Non U.K. and European residents wishing to visit India need to apply for a visa to India by filling and submitting a duly completed India visa application. Here’s an overview of documents and other things required to complete an India travel visa application.You can download the India visa application from various websites or get the physical visa to India application form from the Indian Embassy in London or the High Commissions in Birmingham or Edinburgh. Since applying for an Indian visa can be slightly confusing for a non U.K. resident or a European, here’s what you need to know about India visa application.
1. Always make sure you have the correct residence proof for the India Visa Application: It is imperative that you have a proper proof of residence in the UK or in Europe. Generally the most easily accepted proof of residence in the United Kingdom include: bank statements; utility bills like gas, electricity and water bills. Another proof of residence for the visa for India in U.K can be a payslip (no longer than 6 months old) with your national insurance number printed clearly on it.
2. Ensure that your visa to India application residence proof is no older than 1 – 1.5 years: While previously the India travel visa residence proof could be many years old, now there has been a change in rules and the proof has to be less than 1.5 years old.
3. If you are a non-U.K passport holder but having been living in the UK for a year or less you will have to fill an extra form known as the “Non UK Residents Form” along with your India travel visa application form.
4. All non UK and European passport holders must have a valid UK visa or proper permission from the UKBA allowing them to re-enter the U.K. You will have to pay an extra £10 / passport fee to the HCI (High Commission of India) for referral. The minimum time required to process these India visa in U.K. applications is 5 working days.
5. If you are a non-U.K passport holder but having been living in the UK for a year or more you will need to provide one photocopy of any one of the below documents as proof of your residence in the U.K. validating your residency for more than a year – current month and one year but less than 18 months old utility bills or bank statements.
6. When applying for your visa to India ensure you have all the necessary and important details on you. These documents will have to be submitted as photocopies and must be clear, sharp and marked properly.
