Global Visa And Passport Services

Visas are the permission that is granted by a sovereign nation to a traveler permitting entry into that country for a specific purpose. Most visas are stamped into the traveler's passport. The most common types of visas are granted for the specific purposes of tourism, conducting business or attending a conference or symposium, establishing temporary or permanent residence, or going to school. A traveler must follow very distinct guidelines and procedures established by each sovereign nation in applying for the appropriate visa category.

A US passport is proof of citizenship, and permits you to re-enter the United States after your trip abroad. However, a US passport does not automatically permit entry into every country without a visa. Many countries allow US passport holders to enter without a visa because of reciprocal visa waivers and long-standing diplomatic relations; many countries do not.

The photographs submitted with an application must adhere to specific requirements regarding the size, background color, and type of paper on which the photo is printed. The standard size is a 2� high x 2� wide photo taken of yourself within the last month. Please be aware that any attempts to use digital photos must adhere to standard passport photo requirements (color, plain background) and be printed on correct photo quality paper. Go to Passports to see the photo requirements for your passport application.

Yes, we have to submit the passport, the application and other documents to the Embassy where the consular officer will stamp the visa onto one of the pages of the passport. When the visa is ready, we will pickup the passport with the visa stamped in it and will mail it back to you.

We will make every effort to ensure that you get your passport or visa in time for your trip. Processing times listed on our website are provided by the Embassies and the Department of State under normal circumstances. We cannot always guarantee, however, that your passport or visa will be returned to you by a certain date, because it is ultimately at the discretion of the Passport Agency or Embassy as to when your passport or visa will be released. Sometimes these agencies become overwhelmed with the amount of applications they receive and this translates into longer processing times. Also, processing officers, at their sole discretion, may request additional documents. In such cases processing time will also be extended. Often, embassies give last minute updates on closure dates related to national holidays or other public events. Equipment failure is also among the causes that can trigger a delay. Such last minute changes are impossible to predict and may extend the processing times. Nevertheless, we do our absolute best to get the paperwork processed on time and without delay.

Indian citizen are not allowed to hold an Indian Passport along with a passport of another nationality. However one can opt to get Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), however this will be on surrendering of Indian Passport. Please refer to the guidelines on our website for Surrendering of Indian Passport.

The Indian Mission is no longer affixing ECNR stamp in passports. In fact it is not even printed in most of the new passport booklets unless otherwise on special cases which is on the discretion of the mission. Currently, only ECR stamp is being put in passports if applicant is not eligible for ECNR. However, if you wish to change to an ECNR status - you should possess qualification of Matriculation or above from a recognized University / Education Board of India. You can also get ECNR status on the basis of provisional matriculation certificate if the mark sheets of all semesters of your course are available with you. Applicants who do not have educational certificates should have stayed abroad for more than 3 years excluding the period(s) of visit to India or should be a dependent who is below 18 years and whose parents have ECNR status in their passports or should be a person (he/she) whose spouse has ECNR status in his or her passport or should be above 50 years of age .

Minor Applicants (under 15 years).

All minors are required to have a separate passport. Old practice of including a child's name in the Passport of either of the parents has been discontinued.

The Constitution of India does not allow dual citizenship. You cannot be a citizen of India and a citizen of another foreign country at the same time. Government of India decided to register person of Indian origin and issue Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card based on the registration made.

A foreign national can apply for an OCI Card.

At the time of application the Applicant must provide a Notarized Joint Statement signed by the couple stating.

Yes, you can apply for both together.

No, it is not necessary for travellers to carry Certificate of Renunciation of Indian Citizenship during their travel to India.

Holding an Indian passport or acquiring an Indian passport or travelling on an Indian passport after acquisition of foreign citizenship constitutes an offence under the Indian Passport Act, 1967 and attracts penalties. All Indian origin foreign nationals are required to surrender their Indian passports to the nearest Indian Mission/Post immediately after acquisition of foreign citizenship and obtain a surrender certificate.