You will be learning about India Visa Extension in this informative piece. Those who are stranded in India for varying circumstances will find our discussion helpful.
It is possible to extend your India visa permit to stay longer in the country but there are requirements that you must meet.
You need to apply for a visa extension before your current visa permit expires because once your visa expires, you are expected to travel out of the country. To get the full information, tag along to get all the information you need.
India Visa Extension All You Need To Know
Normally, foreign nationals or permanent residents of other countries require a visa to enter India except if they are traveling from a country with a visa-free agreement with India.
That is because a visa is a document that you must possess before traveling to India, just like every other country across the world.
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There are different types of visas issued by the Indian government to foreign citizens who wish to enter the country and the allotted period to be spent in the country differs based on the particular visa that has been issued. The validity of each visa includes:
- Tourist visa validity is 180 days
- Business visa validity is 180 days
- Medical visa validity is 60 days
Therefore, it is considered illegal for foreign nationals in the country to overstay an Indian visa.
They are expected to abide by the length of stay that they are allowed to remain in the country by the travel authorizations for foreign citizens.
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In the advent that you will violate the above specification, you must file for a visa extension because foreign nationals who overstay the country beyond the legal period allotted to them will immediately be considered illegal immigrants from the very first day of your visa expiration.
From that point onwards, you are then liable to receive one of several financial or legal penalties. Importantly, you are liable for prosecution under the Foreigners Act 1946 and imprisonment up to 5 years with a fine & expulsion from India.
With the above statement in mind, ensure you apply for a visa extension before your current visa expires, at least 60 days before the date of expiry of your valid visa.
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Also, know that a visa extension can only be done if you are still in the country (India) and not when you’ve traveled out of the country.
Also, there must be a genuine reason why you want your visa to be extended beyond the approved period granted to you.
The reason must prove beyond every reasonable doubt and pass all unforeseen circumstances, otherwise, your visa extension application will not be granted.
How You Can Extend India Visa In India?
You must be acquainted with the process of extending an India visa so that you will know what to do.
Foreign visitors in India are eligible to extend their visas through the Foreign Regional Registration Offices (FRRO)/ Foreign Registration Office (FRO) India visa extension services website or via the mobile app.
This makes it easy since the process can be done online and there is no need to visit FRRO/FRO office unless you are required by the FRRO/FRO officers to come in person for some specific reason.
Therefore, the process to apply for India Visa Extension is as follows:
Step 1: Apply for the India Visa Extension Online.
Foremost, you need to apply online over the internet through FRRO/FRO India visa extension website or mobile application. The application is simplified and you can do it yourself.
There is no need to book an appointment to visit the FRRO/FRO office. You will be contacted if there is a need for you to appear in person in specific situations.
Step 2: Follow the Special Endorsement.
Foreign citizens visiting India should make sure they abide by the Special Endorsement provision made on the visa by the Indian mission.
Stage 3: Provide all Required Information/Documentation.
During the registration process, make sure you provide all the information asked with sincere answers and information that tally with all other documentation you might be required to submit.
If you are called to appear in the FRRO/FRO office in person, ensure you provide genuine answers to all questions. If your response or answers are satisfactory, you will be awarded your approved certificate of registration in Part III of Form A.
If you could not apply for the visa extension online, you can do well to visit the FRRO/FRO office and carry out the process in person.
Ensure that when going you have all the required documents to help facilitate the process. Also, when you apply in person, you will have to pick up the visa extension certificate yourself because it will not be sent to you.
Once you have completed the above process, you can monitor the status of the application with the portal. You can contact the FRRO support centers in case of any clarification.
When a decision is reached regarding your visa extension application, whether it has been granted/rejected, it will be sent through the email address you provided during the visa application. Better still, you can download it from the portal.
Documents Required For India Visa Extension.
Some documents will be required of you to be submitted along with or during your physical presence in the FRRO/FRO office.
So, if you are still interested to apply to get your visa extended, you are required to submit the following documents:
- A copy of your passport. You’ll scan the first biography page of the passport, which contains all your details and photos. It should be in colored and in PDF or JPG format with a size of not more than 1MB.
- A copy of a recent Indian visa. Make a duplicate copy of your current valid visa. It should be clear with all details legible. It should also be in PDF format with a maximum size of 1 MB.
- A current passport-size photograph.
- Proof of residence in India. You will have to any one of the following documents as evidence of your stay in the country. These include:
- Utility bill;
- Rent/Lease agreement;
- Bank statement; or
- Form C, if you are staying in a hotel or Airbnb home
Make sure you have all these documents ready to facilitate the process. Also, additional documentation may be required of you depending on your circumstance.
India Visa Extension Fee.
To further buttress our discussion regarding India Visa Extension, we also consider the fee you need to pay for this service.
You will be required to pay the visa extension fee to complete the process of your online India visa extension. Generally, the Indian visa extension fee is dependent on the country and type of extension visa you apply for.
Fortunately, the payment can be made with a credit or debit card (i.e. MasterCard, Visa or UnionPay).
You will be notified to deposit the requisite fee, if any, for the visa extension process.
Fortunately, the fee can be paid online through the Bank Payment gateway available on the portal.
However, the fee amount would be sent via email/SMS/portal alerts. The charges include service Fees and Government Fees.
Moreover, the Government can include an additional penalty in case of a longer stay than authorized or not returning to your country or next destination.
The penalty to be paid is calculated after the submission of the application. You will be required to pay the penalty fee after submission of the visa extension application (if any).
When Can I Apply For India Visa Extension?
You might be wondering when you can apply for an Indian Visa Extension. You can do so if your visit does not exceed 180 days on a single visit.
However, if you intend to stay in the country longer than the 180 days period, you should not hesitate to begin the process by registering in one of the two offices mentioned above before the expiry of the 180 days.
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Conclusion.
By now, you now have all the information you need to know concerning India Visa Extension.
We advise that you should not wait till a few days to the expiration of your visa before you apply for an extension, it is best to apply and begin the process earlier, at best 60 days before the expiration of your current visa.
Importantly, prepare all necessary documents and fees as discussed earlier. We hope you find this informative piece helpful in your visa extension process.