Advisory(Click here)

Indian Visa Options: Regular Visa vs. E-Visa

With immediate effect the applicants are requested to apply visa on line at the below given link
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa

NOTICE 

            It is hereby notified for all concerned that the visa fee for all categories have been revised and new visa fee will be charged w.e.f. 1^st April 2017 

REVISED VISA FEE STRUCTURE (Effective from 01/04/2017)

ICWF fee with all the services – US$3.00 

*Bank charges - US$5.00 with all the services if the fee is paid through bank draft/banker’s cheque in favour of Embassy of India, Paramaribo.

INFORMATION ON VISAS 

The Embassy of India, Paramaribo issues Tourist / Student / Business / Employment and other types of visas to applicants who are residents of Suriname, Barbados, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent & Grenadines. Visas to the nationals of the above-mentioned countries are generally issued same day. The nationals of other countries can normally obtain a visa in 3-4 working days subject to fulfillment of Consular requirements. 

Tourist visa

E-Tourist visa

E-tourist visa (e-tv) scheme has been extended to the nationals of Suriname, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & Grenadines. For details, please visit e-tv website – www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html . 

Business Visa

Business Visa is granted to foreign national who wish to visit India for business and trade purposes and/or the following:

(i) to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up an industrial/business venture, other than Proprietorship Firms and Partnership Firms, in India.

(ii) to purchase/sell industrial products or commercial products or consumer durables.

(iii) for technical meetings/discussions, attending Board meetings or general meetings for providing business services support.

 (iv) for consultations regarding exhibitions or for participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, business fairs etc.

(v) who come to transact business with suppliers/ potential suppliers at locations in India, to evaluate or monitor quality, give specifications, place orders, negotiate further supplies etc., relating to goods or services procured from India.

(vi) experts/specialists on a visit of short duration in connection with an ongoing project with the objective of monitoring the progress of the work, conducting meetings with Indian customers and/or to provide technical guidance.

More details about Business Visa may be seen at:

https://mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/work_visa_faq.pdf

Conditions for grant of Business Visa

(i) The foreign national should be a person of assured financial standing (sufficient proof of his/ her financial standing and expertise in the field of intended business will be checked thoroughly while granting the visa).

(ii) The foreign national should not be visiting India for the business of money lending or for running a petty business or petty trade or for full time employment in India, etc.

(iii) The foreign national should not be visiting India for the business of money lending or for running a petty business or petty trade or for full time employment in India, etc.  The foreign national shall comply with all other requirements like payment of tax liabilities etc.

Requirements:

Duly completed, printed and signed on-line visa application form

1. Two recent colour passport size (about 51mm x 51mm) photographs in colour showing full frontal face against a white background to be pasted/stapled on the application form.
2. Current valid passport with minimum of 190 days validity and must have minimum 2 blank pages
3. Invitation letter from the company in India indicating the nature of applicant's business, etc.
4. Applicant may be asked by Embassy to submit additional documents.

Conference Visa

Conference Visa is granted to attend Conference, Seminar or Workshop in India. It is usually granted for three month validity.

Guidelines and FAQs issued by the Government of India about the Conference Visa are available at https://mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/ForeigD-FAQs-on-ConferenceVisa.pdf.

Requirements.

1. Duly completed, printed and signed  on-line visa application form.
2. Two recent colour passport size (about 35 mm x 35 mm) photographs in colour showing full frontal face against a white background to be pasted on the application form.
3. Current valid passport with minimum of 180 days validity and must have minimum 2 blank pages.
4. A letter of invitation from the organizers of the Conference institutes.confirming dates, places and subject.
5. Application should preferably be submitted along with (i) Event clearance letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi (ii) Political clearance from the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), New Delhi, and (iii) Clearance letter from the concerned state government.

Employment Visa

'EMPLOYMENT VISA' application is considered for travelling to India for the purpose of working in India, for an organization registered in India. Such application can also be considered to work with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)/non-profit organizations in India.

1. Eligibility

An Employment Visa application of following types of foreign nationals can be considered:

1. Going to India as consultant on contract for whom the Indian company pays a fixed remuneration (this may not be in the form of a monthly salary).
2. Artists engaged to conduct regular performances for the duration of the employment contract given by Hotels, Clubs or other organizations.

    iii.        Going to India to take up employment as coaches of national/state level teams or reputed sports clubs.

1. Persons who have signed a contract for a specified period by the Indian Clubs/Organizations.
2. Self-employed Foreign nationals going to India for providing engineering, medical, accounting, legal or such other highly skilled services in their capacity as independent consultants provided the provision of such services by foreign nationals is permitted under law.
3. Language teachers/interpreters.

   vii.    Specialist chefs.

  viii.    Engineers/technicians going to India for installation and commissioning of equipment/machines/tools in terms of the contract for supply of such equipment/machines/tools.

1. Deputed for providing technical support/services, transfer of know-how/services for which the Indian company pays fees/royalty to the foreign company.
2. Senior management personnel and/or specialists employed by foreign firms who are relocated to India to work on specific project/management assignment.
3. Going to India for execution of a project/contract [irrespective of the duration of the visit].

   xii.     Going to India on short visits to a customer location to repair plant or machinery as part of warranty or annual maintenance contracts.

  xiii.     Going to India for imparting training for the personnel of the India Company.

  xiv.     Going to India for volunteer work with a Non-governmental organization (NGO) must apply for an India Employment Visa

2. General Conditions for Employment Visa

An Employment Visa application is considered subject to fulfillment of the following conditions:

1. The applicant should be a highly skilled and/or qualified professional being engaged or appointed by a company or organization or industry or undertaking in India on contract or an employment basis at a senior level, skilled position such as technical expert, senior executive, or in a managerial position, etc.
2. There should not be a qualified Indian available to do the job that the visa holder would be performing. A letter from the owner or company secretary of the Indian firm is required to certifying the above.

    iii.     Employment visa application shall cannot be considered for routine, ordinary or secretarial/clerical jobs.

1. The employment must either be in a company/firm/organization registered in India or in a foreign company/firm/organization engaged for execution of some project in India.
2. The employee's salary must be in excess of Indian Rupees 16.25 lakhs (Indian Rupees 1.625 million) per year. However, this condition does not apply to: (a) Ethnic cooks, (b) Language teachers (other than English language teachers) / translators and (c) Staff working for the concerned Embassy/High Commission/Consulate/UN and related International Organizations in India.
3. Foreign national must comply with all legal requirements like payment of tax liabilities etc.

   vii.    The documents pertaining to the proposed employment will be thoroughly checked to decide the category of visa that may be issued to the foreigner.

  viii.    The name of the sponsoring employer/organization and proposed place (city) of work of visa applicant shall be clearly stipulated in the visa sticker.

1. A foreign company/organization that does not yet have any Project office/subsidiary/joint venture/branch office in India cannot sponsor a foreign national/employee of a foreign company for an Employment Visa. However, if the Indian company/organization has awarded a contract for execution of a project to a foreign company that does not have any base in India; such foreign company can sponsor the employee for Employment Visa.
2. The Indian company/organization engaging foreign nationals for executing projects/contracts would be responsible for the conduct of the foreign national during their stay in India and also for the departure of such foreign national upon expiry of visa.

3. Issue of EmploymentVisa

A person should apply Employment Visa only if he/she has regularly been domiciled in the jurisdiction of this Embassy for more than years and can provide a documentary proof for the same. Otherwise, he/she should apply in the Indian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate in his/her country of origin.

4. Documents to besubmitted / Requirements:

In addition to specific documents mentioned above, following shall be submitted

1. Duly completed, printed and signed on-line visa application form.
2. Two recent color passport size (about51mm x 51mm) photographs in color showing full frontal face against a white background to be pasted on the application form.

    iii.        Current valid passport with minimum of 190 days validity and must have minimum 2 blank pages.

1. A copy of the Employment Contract indicating the nature of job, salary structure, and duration of contract.
2. Proof of his/her employment or contract or engagement by the company/firm/organization in India.
3. Documentary proof of his/her educational qualifications and professional expertise.

   vii.        Documents/ papers pertaining to the proposed employment, like the registration of the company under the Companies Act, proof of registration of the firm in the State Industries Department or the Export Promotion Council concerned, or any recognized promotional body in the field of industry and trade etc.

  viii.        For voluntary work with charities or non-profit organizations, a letter from the sponsoring organization in India on their letter-head, duly signed by authorized signatory, indicating the nature and duration of the visit and place of work. The letter from the sponsoring organization needs to state whether the applicant will be paid or non-paid.

5. Spouse / Dependent Members

Spouse and dependent family members accompanying the applicant must apply for an ‘Employment Visa dependent’ (NOT Tourist or Entry visa), co-terminus with the period of the principal visa holder. Such family members may also apply Student Visa provided they are otherwise eligible for applying of such a visa. Dependent visa of the family members/dependents of such foreign national can be extended by the FRRO/ FRO concerned, co-terminus with the visa of the principal holder

Student Visa

Student visas can be obtained on furnishing proof of admission to recognized / reputed universities / institutions in India for the duration of the course of study. One visa application form with two photographs and the admission letter from the concerned institute / school / college are to be submitted.

Visa for study in Yoga, Vedic Culture, Indian System of Music, Dance, etc.

Visa to foreigners to pursue studies in yoga, Vedic culture, Indian system of music, dance, etc., in recognized Indian institutions is issued on production of admission letters from recognized Indian institutions. 

Medical Visa

For persons going for medical treatment in India. Medical visa is not given for normal ailments which are not serious in nature.

1. Invitation of the recognized hospital in India, duly stamped and signed by the Doctor and Head of the Department.
2. Medical records and reference letter from the local doctor.
3. Copy of Flight tickets.

VISA FEE

Each visa application is considered on its merits and the Embassy may ask for additional information at any stage during processing of the application. The fact that an application for visa has been made does not guarantee that visa will be issued. The Embassy reserves the right to refuse visa. The visa fees once paid cannot be refunded, even when visa is refused. Revised Visa fee effective from April 1, 2017 may be seen on the top of this page. 

Please add US$03 as ICWF charge with all sorts of payment and US$05 as bank draft/banker’s cheque charge if you pay through bank draft or banker’s cheque.  

Enclose return airway bill along with your application in case you do not reside in Paramaribo and you are sending your application via courier service. 

For the nationals of Suriname, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, the visa fee will be as per the Revised Visa Fee Structure given at the top of this page. 

For Business visas and employment visas, the fee for the nationals of a number of countries is higher on reciprocal basis. The same may be seen at ANNEXURE 1 and ANNEXURE 2 

VISA FORMS

Visa forms may be downloaded after filling the form online from the website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa 

This is to bring to the notice of the public that Government of India has introduced additional consular fee of US$ 3.00 for each passport/visa/OCI/Attestation/Misc. Consular Services application as contribution towards Indian Community Welfare Fund. The charges are effective from May 14, 2010. 

Applicants are advised to add US$03 as ICWF charge with all types of services and US$05 as bank draft/banker’s cheque charge to the banker’s cheques/drafts for fee drawn in favour of Embassy of India, Paramaribo. 

WORKING HOURS

Visas applications can be submitted at the Consular section of the Embassy of India, Paramaribo from 9.00 AM to 12.00 PM on all working days. Visas can be collected from the same place on the specified dates from 3 PM to 4 PM. Embassy does not work on Saturdays, Sundays and a few other holidays. 

WHERE TO OBTAIN VISA

Visa can be obtained from the Embassy of India at the following address:

Embassy of India

Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 239

PO Box 1329, PARAMARIBO

Telephone No : (597) 498344

Fax No : (597) 491106

Email: consular.paramaribo@mea.gov.in

Web: https://www.indembassysuriname.gov.in

Important Notice

 The emergency contact mobile number of this Mission for Emergency Consular Services 24X7 is as under: 

00597-7133188