|
High Commission of India, Ottawa, Canada
Following are General Instructions regarding various services offered by us
* The Government of India has introduced a new Visa Application Form. All Visa applicants are required to go to the link http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/ and fill up the on-line Visa form. After filling the Visa form, take a print out and submit it at one of the offices of our outsourcing agents, VFS Global. Their office addresses, timings, phone numbers and e-mail address can be found by clicking here.
* Kindly note that all Visa and Passport services offered by us (unless specifically stated otherwise on this website) have been outsourced to M/s VFS Global. The work relating to receiving and processing the forms and collection of fee is being done by them. We encourage you to visit the website of VFS Global and know about their office addresses, timings, phone numbers and e-mail address by clicking here. They should be contacted in the first instance for all your queries about Visa/Passport matters. They have a team of personnel dedicated to attend to your needs.
* Timings for Consular Services at the High Commission, 10 Springfield Road, Ottawa K1M 1C9 are 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM daily on all working days.
* MODE OF PAYMENT: You may contact our outsourcing agents VFS Global for the method of fee payment. In a few cases, the fee may be required to be paid directly to the High Commission. In such a case, the fee can be paid in cash at the counter, or by Bank Draft/Money Order/Certified Cheque in favour of High Commission of India, Ottawa. Please note that credit/debit cards and personal cheques are not accepted by the High Commission of India.
* The High Commission of India at Ottawa provides services to those residing in Ottawa, Hull, National Capital region comprising Kingston, Cornwall, Hawksbury, Smith Falls, Carleton Place, Montreal and Nunavut territories. Only those residing in the above areas should apply to the High Commission of India, Ottawa for Consular Services.
If you reside in Ontario (except the places catered to by the High Commission of India as mentioned above), Quebec (except Montreal) Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, services would be given by the Consulate General of India in Toronto. The website is www.cgitoronto.ca
If you reside in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Northwest territories, services would be given by Consulate General of India in Vancouver. The website is www.cgivancouver.org
* All outstation applicants requesting service by mail should ensure that a prepaid self addressed priority courier envelope is enclosed along with the application to enable the High Commission to return the documents. No passports/documents will be sent by the High Commission by Collect Courier. All documents sent by mail should invariably be accompanied by a self addressed prepaid courier envelope.
* Check that you have put your signatures at the designated place in your Canadian Passport. Unsigned Canadian Passport is not a valid document. It will be returned to you without issuing visa, resulting in delays. You also need to sign the Visa Application Form at two places - one signatures under the photograph in the box provided and the other at the end of the Visa Application Form.
* The time line on Indian visa starts from the date it is issued. So, if a visa is issued on 1 January for 6 months, it will expire on 30 June. Even though the visa holder enters India, say on 1 June, the visa holder will be required to leave India by 30 June. (This is to be distinguished from Canadian visa. In case of Canadian visa, the time starts from the date of entry in Canada. In the above case, the person can stay in Canada for 6 months starting from 1 June.) Since the visas are processed on receipt of the application, irrespective of the date of travel, applicants are advised to apply nearer the time of their travel so as to be able to complete their trip within the validity of the visa. Kindly check carefully that the intended stay is not beyond the expiry date on the visa.
* Long Term Visa holders desirous of staying in India for more than 180 days continuously are required to register at their nearest Foreigners Regional Registration office or District Superintendents of Police. Please go to the link http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/index.htmand click on tab marked "Registration". Also see the link http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/frro/
*Visas can be issued only on passports and NOT on Travel Documents.
*The passports should be valid for a minimum period of six months. It must have minimum 2 blank pages. One page will be used for affixing the visa sticker and the other page will be used by Immigration officers at the airports to affix entry and exit stamps in Canada and India.
* We strongly encourage the applicants to provide their e-mail address in the Visa Application Form. This helps in avoiding delays in processing the case when the applicant needs to be contacted.
* Acceptance of visa application does not necessarily mean grant of visa. The High Commission reserves the right to delay/refuse visa without assigning any reason.
* After the grant of visa, your admissibility to India would be assessed again by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry in India. A visa does not confer a right to enter India. Immigration Officers are entitled to refuse entry in India to persons found undesirable. Also, a visa can be revoked at any time without assigning any reason; and a foreigner who is already in India can be asked to leave the country by the Government of India. Please remember: Visa is a privilege and not a right.
* Visa fee is non-refundable. The fee, once charged, will not be refunded in cases where visa is refused or application is withdrawn. Visa applications and the visa fee paid remain on record only for a period of 6 months. After the lapse of 6 months, fresh Visa Application Form along with fresh payment of visa fee is required.
* Applicant may be required to appear for a personal interview at the High Commission at his/her own expense.
* No vaccination is necessary for those traveling to India from Canada. However, persons coming from or passing through Yellow Fever infected areas are required to be in possession of a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever before arriving in India. The yellow fever inoculation certificate becomes valid 10 days after the date of vaccination. AIDS test is required for persons aged 18 years to 70 years who stay in India for one year or more.
* Visas are issued and affixed on passports and, therefore, passports must be sent with the application. No action will be taken on applications received by fax/e-mail.
* Those who desire to visit RESTRICTED/ PROTECTED areas in India may click here for details.
* If you are planning to come to the High Commission of India, please check the list of our closed holidays by clicking here.
* You can know about the Baggage and Customs Rules in India by clicking on the link.
* Any Canadian citizen seeking a visa to India for purposes of entering into a surrogacy arrangement must ascertain beforehand whether the Canadian law permits surrogacy and will provide appropriate travel document (such as a Passport) to the child for accompanying the surrogate parents. Entering into surrogacy arrangement under any other visa not sought for surrogacy is punishable under the Indian law. {A general description of surrogacy is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrogacy, the views expressed at this link are not necessarily agreed to by the Government of India.}
*Carrying pets: If you are planning to take your pet to India, please contact the baggage help desk of your airline to know about the arrangements to be made. You may also like to see the web link at http://dahd.nic.in/dahd/WriteReadData/CPIOs_list_2012.pdf and thereafter look for ACQS (Animal Quarantine & Certification Services) located at Delhi and other cities in India. Please also see http://dahd.nic.in/rtia2005/animal_quarantine.htm
* Satellite telephones services are not permitted in India, without a special licence from the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. In case you are carrying an unlicensed Satellite phone with you while entering India, you can be prosecuted under the Indian Wireless Act.
|
