RESIDENCE PERMIT / VISA (FRRO)

It is imperative to register within 14 days of your arrival in India with FRRO.

If you stay more than 6 months, you must register with the FRRO (East Block, No. 8, Level-II, R.K. Puram-1, New Delhi-110066 - that is behind Bhikaji Cama - 9.30 am-3 pm). The FRRO director is an IPS officer. Try to go early. Show your passport at the entrance by mentioning "Registration", then enter the building on your left side, go to the enquiry/reception desk where you get a green Application Form for Registration and a counter number. Make two copies of the green form and fill in all three, then queue in front of that counter.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ^

  • your passport
  • a copy of the passport + student / research visa
  • a bonafide student letter from Centre / School
  • a proof of residence
  • scholarship holders take the ICCR certificate
  • non-scholarship holders need proof of sufficient funds (on a bank account) - this is not always asked;
  • 4 passport photos;
  • check your air/train fare for the flight/train number with which you arrived in India;
  • a pen and a book to read while you wait.
  • Fill in the 3 copies of APPLICATION FORM FOR REGISTRATION and 1 Residence Permit (RC) booklet;

If you forgot, you can make copies+photos at FRRO.

if you do not yet have permanent place to stay, get a proof of residence of your provisional place of stay and as soon as you shift to a permanent place, go to FRRO to inform them with a new proof of residence.

GO TO FRRO FOR: ^

  • extension of the stay for the duration of the course.
  • grant of 1 additional entry / year (e.g. for fieldwork).
  • permission to change institution and course if both are approved, recognized and full time course.

Change of visa from tourist to student/research:

  • go to FRRO and get a slip from the enquiry counter for MHA (Jaisalmer House, Mansingh Road 26, New Delhi-11, 9.30-12 am)
  • in MHA at the desk you get 2 application forms to be filled in - tick the box "visa conversion"
  • give a copy of your passport and visa
  • wait till the announcement of your name
  • answer the question "Why do you want to change your visa and how long will you stay for studies?"
  • show your admission letter
  • in the afternoon a letter will be issued which you take to FRRO
  • in FRRO the enquiry desk will give you a white form for the visa and a green one (make 2 more copies) for your RC
  • see above for the FRRO Registration Requirements
  • pay again the visa fee (depending on your nationality, SAARC citizens pay 10% of the rest of the world)

    Also in FRRO:

    • extension of stay up to 15 days if you have a confirmed air ticket if no flight is not available.
    • regularisation of overstay of visa up to 3 months under genuine exigent conditions.
    • short extension of 3 months for foreigners applying for a long term extension on student visa.
    • endorsement of old visa/exit permission on new passport in case you lost your passport.
    • Visa extensions and restricted area permits (e.g. Sikkim, Manipur, Andaman Islands);
    • You need permission ("no objection") from FRRO in your RC when you leave India if you do not have a multiple entry visa.
    • If you have to leave India urgently, the MHA (Jaisalmer House, Mansingh Road 26, New Delhi-11, 9.30 am-12.00) can give you a letter for FRRO to issue a “Return Visa” if you do not have a multiple entry visa.

    BANGLADESHI NATIONALS: ^

    • those travelling by air are permitted to exit from an airport different from the airport of entry.
    • those travelling by land have to enter and exit through the same land check post.
    • those entering by air are allowed to leave through land check post if they inform the check post of entry. Those entering through Haridaspur land check post only can be allowed to exit through Calcutta airport.
    • Students can be allowed to go to third countries for fieldwork if they have supporting documents.

    STUDENT and RESEARCH VISA ^

    • All students up to MPhil need a student visa before coming to India.
    • In 1997 a new “research” visa was introduced which is necessary to register for MPhil/PhD students. Those who go home between MA and MPhil can get it done in the Indian High Commission given sufficient time, otherwise you have to come to India on a student visa and change it into a research visa.
    • Self-financing students have to do it through the HRD Ministry (Shastri Bhavan, room 537, M. Rizvi, tel. 2338 5293) and MHA.
    • ICCR scholarship holders’ applications will have to go only through MHA.

    You Need

    • 6 application forms signed by the VC or Registrar (forms from HRD, Department of Education, or from the Indian High Commission);
    • 6 copies of a bonafide certificate (“affiliation certificate”) stating that you are a JNU student;
    • 6 copies of your passport;
    • 6 copies of your synopsis (do not include the words “supercomputers, remote sensing, religion, North East, Kashmir, communal, Islam” in the title) of minimum 1,000 words;
    • 6 copies of the description of where you want to go for fieldwork (“itinerary”); and
    • 6 photographs.

    HRD will issue a letter for MHA (Mansingh Road 26) which directs FRRO to issue an “under consideration” in your RC. Wait for 3 to 6 months. MHA takes about 2 months.