Did you know that over 400,000 Australians travel to India each year, many of whom transit through Indian airports?
If you’re planning a trip that involves changing airports in India, you might be wondering: Do you need a transit visa?
The answer isn’t always straightforward, as it depends on several factors, including your nationality, the duration of your layover, and whether you’re leaving the airport. Let’s break it down.
What Is A Transit Visa?
A transit visa is a short-term visa that allows travellers to pass through a country en route to their final destination. In the context of India, a transit visa is required if you’re changing airports or leaving the international transit area during your layover.
When Is A Transit Visa Required?
A transit visa is typically required if you need to leave the airport or if your connecting flight departs from a different airport.
Here are the main scenarios where a transit visa becomes necessary:
- Airport Change: If your international flight arrives at one Indian airport, but your onward flight is from another airport, you must pass through immigration. In this case, a transit visa is required.
- Layovers Exceeding 24 Hours: Even if you remain in the same airport, a transit visa is necessary if your layover is longer than 24 hours.
- Leaving the Airport Premises: Passengers who plan to exit the airport for any reason, such as booking accommodation or meeting someone, need a transit visa.
When Is A Transit Visa Not Required?
There are situations where you may not need a transit visa while changing airports in India:
- Same Airport Transfers Within 24 Hours: If you have an international layover in India and your connecting flight is from the same airport within 24 hours, a transit visa is usually not required.
- Airside Transit Without Immigration Clearance: Some airports in India allow international transit passengers to stay within the terminal’s transit area without passing through immigration. However, this depends on the airport and airline policies.
Do Australians Need A Transit Visa For India?
For Australian citizens, the need for a transit visa depends on the specifics of your journey.
Same Airport Transit
If you’re transiting through the same airport and staying within the international transit area, you generally do not need a transit visa. This applies to layovers of up to 24 hours.
Changing Airports
If your journey involves changing airports in India, you will need a transit visa. For example, if you land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and need to travel to another airport in the city for your connecting flight, a transit visa is mandatory.
Leaving the Airport
Even if you’re not changing airports, leaving the international transit area for any reason (e.g., to stay overnight or explore the city) requires a transit visa.
Applying For An E Visa To India From Australia
If you determine that you need a transit visa, the good news is that the process is straightforward. India offers an e visa India from Australia, which includes transit visas. Here’s how it works:
Eligibility
The e visa for India from Australia is available for Australian citizens and covers tourism, business, and transit purposes.
Application Process
- Visit the official Indian government e-Visa website.
- Fill out the online application form, providing details like your passport information, travel dates, and purpose of visit.
- Upload the required documents, such as a passport-sized photo and a scanned copy of your passport.
- Pay the visa fee online.
Processing Time
The e-visa to India from Australia is typically processed within 72 hours, but it’s advisable to apply at least 4-5 days before your travel date.
Vaildity
The transit e-visa is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival and allows a single entry.
How Bharat Suvidha Makes Your Transit Visa Application Simple?
Getting a transit visa can seem like a tall order, but with Bharat Suvidha, the process is so much easier with a three-step straightforward approach.
Sign Up & Provide Details
Start with the registration and provide your travel details: passport information, flight itinerary, and other required documents. The team goes through all the information and supports you in order to rectify the information.
Experts Handle Your Application
As soon as all details reach us, our visa experts fill in your transit visa application form very carefully. Checks for errors, documentation checks, and just making sure all is in order so that there would be no delays.
Application Lodged for Submission
Once everything has been thoroughly reviewed, we submit the application for processing and provide guidance on how to proceed with actual submission to the relevant authorities so your application will indeed go through without any delay.
Bharat Suvidha stands beside you without any unnecessary complications when it comes to getting a transit visa with the following three easy steps.
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