LATEST UPDATE ON VISA RELAXATION FOR TOURIST VISA:
Official release from Indian Embassy
Instruction for Foreigners Coming To India
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
Foreign Nationals coming to India are required to possess a genuine and valid national passport or any other internationally recognized travel document establishing his/her nationality and identity and a bearing photograph of the foreigner. Nepal and Bhutan nationals if entering India by land or air from the Nepal or Bhutan border respectively do not require a passport for entering into India. However, they are required to possess, authorized identity proof. Further, if they are entering India from a place other than their own country then possession of a passport is a must.
1. Visa Requirements:
Different categories of visas with the specific endorsement of numbers of entries allowed and duration of stay in India are mentioned on the visa depending upon request and the subsequent decision of the visa issuing authority. Foreigners may also look for specific endorsement if any, on the visa for their guidance. In case of any doubt, they may seek clarification from any of the Indian Missions abroad.
Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan do not require a visa to enter India. However, citizens of Nepal require a visa when entering India from China.
Nationals of Maldives do not require a visa for entry into India for tourism purposes and stay up to 90 days.
“A separate Visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders”.
An immigration officer may grant TLP (Temporary Landing Permit) up to a maximum period of 72 hours by retention of passport, if the foreigner is not having a valid visa, and if he is satisfied with the purpose and that the transiting foreigners must have confirmed onward journey tickets within 72 hours for grant of TLP. Nationals of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia are not granted the TLP facility.
On production of bonafide proof and on the satisfaction of FRRO/FRO cum District Superintendent of Police, Temporary Landing Facility (TLF) can be granted to the foreigners arriving in India without valid VISA, in an emergent situation, like death/illness in the family up to a period of 15 days. For further extension of stay in such cases, the foreigner concerned should report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, Jaisalmer House, 26, Man Singh Road, New Delhi before the expiry of the TLFperiod.
You may visit http://www.bov.gov.in for more information.