Every journey begins with a dream. People are attracted by photographs of beaches on the coast, mountain landscapes, architectural monuments, ancient city streets. Among those who want to travel, you can find comfort lovers. Others need a tent, hot tea and a lack of mosquitoes.
When you first visit a foreign country, many questions arise already at the time of choosing a tour or route for independent travel. Where are the best ticket prices? How long does the flight take? What does the hotel service include? Do I need a visa? Do I need to confirm the availability of a reserved hotel room? Should I present certificates from work and the bank about sufficient funds for travel?
Fortunately, for those who want to get acquainted with the fabulous India, the procedure for obtaining visas is simple.
Sometimes the issue of a visa is taken over by a travel agency. In this case, the situation is simplified. If you plan an independent trip or the tour operator / agency does not provide such a service, then you will have to deal with obtaining a visa in person.
For registration, you must contact the India Visa Application Center in Moscow.
Who is turning to?
Two visa centers of India are open for Russian citizens: in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
In St. Petersburg will have to contact the residents of this city directly. Residents of Vologda, Pskov, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Veliky Novgorod and their regions, the republics of Komi, Karelia are also accepted at the St. Petersburg office.
If a person is registered in other areas, you need to apply to the India Visa Application Center in Moscow at the following address: Moscow, ul. Novy Arbat, d. 2, office 412.
Validity options
In 2018, the India Visa Application Center in Moscow continues to issue visas for 3 and 6 months. When issuing for 6 months, 1 or 2 entries are allowed.
In addition, there is an electronic visa for 60 days with the right to visit the republic twice.
When contacting, it should be borne in mind that before the planned date of departure from Russia, it is necessary to have a reserve of at least four days. The countdown of a visa does not begin from the date of passing the visa control at the airport, but with the issuance of a visa by the consulate.
List of required documents
To apply to the India Visa Application Center in Moscow you need to prepare:
- International passport. The date in the column "expiration date" is important. A supply of at least 6 months from the date of application to the visa center is needed. Check for two free pages.
- A photocopy of the main page of the passport.
- The questionnaire, completed on the official website, which is printed in one copy. Duplex printing is not allowed. The signature is placed under the photograph and on the second page.
- 1 photo in color 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
- Confirmed reservation of round-trip airline tickets or to a third country.
- Confirmed hotel reservation.
- Copy of the passport of the Russian Federation (to the classic two pages you need to add a page with information about previously issued documents).
Application Procedure
To obtain a 3 or 6-month visa at the India Visa Application Center in Moscow, you need to visit it twice:
- At the first visit, a statement is submitted.
- On a second visit, a visa is obtained with a positive decision.
For an initial visit to the India Visa Application Center in Moscow on the Arbat, the following is required:
- Prepare, print documents.
- Register for an appointment on the site.
- Visit India Visa Application Center in Moscow during opening hours. Applications are accepted on business days from 9:00 to 16:00.
- Hand over documents, pay the fee in rubles. The cost of registration is periodically updated.Actual information can be clarified by calling the India Visa Application Center in Moscow.
There are two options for submitting documents: in person and with a representative. If an authorized person applies, do not forget to draw up a power of attorney with a notary certification.
The procedure for issuing an electronic (or e-visa) is much simpler, and the submission of documents is made on the official website. Filling is carried out in English, but if you have an initial level of knowledge, there will be no difficulties. During registration, images of the necessary supporting documents are uploaded. Upon completion of the application, the site will offer to pay by credit card.
It is important to know: the paid amount is not refunded in case of detection of errors in the data specified in the questionnaire, or in the case of a negative decision.
Response to the appeal
The status of the application is checked on the official website. Typically, the decision period is 5 days.
On the date appointed by the workers of the India Visa Application Center in Moscow, it is necessary to visit the office again and pick up the finished visa. Documents are handed over to the applicant or representative in the presence of a duly certified power of attorney.
When applying for an electronic visa, the response time is reduced to 1-3 business days. If the decision is positive, the applicant receives an e-mail message, prints out a document confirming the availability of a visa from the response.
Important: in case of obtaining an e-visa, you must have this confirmation document with you throughout the trip!
What should be remembered?
When applying for an Indian visa, please note that the visa is issued with an entry window for up to 30 days. For citizens of Russia, the two-month corridor of a necessary stay in Russia has been canceled. You can apply for a new visa immediately after returning to Russia.
Complications or possible causes of failure
A visa may be refused both at the first and subsequent application for a visa if:
- An incomplete package of documents was provided or data inconsistencies were found with the available information.
- There are inaccuracies when filling out the questionnaire.
- Poor photo quality or non-compliance.
- Previously, there were problems with the law (criminal record or problems with the police in previous trips).
- A violation of the visa and migration regime of India has been recorded earlier.
- There are notes about a trip to Pakistan.
- There is an assumption about possible migration or lack of funds to support themselves on a trip to India (they indicated in the status of work “unemployed”, a low-income family or the absence of a husband for girls).
- As a profession indicated journalistic activities. To visit journalists, the Indian government has developed more stringent requirements, the conditions should be found directly at the Consulate of India.
Thus, the process of obtaining an Indian visa is quite simple. Subject to the instructions and requirements of the visa center for paperwork, the chance of a trip to India is almost 100%.