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Applications forms

The Visa application form may be downloaded from the High Commission of India’s website or directly collected from the reception counter of the High Commission. All other application forms related to consular services may be obtained only directly from the High Commission.

VISA

General Guidelines

All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport or UN Laissez Faire with a valid visa obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad.

The duration of stay in India for each visit on a tourist visa or business visa is only for a period of six (6) months.

Visa is given for the period for which passport is valid. For example, if a passport is valid until November 5, 2008 and an applicant is applying for a five years visa on July 21, 2007, a five year visa will not be issued, as the passport expires before the 5 year visa would.

Please apply in the prescribed form for your visa. The application, complete in all respects, with two passport-size photographs (35x45 mm) the passport and all additional documentation should be submitted with the prescribed fee at the designated counter at the High Commission from 0900 to 1200 hrs on all working days.

For all Cyprus nationals the passport is returned the next working day after issue of the visa. For non Cyprus national the passport is normally returned after five working days.

In all cases the High Commission reserves the right to withhold a visa to any individual for reasons that it is under no obligation to disclose.

Please ensure the following, while submitting your application:

· Passport should be valid for a minimum period of six months beyond the date of intended departure from India.

· Paste one photo (35x45mm) and staple the other one on the form at the appropriate blank.

· Applicants other than Cyprus nationals should submit proof of permanent residence in the country.

· The application forms should be filled in ENGLISH AND BOLD LETTERS ONLY.

· Each visa application is considered on its merits and the High Commission may ask for additional information at any stage during the processing of the application.

All types of visas are issued by the High Commission India. For further details please contact the High Commission directly.

Tourist Visa

Application in the prescribed form may be downloaded from the HC’s website along with

1. two recent passport size photographs,

2. passport in original,

3. Print-out of the confirmed itinerary or photocopy of original air ticket should be presented at the time of submission of application.

Tourist visa is valid for 6 months with single/multiple entries (please specify single or multiple at the time of application).

Business Visa

Application in the prescribed form (which may be downloaded from the HC's website) supported by a letter from authenticating the purpose of the visit and a letter of invitation received from the business firm or company in India, along with two passport sized photographs and passport in original should be submitted at the High Commission. The Passport and resident visa should have at least six months validity.

Employment Visa

Skilled and qualified professionals or persons who are engaged or appointed by companies, organizations or economic undertakings as technicians, technical experts, senior executives etc are eligible for employment visas. Applicants are required to submit proof of contract / employment / engagement of foreign nationals by the company or organization and a copy of the agreement of the company approved by the Government of India.

Other visas

· Student Visa

· Transit Visa

· Journalist Visa

· Conference Visa

· Visa to Missionaries

For information on Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) or Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI) Card Scheme, please visit http://www.indianembassy.org/policy/PIO/Introduction_PIO.html

and / or:

www.mha.nic.in.

PASSPORTS

General guidelines

· Application for renewal of passport can be submitted if the final validity of the passport is less than six months.

· Old Passport in Original and additional booklet if any, (additional booklet alone is not enough) - with photocopy of the first two pages and last two pages should be submitted along with the application.

· The validity of a passport cannot be extended beyond the date of its final validity. An application for reissuing a passport has to be submitted along with the old passport and a photocopy.

. ORIGINAL as well as photocopy of pink slip (Temporary Residence Permit).

. ORIGINAL as well as photocopy of Alien Book.

. STUDENTS should submit their passport with a letter from the college stating that he/she is a regular student of the college.

· An applicant has the option to apply for an ordinary passport booklet of 36 pages or a Jumbo passport booklet of 60 pages of ten-year validity.

· Every individual, including infants, must obtain a separate passport. A child's name can no longer be endorsed on a parent's passport.

· The applicant should submit the application in person for identification.

· Four recent photographs showing frontal view of full face against light background in civilian clothes taken in a studio (Polaroid photographs and photographs with dark glasses or uniforms are not accepted) should be submitted along with the application.

· Minors are issued passports for 5 years or up to attaining 18 years, whichever is earlier.

· Applicants are advised to ensure that their application in the prescribed format is complete in all respects; that all columns are correctly and legibly filled in and no column is left blank or unfilled/not responded to or vaguely filled with a dash, tick, etc. All signatures in the application should be with BALLPOINT PEN only.

· It is an offence under the Passport Act 1967 to furnish false information in the application. Passport facilities could be denied on grounds of suppression of material information, submission of incorrect particulars, wilful damage/loss of passport or for unauthorised change/tampering. The Passport can be impounded or revoked for violation of one or more of the provisions of the Passport Act.

· It is an offence to hold more than one valid passport at a time.

· A passport expired more than six months back should be supported by a Sworn Affidavit explaining the circumstances and spelling out the reasons for late submission for renewal.

· For change of address, attach documentary evidence such as tax receipt, electricity/telephone bill or Birth Certificate issued by the Competent Authority of the State concerned.

· Those Indian citizens acquiring citizenship/passport of another country should immediately surrender their Indian Passport to the Indian High Commission.

. In case of a lost Passport, a Police report about the los of Passport should be furnished along with the application of a new passport.

Attestation of Documents

The High Commission also performs functions like attestation of academic certificates, diplomas, marriage and birth certificates issued in India, power of attorney and other such documents executed by Indian citizens in India

All certificates submitted to the Embassy of India, Nicosia should therefore, be first attested in India by the agencies detailed below:-

i)	School Certificates	:	Concerned State Board of Secondary Education.
ii)	Diploma/Vocational Training Certificates/ Experience Certificates/ Marriage Certificate, Birth or Death Certificate etc.	:	Authorised Officer of the Department of Home Affairs of the State where the institution, which issued the certificate, is situated.
iii)	Degree/PG Certificate	i)	Authorised Officer of the Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education, Scholarship Division, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India, (Address: A-I/W-3, Curzon Road Barracks, Kasturbha Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110001 Tel: 0091-11-3384501); and
		(ii)	Consular Section, (CPV Division), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, (Address: Ground Floor, Patiala House, Tilak Marg, New Delhi.

FEES

Consular Fees- Subject to change any time:-

(Please note all fees should be paid by cash only)

S. No.	Type of Services	Amount in Euros
01	Ordinary Passport containing 36 pages with maximum validity of 10 years.	48.00
02	Ordinary Passport containing 60 pages with a maximum validity 10 years	60.00
03	Ordinary Passport containing 36 pages with a maximum validity of 5 years for minor children below the age of 18 years	30.00
04	Additional endorsement or other miscellaneous service on ordinary Passport.	12.00
05	Miscellaneous service (including additional booklet) requiring issue of fresh ordinary passport booklet containing 60 pages.	Not available
06	Issue of Duplicate Passport in lieu of Lost/Damage containing 36 pages.	150.00
07	Attestation of Civil documents (affidavits, educational degrees, sponsorship certificates, marriage certificates, wills, Power of Attorney etc.	12.00
08	Attestation of any Trade/ Commercial documents	62.00
09	Registration of Birth and certified copy of entry	25.00
10	Registration of Death and a certified copy of the entry	25.00
11	Emergency Certificate	06.00

Visa Fees

S.No.	Type of Services	Amount in Euros (Cypriot Nationals)	Amount in Euros (Non-Cypriot Nationals)
01	Transit Visa (Single entry/ Double entry)	25.00	40.00
02	Visa valid for six (6) months	50.00	65.00
03	Visa valid up to one (1) year	80.00	95.00
04	Student visa	90.00	105.00
05	Visa valid for five (5) years	155.00	170.00
06	Visa valid for six (6) months for US nationals	N/A	90.00

Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI)

1. The Constitution of India does not allow the holding of Indian citizenship with that of a foreign country simultaneously. However, based on the recommendations of the High Level Committee on the Indian Diaspora, the Government of India have decided to grant Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI). The Parliament of India approved the relevant bill in this connection in August, 2005. Persons of Indian origin(PIOs) of certain category who migrated from India and acquired citizenship of a foreign country other than Pakistan and Bangladesh, are eligible for grant of OCI as long as their home countries allow dual citizenship in some form or other under their relevant national laws.

2. Persons registered as Overseas Citizens of India will not have the right to vote, election to the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha/Legislative Assembly/Council, constitutional posts such as President, Vice-President, Judge of Supreme Court/High Court etc. Registered OCI shall be entitled to the following benefits:

· multiple entry, multi-purpose life long visa to visit India;

· exemption from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in India; and

· parity with NRIs in financial, economic and educational fields except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties

3. A person registered as an OCI is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under Section 5(1)(g) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she has been registered as an OCI for five years and has been residing in India for one year, out of the five years before making the application.

4. For getting yourself registered under the OCI Scheme, you have to apply to the Indian Mission/Post in your country of citizenship/residence, on a form prescribed for the purpose.

5. PIO card holder, fee is Euros. 312.

6. For more details about the OCI Scheme, you may visit the website www.mha.nic.in.

This Scheme is not yet operational. The information posted above may be treated as advance information.

The High Commission of India, Nicosia has started to accept applications for the Overseas Citizenship of India with effect from January, 2006. Applications for OCI service can be made to the High Commission between 0900 hrs to 1200 hrs. on all working days. Applicants are advised to ensure that no column of the application is left unanswered. Apart from affixing photographs and signatures at the designated places on the application, it may also be ensured that the requisite numbers of spare photographs (04 in all) of prescribed size are enclosed with the application. Photographs should be 35X45 mm in size with white background, front pose, both shoulders and both ears visible. The applicant’s signature/thumb impression should not touch the outlines of the signature box. The existing foreign passport, together with the cancelled or expired Indian Passport if available, and their photocopies also need to be enclosed along with the application.

Fee for OCI services: Euros 245.00

The fee will be collected in cash only.

We expect the OCI cards to be ready for collection in approximately 8 to 12 weeks and we request that no enquiry should be made for at least 12 weeks after submission of application.

Important Notice : All applicants are informed that they can now check status/receipt of their overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards from the High Commission of India, Nicosia by visiting the website given above and clicking on "online enquiry". In case the enquiry shows the receipt of card, the applicant can approach us for delivery of the same. The following documents would be required for delivery of an OCI card:

1. Foreign passport
2. Cancelled Indian Passport
3. P I O card, if applied on the basis of PIO card.
4. Original receipt.

The documents would be accepted in the morning on any working day between 900-1200 hours and would be returned on the date of delivery given by the officer between 1600-1700 hours. The applicants are also advised to bring a copy of online enquiry status.

The above-mentioned documents for OCI sticker/card service can also be sent by post. If sent by post, please also send a self-addressed envelope with appropriate postage for returning the documents.

INFORMATION REGARDING CUSTOMS

1. Indian Customs require you to declare goods in excess of three allowance, prohibited or restricted goods and commercial goods at Red Channel counter. Export or import of Narcotic drugs, Wildlife and its products, commercial goods and arms & ammunition are prohibited / restricted. Attempt to export or import of these goods can lead to penal consequences, including arrest.

For further information kindly see Baggage Rules 1998