The days of pre-dawn queues to pick up bottle tops with little numbers on from the Indian Embassy are happily a thing of the past. In November 2012 a new online system was introduced. Here is how we got our mitts on Indian transit visas:
Day 1:
- Fill out the online form here: http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/ . This form is not specific to the Kathmandu embassy. The Indian Embassy in Nepal has some useful information here: http://www.indianembassy.org.np/old/visa-and-passport.php . There are also helpful FAQs at this page (which is a link from the above website): http://www.nepalsbi.com.np/indian_passport/faqs.php
Day 2:
- Go to the India Visa Service Centre which is next to the Indian Embassy:
View Pikes’ Kathmandu in a larger map
- Doors are open from 09:30 – 12:00. When we went, the person with ticket no.1 was served at 10:00. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays (I think this means Indian holidays).
- Hand over paper copy of the online form, 1 photo (50mm x 50mm), copy of flight ticket/evidence you’re leaving the country, your passport and NRs2,150 (NRs1,900 visa fee plus NRs250 ‘service charge’).
Day 3:
- Go to the IVSC at 17:00 to collect your passport.
This is just for a transit visa which is valid for 15 days from the date of issue (which, bizarrely was Day 2 above, the day before we were allowed to collect it), though you are only allowed to spend 72 hours actually in India.
To get a longer tourist visa involves more visits to the embassy and takes a few days longer, but as we didn’t apply for this we don’t know the details.
Bear in mind we went in February when there weren’t many other tourists trying to get visas. In busy times it might still take a few hours of queuing, but at least it’s a bit more ordered now than in the good old days!
Dear Pikes:
I am Nicolas, a chilean guy really entusiastic about road journeys on bike. A couple of weeks ago I found your blog about your Andes adventure, since then I have been mesmerized by your photos and tales. I also gave it a look to your Himalayas adventure and I do not feel anything else that admiration and a healthy jealousy.
I really hope one day to persuit my dream to cross America on my bike, and to read the stories of people like you is very much inspiring.
I have nothing more than good vibes for the rest of your trip and I hope to meet you one day in person.
A Big fan of you,
PS: Hope that you can get this message, unfortunately i don’t have a FB account to log on.
Cheers!
Nicolas
nraab@uc.cl
Chile
Hi there,
Thanks for the great tip on Indian Transit visas. I was just wondering does the Transit visa only take one day? Thanks again!
James