Do Indian Need Visa For Afghanistan
This non-technical article is written to answer a frequently asked question by many aspirants moving towards the Indian Embassy in Kabul and also different Embassies across the globe for getting visa for traveling to Afghanistan. Some may be not sure about what is needed when one goes to get a travel visa for Afghanistan, this article will tell you all about it.
Visiting a foreign country is always an adventure, but some of us prefer to avoid all the hoops and red tape. India is one such country which has been in news or rather in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. However, despite all that bad media, it’s still one of the most sought out places to visit in terms of tourists.
People are on the go and are more likely to take their destination into consideration before making a stop in a country. Nowadays, travellers are not just looking for cheap flights but also visas and what they can do when they reach their destination. More often than not, people wish to explore places that fit their needs and budget.
Do Indian Need Visa For Afghanistan
Due to the military conflict in Afghanistan, the Indian government has announced a special e-visa for Afghan citizens who want to travel to India.
Advance of the Taliban
Since US President Joe Biden announced Americaʼs withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban have rapidly conquered large parts of the country. Recently, the Taliban also claimed to have taken the Panjshir Valley, the last major bastion of resistance to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. This would mean that the Taliban now control all of Afghanistan.
As a result, there has been a huge influx of refugees. One country that receives a relatively large number of applications from Afghan citizens is India. The Indian government has therefore decided to introduce a new electronic visa type to process all these applications as quickly as possible: the e-Emergency X-Miscellaneous Visa.
Indian e-visa
One of the reasons that India was able to introduce a new e-visa so quickly is that they already had an electronic visa system in place. This allows travellers from different countries to apply for their visas online, eliminating the need to visit the embassy for a physical visa. These Indian e-visas are suitable for tourism, attending short programmes or courses (such as a yoga programme or language course), or undergoing medical treatment in India.
However, the regular e-visa is not available to travellers with travel purposes that are not covered by the e-visa requirements, such as Afghan refugees. Normally, they have to go through a long application process, which can easily take months. Because the situation in Afghanistan is so urgent, the Indian government has decided to speed up the process by using the e-Emergency X-Misc Visa.
One consequence of the new Indian e-visa is that all other visas issued to Afghans who are not currently in India will be invalidated. Afghans who want to travel to India can only apply for an e-visa. The e-Emergency X-Misc Visa system is intended for e-visa applications that do not fall under the current e-visa travel purposes (tourism, business or medical treatment). This visa is a single-entry visa, which means it is valid for one trip to India. It cannot be extended, nor can it be converted to another visa type.
Indian visa validity extended
The Government of India had also recently announced that the validity of visas granted to foreigners currently in India would be extended till September 30, 2021. So these persons do not need to get their visas extended at any regional FRRO/FRO office, at least till September 30. The previous deadline was August 31, but this deadline had been extended due to the coronavirus. There is a possibility that it will be extended again before September 30.
Applying for an Indian visa
Travellers from both the UK and the EU are eligible for the standard Indian e-visa. If the trip falls under the visa requirements, the application can be submitted online. Since 2019, all business and tourist visas for India are valid for 365 days. A tourist e-visa allows you to stay in India for 90 days, a business e-visa for 180 days and a medical e-visa for 60 days. The passport used for online visa applications must be valid for at least six months upon arrival in India, and a return or onward ticket must already have been booked.
Afghan Visa Applicants
Visa for Afghan Nationals
Eligibility Conditions and Supporting Documents for Different Visa Categories:
All visa applications should be accompanied by copy of personal particular page of the passport.
Visa applicants are required to submit own bank statement proving financial ability to pay all costs of the trip. In case of minor applicant (aged 15 and below) or a dependent, if they do not have individual bank account then they can submit bank statement of their parents/ spouse/ children.
Tourist Visa
Tourist Visa is granted to a Foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight-seeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives. No other activity is permissible on a Tourist Visa. The Mission would be issuing six months validity multiple entry Tourist visa for eligible visa applicants including Afghan nationals. The Tourist visa will be issued with the conditions that “each stay should not exceed 45 days”. For Afghan nationals there should be a gap of 60 days between two consecutive visits to India under a Tourist Visa. The Tourist Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible.
| Documents required | Duly filled Visa form with 2colourphotographs with white background (Size 2” X 2”), original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, confirmed return air ticket and original passport. |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Business Visa
The Business Visa is granted to a foreign national who wants to visit India to establish an industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture, wants to purchase/sell industrial products in India. The applicant should be a person of assured financial standing and has the expertise in the field of the intended business. Business visa is not granted for petty trading. For more information on Business visa click on the link http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/work_visa_faq.pdf 
Business visa is issued from the country of origin, or from the country of domicile of the foreigner, provided the period of permanent residence of that applicant in that particular country is more than two years.
| Documents required | Duly filled Visa form with 2 colour photographs with white background (Size 2” X 2”), original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, Local company letter and original Jawaz and its photocopy, Invitation letter from India and copy the Indian company registration, confirmed return air ticket and original passport.Photocopy of current US$ bank account and receipts of business transaction during last visit on Business Visa. The receipts should be inclusive of VAT and other local taxes paid. |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Medical Visa
| Documents required | Duly completed Visa form with 2 photographs (2’x2’), original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, original medical papers and its photocopy, confirmed return air ticket.Photocopy of medical papers pertaining to last visit on Medical Visa may also be submitted. For medical treatment/check up for a longer and regular period, a letter from Indian Doctor/hospital must be enclosed. |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Transit Visa
| Documents required | Duly completed Visa form with 2colour photos in white background (Size 2” X 2”), original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, valid Visa for destination after India and confirmed onward air tickets. |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Conference Visa
| Documents required | Duly completed Visa form with 2 colour photos in white background (Size 2” X 2”), Letter of invitation from the organizer of the conference, nomination letter from Afghan organization, original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, and confirmed return air tickets.Photocopy of clearance from MHA & MEA for the conference is mandatory. |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Student Visa/ Research Visa
| Documents required | Duly completed Visa form with 2 photographs (2’x2’), original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, photocopy of admission or bonafideletter from concerned recognized educational institution in India, attested educational transcripts, financial guarantee from parents/legal guardian of the applicant.Photocopy of passport and bank statements of financial guarantor. For renewal of Student Visa, photocopy of last FRRO registration document is mandatory. Research visa applicants are required to produce original letter of admission from the Indian institutions (emails/ photocopies not acceptable). |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Please click here for the Student Visa Guidelines.
Entry Visa
Entry Visa is granted to person’s spouse, children and dependent family members of a foreign national coming to India on long term visas like Employment; Studentand Research etc. It is also granted to Persons of Indian Origin, his/her spouse and dependent children subject to production of proof of the PIO status, marriage certificate (in respect of spouse) and birth certificate (in respect of children). Spouses of an OCI/PIO card holders and dependent children can also apply for Entry Visa subject to production of necessary proof.
| Documents Required | Duly filled Visa form with 2 colour photographs with white background (Size 2” X 2”), original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, confirmed return air ticket and original passport. For those married to Indian nationals, Original Indian Passport of Spouse along with a photocopy, marriage certificate and photocopy. For children of either parent being an Indian passport holder, children’s birth certificate, one of the parents’ Indian passport original and photocopy. |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Employment Visa
The Employment visa is granted to foreigners desiring to come to India for the purpose of employment. The applicant should be a skilled and qualified professional or person who is being engaged or appointed by a company, organization, industry or undertaking, etc. in India on contract or employment basis at a senior level, skilled position such as technical expert, senior executive, or in a managerial position. For more information on Employment visa click on the link http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/work_visa_faq.pdf
The Employment Visa must be issued from the country of origin, or from the country of domicile of the foreigner, provided the period of permanent residence of that applicant in that particular country is for more than two years.
| Documents required | Duly filled Visa form with 2 colour photographs with white background (Size 2” X 2”), original ID (Taskara) and its photocopy, Employment contract for the company in which they will be working, Indian company registration, academic certificateand original passport. |
| Processing period | 10 working days |
| Fee: | Gratis |
Note: All Afghan nationals are required to register within 14 days of their arrival in
India with the FRROs at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Amritsarand Kolkata.
For detailed instructions please visit http://indianfrro.gov.in/frro/