INFORMATION FOR TRAVELERS

Indian Immigration Requirements

Visas to enter India

U.S. citizens require a passport and visa to both enter and exit India.  Visitors, including those on official U.S. government business, must obtain visas at an Indian embassy or consulate abroad prior to entering the country as there are no provisions for visas upon arrival.  Those arriving without a visa are subject to immediate deportation.  The U.S. embassy and consulates in India are unable to assist when U.S. citizens arrive without visas.  Travelers seeking to entered restricted areas of India require special permits, in addition to valid visas.  More information on visiting these restricted areas is available from the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs.  For the most current information on entry requirements, please contact the nearest Indian embassy or consulate.

Each visitor should carry photocopies of the face page of the traveler’s U.S. passport and the page which contains the Indian visa.  These copies will facilitate the ability to obtain a replacement U.S. passport from the U.S. embassy or consulate and an exit visa from the Indian government, in the event of theft or loss of the passport.

Please note that an American citizen whose primary purpose of travel is to participate in religious activities should obtain a missionary visa rather than a tourist visa.  Indian immigration authorities have deported American citizens who were conducting religious activities while holding a tourist visa.

Registering Your Visit

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has registration requirements for foreign citizens who visit India to study, do research, work, or act as missionaries, as well as all travelers planning to stay more than 180 days. Registration is required within 14 days of arrival with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) where they will be staying. FRRO offices are located in New Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), and Amritsar.  In Hyderabad the foreign registrations are performed by the Foreign Registration Officer (FRO) / District Superintendent of Police, Special Branch located in the Old Police Commissioner’s Office near City Civil Court, Purani Haveli, Hyderabad – 500002.  The Foreign Registration Officers in both Hyderabad and Cyberabad now offer the ability to register online. In other cities and towns, the local police headquarters normally perform this function. General information including Indian visa and immigration rules and forms for registration and visa extensions can be found at the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs’ Bureau of Immigration website.

Dual nationality

In 2003, India passed a bill that allows certain persons of Indian origin in sixteen countries (subsequently extended to almost all countries), including the United States, to apply for a form of dual citizenship known as “Overseas Citizenship of India” (OCI).  On January 7, 2006, the Government of India issued the first OCI certificate and released the regulations governing applications for OCI status.  Persons with OCI status may not vote in Indian elections, hold most government jobs, or purchase certain types of real estate.  However, they are free from most visa and registration requirements and receive other rights.  Interested parties can apply with the Ministry of Home Affairs for Overseas Citizenship of India.

Any person who is considered to have dual nationality as a citizen of both India and the U.S. is subject to all Indian laws while in India.  Moreover, a dual national also may be subject to other laws and regulations that impose special obligations on Indian citizens, such as taxation.  In some instances such as arrest while in India, dual nationality may hamper U.S. Government efforts to provide assistance abroad.  See the State Department website for more information on the official U.S. Government position on the issue of dual nationality.