How can you get an emergency Indian visa?

Ever since the inception of the pandemic, the world has witnessed massive travel restrictions for more than a year now. Even though many countries have lifted their travel bank and other related travel restrictions, you never know what’s happening next in this volatile situation. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to keep ourselves prepared for the most challenging times.

Having said that, the Indian Government has devised an emergency Indian visa (Indian e visa) plan that allows foreign nationals of India to come back to their country under certain circumstances. However, before we get into the details of how to get an emergency visa, let us first understand what it is actually.

What are Emergency Indian Visas?

As the name suggests, emergency visas are visas that you get when you have to visit your country of origin for emergency purposes. These visas are only granted for a brief period on the basis of humanitarian and/or medical grounds. Any unforeseen incident that requires your immediate attention and cannot wait for proper planning can be catered to by applying for an emergency visa. For example, you can apply for an e visa india for law issues, the death of a family member, or any other medical emergency that requires your immediate presence in India.

In most cases, an emergency visa does not require more than three days to be issued, and sometimes it can even happen in 1 day. Your visa will only be issued after complete application submission, approval of the documents, and payment confirmation. Depending on your emergency, the convenience fee might differ.

Types of Emergency Visas

Your emergency does not have to be limited to medical grounds. But, to prove the legitimacy of your emergency, you have to show certain documents to the Indian embassy in the respective country. Depending on the documents, your request for an emergency will be accepted or denied. Keeping these in mind, the different types of emergencies and documents required for them include,

Death or Funeral

The death of your immediate family member, such as your parent(s), children, partner, or sibling(s), who are located in India qualifies for an emergency visa. The same rule applies when you have to attend the funeral of an immediate family member.

The documents required for this emergency include,

• Death certificate of the deceased.

• Any government ID or relevant evidence that would prove the relation of the deceased with the applicant.

• The funeral conductor’s letter would convey/include the conductor’s contact information, deceased’s details, and the date of the funeral.

Medical Emergency

If you or any of your relatives have to seek immediate medical assistance and that requires your presence, then you can apply for an emergency Indian visa. The documents required for proving the legitimacy of your medical grounds include,

• Financial proof that shows that you can undertake the expense of both the treatment and the voyage.

• A doctor’s letter that would include the nature of disease or illness as well as the requirement of the said treatment in India.

• A doctor’s letter that would prove their willingness to treat you for the said medical condition. It should also elaborately explain the treatment’s cost.

Students or Exchange Visitors

Exchange students and students who have to resume or join an educational program in India within sixty days can opt for an emergency Indian visa if there are no regular or student visas available. However, e vivas are not given to those applicants who have been denied a visa in the past six months at the Indian Embassy.

The documents required for this purpose would include,

• Identity proof that shows that the student is enrolled in the educational institution.

• Relevant forms that would prove the starting date of the educational program within sixty days from the date of application.

Business Emergencies

Any unforeseen business emergencies such as training, meetings and likewise qualify for an emergency visa to India. However, the maximum period of validity of business e visas is three months.

The documents required for proving the legitimacy of business emergencies include,

• Invitation letter by the Indian company that should include the business details, training program details, business meeting details, and a detailed record of the losses that the company would incur if the visa is not approved.

Application Process for Emergency Indian Visa

When you are an Indian living abroad, and you face any of the above-mentioned situations for which you need to visit immediately, you can apply for an emergency online indian visa. An indian e visa also facilitates those travelers who do not have regular entry visas or an OCI card.

You can find the application for your emergency Indian visa on the website indianvisaonline.gov.in if you are located within the bounds of an Indian Consulates’ jurisdiction or the Indian Embassy. You would have to submit the application with all the required information along with your photo. Then you have to print out the visa application, sign it and mail it with certain other documents to the government of the present country you are located in.

In addition to this, you would also have to fill out and submit the Additional Particulars Form to the Indian Embassy in the present country where you are located. Some of the details that you would have to provide include nationality, name of spouse, passport number, employer details, name and nationality of spouse, current employment status, and criminal history (if any).

Here is a list of some of the documents that you should keep ready for your emergency visa.

• A photocopy of the filled-out Additional Particulars Form.
• A photocopy of the documents that prove the legitimacy of the emergency faced.
• A photocopy of the child’s birth certificate if applicable.
• A photocopy of the certificate of marriage if applicable.
• A photocopy of current address proof.
• A photocopy of the existing visa (if any) and the current passport.
• A photocopy of the Renunciation certificate that proves foreign nationality if applicable.

However, if you are a minor that is below 18, then you would also have to photocopies ready of your parents’ passports. You would also have to submit a parental authorization form that is notarized during the process.

Once your application is approved, you can visit the Indian Embassy with your visa fee, photographs, and original passport. You would be further assisted by the Indian Embassy till the completion of the process.