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India Tourist Visa – a thorough guide

India Tourist Visa – a thorough guide

Arabier's tourist visa service to India is the key to opening doors to this enchanted country if you wish to take in the most breathtaking and alluring natural beauty and cultural wonders of India. The tourist visa is intended for non-business travel, such as visiting friends and family, taking a leisurely vacation, or engaging in recreational activities.

To prevent any problems during the visa application process, one must adhere to the rules and specifications set forth by the Indian High Commission. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the necessary information and paperwork needed to get your tourist visa so you can embark on an amazing trip through India's rich tapestry.


Indian Tourist Visa?


Any individual who doesn’t have Indian nationality or resident visa and is from Sri Lanka or other countries can apply for an Indian Tourist Visa. The purpose of this visit should be for travelling, recreation or visiting families and friends. This guide is ideal for those travelling with such purposes.

The tourist visa has a heavy restriction on the time duration. It usually can’t be extended or changed to a different type of visa. So be careful when dealing with this visa. The Indian Government can take necessary actions to deport anyone who attempts to misuse this visa.


Time duration for Indian Tourist Visa


This usually takes around 6-7 working days. Make Sure to gather all the documents needed to get this visa and submit them in a timely way. This will ensure that you receive the visa in a timely manner.


Checklist for Sri Lankan Nationals


Document Checklist for Sri Lankan Nationals

If you are a Sri Lankan national planning to travel to India you will need these documents.

  • A scanned copy of essential documents like National ID card, drivers license and birth certificate. All these should be clear and visible. These documents should be translated to English if the originals are in Sinhala or Tamil.
  • Passport sized colour photographs that were taken recently (2x2 inches). It should be showing your face clearly and taken against a light background according to visa rules.
  • If you have visited India before you need to provide previous visa documents, visa number and the dates of issue.
  • Your passport should have at least a 9 month validity from the date you are applying for it. It needs to have at least 2 blank pages .Make sure it doesn’t have any damaged or tampered pages.
  • Make Sure you submit all the previous passports. If your old passport is lost please provide a police report with it.
  • A three month bank statement should be provided. It should include an average daily balance with the account holder’s name , address and the date you opened the account.
  • A utility bill , Government ID or Student ID Card to prove your address.
  • If you are below the age of 18 , please provide a NOC. This should be signed by both parents. It should include that you are travelling without parents and the necessary travel details. (Include copies of both parent’s passports)
  • If you have dual nationality please include both passports in your application.

What are the financial requirements for an Indian Tourist Visa?


( a ). Self-Finance:

  • You should have an average LKR 40,000 balance in your account. And it should be maintained.
  • Don’t make any sudden deposits closeby to the date of your application. It won’t be accepted.
  • Your current accounts won't be accepted if there are any overdrafts or insufficient funds. If there is, a fixed deposit receipt or other related collateral security should be included.
  • A copy of an international credit card. The applicant's name and the date should appear here.It should also indicate the total and remaining credits available.

( b ). When you are sponsored:

  • The first page of your sponsor’s passport
  • A sponsorship letter. This should mention the relation of the sponsor with the applicants.
  • The sponsor needs to have an average balance of LKR 50,000. This is a per head amount for a month. The sponsor shouldn’t be sponsoring for more than 4 applicants. This is not including immediate family members.
  • It will not be accepted if any of the current accounts have a zero balance or any overdrafts.It should have a linked collateral security -fixed deposit receipt to be accepted.
  • It is not possible to submit your fixed deposit receipts or credit card statements as financial guarantees.

Checklist for Non- Sri Lankan Nationals


  • Visa application form. ( Fill it accordingly.)
  • Two passport sized color photographs that were taken recently. (2x2 inches)
  • If there are any previous visits to India please fill them in the serial number F of the Sample Visa application form.
  • Provide your visa number and the date of issue of the last visa that was issued for you.
  • If your last visa was an electronic visa : Please submit the visa number with the date of the first day you entered India. This should be according to the details stamped on your passport issued by the Bureau of Immigration, India.
  • A copy of your passport and sri lankan visa page.
  • Make Sure you fill your FAX form.