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Visa Procedures in India: real experience from chats

From real experience

how-toWhen applying for an Indian e-visa via indianvisaonline.gov.in, advise applicants to: 1. Apply well in advance (3 months for 30-day visas, 120-day entry window).
2. Consider a 5-year visa for frequent travel. 3. Do not re-apply if the current application is pending, as it may lead to blocking both requests. 4. Note that there is no fixed processing time anymore; it's 'as they decide'. 5. If issues arise (e.g., website errors, no confirmation, status stuck), contact the call center, mentioning the urgent travel date if applicable. A common rejection reason is an unclearly uploaded passport photo.
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how-toIf you obtain a new passport while holding a valid Indian e-visa issued on your old passport, you should carry both the old (invalid/cancelled) and new passports when crossing the border.
Indian immigration authorities typically accept both documents together to verify the visa. If the old passport was fully surrendered or lost, you may need to apply for a new visa, as e-visas are strictly linked to the passport number used during the application.
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ruleFor tourist visas in India, the rule is generally a maximum stay of 90 days per entry, with a limit of 180 days per calendar year.
e-Tourist visas are valid for 30 days and are often free for certain nationalities, making them a better choice for layovers than transit visas. Business visas have stricter requirements, including proof of a legitimate business relationship, invitation letters from both sides, and sometimes a business card (often requested at immigration).
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how-toTo obtain a student visa for India for a school (not university) program (e.g., 10th-12th grade): The process typically involves submitting documents, attending an interview, and undergoing a biometric appointment.
Timelines can be quick, for example, an interview on June 3rd and passport collection on June 5th. A specific additional requirement for private schools might be documentation of the school's state registration.
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riskWhen applying for an Indian visa, ensure that passport scans are uploaded from a dedicated scanner device, not a phone camera photo or an export from mobile banking applications (e.g., Kaspi app).
The system may reject non-scanner images, even if they appear 'uploaded' in the status, leading to repeated requests for resubmission within 48 hours.
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tipTransit through India, especially if involving a change of terminals, requires a visa.
While India offers a free one-month tourist visa for Russian citizens, it must be obtained in advance. The official Indian visa application website is reportedly difficult to navigate; using a facilitator service for approximately 1500 RUB is an option if direct application proves too challenging.
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serviceTravelers in India can find assistance with various visa applications, including tourist visas (30 days, 1 year, 5 years) and business visas.
Services may include form completion, submission, and payment processing. Additionally, some agents can help with payment for already filled-out visa applications.
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tipTechnical issues with the Indian e-visa website (non-clickable buttons, form errors) are common.
Recommended troubleshooting: switch browsers, clear cache, or persist with multiple attempts until the request is processed.
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🚕 Transport and Logistics 💼 Work, Study, and Living 💰 Finance and Banking • Digital Environment and Connectivity 🛡 Regional Safety and Risks • Border and Immigration Control

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