Indian Visa for French Citizens

France has always been one of the most visited countries in the world and has been so for centuries back. With its rich culture, historical monuments, famous sites and landmarks, and food that everyone would like to savor at least once in their lifetime, France is every traveler’s dream destination. However, if you’re planning to visit India on an INDIAN VISA FROM FRANCE then there are certain procedures and formalities that you need to follow before you make your way over to India.

Introduction

Visas are issued by embassies and consulates of various countries to their citizens who wish to travel abroad. A visa is a document that gives them permission to enter another country, normally for tourism or business purposes. If you are traveling to India, you can get an Indian visa from any of its consulates or embassies around the world. With such a high volume of tourists wishing to visit India each year, getting an INDIAN VISA FOR FRENCH CITIZENS is generally not very difficult if you have all your documents in order and follow all procedures precisely.

Tourist Visa – Visas on Arrival (VOA)

The visa on arrival scheme is available to citizens of all nations except Afghanistan, China, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Pakistan. Holders of VoA may get their visas up to 30 days before their date of arrival in India. However, Indians who have a valid passport with a valid visa/entry stamp will not be able to avail themselves of the facility. The duration of stay in India under this category is 30 days and can be extended only once by staying an additional 15 days (60 days in total). After that, you must leave within 60 days or risk deportation.

E-Tourist Visa (eTV)

France is one of a handful of European nations to offer e-Tourist Visas as part of its visa policy. This allows citizens of France traveling to India to visit India without having to physically go down to a consulate or an embassy and stand in line. In fact, if you are a citizen of France, there is no need for you to apply in advance at all; once you arrive in India, simply pay your fees and complete your formalities (including police registration) on arrival. All other requirements—and fees—are similar to those applicable under the normal tourist visa.

Other Types of Visas

There are other types of visas besides tourist and business visas. If you are planning to stay in India longer than 180 days, you will need to apply for an O visa from an Indian embassy or consulate outside of India. To get a long-term visa, you must show that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay and that you have booked a flight out of India before your visa expires. Additionally, applicants need their original birth certificate (and translations), high school diploma, police clearance certificates (and translations), three passport photos, and airline tickets. If applying within India, they will also need evidence of accommodation (such as hotel bookings or a letter from friends) that shows they plan on staying in one place while visiting.

Applying for an Indian Visa

You can obtain a tourist visa from any Indian embassy, or upon arrival at an Indian port of entry. They are usually valid for three months and should be applied for in advance; you cannot enter India on a tourist visa on short notice. The length of your stay will be determined at your port of entry, which is dictated by your passport’s expiration date. If you plan to stay longer than one month, it is recommended that you apply for an extension before leaving India (for a fee). When applying at an Indian consulate or embassy outside France, you must provide two copies of your passport (one photo page), six photographs (4×6 cm), original, and copy of all information pages in your passport as well as any relevant visas and permits already acquired.

Documents Needed For A Travel Document To India

Any French citizen traveling to India needs to possess a valid passport (validity of at least six months beyond the travel date) and a visa if required. You will also need an electronic travel authorization (ETA), also known as an e-visa, in your passport. For visitors from France traveling for business purposes, on tourist visas, or those with Indian roots, there is no need to apply for an ETA online. An Indian visa will be granted automatically at immigration counters. An Indian visa only allows you entry into India but does not confer permission to enter any specific state within India or give permission to stay more than 60 days in any 180-day period.

Application Formalities at the Embassy / Consulate General Office

eTV is electronic travel authorization to visit India. It allows pre-screening of a traveler so that if he/she does not require a visa, she can be issued an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) through an online portal, avoiding delays at airports while going through immigration and security checks. This online system is introduced by the Government of India as part of several measures taken to further liberalize and facilitate tourist traffic from certain countries in recent years and attract more tourists to India. The eTV facility has been extended to 43 countries including France since January 1, 2018. Here are some useful points that would help you understand more about eTV

What do you need to know before applying for an eTV?

Many countries have electronic travel authorization or eTV programs, which allow travelers to submit an application electronically and save time when arriving at an airport. Check whether your country participates in any of these programs: United States Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), Australia eVisitor, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). When booking a flight to India, most airlines will ask if you have a valid visa before issuing a boarding pass. If you do not have a valid visa, traveling with that airline is not possible.

Processing Time Taken For Obtaining The ETV

The processing time taken by ETV is not very long, but still one has to prepare himself/herself well and plan it in advance. A candidate can get their e-TV online after receiving an acknowledgment letter from the Embassy of India. One can visit the official website of ETV to find out more information regarding it. The applicant needs to fill out a couple of documents, get them attested and submit them along with his/her application form via DHL or TNT Courier Service at least four days before the collection date. For example, if you apply on 8 June 2017 then you will have to drop your documents at Courier Service Centre in time before 12 June 2017.