Indian e-Conference Visa
Indian e-Conference Visa
India’s immigration policy allows only five (5) categories of visitors to apply for Indian visas electronically. Travelers to India for the purpose of attending a conference, workshop or seminar are among those captured in this 6 years old initiative of the Bureau of Immigration. The e-conference visa is a short term visa. It is valid for 30 days and only permits single entry into India.
For a busy person with an already tight schedule, a long queue of visa applicants in an Indian embassy or high commission is the last thing you want to face. With the e-conference visa initiative, you can apply for your traveling authorization document online. At present, this electronic travel authorization (ETA) for conference attendees is not available for all countries. Click here to see the list of eligible countries that can apply for Indian e-conference visa.
Approved conferences in India
Not all gatherings in India can be considered a conference, seminar or a workshop. Activities in India captured in the list below, are the ones foreigners can attend with an e-conference visa:
- A workshop held in India aimed at discussing a particular subject.
- An international seminars or conferences organized by approved institutions.
- As a delegate in a UN organized event.
Things you should know about this visa type
- The Indian e-conference visa is valid for three (4) months from the date it was issued.
- With an e-conference visa, you can stay in India for only 30 days.
- Failure to leave India within the stipulated 30 days will attract a fine of $300.
- An unused Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) expires after three months of issuance. This means that you are expected to arrive in India within 3 months of getting an ETA.
- It is a single entry visa.
- It is non-extendable, non-convertible and it cannot be cancelled.
- The application cost varies from country to country.
Other essential document needed
If you are attending a conference, seminar or workshop in India please note the following. Aside from the general documents required for all e-visa applicants, you will be needing these other information and documents:
- Places to be visited.
- Places to be visited.
- The venue of the conference.
- Details of the organizer of the conference.
- List of countries you have visited in the last 10 years.
- Name, phone number and address of a reference in India.
- Name, address and phone number of a reference in your home country.
- An invitation letter from the conference organizer.
- Clearance from the Indian external affairs ministry (MEA political clearance).
- Clearance from the home affairs ministry (MHA event clearance).
A quick overview of the e-conference application process
At indiaevisa.info your e-conference visa application can be done under these three easy processes:
- Complete an online application form
- For the completeness of your application, you will need to upload the above-listed documents.
- After you have provided all the needed information, review all information provided.
- Make a payment.
- Confirm payment of all fees. Note: Debit/credit card or a PayPal account are acceptable for online payment.
- Check your email to download your approved ETA i.e. India e-conference visa.
- Be ready for your India trip. Your passport and a copy of your electronic authorization will be requested before you enter India.
Authorized entry points to India for e-conference visa holders
Here are airports and seaports through which you can enter India.
Airports:
Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kochi, Coimbatore, and Delhi. Others are Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, and Mangalore. Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi, and Vishakhapatnam completes the list.Seaports:
Kochi, Goa, Mangalore, Mumbai, Chennai.FAQs Relating To India e-Conference Visa Application
If you are planning a journey to India for a conference purpose, please go through our online application process. ETA for an emergency application will be ready between 24 and 72 hours. Click here to apply for your urgent visa.
It must be on a company letterhead paper. It must include the full local address and phone number of the organization. It must include a statement showing that the sponsor is responsible for the visitor. And it has to be signed and stamped.
You should be aware that there is a specific officer at your preferred entry port. He or she will check your downloaded or printed ETA before stamping your passport.
India missions will request MEA and MHA approvals before granting e-conference visas if:
- The conference participant is from either Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, or Sudan.
- Participants of conferences will want to visit India’s Restricted or Protected areas.
- Participants of a conference plan to visit areas affected by terrorism, militancy and extremism. Such a situation will need clearance from MEA and MHA.
Yes, delegates coming to India for a conference or a workshop may be permitted to engage in tourism. In some cases, the Indian mission in your country may grant a special visa for such purpose. But often-times, such visas cannot exceed six months.