Foreigners can visit restricted/protected areas only after obtaining a valid permit as your entry visa alone does not allow travel to these areas

          Foreigners coming from or through Yellow Fever countries must be able to produce a valid vaccination certificate

Please remember to fill up your Disembarkation/ Embarkation cards on arrival/departure.

          The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act bans all forms of wildlife trade. Violations of the provisions of the Act are punishable with heavy fines and imprisonment. Foreigners are, therefore, advised not to buy any wildlife or wildlife products or derivatives-specially ivory articles, fur and skin articles derived from wild animals such as Shahtoosh

          Please note that buying, selling, using or being in possession of psycho-tropic drugs or any other narcotic substances while in India is a cognizable offence punishable by imprisonment.

          Foreigners visiting India who hold long-term visas (more than 180 days) are required to register their presence in India with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), except for the following categories of foreigners who are exempted:

• US nationals holding 10 year tourist/business visas, provided their continuous stay in India during each visit does not exceed 180 days.

• Foreigners of Indian origin holding 5 year multiple entry 'X' visa with an endorsement that "continuous stay should not exceed 180 days during each visit"

• Foreigners holding five-year tourist visa, who are actively engaged in tourism/travel trade, desirous of visiting India frequently over. extended periods for promotion of tourism, etc. provided their visas contains an endorsement that "continuous stay should not exceed 180 days during each visit"

• PIO card holders, if their continuous stay during each visit does not exceed 180 days.

• Foreigners below the age of 16 years.

          If you do not fall into any of the above categories, please ensure that you register with the nearest FRRO within 14 days of your arrival in India.

          When you go to the FRRO to register yourself, please make sure that you are carrying the following documents:

• Photocopy of your passport

• Photocopy of initial visa

• Four photographs

• Details of residence in India

          In addition, depending on your age and purpose of stay in India, please also ensure that you have all the following documents which are relevant to your case:

• If your age is anywhere between 16 and 60 years, an HIV test report from an institution recognized by the World Health Organization.

• If you are seeking an extension of your stay on the grounds that your spouse is an Indian national, a copy of your marriage certificate.

• If you are holding a student visa, a certificate of enrolment and attendance from the University/College/Institution where you are studying.

• If you are holding a journalist visa, accreditation certificate from the Press Information Bureau.

• If you are holding an employment visa, you would need

  • A copy of your employment contract

  • The terms and conditions of appointment

  • An undertaking from your company, on the company letterhead, signed by the competent authority and with the company stamp, certifying as follows:

We take full responsibility for the activities and conduct of Mr/Mrs. (Full Name), national of (Country) during his/her stay in India. If anything adverse against him/her comes to our notice during the period, we undertake to repatriate him/her at our cost.

• In case you have been appointed to the Board of a Public Limited Company, approval from the Department of Company Affairs

• In case you are a partner in a joint venture or foreign collaboration agreement, you will need

  • copy of the approval from Government of India (in duplicate)

  • copy of permission from the Reserve Bank of India

  • copy of the agreement contract

FRRO addresses in the 4 metropolitan cities of India are:

• Hans Bhawan, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, ITO, New Delhi

• Tata Press Building, 2ND Floor, 414 S.V Marg, Mumbai. Tel. No. 022-262 1169

• 237, A.J.C. Bose Road, Calcutta

• Shastri Bhawan Annexe, 26, Haddow Road,Chennai. Tel. No. 044-8277036

In all other places, the District Superintendents of Police act as Foreigners' Registration Officers

          Certificates of registration issued by the Registration Officers should be surrendered to the immigration officer at the port/check post of exit from India. You can also surrender the certificate, just prior to departure, to the FRRO who issued the certificate to you, but in this case, please get a receipt from the FRRO which you can show to the immigration authorities at the point of departure from India

          Please note that registration is required to be done only once during the validity of a visa irrespective of the number of times the foreigner leaves/re-enters India on multi-entry facility.