British passport holders will need to apply for an e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) before they head to India.
The e-TV will allow travellers into India at certain designated airports. These include Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.
The e-TV came into effect in 2014 and was welcomed by tour operators, who dubbed the previous application process as incredibly complex.
This new system is a quick, online application in which only copies of your documents is required.
So what does an e-TV exactly mean for your visit?
Firstly, the visa is only valid for travellers heading to the country for leisure, meeting friends or family, casual business or for a short medical treatment.
On an e-TV you are only allowed to stay in India for a maximum of 30 days - if you are planning to stay for more than 30 days you must apply for a tourist visa at an Indian Consulate.
If you overstay your visa, you must report in person to the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer to get permission to exit.
Travellers are warned that they could be fined, prosecuted or detained if they overstay their visa.
The e-TV allows single-entry into the country and can only be used for a maximum of two visits a year.
Your British passport, not only has to be an e-passport, but must have two blank pages for the visa and valid for at least six months at the time of your application.
According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) “British subject, British protected person, British overseas citizen, British national (overseas) and British overseas territories citizen passport holders” may not be eligible to apply for an e-TV.
You could be denied an e-TV if you do not fill out your correct employment details.
Some people often do not give their employer details and position when they fill out a visa application - instead they write NA.
On an e-TV to visit India, it is mandatory that you list your employment details and failure to do so is grounds for your application to be denied.
If the e-TV is for a child or a housewife, then the father or husband’s employment details should be listed.
You must also provide an address of where you will be staying in India on the visa application.
Many people have been confused by this section, interpreting it as the name and address of someone they know in India and will often write NA again.
The application here is simply asking for the name and address of the hotel or lodging information and this must be filled out.
Again, failure to do so could be result in your application being denied.
Finally, it is advised that you make your visa application at least two weeks before your departure date to ensure that everything goes through in time.
Other Visa Information:
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