Frequently Asked Questions



Q. 1 Do we require a visa to travel to India?

Ans. Yes, all foreign nationals MUST obtain a visa to travel to India (Except Bhutan & Nepal Nationals).

Q. 2 Requirements for obtaining visa.

Ans. - All applicants are required to apply in the prescribed visa application form along with one passport size photograph, passport in original, flight details/ itinerary and the prescribed fee. Passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months and in cases of long term visas, at least till the duration of the visa requested for.


Note: Visa Applicants from NSW and South Australia should lodge/ send their applications at/to the VFS servceis centres in Sydney and Adelaide respectively. All other Visa Applicants should lodge their applications at other centres (check VFS Centres).

Visas for minor children (under 15 years): Application MUST be furnished with following documents

• Copy of Date of Birth certificate,
• No Objection Letter from both the parents along with the photocopy of the relevant pages of their passports to verify signatures,
• Both parents MUST sign the visa application for minor children.

(Please see 'Information for Visa Applicants' for more information)


Q. 3 How do we pay the required fees?

Ans. Payment of fee will be accepted in Cash (only at the counter) / Bank Cheque( draft) and Australian. M.O only. Personal cheques will not be accepted.

Q. 4 Is a Temporary Resident considered a Non-Resident for purpose of issue of visa?

Ans. Yes


Q. 5 How long does it take a foreign national not resident in Australia to obtain a visa for India?

Ans. It would normally take 10 working days. However, this time limit does not apply to cases where references are required to be made to authorities in India. ProcessApplications that are sent by post or through agents/couriers .

Q. 6 What is the validity period for a visa ?

Ans. The period of validity starts from the date of issue.

Q. 7 What are the regulations/requirements about Vaccinations, if any, to visit India?

Ans. All Foreign tourists should be in possession of their Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate conforming to International Health Regulations, if they are originating or transiting through Africa or South America. Normally a yellow fever certificate is valid for a period of 10 years.

No other vaccination certificate is needed. However, you may wish to consult your General Practitioner.


Q. 8 Why does it take 2 months for issue of a fresh passport in place of an expired one?

Ans. Issue of a fresh passport in lieu of an expired one takes 2 months as reference to original passport issuing authorities needs to be made for verification of particulars/antecedents etc.


Q. 9 When to renew the passport and when to apply for a new passport.

Ans. An Indian passport is normally valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors from the date of its issue. It must be replaced with a fresh passport after expiry of its validity. Application for a fresh passport can be made up to one year before the date of expiry of the present passport. It is always better to apply well in time. Similarly, if your passport is due to expire but has not lived its life of 10 years /5 years you should apply well in time for its renewal.


Q. 10 Requirements for applying for new/fresh passport.

Ans. All passport Applicants have to register online. After registering online,print out the form and lodge along with current passport (and additional booklets, if any, issued). Four latest photographs (picture size 3.5cm x 3.5 cms) one photograph to be pasted on the application form. Minimum processing time for issuing new passport is minimum 2 months.

Q. 11 Requirements for applying for lost passport.

Ans. Police report / event number regarding the loss of passport. Submit photocopy of the lost passport, if available. If photocopy is not available, number, date of issue and place of issue of the lost passport MUST be furnished. Eight photographs. Form for new passport duly filled in, one photograph to be pasted on the application form and signed across. If the applicant is working then two references from employers are required. If the applicant is student then two references from university/college are required. Reference letters from two Indian nationals along with the notarised copy of their passports.

Duplicate passport in lieu of a lost passport is issued after requisite verification and clearances. Processing may take minimum 6 months. In case of damaged passport minimum processing time required is 2 months.

Q. 12 Requirements for change of name in passport after marriage/divorce.

Ans. All passport Applicants have to register online.


Q. 13 Requirements for change of appearance in passport.

Ans. All passport Applicants have to register online.


Q. 14 Requirements for Attestation of an Affidavit for Issue of Child's Passport.

Ans. This is required when one of the parents of the child is staying abroad and application for issue of Indian passport to the child in India (afresh or after deletion of the child's name in the passport of the parent resident in India) is being made by the other parent resident in India. The affidavit in the prescribed proforma is required to be submitted in duplicate along with the passport of the parent staying abroad.

Q. 15 Requirements for Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

Ans. An application form for miscellaneous services duly filled in, original passport and a photocopy of first five and last two pages of the passport, along with one recent passport size photograph need to be submitted.


Q. 16 Requirements for Attestation of Documents or Power of Attorney (not related to property matters; related to property matters; related to commercial matters e.g trade/export/ import document).

Ans. Attestation and authentication click here

Q. 17 Requirements for life certificate.

Ans. To be applied for in the "Life Certificate Application form" available at the Consulate General of India. The pensioner has to sign in the presence of the officer at the counter. In addition, two photographs and passport in original to be submitted. This service is provided gratis to pensioners.

Q. 18 Information on trade and investment.

Ans. Please contact the Commerce and Trade section at the Indian Consulate , email to trade@indianconsulatesydney.org


Q.19 Has Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) been approved by Government of India?


Ans. Please refer to Overseas Citizenship of India- click here

Q.20 Who is eligible to apply?

Ans. A foreign national, who was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26.01.1950 or was a citizen of India on or at anytime after 26.01.1950 or belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15.08.1947 and his/her children and grand children, provided his/her country of citizenship allows dual citizenship in some form or other under the local laws, is eligible for registration as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI). Minor children of such persons are also eligible for OCI. However, if the applicant had ever been a citizen of Pakistan / Bangladesh / Sri Lanka / Afganistan /China/ Nepal/ Bhutan, he/she will not be eligible for OCI.

Q21 Who is an NRI ?


Ans "Non Resident Indian" (NRI) means a person resident outside India who is a citizen of India or is a person of Indian origin.

Q22. Who is PIO or Person of Indian origin ?

Ans. "Person of Indian Origin "click here

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