Travelling to India

Visa requirements for India

1. Singaporeans are required to obtain a visa before travelling to India. As visa requirements often change at short notice, we advise you to contact the High Commission of India in Singapore for up-to-date information.

2. e-Visa Facility for Entry into India - The Indian e-Visa is valid for entry through 24 designated airports (i.e. Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum & Varanasi) and 3 designated seaports (i.e. Cochin, Goa, Mangalore). However, the Indian e-Visa holder can exit from any of the authorised Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) in India. This Indian e-Visa is an addition to the existing Visa services. Singaporeans need to apply for the electronic Visa (e-Visa) prior to arrival, i.e. submit your Indian visa forms online and secure the necessary approval before departing for India. Upon arrival in India, travellers on the e-Visa would need to proceed to a “Visa on Arrival” counter at the airport to get their visa stamped on their passport. Please refer to the Indian Visa Online website for more information, and beware of fake websites that claim to offer visa services.

3. There are several types of visas issued for travel to India, such as Tourist, Business, and Medical visas. The validity of all visas commences from the date of issue of the visa and not the date of arrival in India. You should ensure that you obtain the right visa for your travel purposes.

4. Please note that the visa is valid from the date of issue until the expiry date and not from the date of arrival. Visitors to India must leave India before the stipulated date of expiry of visa as indicated on the visa stamp/notice or will be deemed to have overstayed.

Note: Although termed as “Visa on Arrival” on the official Indian websites, the process requires an online application to be approved prior to trip to India and the visa endorsed on the passport upon arrival in India.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders: OCI cardholders do not require a visa to enter India, and only need to present a valid passport and OCI card.

Loss of/Stolen passport in India

If your passport is lost or stolen in India, you will need to do the following:

1. Lodge a police report with the Indian authorities.

2. Report a lost passport online with ICA or contact the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi or Consulates in Mumbai or Chennai.

3. Depending on your location, the nearest Overseas Mission will contact you for the collection once your passport or Document of Identity (DOI) is ready.

4. If you are applying for a new passport or Document of Identity (DOI) at the High Commission or Consulate, you will need to have the following documents:

   • One (for DOI application) or two (for passport applications) passport-sized photographs. Instant photographs are acceptable.

   • A copy of your police report.

   • Documentary proof of your Singapore Citizenship (such as your Singapore Identification Card or Driving License) to verify your identity.

   • Relevant fees for the application.

   • Travellers can refer to ICA's website for more information on loss of passports overseas.

Replacement of an India visa

1. A Singapore citizen who is issued with a replacement passport in India after a passport has been lost or stolen must apply an exit permit online with Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). This exit permit allows the traveller a specified period of time (usually a few days) in which to leave the country legally.

2. If you have lost your passport but need to return to Singapore urgently, the Consular Officer will be able to issue you a Document of Identity (DOI) once your identity has been verified. The DOI also requires an exit permit to allow the holder to leave the country legally.

3. Without an exit permit, the Indian authorities will not allow you to leave India.

   • Foreigners Regional Registration Office
     
     Block 8, Sector 1
     R.K. Puram
     Telephone: 91-11-2671-1348, 2671-1384
     Fax: 91-11-2671-1348

   • Procedures for Exit Permit

     1. For an exit permit, you will need to apply online via FRRO e-service and provide the following:

        1. Your replacement Singapore passport or DOI

        2. The letter issued by the High Commission giving details of your lost/stolen passport

        3. A copy of the police report for lost/stolen passport

        4. Your official flight itinerary and/or letter from airline on which you arrived, verifying the date and place you entered India

     2. If your arrival in India is at New Delhi, your exit permit may be issued within a short period. If your arrival in India is at another airport or border crossing, your exit visa may take significantly longer to be issued because Indian authorities will want to verify the details of your arrival in India.

     3. The Singapore High Commission is unable to intervene in the application requests. The FRRO officials will be in the best position to advise you on how long the process will take.