Indian e-Conference Visa | Emergency India e-Conference Visa
The Indian Government plays a significant role in promoting the growth of its country by enhancing foreign investors. One of the ways is through organizing helpful conferences and making it possible for foreigners to get the e-conference visa promptly.
But what do you need to know before apply for Indian e-Conference Visa? Read on to get deeper insights.
Understanding the Indian e-Conference Visa
The e-Visa for conferences is a short term electronic travel authorization given by the Indian missions to delegates who wish to attend a workshop or a seminar in India. These conferences are normally held to discuss matters of international or national importance. Before the issuance of the e-Conference visa, the delegates are required to produce an invitation letter to that conference or seminar. The conferences are usually organized by the UN, specialized agencies, private institutions, any department or ministry in the government or government-owned institutions.
The Validity for e-Conference Visa?
Once the e-Visa has been granted, the delegate is given a maximum stay of 30 days with only a single entry. Extending your stay will attract a financial penalty of not less than USD 300. As such, it is important to comply with the visa rules and regulations and the laws of India once you are there.
The e-Conference visa has a lifespan of 90 days after which you will have to apply afresh. This time period is counted from the time you receive the travel authorization and not from the time you gain entrance into India. Thus, you can apply the e-Visa in advance.
Online Application Process
The process is purely online and you will be documents required for Indian e-Visa to upload copies of some documents as explained below.
- Your passport should have at least six months of validity. You will then take a clean scanned copy of the passport and upload as you fill the form. Its size should not exceed 3MB.
- A copy of your recent photograph – It should be digitally taken, colored and taken on a white background.
- A copy of your invitation letter to the conference or seminar.
- MHA event clearance letter
- MEA political clearance letter.
Indian e-Conference Visa Payments
Applying the e-Visa for the conference will attract two types of charges – visa processing fees and the government fees. In total, your charges will be about USD 13- USD 113. You are to pay as soon as you complete filling the online form. Three payment methods are allowed – debit or credit card and also PayPal.
Once you make the payments, the money is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application process – approval/disapproval. Besides, the visa was processed.
How to Get the e-Visa Conference
Since the process is online, the mode of receiving your response is also online. In this case, you will receive an email confirming a successful process. For the urgent Indian e-Conference Visa, you will get the notification within 1 to 3 working days.
After getting the email notification, you are supposed to print the travel approval letter as it will be needed at the airport. Also, carry your passport with at least two blank pages.
Once you get to India, there are visible direction boards. You will just follow the e-Visa signboard to the Immigration desk where you will produce your verification documents, fill the arrival/departure card before proceeding to your conference.
Frequently Asked Questions:
An e-Conference Visa for India is an electronic travel authorization that allows foreigners to attend conferences, seminars, and workshops in India. The visa is granted to participants who are invited to attend or participate in a conference, seminar, or workshop organized by a registered Indian organization or a government agency.
Foreign nationals who are planning to attend conferences, seminars, or workshops in India are eligible to apply for an e-Conference Visa. The visa is granted to those who have the invitation to attend or participate in a conference, seminar, or workshop organized by a registered Indian organization or a government agency. The applicant must have a valid passport and meet other eligibility requirements such as having sufficient funds to support their stay in India, not having a criminal record, and not being on the list of restricted categories of travellers to India. The e-Conference Visa is intended for short-term visits to attend specific events, and it is not applicable for any other purposes such as business meetings, internships, research, or employment in India.
You can apply for an e-Conference Visa for India by following these steps:
- Visit the Indian e-Conference Visa application form: Go to the Indian Visa Online website and click on the "India e-Conference Visa application form" option. You will be redirected to the e-Visa application page.
- Fill out the e-Visa application form: Fill out the application form with your personal and travel information. Make sure that you enter accurate information to avoid any delays or rejections.
- Upload the required documents: Upload the scanned copies of your passport, a recent passport-sized photograph, the invitation letter from the conference organizer or the government agency in India, Political Clearance and Proof of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Event Clearance.
- Pay the e-Visa fee: Pay the visa processing fee using the online payment options available on the website. The fee for India e-conference visa usually depends on the country and processing time.
- Submit the e-Visa application: Once you have filled out the application form, uploaded the required documents, and paid the fee, submit your application. You will receive a confirmation email with a reference number and a link to track the status of your application.
- Wait for e-Visa approval: The e-Visa processing time varies depending on the volume of applications and other factors. Typically, it takes up to 3 to 5 business days for the e-Visa approval as a normal process and as an urgent process 1 to 3 days, but it is recommended to apply well in advance of your travel dates.
- Receive your e-Conference Visa: Once your e-Visa is approved, you will receive it via email in the form of a PDF document. Print a copy of the e-Visa and carry it with you during your travel to India.
It is important to note that the e-Conference Visa is a single-entry visa and can only be used for attending the specific conference, seminar, or workshop that you have applied for.
The following documents are required to apply for an e-Conference Visa for India:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in India and has at least two blank pages.
- A digital photograph of the applicant in color, taken against a white background.
- A scanned copy of the first page of the applicant's passport.
- A copy of the invitation letter from the Indian organization or government agency hosting the conference.
- Evidence confirming the clearance of the event by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- Certification of Political Clearance issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
- Payment of the visa fee.
The e-Conference Visa for India is valid for a period of 30 days from the date of arrival in India. This means that the visa holder is allowed to stay in India for the duration of the conference, seminar, or workshop they are attending, as well as for any pre or post-event tourism activities, as long as their total stay in India does not exceed 30 days. It is important to note that the e-Conference Visa is a single-entry visa and cannot be extended or converted to any other type of visa. If the visa holder wishes to stay in India for a longer period or attend multiple conferences, they must apply for a regular visa through the Indian embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
No, you cannot apply for an e-Conference Visa for India if you are already in India. The e-Conference Visa is an electronic travel authorization that must be obtained prior to entering India, and it can only be applied for from outside of India. Therefore, if you are already in India and wish to attend a conference, seminar, or workshop, you must exit India and apply for the e-Conference Visa from your home country or from a country where you have legal residency. Once your e-Conference Visa application is approved, you can enter India and attend the conference, seminar, or workshop as per your visa validity.
The processing time for an e-Conference Visa for India can vary depending on several factors, such as the number of applications received by the authorities, the accuracy and completeness of the application, and the individual circumstances of the applicant. Normally, it takes 3 to 5 business days for the e-Conference Visa to be processed. However, if an applicant opts for the urgent processing option, it can be processed within 1 to 3 business days. It is recommended to apply for the visa well in advance of the scheduled conference dates to allow sufficient time for processing and any unforeseen delays.
No, the e-Conference Visa for India is valid for a single conference, seminar, or workshop only. If the applicant wishes to attend multiple events, they must apply for separate e-Conference Visas for each event.
No, the e-Conference Visa for India is non-extendable. If the applicant wishes to stay in India beyond the visa's validity, they must apply for a regular visa through the Indian embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
No, the e-Conference Visa for India does not allow the holder to work in India. If the applicant wishes to work in India, they must apply for an appropriate work visa through the Indian embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
Yes, it is possible for an e-Conference Visa for India to be rejected. There are various reasons why a visa application may be rejected, such as incomplete or inaccurate information, insufficient supporting documentation, previous visa violations, criminal records, and concerns over the applicant's intentions for visiting India. It is essential to ensure that the visa application is complete, accurate, and supported by all necessary documentation to increase the chances of approval. In case of rejection, the applicant may be provided with a reason for the rejection, and they may have the option to apply again or seek an appeal, depending on the circumstances.