Transit Visa for India - NEED HELP

[Mr Isolated]

Hi Guys,

I will be transiting India twice on my trip around the world. First is an overnight stopover (8 hours) the second is about 16 hours.
We don't mind staying in the airport / hotel but have read (qantas website) that we have to clear immigration to recheck our bags in... meaning we will need visas.
The direct application with the government is stupidly complicated and i think requires a trip to the consulate?! Otherwise with ivisa it will cost $140 USD per person!

Does anyone know if there is an easy/economical solution to this predicament i have put myself in hahaha

 

[clifford]

Does anyone know if there is an easy/economical solution to this predicament i have put myself in hahaha

Unfortunately, I don't think so. Just go with the eVisas or change your itinerary. But India will be an eyeopener if you haven't been there before. Enjoy!

 

[Mr Isolated]

Unfortunately, I don't think so. Just go with the eVisas or change your itinerary. But India will be an eyeopener if you haven't been there before. Enjoy!

Cheers Clifford, Its my 3rd attempt at booking a RTW classic flight booking. Not going to cancel this one. First one was via Hong Kong and second via Japan... We all know how slow those countries are opening!

Guess I just have to suck it up and get some Visas sorted!

 

[RooFlyer]

Hi Guys,

I will be transiting India twice on my trip around the world. First is an overnight stopover (8 hours) the second is about 16 hours.
We don't mind staying in the airport / hotel but have read (qantas website) that we have to clear immigration to recheck our bags in... meaning we will need visas.
The direct application with the government is stupidly complicated and i think requires a trip to the consulate?! Otherwise with ivisa it will cost $140 USD per person!

Does anyone know if there is an easy/economical solution to this predicament i have put myself in hahaha

The visa you are talking about is a regular entry visa, I think? If so, unless something has changed, ( and it may have) you shouldn't need to visit a consulate. I have a full page stick-in visa, so it looks like I had to send the passport off. I also recall that the Indian requirements for the photo were not 'standard' but the post office had a setting for India ( 2" x 2" from memory).

Hopefully you can get a multiple entry visa!

What are the entry ports? Might have some tips on places to stay near the airport, even for a day stay. You won't want to be 'hanging about' the airport or nearby for ~16 hours..

 

[Daver6]

In the last few weeks I applied online for a business travel e-visa for India. No need to send in a passport. Some of the questions were a bit strange but all in all, pretty painless.

 

[jbman]

We did an Indian transit there a few years ago. Bags were checked through. When we arrived in India we showed up at the transfer desk and advised we are booked in the airside hotel. They advised they could not print our tickets for the following day and called SQ to confirm we had an onward journey. Tickets that had been printed from the original airport we left from, but they wanted to confirm with SQ. The transfer desk also called the hotel and someone came and walked us to the hotel.

Next morning we showed up at the boarding gate and SQ had new tickets printed and ready.

 

[SeatBackForward]

What are the entry ports? Might have some tips on places to stay near the airport, even for a day stay. You won't want to be 'hanging about' the airport or nearby for ~16 hours..

We did an Indian transit there a few years ago. Bags were checked through. When we arrived in India we showed up at the transfer desk and advised we are booked in the airside hotel. They advised they could not print our tickets for the following day and called SQ to confirm we had an onward journey. Tickets that had been printed from the original airport we left from, but they wanted to confirm with SQ. The transfer desk also called the hotel and someone came and walked us to the hotel.

Next morning we showed up at the boarding gate and SQ had new tickets printed and ready.

I know in the past they wouldn't even allow you into an airport >4hrs before you flight time, so a long transit within the airport may not be possible? Mind you this was quite some time ago, and flying is a far more common thing in India now.

 

[PaulyB]

I need to apply for an Indian Visa - just for overnight transit but looks like the only option is a 30-day eTourist Visa. Anyway - I know there are many 3rd party sites but (and I realize this seems silly) I'd like to confirm this is the legitimate government site; e-Visa. It looks so hokey I feel like I need to check. Thanks!

 

[Mr Isolated]

I need to apply for an Indian Visa - just for overnight transit but looks like the only option is a 30-day eTourist Visa. Anyway - I know there are many 3rd party sites but (and I realize this seems silly) I'd like to confirm this is the legitimate government site; e-Visa. It looks so hokey I feel like I need to check. Thanks!

I found lots of websites that looked dodge, I ended up going with e-visa. Yes, can’t avoid the 30 day visa unfortunately.

I would also suggest, DO NOT leave the airport for air or to stretch your legs!! We did and had to convince the soldiers guarding the doors we had a hotel booked inside the airport and a flight the next day.

Also internet is terrible, have everything printed. Just in case

 

[PaulyB]

I found lots of websites that looked dodge, I ended up going with e-visa. Yes, can’t avoid the 30 day visa unfortunately.

I would also suggest, DO NOT leave the airport for air or to stretch your legs!! We did and had to convince the soldiers guarding the doors we had a hotel booked inside the airport and a flight the next day.

Also internet is terrible, have everything printed. Just in case

Too late! The only reason we need a Visa is that we have an overnight stay at the Taj Bangalore just at the airport.

 

[Daver6]

I need to apply for an Indian Visa - just for overnight transit but looks like the only option is a 30-day eTourist Visa. Anyway - I know there are many 3rd party sites but (and I realize this seems silly) I'd like to confirm this is the legitimate government site; e-Visa. It looks so hokey I feel like I need to check. Thanks!

Yes, that's the official government website and the one you should use.

 

[PaulyB]

Yes, that's the official government website and the one you should use.

Thanks! Much appreciated.

 

[RB]

Yes, that's the official government website and the one you should use.

Yes I think the safest way is to follow links from the Aust smart traveller site

 

[SeatBackForward]

I definitely don't miss the days of having to visit the Indian consulate for Visa's:

- Applications only accepted on Tuesdays from 1pm-3pm, too bad if the lines too long, the shutter goes down at 3pm sharp.
- Collections only on Thursday between 9am and 11am, when the planet Venus is visible, from the lunchroom.

 

[PaulyB]

I definitely don't miss the days of having to visit the Indian consulate for Visa's:

- Applications only accepted on Tuesdays from 1pm-3pm, too bad if the lines too long, the shutter goes down at 3pm sharp.
- Collections only on Thursday between 9am and 11am, when the planet Venus is visible, from the lunchroom.

I really want to laugh but I realize how absolutely frustrating it must have been. I remember flying to Vientiane to get a new visa for Thailand. Not as bad as you describe but, uncertain enough and definitely unnerving at times.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I really want to laugh but I realize how absolutely frustrating it must have been. I remember flying to Vientiane to get a new visa for Thailand. Not as bad as you describe but, uncertain enough and definitely unnerving at times.

Thankfully, I had the benefit of getting what is called the Overseas Citizen of India way back in 1998, which means I no longer need a Visa to enter India, but I'm not allowed to own any land! Just avoiding the Indian consulate was worth the paperwork of getting the OCI sorted.

 

[exLXCXFF]

Just one data point with a Swiss passport.

I can do both, Tourist eVisa & Business eVisa, online and it costs USD 80 or 82.

Give me a visa in less than 36 hours that was valid for 1 year and allowed for 3 consecutive entries within that year.

 

[blacksultan]

Thankfully, I had the benefit of getting what is called the Overseas Citizen of India way back in 1998, which means I no longer need a Visa to enter India, but I'm not allowed to own any land! Just avoiding the Indian consulate was worth the paperwork of getting the OCI sorted.

Actually with an oci you can purchase land and any property - except. Agricultural land .
You can even inherit agricultural property .
It also gives you work rights !

 

[SeatBackForward]

Actually with an oci you can purchase land and any property - except. Agricultural land .
You can even inherit agricultural property .
It also gives you work rights !

Ah yes the technicality!, and I think you can't run for any political positions or such..

Either way, for me, the primary benefit - not needing to deal with getting Indian Visas.

Now its a pity that it's not recognised for Global Entry into the US like Indian citizens have. Which bizarrely Australians still can't!

 

[blacksultan]

Ah yes the technicality!, and I think you can't run for any political positions or such..

Either way, for me, the primary benefit - not needing to deal with getting Indian Visas.

Now its a pity that it's not recognised for Global Entry into the US like Indian citizens have. Which bizarrely Australians still can't!

That’s coz It’s not a passport and more like a permanent visa .