PASSPORT & VISA
Citizens of all the country need to have a
valid passport and an entry , transit or
tourist visa obtained from the Indian
Mission in their country. Tourist Visa is
normally valid for 120 days. Visa
extensions can be got by applying to
the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, (Ph: 4693334 ,4612543 and 4617649)
The letter should be handed over at the Foreigners
Regional Registration Office at Hans Bhavan, Tilak
Bridge, near ITO. (Ph: 3319489/8179). It is open
from 0930 hrs to 1330 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1600 hrs.
(It is closed on weekends and national Holidays)
Those wishing to visit a neighbouring country
like Sri Lanka or Nepal, and then coming back
to India, should obtain a double/multiple entry Visa.
REGISTRATION
All foreigners are required to get themselves registered
with the Foreigners Regional Registration
Office(FRRO) which is situated in Hans Bhavan,
Tilak Road, near the Income Tax Office(ITO).
The building is very close to India Gate
CUSTOM CLEARANCE
Those without any dutiable goods or high value
articles or foreign exchange more than US $2,500
or unaccompained baggage which need to be declared,
can walk through Green Channel. All others need to
pass through the Red Channe. Goods upto Rs 750
(Rs. 12,000 for persons of Indian origin) for
personal use or as gifts are exempt from duty.
Beyond the free baggage limit, the duty rate is
52% plus 2% special duty.
Those not entitled
Persons from Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and China do
not get any free allowances, while in case of nationals
of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, it is Rs. 6000 if
they stay for more than three days and Rs. 3000
if the stay is less.
Tousist Baggage Form
On arrival, a TBRE (tourist baggage re_export form)
is to be shown with the entered articles to Customs
for verification at the time of departure
Landing certificate:
It is required if you are expecting unacompained
baggabge as also for mishandled baggage.
Bringing in currency:
Any amount in the form of currency, travellers
cheques and the like can be brought in and the
same amount can be taken back. In case the amount
exceeds US $10,000 in the form of currency notes,
travellers cheques or bank notes / or currency
notes alone of more than US $2,500, they have
to be declared on arrival on the Currency
Declaration Form (CDF), duly attested by the
Custom Officer.
Indian currency:
No Indian currency can be brought in or taken out,
and while remitting money to India the full address
of the bank should be given.
Money changing:
The unit of currency is the rupee and all money
should be changed with authorised money changers
available at various places. You should insist
on a receipt which will help in reconverting the
money whenever you desire so. It is better to
avoid touts who may offer higher sums than the
prevailing value.
Export curbs:
All articles brought in can be taken back. from
India one can take back souveniors worth Rs 1,00,000
in value and more than that after getting permission
from the Reserve Bank of India. Jewellery or precious
stones of high value need an advance RBI permit as
also appraisal by the Customs Appraiser at the
airport in advance.
Antiquities, art objects:
Restrictions exist on art objects more than 100 years
old. Any doubts should be got cleared from Director
Antiquities, Archaeological survey of India, Janpath,
Ph: 3017220. Export of wildlife items is prohibited
and in some cases regulated.
Foreign Travel Tax:
Rs 500 and only Rs 150 for citizens of Afganistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives,
Nepal and sri Lanka.
ARRIVAL, LEAVING THE AIRPORT
Transport of various sorts is available at the
Indira Gandhi International Airport. These include
autorickshaws, taxis, and even buses most of which
are operated by private operators. There is also a
prepaid taxi service and it is advisable that this
facility is made use of as it proves to be the most
economical.
TIME DIFFERENCE
The standard time for India is calculated from Allahabad
and is common to all cities. Indian Standard Time (IST)
is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London,
4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Paris, about
10 hours 30 minutes behind New York, 3 hours
and 30 minutes behind Tokyo and 4 hours and
30 minutes behind Sydney.
CREDIT CARDS
American Express, Master Charge, Visa and
Diners Club credit cards are generally accepted
by large establishments including hotels, shops,
and airlines. |
