Missionary Travel Eligibility

A Missionary visa is granted to those foreigners whose sole objective of visiting India to work on a missionary or religious place, however, they must not involve in proselytization. This visa is not offered to preachers and evangelists who wish to come to India on a strategy or propaganda campaign, whether the campaign is their own or get an invitation from any organization in India.

However, Missionary travel are granted for single entry to India, and it is approved by the Government of India if the Missionary visa applicant has a letter of invitation from the missionary organization where the applicant is going to work. And, the letter must mention the applicant's intention, duration of stay, and nature of work.

General conditions

Foreign missionaries who are coming to India for the very first time in replacement of other missionary workers will be admitted only if they are qualified and have years of experience in their line and if there is no suitable Indian is present in India for this job. Applications coming from foreign missionaries to work in new foreign missionary centers will be hired or considered if the society and the Government of India permit to open the center.

However, a list of some well-known and recognized foreign missionary societies of India is granted in Appendix X. There will no new society be recognized, the applicant for a missionary visa should have to accompany a sponsorship letter from the official of the society. The applicant must mention two responsible person’s name in India in the application (preferably in the UT/State in which the applicant is going to work or join Missionary) who will furnish a guarantee bond to the Indian government for his or her maintenance in India.

Duration and validity of Missionary travel

As Missionary Travels need advance approval of the Indian Government, the applicant should apply for the missionary visa at least three months before the supposed date of the journey. Missionary Travels are legitimate from the date of the visa issue, not from your date of travel.

Missionary Travels are available to eligible countries for up to 5 years. This can be a particular case under India-foreign bilateral treaties.

All passport holders ought to furnish their home country address as their permanent one, if the applicant fails to provide the permanent address, then may the visa application be rejected. However, non-US residents can get Missionary Travels for 1-year validity.

The tenure of Travel or the number of entries allowed is solely on the discretion of the Indian Embassy/Consulate. Travel is just not a subject of right and for that reason; the Indian Mission can deny travel to candidates they deem ineligible for explanations such as not providing enough aiding files or supporting documents. The Embassy/Consulate may additionally grant you a visa for a lesser duration than what you applied and accordingly paid for. The Indian Embassy/Consulate is underneath no duty to present causes for denial of a request and the selection of the Mission is final and binding.

Procedure for making visa

In respect of foreign missionaries, the applicant needs to make their visa on these mentions:

• The Indian Mission or Post concerned abroad
• The State Government or UT concerned and
• The Ministry of Home Affairs with a copy to the UT or State Government concerned.

Inspection Visit

Superiors, Bishops, etc. of overseas missionary or religious organizations who wish to visit India to work in Indian missionaries, institutions or any personal assistant, secretary accompanying them will be issued Entry or X-Misc visa with the three month validation and stay in India. However, if a visit to any restricted or prohibited area is involved then the applicant needs to submit a separate application for such visits, and he or she shall be 35 referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs at least before 2 months of the date of the visit to India.

Mandatory registration with FRRO/FRO

The foreigners who are coming in India on Missionary Travel will have to register him or herself with the Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)/ Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned so that they can stay in India until the missionary work is done during that specific period.

The Missionary visa is valid for 180 days, and the applicant needs to register themselves within 14 days of the arrival to India. However, the Pakistani nationals are requested to register themselves at the check post of entry before 24 hours of their reaching to India.

General guidelines for Missionary Travel Application

• 1.Strictly no amendment in the application form, and every single detail should be in type written (*must not forget to type exact details which are written on your passport).
• 2.Uploading of photographs. The Embassy or the authority of immigration wishes that all photographs which you are going to upload must match the given instruction: apply for the Basic Life Support (BLS or Medical care) International centre. The photo should be the same as the 2x2 picture attached in the application form.
• 3.NO scanned signature.
• 4.Foreign Nationals or citizens desire to come to India with Missionary Travel must provide an explanation letter why they're applying for this travel. *Hand written is not allowed.
• 5.Passport with a minimum validity of six months from the date of visiting India.
• 6.You must have a photocopy of the passport bio page.
• 7.Invitation letter from India and missionary society where you are going to work, etc.
• 8.A guarantee letter from the Indian missionary or religious society.
• 9.Photocopy of passport (back and front).
• 10.The photograph should not be stapled or pasted with tape.
• 11.The photo should be in color.
• 12.The photograph must be taken against a white or pale background.
• 13.The photograph has to be an original, it should be printed on glossy paper.
• 14.The applicant is requested to do not take photograph in uniform or religious attire.
• 15.You should capture your photograph on daily wore clothes.
• 16.Certificate of employment with compensation (if you are invited by missionary or religious organization or authority.
• 17.For joining or working in any missionary in India, you must have your letter of invitation from the organization and approval, if you have any. However, the organizer or society of missionary must have permission by the Government of India for establishing or inviting missionary workers and that document must attach to your application.
• 18.The applicant should have approval from the Government of India.
• 19.However, the missionary visa applicant also must have a clearance letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, and State Government that holds jurisdiction over the missionary society in which you are going to join or work.
• 20.Guarantee bond or undertaking by the religious or missionary organization where you are going to join to ensure your repatriation in case of any problem.
• 21.Proof of registration of the religious or missionary organization in India to validate that you have come to join or work under the missionary organization.

*Embassy may ask for the additional document if needed from the applicant.

Documents and other details

All pages of the Missionary visa application form must be printed on the letter-head paper and an invitation of the missionary organization where you are going to join and work. The Undertaking must be signed with date and stamp. Two copies of the filled application form have to be submitted with the Undertaking to the Embassy of India, and should contain the following information which is written below:<

Documents required for Missionary Travel: Firstly, the applicant needs to submit his or her application for Missionary Travel with these documents

• 2 recent Passport size photos.
• Original Passport.
• Photocopy of the passport with the relevant pages including residence visa page
• Application Form
• Undertaking
• Detailed Synopsis
• Itinerary (Ports of entry and exit from India to be indicated)
• Bio-profile with details:
• Name and surname as featuring in the passport
  1. Contact coordinates - telephone & e-mail address
  2. Profession
  3. Nationality
  4. Date and place of birth (Day/ Month/ Year)
  5. Passport number & validity
• Residence Proof
  1. Form C copy from Lodge or Hotel
  2. Telephone/landline/electricity bill in case you are staying in rented house or relative’s house with a letter and photo ID card of the landlord. You also need to have a rented accommodation copy of the lease and license agreement.

Extension of Missionary Travel

In case an applicant of Missionary Travel wants to stay for some more time in India or they feel that their work is not done yet and they need to stay for some time. In such a scenario, the applicant needs to request themselves at the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO)/ Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) for a missionary visa extension. They also need to aware that, their request must be before 2 months of your current visa expiry date.

Note: Duration of Travel or the number of entries in India is purely the discretion of the Indian Embassy, or Consulate has no role in order to make any approach or process. The applicant has to observe and realize that Travel will not be a subject of right, and, hence the Embassy / Consulates might deny the visa if no longer observed the eligibility / or does no longer have adequate supporting documentation. If the process is not matching according to the demand from the authority will not grant a Missionary visa if you request more days or time in India. So, provide your details and information before you submit your application, and must pay your application process amount. There will be no clarifications on this regard, and the resolution or decision of the Embassy / Consulate will probably be final.