement of your journey.

10. Biometric details of the applicant will be mandatorily captured at Immigration on arrival in India. e-Visa is non-extendable, non-convertible & not valid for visiting Protected/Restricted and Cantonment Areas. If you intend to visit Protected/Restricted/Cantonment areas, you would require prior permission from the Civil Authority.

11. The e-Visa fee payment status updation may take up to 2 hours due to technical reasons/network delays. Before re-applying, the applicants are requested to wait for 2 hours for payment status updating, after final submission of the application form and payment of the fee. In cases, where e-Visa fee has been deducted but status is not updated, the applicants are advised to verify their payment status by clicking on 'Verify Payment/Pay Visa Fee' tab or by clicking on the link Verify Payment.

12. Nationals of Yellow Fever affected countries or travellers arriving from these countries must carry YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CARD at the time of arrival in India, otherwise they may be quarantined for 6 days upon arrival in India.

13. You must travel on the Passport which you have applied for eVisa. Entry will be allowed into India on the new passport even if ETA has been issued on the old passport, however in such cases a traveler must carry the old passport on which ETA was issued.

14. The documents required for completing the eVisa application is indicated against each type of eVisa. Please keep all these documents ready at hand before beginning to fill your eVisa application. All documents including Business cards, Invitation letters etc. must be in English language, failing which the application would be liable for rejection. The entire process may take 10 to 15 minutes to complete the application and make the payment. Applicants must be fill eVisa application himself/herself and give correct information in each column and take responsibility for the correctness of information provided.

1. E-Visa has been made available by the Government of India to citizens of certain countries, including the United States of America. Details of the scheme are available on the dedicated website created for this purpose: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

2. International travellers whose sole objective for visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine, business purpose, as attendant to e-Medical visa holder, attending a conference/ seminar/ workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments or UT Administrations etc. & their subordinate/ attached organizations & PSUs and no other purpose/activity, can apply for e-Visa.

3. e-Visa has 5 sub-categories viz. e-Tourist Visa (for 30 days/01 year/ 05 years), e-Business Visa , e-Medical Visa , e-Medical Attendant Visa and e-Conference Visa . A foreigner (other than those applying for e-Conference Visa) will be allowed to club activities permitted under these categories. Foreigners applying for e-Conference visa will be permitted to club the activities permitted under e-Tourist visa only (validity co-terminus with e-Conference Visa only i.e. 30 days). Only two e-Medical Attendant Visas will be granted against one e- Medical Visa.

6. Recent front facing photograph with white background and photo page of Passport containing personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc are to be uploaded mandatorily by the applicant. Additionally one more document depending upon the e-Visa type would also be required to be uploaded. The application is liable to be rejected if the uploaded documents and photograph are not clear / as per specification.

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Consulate General of India Toronto, Canada

• Home ›   Consular ›   Visa ›   Journalist Visa

All Journalists, including photographers/film producer or director (other than of commercial films), a representative of a Radio or Television organisation, travel writer or travel promotion photographer etc. are required to apply for Journalist Visa only, even if the visit to India is for reasons other than journalism.

Journalists are granted  single entry visa  valid for a maximum stay of three (3) months.

Requirements   :

• Duly completed, printed and signed on-line visa application form ( https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/ ).
• Two recent passport size (51 mm x 51mm) photographs.
• Current valid passport with minimum of 190 days validity and must have minimum 2 blank pages.
• A letter from the employer stating the purpose of travel and detailed programme and the places to be visited for Journalism purposes.

Prior authorization of the Indian Government is mandatory for any audiovisual reporting/ shooting of documentary films in India, regardless of their subject, category or duration. These include documentary films, reportages, institutional or educational films, radio documentary, still shoots, corporate videos, television commercials and publicity, or any other audiovisual report meant for public diffusion or telecast .

Foreign Audio Visual Agencies intending to shoot documentary films/AV commercials should send the completed application form and signed undertaking (placed below) to the officer responsible for Press and Information work in the Consulate General of India, Toronto for processing. Once the proposal is approved, the Indian missions abroad will issue Journalist ('J') visa for travel to India for filming. Documentary filming is not permissible on other types of visas (e.g. tourist/business visas). Import of filming equipment is facilitated only upon issue of the clearance.

All pages of the filming application form have to be printed on the letter-head paper of the company. The Undertaking has to be duly signed, dated and stamped. Two copies of the duly filled application form and Undertaking have to be submitted to the CGI Toronto, for processing, and should contain the following information in the order indicated:

Application Form (click here)

Undertaking (click here)

Detailed Synopsis

Itinerary (Ports of entry and exit from India to be indicated)

Bio-profile of the journalist/ film-director

Brief presentation of the production agency

List of crew-members giving the following details:

Name and surname as featuring in the passport

Contact coordinates - telephone & e-mail

Nationality

Date and place of birth (Day/ Month/ Year)

Passport number & validity

The processing time is approximately up to 15 weeks if the filming proposal involves (a) sensitive issues or if the itinerary includes restricted/protected/prohibited or vulnerable zones, reserve forests (b) underwater or aerial filming, as these cases all require prior and mandatory clearance from different nodal Ministries and authorities in India.

Please note that the authorization is indicated on the visas of the filming crew, therefore no visa can be accorded before the clearance is issued.

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Embassy of India Athens, Greece

• Home ›   Visa ›   Visa Types & Required Documents ›   Journalist Visa

Eligibility: All foreign journalists, regardless of the purpose of their visit, should apply for a “J” (journalist) visa, for up to three months' stay in India. “Journalists” for this purpose would include a professional journalist, columnist, cartoonist, editor, photographer, film producer or director (other than that of commercial films), a representative of a radio and/or television organization, travel writer/travel promotion photographer etc or any professional journalist/owner working for an association or a company engaged in the production or broadcast of audio visual news or current affairs programmes through the print, electronic or any other electronic form. All such applicants are required to apply along with a letter from their organization describing clearly the job title of the applicant and the nature of their work and whether they are travelling on work or as tourists.

How to apply:

> e-Visa facility is not available for Journalist Visa.

 Apply for a regular (paper sticker) Journalist Visa by filling the online application at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html and submit a printout of the application along with the following documents at the Embassy of India Athens.

Documents Required: 

1. Printed Visa Application form signed in blue, as per signature on passport with uploaded photo.

2. Original Passport with at least 2 continuous blank pages, in good condition.

3. Two photocopies of Passport pages with details.

4. Photocopy of previous Indian Visa if any.

5. Two recent identical colored photographs, with 5 cm x 5cm dimensions, on white background with 70% of face zoom.

6. In case the applicant holds a 2nd Nationality Passport, a photocopy of passport page with details.

7. Proof of availability of sufficient funds for the expenses in India

8. Copy of flight ticket booking/reservation.

9. Assignment letter in original issued by the media organization stating the purpose of travel and detailed programme and the places to be visited for journalism purposes.

10. List of cinematic equipment to be temporarily imported into India.

11. If the purpose of visit is to shoot/film a documentary in India, the following should also be provided: (i) Application form for shooting a documentary in India. (click here for download); ii) Undertaking in the prescribed format (click here for download); iii) Script / Synopsis; iv) Details of locations where documentary is proposed to be filmed;

12. Photocopy of Journalist card along with original journalist card.

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High Commission of India Wellington, New Zealand Concurrently accredited to Samoa, Niue, the Cook Islands & Vanuatu

• Home ›   Consular Services ›   Apply for Visa

VISA SERVICES

I) Introduction II) Regular visa

1) How to apply for regular visa 2) Visa fees and mode of payment of regular visa 3) Common documents required for different types of regular visa  4) Types of visas and documents required in addition to the documents mentioned at serial No. IV.3. above.

4.1) Tourist visa 4.2) Entry visa 4.3) Transit visa 4.4) Business visa 4.5) Student visa 4.6) Employment visa 4.7) Conference visa 4.8) Journalist visa 4.9) Medical visa 4.10) Sports visa 4.11) Other types of visas such as Intern visa, Film visa

5) Visa checklist 6) Transfer of visa from old passport to new passport 7) How to submit the visa application 8) Approximate processing time and status enquiries 9) Jurisdiction of High Commission of India

III) Vaccination requirement before entering India IV) Use of Satellite phones is illegal in India V) Frequently asked questions on visa

I. INTRODUCTION:

• Please note that all foreign nationals require visa to travel to India. There is no facility for visa on arrival in India and therefore appropriate visa must be obtained before entering India by air, sea or land. Please go through this page carefully for proper understanding of visa procedure in order to ensure that your visa application is complete in every respect. This will help in easy and correct submission of visa application in the first instance and avoid unnecessary delay in processing of your application. An incomplete application is liable to be rejected. The visas issued are valid w.e.f. the date of issue and hence it is advised to apply for visa closer to the travel date.
• Visa can be applied by any of the following method:

a)  Regular paper visa application - To apply, please visit:  https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html#  and click on “Regular visa application”.   Regular visa are processed at High Commission of India, Wellington.   Details are given below in para II.   After filling online application, the online application form must be printed and duly signed on page 1 and page 2 (declaration) and submitted  to the High Commission for processing, either in person or by post alongwith other required docuemtns, as mentioned below.  

b) e-Visa -  To apply for e-Visa, please visit:  https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html- .   E-Visas are processed and administered by Ministry of Home Affairs of India and High Commission of India has no control over processing of E-Visa applications.  Details of e-Visa is at https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/page/e-visa .

II. REGULAR VISA APPLICATION PROCESSED BY HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA, WELLINGTON

1. How to apply for regular visa

• The High Commission of India follows Online Visa procedure and  handwritten / manually typed visa applications are not accepted.  To access the online form, applicants must go to the link  https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html#  and click on “Regular visa application”. Select “New Zealand – Wellington” as an option for the “Mission Field”. 

[Note: Please use Google Chrome or Internet Explorer browsers. Online visa form is not compatible with Safari browser. It may not work on mobile phone browsers or Apple devices].

Completely fill up the visa application form, without leaving any column blank.

Please indicate your permanent address as that of your native country. 

Upload your photo vertically and not horizontally. Please save / submit your application and take a printout only after you have uploaded your photograph. You will have to re-fill the application form if you fail to upload your photograph. For detailed photo upload instructions, please visit  https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/docs/VSSIMAGEgidelines.pdf .

Once the online application is completed press ‘submit’ after which an application ID No. starting with NZLWV….will be generated, which should be noted carefully and quoted in all references in this regard made to the High Commission.

Thereafter, the online application form must be printed and duly signed on page 1 and page 2 (declaration) and submitted to the High Commission of India, Wellington along with two latest photographs (2” X 2”), prescribed visa fee, passport in original and the required documents for processing of visas. Procedure for submission and documents required for different types of visas are detailed below.

NOTE:  Kindly provide your latest and complete contact details on the visa form. Suppression of facts and false / incomplete / inaccurate information will not only result in delay / denial of visa but may also debar the applicant from getting visa in future. Visa application may be accepted, modified or refused by the High Commission of India and its decision in the matter shall be final. The High Commission reserves the right to withhold any application submitted for an in-depth examination. Personal interviews by the Visa Officer with applicants may be required in some cases.

Validity of regular visa is effective from the date of issue and not from the date of travel.  Visas are not issued from a future date to match applicant’s itinerary.

2. Visa fees and mode of payment of regular visa: The application fee (in NZD) for common visa categories only for New Zealand passport holders is as below:

* Persons of Indian origin holding foreign passport, their spouses and children must apply for Entry visa to visit India (Refer para 4.2 below for documents required)

Visa Fee for applicants holding other than New Zealand passport is available at the link: Visa Fee

IMPORTANT: Every visa application must be accompanied by visa checklist :  Click Here To Download Visa Checklist  

Processing Time for Entry/Tourist Visas:

• New Zealand / Samoa / Niue Passport / The Cook Islands / Vanuatu: 4-6 Working Days

Other than NZ / Samoa / Niue Passport / The Cook Islands / Vanuatu: 6-8 Working Days

Pakistan, PR China & Sri Lankan origin applicants: No Time Limit

NOTE:  Duration of any visa will be decided by the  Visa Officer

Mode of Payment of Fees: 

3. Common documents required for different types of regular visa:

3.1. Common documentation required for all categories of visa:

Completed and signed visa application form with photo uploaded vertically.

Original passport valid for at least six months from the date of travel.

Two photographs (2”X2”). Photographs can be cut with scissor to bring to the required dimension if it is large. If you do not have two identical photographs as you uploaded online, please make sure that you are providing your latest and similar matching photographs. [For detailed photograph specification, visit  https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/docs/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf ]

Visa fee as per the fee schedule given at the link: Visa Fee

Additional form for non-New Zealand nationals / those holding dual nationality available at  https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/docs/Addition-form-to-be-filled-by-Non-NZ-passport-holders.pdf . 

• Please attach one self-addressed pre-paid return courier bag with tracking facility (required to post back the passport with visa) to the High Commission of India by registered courier (with tracking facility).

3.2. Additional documentation for minors (children under 18 years of age) common to all types of visas

Copy of birth certificate of the minor applicant.

First and last pages of both parent’s current passports. 

If parents are of Indian origin, then copies of current or cancelled Indian passports of parents are required for applying Entry visa. Children of parents of Indian origin are eligible for Entry visa which is in their own interest since Entry visa has far fewer restrictions vis-à-vis other kinds of visas. 

Signature of both parents on the visa application form or no objection letter (letter of consent) signed by the parent not signing on the visa application form.

In case of single parent / guardian, additional documentary proof such as copy of custody orders from a court/ death certificate of the deceased parent / proof of single parent status.

In case the status of minor’s father is unknown, a Statutory Declaration attested by Justice of Peace is required from the mother stating the same. 

4.  Types of visas and documentation required in addition to the documents mentioned at serial No. 3 above:

4.1.  Tourist Visa:

4.2.  Entry Visa:

4.3.  Business Visa:

4.4.  Transit Visa:

4.5.  Student Visa:

4.6.  Employment Visa:

4.7.  Conference Visa:

4.8.  Journalist visa

4.9.  Medical Visa

4.10.  Sports Visa

4.11.  For other types of visas such as Intern visa, film visa, etc.

4.1. Tourist visa:

Note: A person of Indian origin, who does not possess an OCI card, spouse and children of such person must apply for Entry Visa instead of Tourist Visa since Entry Visa has far fewer restrictions than Tourist Visa. Details of Entry Visa are given at Sl. No. 4.2 Tourist visa is granted to foreigners who do not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole purpose of visiting India is sight-seeing, recreation or meeting friends / relatives, attending a short term yoga programme (not exceeding 6 months and not issued with a qualifying diploma / certificate), short duration medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine.

Tourist visa may be granted for a validity up to 5 years but the maximum continuous stay permissible on this visa is 90 days during each visit. Tourist visas are non-extendable and non-convertible except in limited circumstances. No additional documentation other than indicated at Sl. No. 3 above is required for Tourist visa.

Enrolment of biometric features  is required while applying for a Tourist visa for a validity of more than 1 year and / or for multiple entry tourist visa. Biometric enrolment once done is valid for 5 years. Applicants below 12 yrs or more than 70 yrs are exempted from biometric enrolment. For more details on biometric enrolment including for booking an appointment for the same, please go to the link: https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/docs/Website%20Updates.pdf .

NOTE:  Requirement of two months gap between two visits on tourist visa has been done away with for most countries including New Zealand.

A foreigner coming to India on any type of visas will be allowed to avail activities permitted under Tourist visa.

All persons travelling to India on board a cruise ship are advised to obtain “Tourist Visa” in advance. They should clearly write in bold on top of their application “Cruise Trip to India” and request for double / triple or multiple entries depending on the number of entries required to enter the Indian port.

Foreigners of Indian origin, their spouses and children are advised to apply for “ENTRY” visa instead of Tourist visa in their own interest since the Entry visa has fewer restrictions vis-à-vis tourist visa.

All PIOs may also consider applying for OCI Card, which among many other benefits, facilitates easy and visa-free travel to India for life, besides ensuring economy of expenditure in the long run. For detailed information on applying for OCI registration, please visit  https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/eoi.php?id=OCI .

4.2. Entry visa:

• Persons of Indian origin holding foreign passport, their spouses and children must apply for Entry visa to visit India. Foreign spouse of an Indian national is also eligible for Entry visa.
• In case applicant was an Indian national before, proof of renunciation of Indian citizenship in the form of Indian Citizenship Renunciation / Surrender Certificate alongwith copy of cancelled passport is required to be attached, else the application will be returned for want of this document. If the applicant has not applied for cancellation of Indian passport, submit the original Indian passport for cancellation along with requisite form and fee as per the procedure given at the link  https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/eoi.php?id=cancellation_passport . 
• Holding / acquiring Indian passport or travelling on Indian passport after acquiring foreign citizenship is an offence under Indian Passport Act, 1967 and may attracts penalties.

In addition to above documents, other documents required for the application is mentioned at Sl. No. 3 above.

4.3. Business Visa:

Granted to foreigners who intend to visit India for business purpose.

A letter each from the local employer and the sponsoring company in India, stating the purpose of visit, places and organizations to be visited and the duration of the visit.

An additional form given at the link:  https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/docs/1689745106additonalform.pdf   is required to be submitted along with the visa application in addition to documents indicated at Sl. No. 3 above, as applicable. 

Those intending to go to India for student recruitment are required to provide some additional information which will be asked from the applicant by email.

Enrolment of biometric features  is required while applying for a Business Visa for a validity of more than 1 year and / or for multiple entry Business Visa. Biometric enrolment once done is valid for 5 years. Applicants below 12 yrs or more than 70 yrs are exempted from biometric enrolment. For more details on biometric enrolment including for booking an appointment for the same, go to: https://www.hciwellington.gov.in/docs/Website%20Updates.pdf .

4.4. Transit visa:

A visa valid for 15 days and permitting a stay in India up to 72 hours is issued for transiting through India to another foreign destination. Transit visa must be obtained before departure as there is no provision for visa on arrival in India. Evidence of confirmed onward travel to a destination outside India is required in addition to documents indicated at Sl. No. 3 above, as applicable. A person intending to make two entries into India in transit in the course of the same journey may also be granted double entry visa, with each stay in India up to 72 hours.

NOTE: Passengers transferring to a connecting flight who do not intend to leave the airport or pass through the Immigration do not need a Transit Visa.

4.5. Student visa:

Student visa is granted for studying in a recognized educational institution in India.

The applicant should submit proof of admission to an educational institution recognized by the Government of India.

Proof of finances to meet the cost of education in India, in addition to documents indicated at Sl. No. 3 above, as applicable.

4.6. Employment visa:

Employment visa is issued to those who are taking up assignment / employment with companies registered in India.

An authenticated copy of the Employment contract and proof of registration of the employing organization must be furnished, in addition to documents listed at Sl. No. 3 above, as applicable. The contract must provide for a minimum gross salary of INR 16.25 lakhs per annum or its equivalent.

Employment visa is also granted for volunteer / honorary work with registered NGOs in India in which case there is no minimum salary requirement.

4.7. Conference visa:

Conference visa is granted to those who are going to India for attending an international conference / seminar. In addition to the documents at Sl. No. 3 above, as applicable.

A copy each of the letter of invitation from the organizer. 

Permission letter from the Government of India for holding of the conference are necessary for the purpose of Conference Visa. 

Letter from the local participant / employer should also be submitted to establish credentials for the applicant.

4.8. Journalist visa:

Journalist  Visa  is issued to journalists and media persons travelling to India on assignment to India, for filing reports, shooting of documentaries, etc. A foreigner who is a journalist by profession will be granted journalist visa irrespective of his purpose of visit. For more information about journalist visa and before applying, kindly send an email at  visa.welllington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in , giving full details about the purpose of the visit, a synopsis of the project, itinerary and if any permissions from local authorities for the project have already been obtained.

4.9. Medical Visa:

Is granted to those intending to visit India for getting medical treatment in India from a recognized medical institution.

Referral letter from doctor/hospitals both from New Zealand and India. 

Proof of availability of sufficient funds for the duration of stay and the expenses for treatment in India should be submitted in addition to documents listed at Sl. No. 3 above, as applicable.

NOTE: With effect from November 2015, there is a complete ban on surrogacy procedures in India commissioned by foreigners / NRI couples. No visa is, therefore granted for this purpose.

4.10. Sports visa:

All sportspersons going to India for participation in non-commercial sporting events, the officials / coaches and trainers accompanying the players need to apply for Business visa .

A copy of the clearance granted by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of Home Affairs and Political Clearance by MEA are required in addition to documents indicated at Sl. No. 3 above, as applicable.

Visa for commercial sports events such as Indian Premier League, Indian Soccer League must apply for Business Visa.

Foreign sportsmen who are given contract for a specified period by the Indian Clubs/organizations must apply for Employment Visa .

4.11. For other types of visas such as Intern visa, film visa, etc, or for any other visa related queries, kindly drop an email at  visa[dot]wellington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in  or  cons[dot]wellington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in .

5. Visa checklist:

A checklist of documents to be submitted along with the visa application is given at the link here . Please send / submit the checklist along with the application.

6. What to do when the passport with valid visa expires:

There is no provision for transfer of valid visa from old, expired passport to the new passport. In order to travel to India, one must carry both the old, expired passport carrying valid visa along with the new passport.

7. How to submit the visa application

Printout of duly filled and signed visa applications along with the prescribed documentation, two photographs, prescribed fee and one self-addressed pre-paid return courier bag with tracking facility may be sent to the High Commission of India at the following address:

Visa Department, High Commission of India, 72 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, PO Box 12211, Wellington 6011.

The High Commission of India will not accept any responsibility in case the courier is lost / misplaced / damaged or delayed. Do not send the application via ordinary post but only through a registered courier with tracking facility.

Applicants can also submit their applications in person between  9:30 AM and 12:30 PM  from Monday to Friday (on working days of High Commission) at the Reception counter of the High Commission of India, Wellington.

8. Approximate processing time and status enquiries

Applicants are advised to apply for visa sufficiently in advance so that it is processed in time.

Applications which need to be referred to the concerned agencies may take longer for which no fixed timeframe can be given. Applicants should not purchase air tickets before obtaining visa.

The High Commission of India cannot be held responsible for applications which are not finalized in time for your intended date of departure.

At the same time, applications which are registered more than Three months before the expected date of travel are not accepted by the system. Due to huge volume of enquiries, it may not be possible for the High Commission to entertain queries on the status of the visa before expiry of the above timeline. For status of your application, you may drop an email at  visa[dot]wellington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in  or at  cons[dot]wellington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in .

9. Jurisdiction of High Commission of India:

The High Commission of India, Wellington has jurisdiction over New Zealand, Republic of Samoa, Niue, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. It will be able to accept visa applications only from those who are present in its jurisdiction. Those who are not residing in the jurisdiction of this High Commission may contact the Indian Embassy / High Commission / Consulate General having jurisdiction over the area of their residence.

III) Vaccination requirement before entering India

Persons arriving from Yellow Fever endemic countries or those who have visited such countries during the past 6 days immediately preceding their entry into India will be required to possess a valid certificate of Yellow Fever vaccination from an authorized vaccination centre. Persons arriving from a country having public health risk may be required to undergo medical screening or additional measures as decided by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India.

IV. Use of Satellite phones is illegal in India

All foreign nationals visiting India are advised not to carry / use Thuraya / Iridium satellite phones in India. These phones are strictly illegal in India and any violation in this regard shall have serious consequences and the users are liable for prosecution under Indian laws.

V. Frequently asked questions on visa:

1) Do I need a visa to go to India? A) Yes, all foreigners, except citizens of Nepal and Bhutan (in limited circumstances) need a visa to enter India by air, sea or land.

2) Can I get a visa on arrival to enter India? A) No. There is no facility of visa on arrival in India except for nationals of Japan in limited circumstances.

3) Does India have Electronic Visa (E-Visa) facility? A) Yes. E-visa facility is available to nationals of certain countries, which includes New Zealand. For more details including the complete list of countries whose citizens are eligible for E-visa, visit the link  https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . E-visa facility is not controlled or administered by the High Commission of India. Any queries in regard to e-visa may be addressed to  indiatvoa[at]gov[dot]in . High Commission of India has no control over processing of E-visa applications and accepts and processes only regular visa applications.

4) Can I get medical treatment or do a short time job or attend a business meeting on tourist visa in India?  A) Tourist visa is strictly meant for recreation, sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, for attending a short term yoga programme (not resulting in a certificate / diploma at the end of the course) or for short duration medical treatment including treatment under Indian system of medicine. Employment visa should be applied for taking up any job in India and business visa should be applied for any business meetings in India.

5) What is the difference between Tourist Visa and Entry Visa? A) A person of Indian origin, who does not possess an OCI card, spouse and children of such person are eligible for Entry Visa and must apply for Entry Visa instead of Tourist Visa since Entry Visa has far fewer restrictions than Tourist Visa. For example, during each visit a person on tourist visa can stay only upto 90 days whereas there is no such restriction on Entry Visa.

6) Can I study in India? A) Yes, with a valid student visa for a regular study programme conducted by a recognized university / educational institution.

7) Can I work in India? A) Yes, with a valid employment visa.

8) I travel to India frequently for business meetings / to explore opportunities for partnerships with Indian companies. Which visa should I apply for? A) You may apply for business visa with the required documents. For getting long term Business Visa with multiple entries, it is mandatory to enroll your biometric features at the High Commission Reception counter. Without Biometric enrolment you can get Business Visa upto one year validity with up to three entries. You may book an appointment for biometric registration telephonically. Kindly note that a Business Visa does not permit you to work in India. In case you wish to work in India, you should apply for Employment Visa.

9) I have to participate in a Conference / Seminar / Workshop in India. Which visa should I apply for? A) You should apply for a Conference Visa along with an invitation letter from event organizers and clearances from competent authorities for holding the event.

10) Do I need a Transit Visa for changing flights / airports in India in order to travel to my final destination? A) Transit Visa for India is  NOT  required if you are not leaving the plane or the designated transit area of Indian airports. Transit Visa is required if you are going to leave the designated transit area of the airport or going from international to domestic terminal of any Indian airport or if you are having a short stay in India for upto 72 hours enroute to another foreign destination. You should have a confirmed air ticket for the onward journey before applying for Transit Visa. You may check with the airlines whether your travel involves leaving the designated area of an international airport in India or transfer from International to domestic terminal in India.

11) I intend to travel at a much later date. Can my visa be issued to coincide with the date of travel? A) No. There is no system of issuing post dated visas and the validity of regular visas starts from the date of issue and not from the date of entry into India. Validity of E-visas is 2 months starting from the date of entry into India. You cannot apply more than 120 days before your intended date of travel to India.

12) I have to go to India for internship / training in a company / educational institution / NGO in India for a short period. Which visa should I apply for? A) You should apply for Intern Visa along with a copy of a letter from the Indian company / educational institution / NGO, clearly indicating the period of internship. Interns sponsored by AIESEC for social or community work in NGOs and for project-based work in companies may also apply for Intern Visa. For specific queries about Intern Visa, send an email to  visa[dot]wellington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in .

13) Do I need a visa for my pet who is accompanying me on my visit to India? A) No, you do not need visa for taking your pet to India. However, you need to follow certain customs and vaccination related regulations for taking your pet to India.

14) Can I send one cheque and self-addressed courier bag for multiple visa applications? A) No. Cheuqes are not accepted w.e.f. 01 May 2021. Please make the payment by bank transfer.

15) I had applied for Indian visa but I have changed my mind. Can I claim a refund of the visa fee? A) Visa fees are non-refundable. Once the visa application is accepted, fee cannot be refunded even if the visa is refused / not granted.

16) I have to travel to India on an emergency. Is there any extra charge for urgent processing of visa application? A) Visa application can be processed on emergency basis only under compelling medical and humanitarian emergencies. If the applicant is able to prove the emergency to the visa officer, application can be processed on urgent basis on payment of prescribed expediting fee of NZ$90 per application. Please see the latest notification by clicking here .

17) I will be studying in India for one semester / trimester in an Indian university. Which visa should I apply for? A) You should apply for a student visa along with a copy of the letter from the institute / university confirming your acceptance as a student. You would also be required to submit proof of financial standing to support your stay in India.

18) I will be going to India for work / employment along with my family. Which visa should I apply for myself and my family? Would my children be able to study in India? A) You should apply for employment visa both for yourself and your dependent family members accompanying you. Yes, your children will be able to study in India during the validity of your visas.

NOTE: If your query is still not answered above, you may drop us an email at  visa[dot]wellington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in  or  cons[dot]wellington[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in . It may be appreciated that because of large volume of telephone calls, it is not always possible to answer telephone calls. However, it is our endeavour to reply to all emails promptly.

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India Journalist visa

India offers a journalist visa to international journalists wishing to work in the country. This visa allows them to stay in India for up to six months and conduct research on various topics related to the country. Journalists can also use this visa to report on events in India or to interview people on the ground. The visa also grants access to restricted areas and gives journalists access to government information. This visa is an important tool for international journalists to gain access to the country and report on events with accuracy and integrity.

Travel the region

Allows journalists to travel to India for extended periods of time to conduct re ... Read more

Access offices

Facilitates access to government offices and other resources critical for journa ... Read more

Entry convenience

Offers the convenience of a single-entry and multiple-entry options.

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Offers protection from legal harassment by the Indian government for reporting a ... Read more

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Embassy of India Rome, Italy

• Home ›   Consular Wing ›   Visa Services ›   Visa Type ›   Journalist Visa

Journalist Visas are granted to professional journalists, pressmen, photographers, film-men, representatives of radio and television and similar personnel in the field of information. Original Journalist card has to be presented at the visa counter and a photocopy of the same should be attached with the visa application along with the assignment letter in original issued by the media organization.

Documents to be attached with Visa application:

1. Printout of Online Visa application form with uploaded photo.

2. Passport

3. Old passport and other nationality passport, if any / declarations

4. Residence proof (More than 2 years residence) or dully filled Fax form for non-residents

5. Proof of availability of sufficient money to spend during the stay in India.

6. Assignment letter in original issued by the media organization.

7. Photocopy of Journalist card along with original journalist card.

8. All pages of the documentation submitted should be self-attested by the applicant.

All pages of the documentation submitted should be self-attested by the applicant

All Visa seekers are required to attach copy of their latest passport with the visa application submitted to the Embassy of India, Rome

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Australian Journalist Says She Was Pushed Out of India

Avani Dias said that she had been denied a visa renewal for weeks because of her reporting on the Sikh separatist movement. Indian officials disputed her account.

By Sameer Yasir and Yan Zhuang

A senior journalist with Australia’s national broadcaster says she was effectively pushed out of India after her reporting on Sikh separatism angered the Indian government, accusing the authorities of hindering her from going to events, seeking to have her reporting taken down and refusing for weeks to renew her visa.

Avani Dias, the South Asia correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, said on social media that Indian officials told her last month that her application for a resident journalist visa extension would not be approved because a television segment she had produced on accusations that India was responsible for the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada had “crossed the line.”

She was eventually granted a temporary visa extension at the last minute after lobbying by the Australian government, less than a day before she was scheduled to leave the country, Ms. Dias said in her podcast, “ Looking for Modi .” But she said that she ultimately decided to leave because “it felt too difficult to do my job in India.”

“I was struggling to get into public events run by Modi’s party,” Ms. Dias said on the podcast, which was about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Indian government has disputed Ms. Dias’ account and said she was assured by high ranking officials that her visa would be renewed.

Her departure came amid a broader crackdown on free speech in the country and raids on journalists reporting on sensitive topics. During his 10 years leading the nation, Mr. Modi has consolidated power in India and across its institutions, challenging the founding principles of modern India, like secularism and freedom of the press. He is seeking a third term in parliamentary elections that begun this month.

In March, Ms. Dias produced a television segment about the accusations made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada last year that agents acting on behalf of the Indian government were behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist, on Canadian soil. The half-hour documentary examined the movement, which advocates for a separate Sikh state called Khalistan to be carved out of the Indian state of Punjab.

During the half-hour documentary, which was broadcast in Australia and uploaded on social media, she detailed how permission for her and her crew to film at the border between Punjab and Pakistan had suddenly been revoked by Indian officials without explanation, and how she had been quizzed by Indian officials about her crew and the places she had visited to report on the story.

“It’s clear that we’re being really monitored and that there’s concern about the story that we’re doing,” she said.

On March 26, less than a week after the documentary was broadcast, the Indian government successfully sought to have YouTube block the video from showing in India.

The next day, Ms. Dias was told by a representative of the Ministry of External Affairs that her application for a visa extension would not be renewed, according to a person directly familiar with the situation but who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue. Ms. Dias notified the Australian government, and Australian diplomats began to lobby for her visa, the person said.

After weeks of bureaucratic back and forth, Ms. Dias received her visa extension on the evening of Apr. 18, the person said. But with her flight back to Australia departing the next day, and having already packed up her life in India, she made the decision to leave, Ms. Dias said in her podcast. She left on the first day of voting in India’s national election.

A senior Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, refuted her account, saying Ms. Dias had been told well in advance that her visa would be extended.

The official said that Ms. Dias had violated terms of her previous visa by attempting to film at the India-Pakistan border, which requires permission. Ms. Dias previously said she had sought and been granted that permission before it was revoked at the last minute.

Ms. Dias had not been prevented from covering India’s election, but had her accreditation delayed because she had not yet received her visa extension, the Indian official said, adding that her colleagues at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation had been given accreditation to cover the elections.

Ms. Dias’ departure adds to mounting concerns about press freedom in India, where Indian journalists have come under heavy pressure from the Modi administration.

Foreign journalists in India are reporting more pressure, as well. In February, Vanessa Dougnac, a French freelance correspondent, said she had been forced to leave India, where she had lived for 25 years, after the authorities told her that they intended to withdraw her permanent residency permit.

The authorities accused her of producing reporting that was “malicious and critical in manner,” and creating a “biased negative perception about India.” They said that she had worked as a journalist without holding a valid permit, after revoking her work permit in September 2022 without a clear reason.

Sameer Yasir covers news from India and other countries in the region. He is based in New Delhi. More about Sameer Yasir

Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul who covers breaking news. More about Yan Zhuang

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Consulate General of India Hong Kong & Macau

• Home ›   Consular Services ›   Visa Information

(Please carefully read General Instructions before filling the application form)

Applications for Indian Visa are to be submitted to the Consulate General of India, Hong Kong through its external application service centre (managed by M/s BLS  International Services Limited )  located at Room 2302, Olympia Plaza, 255 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong.  on any working day (Monday to Friday) except designated holidays between 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM . The timing for collection of documents is 04:00 PM to 05:30 PM.

Applicants must book prior appointment, online at https://blsinternational.co/hongkong/bls_appmnt/instructions , before visiting the external application service centre to submit the Indian visa application.

Contact Details of M/s BLS  International Services Limited : Website :  www.blsindia-hongkong.com Phone : +852 5808 0024   Fax : +852 2620 0341 Email Id :   info[dot]hk[at]blsinternational[dot]net

Note: No prior appointment is required for Diplomatic, Official, Service and UN Passport holders requiring Indian Visa and visa application may be submitted directly at Indian Consulate located at Unit- D, 16th Floor, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong between 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM.

• Some fake websites are reported to be duping those who seek Visa for India. Therefore, it is requested that all visa, passport, consular and other services seekers should exercise utmost caution while accessing the websites for Indian Visa.
• Applicants are required to fill  online visa application only at   http://indianvisaonline.gov.in
• Please select Indian Mission CHINA-HONG KONG
• Please note down the Temporary Application ID: (Your Information will be saved if you click save button or continue to next page. If you exit without doing either of that, your information will be lost. Minimum field required for partial save is up to Date of Birth)
• Please duly fill all the particulars including permanent and present address, e-mail id, mobile and phone number. Also mention the name and phone number of references/contacts correctly. Applications without complete details are liable to be rejected.
• Recent color photograph as per  Photo specifications is to be uploaded and submitted with visa application.
• The applicant has to take a printout of the online visa application form, starting with CHNH, and signed copy of the same with all relevant documents as required for the particular type of visa to be submitted at external application service centre (managed by M/s BLS  International Services Limited ) located at Room 2302, Olympia Plaza, 255 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong  on any working day (Monday to Friday) except designated holidays between 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM.
• Applicants must book prior appointment, online at https://www.blsindia-hongkong.com/bookappointmentinstruction.php , before visiting the external application service centre to submit the Indian visa application.
• Applicants are required to come in person for submitting the application as biometric data and photo are required to be captured at the time of submission of visa application.
• Persons above the age of 70 and children below 12 years of age are exempted from bio-metric enrollment. The visa applications for applicants falling in this category may be submitted by their representatives with proper authority letter.
• All original documents are required to be kept ready for verification during submission of Visa application. These will be returned after verification.
• Even if, the application is accepted at external application service centre (managed by M/s BLS  International Services Limited ), Consulate reserves the right to ask for further documentation from applicant. Applicant in that case is required to provide additional documents, for further processing of visa application.
• Visa Fee is to be paid in cash. Visa fee may vary for different nationalities and type of Visa. Please visit Visa Fee Schedule for details. Please note that in addition to the prescribed visa fee, a service fee of HK$ 47 will be charged by M/s BLS for each application. Value added services (VAS) offered by M/s BLS are optional services and will be charged separately, if the applicant chooses to avail those services. Applicants are free to avail these services from other places of their choice also.Applicants may note that Visa fee is processing charges and it will not be refunded even if Visa is not granted or granted for a shorter period than applied for.
• CGI Hong Kong issues Visas to applicants residing in Hong Kong and Macau only. Non-residents can apply for Visa at external application service centre however visa to non-residents will be granted only if their justification to submit visa applications in Hong Kong and not in their places of residence is acceptable to CGI HK. Short validity single entry visas will normally be issued to such applicants.
• In normal cases subject to application being complete and in order, it takes five working days for HK and Macau residents and eight working days for non-residents to grant visa. There are certain categories of Visa/Nationalities which may require long processing time extending upto 1-2 months. BLS/ Consulate would advise the applicants once such categories/nationalities of persons submit their visa applications. In some cases, Consulate may require additional documentation and also ask the applicant to come in person for interview, which may result in extended processing time. Therefore, the applicants are advised to apply well in advance.
• Acceptance of Visa application does not guarantee grant of Visa. Consulate reserves the right to reject visa application without assigning any reason.
• Once Visa is granted, its type and duration cannot be changed or amended. All Visas are valid from date of issue, not from date of arrival in India. Applicants must enter and exit India before the date of expiry mentioned on the visa.
• All travelers to India are advised to check the latest immigration and entry regulations before travel.
• Applicants must ensure that while applying visa their Passport should have at least six months validity and minimum full two blank pages.
• Applicants must be in Hong Kong/Macau at the time of application for visa.
• Sponsorship certificate  is required for Visitor Visa from Pakistani national
• Form-I  from Pakistani nationals and persons of Pakistan origin
• In addition to Visa application form, some applicants depending upon case-to-case basis may be required to fill in the  Personal Particular Form

(i) All applicants are requested not to deal with other websites that do not belong to the Government of India and apply for Indian visa only at http://indianvisaonline.gov.in (ii) Government of India makes no provision of charging of any emergency fees or additional fees for grant of any emergency / express visa. (iii) Use of satellite phones (including Thuraya, Iridium, BGAN, Inmarsat etc) is banned in India; unauthorized possession & use is a punishable offence. All foreigners visiting India are advised not to carry any kind of satellite telephone into India. All visa applicants are required to submit a self undertaking as per Form-II to this effect. (iv) Foreign nationals intending to visit a place falling in the Protected/ Restricted Area in India may submit an application for the grant of  Protected/Restricted   Area Permit  to Concerned offices in particular Indian states  OR  nearest Indian Mission/Post. This requirement is in addition to getting an Indian visa. It will take shorter time, if the travelers apply for RAP from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) /Resident Commissioners of the Concerned State Govt. through nearest metropolitan City  OR  through travel/tour operators in India. If travelers apply in Indian Mission/Post abroad, it will take around 5-6 weeks to process. For more details please visit:  https://mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/AnnexVII_01022018.pdf (v) Consulate will not be responsible for any loss of bookings made in anticipation of grant of Visa. (vi) Visa applicants/ prospective traveller to India may make themselves aware of other rules like Airline guidelines, baggage rules, Indian Custom and Immigration rules etc before travelling to India to avoid inconvenience.

(C) Types of Indian Visa and documentations required

• Diplomatic/Official/United Nations Passport holders
• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa (including for dependents and for sports)
• Employment Visa (including for dependents)
• Student Visa
• Conference Visa
• Journalist Visa
• Transit Visa
• Medical Visa (including for attendants)
• Transfer of Visa
• Visitor Visa for Pakistani nationals

Diplomatic, Official, Service and UN Passport holders requiring Indian Visa may submit visa application directly to the Consular section of Indian Consulate located at Unit D, 16th Floor, United Centre, 95, Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong between 9.30 AM to 12.30 PM. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• One printed copy of the online visa application form duly signed on both pages
• One recent photograph as per photo specifications
• Diplomatic/Official/Service/UN passport with at least two blank pages and minimum 6 months validity
• Copy of profile page of the passport. If applicant is holding dual/multiple nationality, copy of profile page of all passports
• Copy of Consular Corps/HK/Macau/UN ID
• Note Verbale in original clearly mentioning the purpose and duration of visit
• Self undertaking as per Form-II regarding use of satellite phone
• General self-undertaking as per Form-III

Note: Please carefully read General Instructions before filling the application form

Tourist Visa   is issued to a person to visit India whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, short duration medical treatment including treatment under Indian systems of medicine, short term courses on local languages, music, dance, arts & crafts, cooking, medicine etc. which should not be a formal or structured course/ programme (courses not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma etc.), and voluntary work of short duration (for a maximum period of one month, which do not involve any monetary payment or consideration of any kind in return) etc. and no other purpose/ activity. Short term yoga programme means a yoga programme not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma etc. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Original passport with at least two blank pages and minimum 6 months validity
• Copy of profile page of passport. If applicant is holding dual/multiple nationality, copy of profile page of all passports
• Copy of Hong Kong/Macau ID for residents and copy of valid HK/Macau visa for non residents
• Proof of travel as tourists such as (i) leave/vacation letter from employer, (ii) tour package receipts/details booked with travel agents (if applicable), (iii) details of itinerary with return/onward journey tickets, (iv) copy of bank statement for last three months (v) proof of stay i.e. either hotel booking or letter from Indian reference along with an address proof and a photo ID of Indian reference.
• Form-IV  providing complete details of travel

Additional Important information regarding Tourist Visa:

Tourist Visa is non-extendable, non-convertible and   there should be a gap of 2 months between two successive visits to India for the nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistani origin and Stateless persons . In case of requirement to visit India within two months, special permission should be sought from the concerned Indian Mission. Such applications will be permitted only in emergency conditions like death/serious illness in the family, non-availability of connecting flights to return to his/her country of origin or travel to another country or any other exigent situation which can be duly justified with proper documentation. The Consulate will examine each case on merits. In case permission is accorded, registration with the local FRRO/FRO (Foreigners Registration Office) would be required within 14 days of arrival in India. The registration should be done with the FRRO/FRO concerned preferably at the first place of visit on re-entry.

Business Visa is granted to the persons who wish to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture in India; Persons coming to India to purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables; Persons coming to India for technical meetings/discussions, attending Board meetings, general meetings for providing business services support; Persons coming to India for recruitment of manpower; Persons who are partners in the Business and/or functioning as Directors of the company; Persons coming to India for consultations regarding exhibitions or for participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, business fairs, etc; Persons buyers who come to transact business with suppliers/ potential suppliers at locations in India, to evaluate or monitor quality, give specifications, place orders, negotiate further supplies etc., relating to goods or services procured from India; Experts & specialists on a visit of short duration in connection with an ongoing project with the objective of monitoring the progress of the work, conducting meetings or to provide technical guidance; Persons coming to India for pre-sales or post-sales activity not amounting to actual execution of any contract or project; Persons Trainees of multinational companies/corporate houses coming for in-house training in the regional hubs of the concerned company located in India; Persons coming as tour conductors and travel agents and /or conducting business tours of foreigners or business relating to it. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Recommendation letter from the company in Hong Kong/Macau clearly mentioning the profile of the company and applicant including passport number. It should mention exact purpose of visit(s) and dates/durations of the same
• Business card/Name card of the applicant
• Invitation letter from Indian company stating purpose and duration of visit(s)
• Copy of the Hong Kong/Macau Business Registration certificate
• Copy of Certificate of Incorporation of Indian Company, PAN Card of Indian Company and ID Proof of signing authority of Indian invitation letter

Dependents of business visa applicants can apply for business visa (Dependent). Documents required are as mentioned for Business Visa and proof of relationship and dependency Business Visa for Sports Business Visa for sports is issued to members of the sports teams visiting India to participate in the International sports competitions organized in India. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• One printed copy of the online visa application form duly signed on both pages.
• Invitation from concerned sports association/authority in India
• Recommendation letter from concerned sports association in Hong Kong/Macau
• Permission letter from Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports of Government of India (GoI) to organizers of the sports event
• Political Clearance from Ministry of External Affairs of GoI
• Clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs of GoI (wherever applicable)

Employment visa is only granted to an applicant who is highly skilled and / or qualified professional and is not granted for unskilled, routine, ordinary or secretarial / clerical jobs. The foreign national being sponsored for an Employment Visa in any sector should draw a salary of more than Indian rupees 16.25 lakhs per annum. All applicants may please note that employment visa is granted only if the applicant is being paid salary in India by the Indian company. Employment Visa may be granted to the persons coming to India for employment in a company/firm/organization registered in India or for employment in a foreign company /firm/organization engaged for execution of some project in India; Persons engineers/technicians coming to India for installation and commissioning of equipments/machines/tools in terms of the contract for supply of such equipment/machine/tools; Persons personnel deputed for providing technical support/services, transfer of know-how/ services supplies for which the Indian company pays fees/royalty to the foreign company; Persons coming to India as consultant on contract for whom the Indian company pays a fixed remuneration (this may not be in the form of monthly salary); Persons artists engaged to conduct regular performances for the duration of the employment contract given by Hotels, Clubs, and other organizations; Persons who are coming to India to take up employment as coaches of national/state level teams or reputed sports clubs; Persons sportsmen who are given contract for a specified period by the Indian Clubs/organizations; Self-employed Persons coming to India for providing engineering, medical, accounting, legal or such other highly skilled services in their capacity as independent consultants provided the provision of such services by foreign nationals is permitted under law; language teachers/interpreters; specialist Chefs; those going to India to India for Employment in NGOs or doing Volunteer work with NGOs. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Offer of appointment from the employer in India clearly mentioning the profile of the employer and complete details of the profile & passport of the applicant
• Copy of employment contract mentioning terms and conditions, including nature of job, details of emoluments, tax related issues signed by both employer and prospective employee
• Letter from Indian employer stating/justifying requirement to recruit the position from outside India
• Copy of registration of company/Institute in India
• Recommendation from Hong Kong/Macau Company (in case of transfer/secondment)
• Resume/C.V. showing qualification and work experience of the applicant.
• Form-V  providing additional details required for employment visa

Dependents of employment visa applicants can apply for employment visa (Dependent). Documents required are as mentioned for employment Visa and proof of relationship and dependency

Student Visa is issued to a foreigner whose sole objective is to pursue on-campus, full time (structured) courses (including English and other language courses and vocational education) at educational institutions (Central/ State Government Educational Institutions & Private Educational Institutions) duly recognized by statutory regulatory body and have acquired statutory authorization to conduct the course(s) complying with GST regulations; for higher education including in South Asian University and Nalanda University; for student exchange programme; for school education; for studies in Yoga, Vedic Culture and Indian Systems of Music and dance; for Buddhist studies (institution should be recognized by Ministry of Home affairs, GoI for admitting foreign students); for Theological Studies; for missionary students; for research scholar, visiting Research faculty, research scholar on bilateral exchange programme, members of botanical, scientific, anthropological expeditions; for those coming for internship in India (including those coming under French VIE programme; applicants who intend to pursue internship in Indian companies, educational institutions and NGOs; interns who are sponsored by Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales(AIESEC). Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Letter of admission from recognized Indian institution
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Letter from parent (in case of minor) regarding financial support along with copy of his/her Hong Kong/Macau ID and bank statement.
• Proof of fees paid
• Copy of letter issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI to institution stating that the institution is recognized for admitting foreign students for study of yoga, vedic culture/Indian system of dance/music, as applicable
• No objection Certificate from Ministry of Health, GOI to institution stating that the institution is recognized for admitting foreign students (in case of admission to medical or Para-medical course)

Eligibility Criteria/Additional Documentation for Student Visa for Internship in India

• The student visa for internship visa will be granted to those who have completed their graduation/post-graduation. The gap between the completion of graduation/post-graduation and the commencement of the internship should not be more than one year. In case the internship is in a Company, the foreign national being sponsored by internship should draw a minimum remuneration of Indian Rupees 7.80 lakhs per annum. There will be no minimum salary limit in the case of internship in educational institutional and NGOs. Earnings from internship will be subjected to the Indian Income Tax Regulations.
• A letter from the Indian company/educational institution/NGO concerned sponsoring for internship programme which inter-alia includes the following information: Name of company/institute/NGO in India, Address, Phone/Fax, Email, duration of internship in months, annual remuneration to be received in INR, and undertaking from the Indian company/organization concerned that they will ensure departure of the intern on completion of the internship.

Conference Visa is granted for the duration of the conference to those who are going to India for attending an international conference/seminar/workshop etc. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• A copy of the invitation letter from the organiser in India.
• Letter from the participant/employer to establish credentials of the applicant
• Clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs, GOI for foreigners participating in conferences/seminars/workshops etc (In case they are from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistani origin and Stateless persons)
• Political Clearances issued by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of GoI

Journalist Visa is issued to professional journalists, photographers, film producers/directors (other than commercial films), a representative of radio or television organisation, travel writers/photographers etc. travelling to India for work-related purposes; A correspondent, columnist, cartoonist, editor or professional journalist working for an association/company engaged in production or broadcast of audio news or audio visual news or current affairs programme through print media, electronic or any other form; Journalists visiting India for any other purpose like tourism. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Sponsorship letter from the media house in Hong kong/Macau giving purpose and details of visit. In case applicant is Freelancer, accreditation letter from the local Journalist Association.
• A letter of invitation from an Indian company/sponsor (wherever applicable)
• Declaration in respect of equipment being carried, if any
• Declaration in respect of engaging an Indian liaison officer (wherever applicable)
• Journalists, editors, writers, publishers, etc. who are visiting India for purposes like tourism are requested to provide an undertaking from self and employers that they would not engage in any journalistic or reporting activities during their visit to India

Additional Important information regarding Journalist Visa:

• The applicants are required to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places, the Office of the Government of India's Press Information Bureau, so that they could be given necessary assistance in various matters including planning their itineraries.
• There is no requirement for accreditation for journalists on brief professional visits to India, but temporary accreditation may be extended for journalists from reputed media organizations, if so requested by them. However, all journalists on long-term assignment in India are obliged to apply compulsorily for accreditation with Press Information Bureau (PIB). This can only be done after arrival in India.
• Journalist visas are extendable after arrival in India, for representatives of established media organizations, on the basis of letters of nomination specifying the duration of assignment and provided they hold valid PIB accreditation. Extensions are issued for up to one year at a time. Visa extensions are issued by the nearest FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) in the city where the journalist is based.
• For details on documentary filming please refer to  www.mea.gov.in/documentary-filming-in-india.htm .

For foreign nationals coming for shooting of a feature film, reality TV show, Web Shows/Series, commercial TV serials/Shows and location recee. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form: Additional Documents to be submitted along with Visa application form:

• Copy of permission letter from Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, GoI for shooting of film
• A letter indicating type of production, complete address of shooting location,Phone/Fax, Email id of Local unit

Additional Important information regarding Film Visa:

• Four copies of the detailed shooting script in case of feature film and detailed concept in case of TV show/ TV serials, details of visiting film crew and location of film shooting shall be submitted by the foreign team to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for scrutiny and clearance. Proposal can either be forwarded directly or through an Indian Mission abroad. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi may levy a fee for scrutiny of the application.
• The film has to be shot according to the script, as approved by the Government of India. In case any material deviation is considered necessary, prior permission of the Government of India has to be obtained by the foreign team.
• Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will attach a liaison officer to the foreign team. He will stay and travel with the team. The actual expenses on the boarding, lodging and travel of the liaison officer, in connection with the shooting of the film, will be met by the Government of India.
• The shooting of the film must be done in the presence of the liaison officer (where liaison officer has been attached) who will, as part of his/ her duties, ensure that nothing detrimental to the image of India or the Indian people will be shot or included in the film. Should a disagreement arise in this respect, the matter shall be referred to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting whose decision shall be final. 
• The foreign team must show the complete film to a representative of the Government of India, in India or abroad (i.e. an Indian Mission abroad), before its actual release anywhere in the world after the film has been recommended by the expert who has scrutinized the script and certified that the film has nothing objectionable from the point of view of presentation of a correct and balanced image of the topic/ country covered. In case the foreign team desires to show the film to an Indian Mission abroad, the name of the Mission must be specified by the foreign team in advance. No portion of the film should be shown in the open forum without prior approval of the Government of India.
• Local permission, wherever required, must be obtained by the filming team from the local authorities. The list of equipment to be temporarily imported in connection with the shooting is required to be submitted to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in advance, who will issue recommendations to the Customs authorities to exempt such temporary import from Customs Duty. 
• If the film is a joint venture (Indo-foreign collaboration), the detailed agreement between the Indian and foreign party shall be furnished to the Government of India for specific clearance. 
• After the shooting is completed in India, a report giving the details of actual shots taken shall be provided, in duplicate, to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting by the Liaison Officer, in cases where a Liaison Officer has been attached with the filming unit. 
• An undertaking will be required to be given to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in case any assistance is sought from any Ministry of Government of India or from any State Government/ UT. Separate agreements, as stipulated by these Ministries will, however, have to be signed with them by the foreign team. 
• The maximum number of crew for a specific film being shot by an international production company that can be allowed under this visa regime will be 125, unless the project is of such scale that it necessitates the presence of a larger international crew in India which will be allowed on case to case basis including list of designations of the cast and crew that normally constitute part of a film shoot. The Production Company requesting for issuance of such visas may be permitted to submit the visa applications in batches depending upon schedules and requirements instead of submission of complete list of crew.
• The international cast and crew coming to India on a film visa for the film shoot shall be employed by the foreign company seeking permission to shoot the film in India and the company shall take the responsibility for the cast and crew coming to India for filming. The foreigners coming on Film Visa will have to register himself/ herself with the FRRO/ FRO concerned irrespective of the duration of the Film Visa/ stay of the foreigner in India.
• The foreigners being given the film visa may need to demonstrate that they have adequate means to support themselves in India and may need to demonstrate that they have incentive to return to their place of residence when the said Visa expires. 
• Foreigners being given film visa should refrain from commenting on any issues relating to insurgency (if any) in the areas, participating in missionary activities, meeting banned outfits or its over ground/ underground functionaries.
• The foreigners should strictly adhere to the norms and regulations of foreigner’s guidelines during their stay in the country and visit only the areas permitted for their visit. They should not visit any restricted/ protected area or prohibited place without prior permission of the competent authority.
• Money transaction for shooting of film should be done as per RBI guidelines.
• For comprehensive details on Film Visa please refer to website https://ffo.gov.in/en/permissions/step-by-step-guide

Transit visas are issued for transiting through India. It is valid for 15 days from the date of issue of the Visa. Applicant is permitted to stay for only 72 hrs in transit. Transit Visa must be obtained before departure. Transit Visas can't be obtained from immigration counters at ports of entry in India. Evidence of confirmed onward travel to a destination outside India is required. Passengers having a connecting flight for onward journey and who do not intend to leave the airport or pass through the Immigration do not need a Transit Visa. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Copy of confirmed tickets of onward journey from India.
• Recommendation and invitation letters from the shipping companies in Hong Kong/India stating details of 'joining' the concerned vessel (for seaman only)

Foreign nationals of Indian origin and spouse/children of Indian nationals/person of Indian origin are eligible for entry visa which may be granted for a period of six months to five years depending on the purpose and the status of the applicant. This type of visa entitles the holder to a continuous stay in India up to six months on each visit and may allow a continuous stay beyond six months (180 days) provided the holder registers himself/herself with the nearest Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within two weeks of arrival in India. In addition, foreign nationals coming to India to join Auroville Foundation, Aurobindo Ashram, Missionaries of charity, Temples or similar approved organizations and certain other categories to be decided by the Consulate are also granted entry visa. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Copy of last held Indian Passport, Form-XXII (issued by the concerned Indian Mission/Post at the time of surrender of Indian passport) and Surrender Certificate/ Deemed Surrender Certificate (for persons of Indian origin).
• Nationalization Certificate
• Copy of last held Indian passport, Form-XXII (issued by the concerned Indian Mission/Post at the time of surrender of Indian passport) and surrender/deemed surrender certificate (if applicable) of parents/spouse or OCI/PIO card of parents/spouse along with birth certificate/marriage certificate *

* Marriage and birth certificate; (i) Issued in India and submitted along with visa application must be first apostilled by MEA as per the details at https://www.mea.gov.in/apostille.htm .

(ii) I ssued in Hong Kong/Macau, submitted along with visa application like birth/marriage/death/divorce must be apostilled by respective High Court.

(iii) Issued in third country (other than India/Hong Kong/Macau) must be first authenticated by Indian mission in that country or mission of that country in Hong Kong/Macau.

11. Medical Visa Medical Visa is issued for the purpose of seeking medical treatment in recognised/specialised treatment centres in India. Medical documents establishing the need for medical treatment in India along with the offer of treatment from a recognised medical institution in India are necessary to consider grant of Medical Visa. Proof of availability of sufficient funds for the duration of stay and the expenses for medical treatment in India should also be submitted with confirmed return tickets. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Offer of treatment from recognized Hospital in India
• Recommendation letter from treating Doctor from Hong Kong/Macau to undergo treatment in India.
• Bank statement as proof of financial standing 
• As per the latest instructions, commissioning of surrogacy in India by foreign nationals (including OCI cardholders) is not permitted and no visa is now granted for this purpose

Medical attendant visa is issued to family members/attendants of patients who are granted medical visa to undergo treatment in India. Following additional documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Letter from Medical authorities in Hong Kong specifying the requirement of medical attendant
• Letter from Indian Hospital authorities recommending the need of medical attendant.
• Copy of Medical Visa of the patient who is required to be accompanied by the applicant (in case medical visa is already issued)

Applicants can apply for this service to transfer an already issued valid visa on an old passport to a new valid passport. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Original new passport with at least two blank pages and minimum 6 months validity
• Original old passport containing valid visa and copy of profile page of old passport
• Copy of valid visa page in the old passport

Pakistani nationals are not eligible to apply for tourist visa. Instead, Pakistani nationals those coming to visit relatives or friends are required to apply for visit visa. Following documents are to be submitted along with visa application form:

• Proof of travel such as leave/vacation letters from employers, tour package receipts booked from travel agents, self-made tours including details planned itinerary and copy of latest bank statement
• Sponsorship certificate , Form-1 and Personal Particular Form  

14. In addition to above categories of visa, Consulate General of India in Hong Kong also issues Mountaineering Visa (for foreign nationals coming to India for mountaineering expeditions), Missionary Visa (for foreign nationals coming to India whose sole objective is missionary work in approved organisations not involving preaching) and Pilgrim Visa for Pakistani nationals (for Pakistani nationals coming to India for pilgrim purpose under religious protocol). Please contact Indian Consulate or external application service centre (managed by M/s BLS  International Services Limited)  for further details.

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Reporting in India ‘too difficult’ under Modi, says departing Australian journalist

Despite eventual visa backflip by authorities, ABC’s south-Asia correspondent Avani Dias left after being made to ‘feel so uncomfortable’

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The south-Asia correspondent for Australia’s national broadcaster, Avani Dias, has been forced out of India after her reporting fell foul of the Indian government, in a sign of the increasing pressure on journalists in the country under Narendra Modi .

Dias, who has been based in Delhi for the ABC since January 2022, said she felt the government had made it “too difficult” for her to continue to do her job, claiming it blocked her from accessing events, issued takedown notices to YouTube for her news stories, and then refused her a standard visa renewal.

Dias was told by the Indian government that her visa, which was due for renewal, would be blocked, she says in the final episode of her podcast, Looking for Modi.

The decision came after the Indian government issued a takedown notice to YouTube for an episode of Foreign Correspondent, the ABC’s flagship international news program, that she reported.

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The episode covered the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , a Sikh separatist, in Canada last year. Canada accused the Indian government of being involved in his murder, straining relations between the two nations .

Dias says a ministry official called to inform her of the decision regarding her visa.

“He specifically said it was because of my Sikh separatist story, saying it had gone too far,” she said.

Australia lobbied India on Dias’ behalf, and less than 24 hours before Dias and her partner were due to leave the country, the Indian government overturned its decision and renewed her visa for two months.

However, Dias said that by this point it was clear that it would be too difficult for her to stay and continue her work as an independent journalist. She returned to Australia on the weekend.

“It felt too difficult to do my job in India. I was struggling to get into public events run by Modi’s party, the government wouldn’t even give me the passes I need to cover the election and the ministry left it all so late, that we were already packed up and ready to go,” she said in her podcast.

“It’s all by design. The Narendra Modi government has made me feel so uncomfortable that we decided to leave. There’s always a feeling of unease that this sort of backlash could come your way as a journalist in India, I’ve felt it the whole time I’ve been here, so have my colleagues from other publications.”

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Since Modi came to power in 2014, foreign correspondents in India have faced increasing pressure from the government over their reporting. Foreign journalists have been given shorter visas after publishing stories critical of the Modi government and they have faced reprimands from government figures for coverage deemed negative. Those on foreign journalist visas also have restricted access to large swathes of the country, including the restive region of Kashmir.

Last year, the offices of the BBC were raided in Delhi and Mumbai by the Indian tax authorities after the broadcast of a documentary that examined Modi’s role in the 2001 Gujarat riots in which almost 800 Muslims were killed and took place when he was chief minister. The government also invoked emergency laws to ban the documentary being shared online.

Several foreign journalists who were working in India under OCI status, a special residency card given to those of Indian origin or who are married to Indians, have also had their permission to work as journalists revoked after they produced critical reports.

In January, Vanessa Dougnac, a French journalist who had lived in India for 22 years, said she left the country after the government denied her permission to work as a journalist and said they intended to cancel her OCI card, because her reports created a “biased negative perception of India”.

The managing director of the ABC, David Anderson, said: “The ABC fully backs and stands by the important and impactful reporting by Avani Dias during her time as ABC correspondent in India. Avani joins the Four Corners team as a reporter in coming weeks. The ABC believes strongly in the role of independent journalism across the globe, and freedom of the press outside Australia.”

Avani Dias and the Indian ministry of external affairs were contacted for comment.

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'India can speak on its visa policy': US on Australian journalist's visa row

US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel refrained from commenting on India's visa policies directly, stating, "The government of India can speak on its own visa policy. That is not something I am going to opine on from here."

• Updated Apr 26, 2024, 3:16 PM IST

In response to claims made by an Australian journalist regarding the denial of a visa extension, the United States has clarified India's right in determining its visa policies on Thursday.

The controversy arose when Avani Dias, the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), departed from India on April 19, citing visa extension denial. Dias alleged that her reporting had "crossed a line," which had resulted in the refusal of an extended visa by the Indian government.

Dias claimed, "After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension...less than 24 hours before my flight." She further stated that her election licence was withheld due to an Indian Ministry directive, prompting her departure on the first day of national elections.

Contradicting Dias's claims, sources within the Central government claimed that her allegations were inaccurate and misleading. They asserted that Dias had violated visa regulations in her professional pursuits. Despite this, she was assured an extension for election coverage upon request.

Dias's previous visa was valid until April 20, with the visa fee paid on April 18. Sources confirmed that her visa was extended until the end of June on the same day.

Sources further clarified that Dias voluntarily departed India on the same day, holding a valid visa with an approved extension. They falsified her assertion of being denied election coverage, stating it was factually incorrect.

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ABC journalist Avani Dias told routine visa extension would be denied, days after India targeted her work on YouTube

A BC News South Asia bureau chief Avani Dias was told a routine visa extension would be denied by the Indian government, days after it blocked her reporting on YouTube in the country. 

Dias was informed of the decision via a phone call from an official at the Ministry of External Affairs, who said her most recent Foreign Correspondent episode "crossed a line".

The episode covered the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year, which led to a major global dispute after Canada accused Indian government agents of involvement in his murder.

It was blocked on YouTube in India, along with a related news story.

After weeks of lobbying by Australian diplomats and the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, the Indian government finally overturned the decision and renewed the visa for two months  – less than 24 hours before Dias was due to leave the country.

"It felt too difficult to do my job in India. I was struggling to get into public events run by Modi's party, the government wouldn't even give me the passes I need to cover the election and the ministry left it all so late, that we were already packed up and ready to go," Dias said in an episode of her podcast, Looking for Modi .

"It's by design. The Narendra Modi government has made me feel so uncomfortable that we decided to leave."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has cracked down on international media who have reported on the Canadian killing in recent months, ahead of the general election that began on April 19, where he is seeking a third term.

Dias was also told she breached her visa by making a "documentary", despite her and other ABC journalists having filed 30-minute pieces for the program for years without issue. Other outlets make similar-length current affairs programs on the same visa.

During their investigation for the episode, the ABC crew faced pressure from Indian authorities.

They were questioned by Indian criminal intelligence officials about their reporting and were blocked from filming a public event in Punjab.

ABC managing director David Anderson said the broadcaster stood by Dias' reporting.

"The ABC fully backs and stands by the important and impactful reporting by Avani Dias during her time as ABC correspondent in India," he said.

"Avani joins the Four Corners team as a reporter in coming weeks. The ABC believes strongly in the role of independent journalism across the globe, and freedom of the press outside Australia."

Election underway

India has almost a billion registered voters, who started heading to the polls last week, in a rolling election with people in different parts of the country voting at different times over a month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a rare third term in office, which would see him hold power for 15 years by the conclusion of the term.

Mr Modi and the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hold a commanding majority of seats in parliament.

Reporters Without Borders has warned "press freedom is in crisis" in India, noting in its most recent report that an average of three or four journalists are killed in connection with their work in the country every year.

Dias will continue to cover the Indian election for ABC News now that she has returned to Australia before joining Four Corners, while her colleague Meghna Bali remains in Delhi.

"There's always a feeling of unease that this sort of backlash could come your way as a journalist in India," Dias said in her podcast.

"I've felt it the whole time I've been here. So have my colleagues from different publications."

Press freedom under pressure

Reports on the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh separatist movement and how other religious minorities are treated have been targeted by takedown orders.

On March 25, YouTube informed the ABC it had received a takedown order from India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) over the upload of Sikhs, Spies and Murder: Investigating India's Alleged Hit on Foreign Soil and a news package on a story about ASIO agents meeting with Sikh activists in Australia regarding Mr Nijjar's death.

YouTube said the specific order was "confidential" but said it came under India's Information Technology Act (2000).

At the time of the YouTube removal, the ABC said it stood by the journalism of the story.

"It was meticulously researched and balanced and sought an array of perspectives, and upholds the highest editorial standards," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"We defend the audience's fundamental right to access this story, regardless of their location."

Earlier in March, the Indian government had YouTube block access to a video by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Fifth Estate program that featured footage of Mr Nijjar's killing.

CBC said social media company X had also informed it the Indian government had sent a legal removal demand over the story.

"Indian law obligates X to withhold access to this content in India; however, the content remains available elsewhere," X said in an email to the CBC.

"We disagree with this action and maintain that freedom of expression should extend to these posts. Following the Indian legal process, we are in current communication with the Indian authorities."

A BBC documentary examining the role of Mr Modi during 2002 sectarian riots in the western state of Gujarat was also blocked under the legislation.

The Indian Finance Ministry also accused the BBC of tax evasion, with three days of searches in the British broadcaster's Delhi and Mumbai offices last February, just weeks after the BBC documentary aired.

Forced to leave India, alleges Australian journalist

Not true, govt rebuts her.

Australian journalist Avani Dias claimed on Tuesday that she had to leave India “abruptly” as the government told her an extension of her visa would be denied as her reporting has “crossed a line”.

Dias, who worked in India as the South Asia Bureau Chief for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) since January 2022, left the country last week.

However, an Indian government official who declined to be named described Dias’s contention that she wasn’t allowed to cover India’s general election and was compelled to leave the country, as “not correct”. The official added, “She left because she had to meet the timeline for another job offer in Australia. The reason for her leaving was not delay in issuance of visa but personal reasons.”

In a post on X, Dias said, “After Australian Government intervention, I got a mere two-month extension…less than 24 hours before my flight.” She added, “We were also told my election accreditation would not come through because of an Indian Ministry directive. We left on day 1 of voting in the National election in what Modi calls ‘the mother of democracy’.”

The development took place against the backdrop of the removal of Dias’s documentary on the killing last year of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada from YouTube India. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered a diplomatic row by saying there were “credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian government agents and the killing of Nijjar.

On March 24, YouTube sent an email to the Australian broadcaster that said it had received an order from India’s electronics and information technology ministry to block Dias’s documentary. Following this, ABC alleged their journalists were questioned in Punjab by the Criminal Intelligence Department and blocked from filming a public event at the India-Pakistan border despite having approvals.

The Indian government official said ABC’s documentary, titled “Sikhs, Murder and Spies” and aired on March 21, was shot without appropriate permissions. The BSF too had declined permission for the ABC team to shoot close to the Wagah land border because of security-related restrictions, the official said.

– The Hindustan Times

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New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered 

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 23rd, 2024 at 5:39 AM EDT

Destinations value Indian travelers, but lengthy visa processing times lasting months act as significant deterrents. The adoption of these new regulations by European authorities reflects a proactive effort to tackle these concerns, aiming to boost tourism flow.

Peden Doma Bhutia

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Indian travel agents had been complaining of Schengen visa delays as a major challenge to the summer travel rush from India.

• How does one qualify for the longer duration visas?

The European Commission can issue a two-year multiple-entry visa after a traveler “has obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.” This demonstrates a positive travel history and compliance with previous visa regulations.

Subsequently, after granting the two-year visa, authorities may issue a five-year visa if the passport has has adequate validity remaining.

• What benefits do holders of these extended visas enjoy?

During the validity period of these visas, holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals within the Schengen area, allowing for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

• Which countries are part of the Schengen area?

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 European Union member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden. Additionally, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen area.

• Are there any restrictions or conditions to these visas?

Schengen visas do not grant the right to work within the Schengen area and are for short stays only. Additionally, the visas are not purpose-bound, providing flexibility for travel within the specified period.

Industry Take

Skift also spoke to players in the Indian outbound travel industry to understand what has changed in the new Schengen visa rules.

• How is this different from the earlier visas that Schengen countries offered? Don’t they already offer multi-entry visas with longer duration to Indians?

Mahendra Vakharia, managing director of Pathfinders Holidays, said there was no standard policy of Schengen states for issuing these long-term visas earlier. Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Italy and Spain usually issued long-term visa, but it was all subjective. “With this new policy it should be a standard rule now,” Vakharia said.

• Travelers mainly complain of longer processing times, has that changed?

Here too, there is no standard processing time as it varies from country to country, according to Vakharia. “France and Spain have been processing visas within four days, and then there’s Croatia, which takes 60 days,” he said.

Processing time will not change as of now, it will take time for the visa rules to be enforced, said an industry source, while highlighting that the visa would be especially useful for corporate travelers.

What Promoted The Move?

Speaking on the possible motivations, Vakharia acknowledged various reasons, including administrative capacity constraints at embassies to cater to the huge inflow of applications.

“As there is an overwhelming demand from Indian travelers, the process of securing visa appointments has posed significant challenges , especially for travelers residing in cities lacking VFS Global centers,” he said.

The European Commission said in an statement that the decision reflects the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aimed at fostering comprehensive cooperation on migration policy. Facilitating people-to-people contacts is a key aspect of this agenda, acknowledging India’s importance as an EU partner.

The decision also reflects a realization of the strong economic benefits derived through the spending power of Indian tourists. As Vakharia aptly puts it, “Why let go of the Golden Indian Goodie Bag?”

Skift India Report

The Skift India Report is your go-to newsletter for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

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Tags: asia monthly , europe , european commission , European summer travel , european union , india , india outbound , schengen , visa , visas

Photo credit: Park Guell in Spain. Unlike many Schengen countries, Spain has been processing visas within four days for Indian travelers. Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz / Pexels

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New Delhi: Several foreign journalists have flagged a slew of challenges they face while reporting from India, which includes visa renewal pressures and lack of access to the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). These pressures, they say, have increased over the past three to four years — a charge denied by sources in the Indian government who said everyone must adhere to the law of the land.

These issues bubbled to the surface after two foreign correspondents, freelance French journalist Vanessa Dougnac and Australian Broadcasting Corporation ’s (ABC) South Asia bureau chief Avani Dias , left the country citing curbs on journalistic freedoms.

While the Indian government said Dougnac had violated “rules and regulations” , it maintained that Dias received a visa extension and her two other colleagues at ABC were given access to cover the 2024 general election, contrary to her claims.

This was followed by a group of foreign journalists issuing a joint statement condemning the developments. Nearly 30 foreign correspondents based in India — reporting for Financial Times , The Washington Post , France 24 , The Guardian , The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal and others — collectively signed open letters after Dougnac and Dias’ exits on 26 January and 23 April, respectively. 

Open letter: foreign correspondents protest the case of ABC’s Avani Dias, who was effectively forced out of #India this week after being told her reporting “crossed a line”. #PressFreedom pic.twitter.com/dvx1lr5aIq — John Reed जॉन रीड (@JohnReedwrites) April 23, 2024

In these letters, they expressed “increased visa restrictions” on foreign journalists, growing pressures on journalists who are Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders due to “opaque administrative burdens” and other issues that they claim hamper their work. 

An open letter from the foreign correspondents of India, in solidarity with our colleague Vanessa Dougnac pic.twitter.com/pAdxyoAh4L — Hannah Ellis-Petersen (@HannahEP) January 26, 2024

Asked about the open letter, a source in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told ThePrint that over the past year, “a sizable number” of foreign journalists from countries like Japan, France and Germany have been issued permits to visit J&K.

A second source in the MEA added that while applying for a ‘J’ visa, applicants are made aware that they are barred from travelling to certain sensitive locations without prior permission from the MEA which coordinates such visits with central security agencies. Even Indians have to procure an inner land permit to visit some areas in the Northeast, the source pointed out. 

However, a foreign journalist working in India, who did not wish to be named, told ThePrint: “There are serious issues like visa pressures and not getting permissions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to go to J&K and the Northeast, which have been quite under-reported. There’s growing concern among foreign journalists here but there’s also growing concern from foreign governments, from what we hear.”

“I don’t have any issues with bureaucrats and actually; I appreciate the Press Information Bureau (PIB) sometimes for organising meetings,” added the journalist, referring to the nodal agency under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

ThePrint reached 10-15 foreign correspondents based in India, some of whom feared speaking on the issue as it may endanger their work visas which require annual renewal.

Meanwhile, three foreign journalists who hail from Latin America, the Middle East and Russia, respectively, denied facing any obstacles. “I don’t have any complaints. I’ve not faced any issues while reporting in India,” said a Russian journalist who has been based out of Delhi for the last three years.

There are approximately 70 journalists in India who are foreign nationals, according to data provided by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) of South Asia to ThePrint. It should be noted that this number could be higher as some may not be registered with the FCC.

Also Read: Modi critic who once took on Ram Madhav — all about Nitasha Kaul, UK academic denied entry into India

‘Increased pressure on OCI cardholders’

An Indian journalist working in the Delhi office of a Western media outlet, claims government pressures on foreign colleagues, especially OCI cardholders, “rapidly increased” in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term.

“Before 2019, we had decent access to BJP ministers but after 2019, this changed. There has been a rapid increase of pressure on OCI cardholders in indirect ways, such as what we saw with Vanessa Dougnac,” the Indian journalist told ThePrint.

Dougnac, who was served an MHA notice for “malicious” reporting ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day Parade, was an OCI cardholder. She had lived in India for over 20 years. 

“Some OCI cardholders have faced delayed renewals of their work permits which is a clear sign that the government is unhappy with their reporting. I’ve noticed these OCI cardholders are actively avoiding covering the 2024 election or ambitious journalistic projects due to fear. They are deliberately staying away from political stories,” said the Indian journalist quoted earlier.

Government sources, meanwhile, told ThePrint that under OCI rules — last amended in 2019 — a cardholder is required to apply for a special permit if they wish to report from India. Earlier, OCI cardholders were only barred from buying agricultural land or taking part in the electoral process either as a candidate or a voter.

ThePrint reached the MHA spokesperson via email and phone for comment on the complaints voiced by foreign journalists and OCI cardholders about movement to J&K and the Northeast, but had not received a response by the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.

The complaints notwithstanding, certain journalists have received permission to visit J&K for tourism-related stories.

Andreas Franz, a German TV journalist with ARD, told ThePrint: “I was doing a story on tourism in Gulmarg. The permit to travel there took a while.”

According to the source in the MEA quoted earlier, almost all foreign journalists who applied for accreditation to cover the G20 meet in Srinagar last May got approval and many received permits in the following months. Permits for election coverage, too, are also under processing, the source added.

After Dougnac’s departure, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra had said that her case did not have anything to do “with aspects of journalism” and that “people are free to do what they are accredited to do”.

In the case of Dias, she claimed she had to leave India “abruptly” as she was told that her “visa extension would be denied”. Dias also said she was denied accreditation for coverage of the general election, though the MEA said authority letters for access to polling booths and counting stations cannot be issued while visa extension is under process.

Last Thursday, sources in the Australian High Commission told The Hindu that India had granted a visa to Dias and that Australian authorities expressed satisfaction over the MEA’s handling of the case.

Incidentally, Dias was one of the signatories to the open letter issued by foreign correspondents in January expressing concern over Dougnac’s departure. 

In ABC ’s documentary, titled “Sikhs, Murder and Spies” — which aired on 21 March but has since been taken down in India — Dias could be seen arguing with officials at the Attari-Wagah border who did not allow her to film there. 

Asked why she was denied permission to film there, a source in the MEA said the Attari-Wagah border is a different case in which journalists require specific permission from the Border Security Force (BSF) for videography. “The BSF is in charge. They may have their own criteria to issue permits for shooting,” the source added.

Sources also told ThePrint that one criterion is that any media organisation, be it Indian or foreign, has to get footage shot cleared from the BSF in order for the force to check whether or not any sensitive location has been shot by mistake or design. 

It is learnt that the Australian media outlet in question had refused to share the footage and hence permission to shoot was not granted.

Apart from alleged visa pressures and restrictions on movement, foreign journalists have complained about lack of access to India’s Defence Ministry and press conferences held by the Army. 

“We’re usually given accreditation for public events like Defexpo but for press conferences and entering the Defence Ministry, only our Indian colleagues get access. We’re told it’s because of security reasons,” a journalist working in India, who hails from a country in the Indo-Pacific, told ThePrint. 

ThePrint reached the Defence Ministry for clarification via email but had not received a response by the time of publication. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.

However, Defence Ministry sources said that no foreigners are allowed within defence establishments without proper security clearances.

“This is the practice all over the world. No Indian journalist, even with a valid PIB pass, can enter the Defence Ministry or defence establishments without an appointment. In the case of foreigners, even if they represent an arms company and are selling their products to India, they have to get Military Intelligence clearance internally first,” a source explained.

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)

Also Read: What India plans to do to crack down on gangsters & Sikh separatists based abroad

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Good job Modi Govt. They should throw all these “journalists” out of the country. Show them their place. These journalists are nothing more than “Wolf in sheep’s clothing” colonizers.

Evict them and save India. I will lobby GoI to punish journalists who give too large a platform to these foreigners. The Print should stop pampering them

The Print is showing its true colours….color made solid from its time in darbar…its has joined ranks with its western masters in attacking govt. The print must be fixed at the right time especially its chief – Shekhar Coupta .

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