Indian Visa Requirements for Children
When planning a family trip to India, it is crucial to understand the necessary requirements for your children, particularly in terms of visa requirements.
It's common for groups traveling to India with children to have concerns about obtaining an Indian visa for their kids and what additional documentation minors require to enter the country.
To address these concerns, we have provided information on the entry requirements for children traveling to India and how to obtain an Indian e-Visa for your kids.
Government of India allows visit to India by applying for Indian Visa online on this website for several purposes. For example if your intention for travelling to India relates to a commercial or business purpose, then you are eligible to apply for Indian Business Visa Online (Indian Visa Online or eVisa India for Business). If you are planning to go to India as a medical visitor for medical reason, consulting doctor or for surgery or for your health, Government of India has made Indian Medical Visa Online available for your needs (Indian Visa Online or eVisa India for Medical purposes). Indian Tourist Visa Online (Indian Visa Online or eVisa India for Tourist) can be utilised for meeting friends, meeting relatives in India, attending courses like Yoga, or for sight-seeing and tourism.
Traveling to India with Children: e-Visa and Advice
All foreign travelers, including minors, must obtain a visa to enter India. This applies to newborn babies, infants, children, and teenagers. As such, parents or guardians must complete separate visa applications for each child in their group.
It's important to note that only children with Indian citizenship, including Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), are exempt from the visa requirement when traveling to India. Parents or guardians must ensure they submit all necessary documentation and meet the visa requirements for India.
India Visa Requirements for Children
There are no specific visas designated for children traveling to India. Minors must obtain the same visas as adults to enter the country.
The type of visa required for a child's trip to India will depend on the purpose of their visit. In most cases, this will be for tourism purposes.
The good news is that obtaining Indian tourist or medical visas for children online is now possible. Parents or guardians can apply for e-Visas for their kids through the Indian government's official website. The online application process is straightforward and efficient, making it easier for families to plan their trips to India.
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The requirements for Indian Visa fall into few different categories. Learn more at Indian Visa Requirements.
Applying for an India Visa for Children
Obtaining an Indian visa for a child is similar to applying for an adult visa and can be completed online.
Parents or guardians can fill out the Indian visa application form on behalf of their children by visiting the official Indian government website. An individual application must be submitted for each minor traveling to India.
The online visa application process for children is straightforward and involves filling in the required information and uploading supporting documents when prompted. The same information and documentation required for adult visa applications are necessary for child visa applications.
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India Visa Application Form was a paper based form until 2014. Since then, majority of travellers and avail the benefits of online application process. Common questions regarding the Indian Visa Application, as to who needs to complete it, the information required in the application, duration it takes to complete, any preconditions, eligibility requirements, and payment method guidance is already provided in detail at this link. Learn more at Indian Visa Application Process.
Passport Requirements for Obtaining an India Visa for Children
When applying for an India visa for a child online, it is essential to provide the details of a valid passport for the minor.
The passport must meet the following requirements:
Issued by an eligible country
Valid for at least six months from the date the child arrives in India
Children under 16 years of age, included on their parent's passport, may enter the details of the parent's passport when applying for an India e-Visa.
However, if the child is over 16, they must apply with their passport.
It's important to note that if a child is set to turn 16 during their stay in India, they will be expected to have their passport. Therefore, obtaining a separate passport for the child before the trip is highly recommended. This will prevent any potential issues that may arise if documents are checked for any reason.
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If you are filing for any of the Indian Visa Types, at a minimum you need to upload your passport for an electronic India Visa online (eVisa India) through this website. The link to upload your passport is made available to you after the payment has been successfully made and verified by us. Additional details on which documents are required for various types of India Visa are mentioned here . These documents are different depending on the Type of Indian Visa you are applying. Learn more at India Visa Passport Scan Requirements
Documentation Required When Traveling to India with Children
When traveling to India with children, carrying all the necessary documentation is essential. The most important items include:
- Valid visa
- The passport registered in the visa application
- Vaccination certificate for yellow fever or polio (if applicable)
Other documents that may be required include:
- The minor's ID and birth certificate
- Medical information such as allergies, vaccinations, and special needs
- A consent letter signed by the child's parents or guardians if traveling with someone else's child
- Any additional documents required due to COVID-19
- Validity of Indian Visa for Minors
The Indian e-Visas for children have the same validity as visas for adults. You may select the following types of visas for your children:
- 1-Month e-Tourist Visa – valid for 30 days
- 1-Year e-Tourist Visa – valid for 365 days
If a minor requires an e-Medical Visa or e-Business Visa, these are also available, with legal validity.
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You need to be aware that getting an Indian Visa online (eVisa India) requires a set of supporting documents. These documents are different depending on the Type of Indian Visa you are applying. Learn more at Documents required for Indian Online Visa (India eVisa).
Traveling to India Without OCI for Babies
If a baby has dual citizenship and is an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), an OCI card is necessary before traveling.
Children without an OCI card, as proof of their Indian citizenship, must obtain a valid visa instead.
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In an initial move towards opening up of worldwide travel, the Government of India has reconsidered visa and travel limitations for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders to visit the nation. Learn more at Indian Visa Policy for Overseas Citizens of India - 2020.
Citizens of many countries including United States, Canada, France, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, United Kingdom, are eligible for Indian Visa Online (eVisa India) including visiting beaches of India on tourist visa. Resident of over 180 countries quality for Indian Visa Online (eVisa India) as per Indian Visa Eligibility and apply the Indian Visa Online offered by the Government of India.
Should you have any doubts or require assistance for your trip to India or Visa for India (eVisa India), you can apply for the Indian Visa Online right here and if you need any need any help or require any clarifications you should contact Indian Visa Help Desk for support and guidance.