Applying for an India Visa as a US Citizen: Document Requirements

If you’re an American citizen and would like to travel to India for business or pleasure, you’ll need to know about the specific visa requirements you must fulfill in order to legally enter the country. While the process may seem a bit overwhelming, it’s actually not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. If you follow these steps, you should be able to have your visa application approved before your next trip across the pond!

What is needed to apply for an Indian visa?

India is one of many countries that require travelers to hold a passport valid for six months beyond their stay in India. Additionally, it’s advisable to submit two recent passport-size photos, which are taken in front of the white or off-white paper (no glare). In addition to that, you’ll need proof of lodging during your stay (hotel reservations will do) and evidence of sufficient funds (you can print out ATM receipts). If traveling by air, you’ll also need to prove round-trip transportation with at least four blank pages in your passport. Finally, if you plan on visiting family or friends while staying in India, submit letters from them stating your relationship. The process may seem overwhelming at first—but it gets easier with time. India Visa for US Citizens

Acceptable Proof of Address

Applicants will need to submit a copy of their most recent utility bill with their application. This must show that they have lived at their current address for at least 30 days. Alternatively, applicants can submit a bank statement or government document that shows proof of residence. If you haven’t been living at your home for 30 days, you may be able to include a letter from your landlord saying that you are eligible to rent the property in question and will be there for longer than 30 days.

Supporting Documents

India requires that visitors have certain documents in order to enter and/or stay in India. These documents vary depending on whether you’re applying for a tourist visa, business visa, or another type of India visa. Here are some common supporting documents required when applying for an India visa as a US citizen (with requirements taken from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs website): A valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity beyond the intended period of stay (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). One blank adjacent page is required along with photocopies of all non-immigrant visas. If these extra pages are not available then please contact your nearest Indian embassy or consulate to inquire about having additional blank pages put into your passport. India Visa Document Requirements

How does the Embassy Lookup tool help with filling out forms?

The Embassy Lookup tool is one of our best resources. It helps you determine if you need to fill out certain forms and it outlines what information should be provided on those forms. You can find more details about that here. If there’s an asterisk next to your name in any fields, you will need to provide additional information. Consult our List of Forms for more details. Also, if there’s a country-specific note beneath your form, please read it carefully before submitting your application. (It may contain additional instructions or clarifications.) We recommend printing out these instructions before you begin filling out your form(s). You may also want to look at our Filling Out Your Form section and refer back to it while filling out each of your documents.

How long does it take to get my passport back after applying?

Depending on how quickly you can complete your passport application, you could have your new passport in 2-3 weeks. If you’re applying for a child under 16, it could take up to 6 weeks to receive his or her passport. Same-day service is available at many locations across Canada if you’re not able to come into our office. Find out more about our same-day service fees. You’ll need to book an appointment and confirm that we can process your application on that specific date and time. We cannot guarantee same-day service but try our best!

Emergency Contact Information Section

If you are traveling to India from America, you will need to have your passport renewed if it has been more than ten years since your last renewal. If it has been less than ten years, you do not need to renew it before going on your trip. You should make sure that if your passport was lost or stolen that you report it right away. It is also a good idea to get in touch with your local government office and let them know that you’ll be visiting India so they can make sure all records are up-to-date. You should bring two copies of your application form with you when applying for an India visa, one original and one photocopy.

Passport Renewal, Lost/Stolen Passports, and Name Changes

When your passport is lost or stolen, you will need to apply for a replacement. For many people, that means you will be applying for your first passport. It’s important to note that all passports must be issued in your legal name; if you have legally changed your name since birth (e.g., via marriage), then there are different rules regarding how and when you can update that change with Passport Services.