Entry Visa and NOT Tourist visa for visiting India

dilip_gem · Post by **dilip_gem** » Tue May 26, 2015 3:45 pm

Hi All,

Just thought of sharing this information here as most of us do not know this (even the VFS site doesn't have correct information).
If you are recently naturalised as a British/Foreign citizen and held Indian nationality before AND have a need to visit India (without OCI), the only ways is to apply for a Visa.
Tourist visa costs around £90 (visa type would be 'T'). however if you apply for Entry visa, it will cost you £65 (visa type would be 'X').
Good thing about Entry visa is - if you want to stay longer you can extend it from India.

I wasn't aware of it and I filled a Tourist visa form and went to vfs padington. The officer at the counter saw my application and said I should apply for Entry visa instead as I was holding Indian nationality before. I used the Tourist visa form but paid just £65.

Cheers,
Gem

crazyvish · Post by **crazyvish** » Wed May 27, 2015 6:11 am

Hi Gem,

That's interesting!

- Have you used / travelled with the entry visa?
- How long did it take to receive your visa?
- Was the Entry Visa applied for yourself alone or a family?
- I believe it is valid for 6 months. How do you renew it if necessary?

Thanks.

samkma · Post by **samkma** » Thu May 28, 2015 11:40 am

crazyvish wrote:Hi Gem,

That's interesting!

- Have you used / travelled with the entry visa?
Have used it many times in the past - no problems
- How long did it take to receive your visa?
Less than 10 working days (for me by post)Applying in person will be more faster.
- Was the Entry Visa applied for yourself alone or a family?

- I believe it is valid for 6 months. How do you renew it if necessary?
Nearest FRRO valid for 6 months from date of issue and is Multiple entry.

Thanks.

secret.simon · Post by **secret.simon** » Sun May 31, 2015 9:53 am

I am surprised that people did not know about this.

I applied for an X Visa after getting my British pasport. I paid £150 for a five year multiple entry X-visa and got it in three working days from VFS Goswell Road.

crazyvish wrote:Hi Gem,

That's interesting!

- Have you used / travelled with the entry visa?
Yes
- How long did it take to receive your visa?
Three working days
- Was the Entry Visa applied for yourself alone or a family?
Alone
- I believe it is valid for 6 months. How do you renew it if necessary?
I got mine for five years, which is the maximum length you can apply for.

Thanks.

NOG · Post by **NOG** » Sun May 31, 2015 7:13 pm

Interesting to know, however, unless one needs to travel urgently to India, I cannot see any benefit in applying for an entry visa. For the cost, OCI is a much better option in the long run unless I am missing something.

crazyvish · Post by **crazyvish** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:10 am

NOG wrote:Interesting to know, however, unless one needs to travel urgently to India, I cannot see any benefit in applying for an entry visa. For the cost, OCI is a much better option in the long run unless I am missing something.

That is correct. I want to travel in the next 5 weeks and OCI takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks as it is a two stage process. So I will be applying for both at the same time i.e X visa and OCI.

samkma · Post by **samkma** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:43 pm

crazyvish wrote:
NOG wrote:Interesting to know, however, unless one needs to travel urgently to India, I cannot see any benefit in applying for an entry visa. For the cost, OCI is a much better option in the long run unless I am missing something.

That is correct. I want to travel in the next 5 weeks and OCI takes anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks as it is a two stage process. So I will be applying for both at the same time i.e X visa and OCI.

Keep an eye on https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
It's mentioned in some Indian media that UK will be on the list in June.
Its easier and cheaper for a 30 days evisa.

ban.s · Post by **ban.s** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 10:20 am

Though Indian e-tourist visa for UK nationals is on the cards but looking at past trends it's likely to be annouced in conjuction with Indian PM's UK visit (when? it's anybody's guess!)

samkma · Post by **samkma** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 10:15 am

ban.s wrote:Though Indian e-tourist visa for UK nationals is on the cards but looking at past trends it's likely to be annouced in conjuction with Indian PM's UK visit (when? it's anybody's guess!)

Not really, Indian PM has not been to half of the countries on the list.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 939644.cms

ban.s · Post by **ban.s** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 3:26 pm

Good if this happens sooner.

I was just taking cue from the recent trends - E-Tourist visas to French, Australian and Chinese citizens were announced during PMs visits to those countries; 10 year visa to Canadian citizens was announced in Canada.

Wish we had a crystal ball.

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Entry Visa and NOT Tourist visa for visiting India

Entry Visa and NOT Tourist visa for visiting India

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