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India Tourist Visa – a thorough guide

India Tourist Visa – a thorough guide

If you want to experience the most striking and captivating beauty and cultural wonders of India, Arabier's tourist visa service to India provides the key to unlock doors to this enchanting nation. Whether you are going on a leisurely vacation, wanting to participate in recreational activities, or visiting friends and relatives, the tourist visa caters for non-business purposes.

However, one needs to follow the guidelines and requirements by the High Commission of India to avoid any inconvenience in the visa application process. This detailed guide will take you through all the essential details and documents required to obtain your tourist visa to take you on an unforgettable journey through the teeming tapestry of India.


What is the India Tourist Visa?


The 'Tourist Visa’ can be applied to any Sri Lankan and foreign nationals whose nationality is not Indian and who does not have a residency or work in India. These individuals are visiting for the purpose of travel, recreation, sights and visiting families and friends. The application is only for those who undertake travel-related activities or are in similar categories as specified in this category of visa, to operate.

The tourist visa however is also restricted in time and cannot be extended or altered to other types of visas. The Indian government can deport a person who is misusing the visa.


Processing Time for India Tourist Visa


The processing time for India Tourist Visa is about 6 to 7 working days


Document Checklist for Sri Lankan Nationals.


Document Checklist for Sri Lankan Nationals

For Sri Lankan nationals, the following are the necessary documents that need to be submitted for a tourist visa:

  • Scanned copies of identification documents such as NIC card, driving license, or birth certificate in clear and legible letters. If the documents are in Sinhala/Tamil, it should be provided with an English translation.
  • Two recent passport-sized color photographs (2x2 inches) showing the full face with both ears visible against a light background.
  • Particulars of previous visits to India, visa number, and date of issue.
  • A passport with at least 9 months of validity from the date of application and containing at least two blank pages. Tampered or damaged passports are not accepted. Submit all previous passports. If any previous passport is lost, provide a police complaint report.
  • Three-month bank statement with an appropriate average daily balance that shall have the account holder's name, address, and date of opening. For Business Entity: Provide business registration certificate.
  • Proof of Address: Proof of address same as attached in above point utility bill, Government service certificate, or Student Id card.
  • In case of applicants below the age of 18, an NOC should be provided, signed by both parents, stating travel details and guardian if traveling without parents. Attach photocopies of both parents' passports.
  • Dual nationals should present both passports at the time of application.

Financial Requirement for India Tourist Visa.


( a ). Self-Finance :

  • An average monthly balance of LKR 40,000 per applicant should be maintained.
  • Any sudden deposit made just prior to the date of application is not acceptable.
  • Current accounts with overdraft or with insufficient funds are not acceptable unless the same is accompanied by a linked collateral security-fixed deposit receipt.
  • A copy of an international credit card with the applicant's name and validity date along with a statement showing the total and available credit should be attached.

( b ). Sponsored Cases :

  • Attach the first page of the sponsor's passport.
  • The sponsorship letter should clearly mention the relationship of the sponsor with the applicants.
  • The sponsor should have an average balance of LKR 50,000 per head per month and should not sponsor more than four applicants excluding immediate family members.
  • Current accounts with overdraft or nil balance are not accepted unless accompanied by a linked collateral security-fixed deposit receipt.
  • The credit card statements and fixed deposit receipts cannot be submitted as financial guarantees

Document Checklist for Non-Sri Lankan Nationals.


  • Fill out the visa application form.
  • Two recent passport-sized color photographs (2x2 inches).
  • Give the actual visa details of your previous visit to India in the serial number F of the sample Visa application Form.
  • Provide the visa number starting with an alphabet, eg: VLI123456 and date of issue, eg: 25 June 2017 of the last visa you got and traveled on.
  • If your last visa was an eTV (electronic Visa / e-visa), please furnish the following: Visa number along with date of your first entry into India as stamped or registered on your passport by Bureau of Immigration, India.
  • Attach Photocopies of your passport and current Sri Lankan visa page.
  • Fill the FAX reference form.