High Commission of India, Gaborone, Botswana : Regular Visa for India

Regular Visa for India

Visa for foreign nationals

Foreign nationals travelling to India are required to carry a valid visa. A visa is a travelling permit granted by an Indian Mission, and it allows the holder to visit India. The visa type is determined by the purpose of travel. The validity of visa will begin from the day of issue and not from the date of travel.

Applicants are requested to go through the below visa Categories to choose suitable visa type:

S. No.	Category of Visa	No. and Details of Sub-categories
1	Business Visa (B)	B-1- For all business activities [other than those covered by B-2, B-3 and B-4 visas] B-2-For sports persons, team officials, coaches, technical teams, office-bearers of International Sports Governing Bodies, Managers, Camerapersons, Presenters, Commentators, members of the delegation of foreign countries attending meetings of sports bodies like the International Olympic Association, etc. B-3 - For foreign nationals coming to India for participation in cultural/ commercial performances or concerts and also for those involved in performative arts like acting, dance, etc. B-4- Production Investment Business Visa which will be issued only on the e-visa platform B-5-Conference (for attending international conferences/ seminars/ workshops) B-6 - Film (for foreign nationals coming for shooting of feature films, reality TV & Web Shows/ Series, Commercial TV Serials/ Shows & Web Shows/ Series and for location Recce) PRS-Permanent Residency Status for foreign investors
2	Diplomatic Visa (D)	D-1 - Diplomats assigned in India (on Diplomatic Passport only) D-2 - Diplomat on a visit to India for meetings and other official purposes (on Diplomatic Passport) D-3 - Diplomats assigned to Non-UN International Organizations (such as ADB, ICRISAT, ICRC etc.) in India D-4 - UN Diplomat assigned to India D-5 - UN Diplomat on a visit to India D-1 X, For dependents of D-1 D-2 X, For dependents of D-2 D-3 X, For dependents of D-3 D-4 X, For dependents of D-4 D-5 X - For dependents of D-5
3	Work Visa (E)	E-1- All cases of employment (including intra company transferees) but excluding those covered by E-2 and E-3 Visas E-2- For employment in NGOs E-3 - For Missionary/ Religious worker of approved organizations
4	Family Visa (for dependants) (F)	Dependants of various categories of visa holders [Other than dependants of Diplomatic & Official Visa holders)
5	Journalist Visa (J)	J-1 - For journalists accredited in India and also for journalists visiting India for any purpose including tourism, conference etc. J-2 - For shooting of Advertisement/ Documentary films etc.
6	Medical Visa (M)	M-1- For foreign nationals coming for medical treatment (other than those under Ayush systems) M-2- For Medical Attendants of those coming under M-1 Visa M-3-For foreign nationals coming for treatment under Ayush systems M-4 - For Attendants of those coming on M-3 Visa
7	Official Visa (O)	0-1- Non-diplomatic official assigned on a diplomatic Mission in India (On Official/ Service/ Special Passport only) 0-2 - Non-diplomatic official on a visit to India for official purposes O-3- UN Non-Diplomatic official assigned to India 0-4 - UN Non-Diplomatic official on a visit to India 0-1X, For dependents of O-1 0-2X, For dependents of O-2 O-3X, For dependents of O-3 O-4X- For dependents of O-4 Visa holders
8	Pakistan specific Visas (P)	P-1 - Visitor Visa for Pakistan nationals coming to visit relatives or friends or for any other legitimate purpose P-2 - Pilgrim Visa for Pakistan nationals coming under Religious Protocol P-3 - Group Pilgrim visa for minority communities in Pakistan
9	Student Visa (S)	S-1- For higher education (including in South Asian University and Nalanda University), provisional student visa, for short term courses, for those coming under Student Exchange Programme and for those coming to pursue education, training and skill development in Ayush practices, etc. S-2- For school education S-3 For studies in Yoga, Vedic Culture and Indian systems of Music and Dance, for Buddhist studies and programs and courses on Indian languages and Indian knowledge system S-4 - For research scholar, visiting Research faculty, research scholar on bilateral exchange programme, members of Botanical, Scientific Anthropological etc. expeditions and G-20 Talent Visa S-5- For those coming for internship in India (including those coming under French VIE programme)
10	Tourist Visa (T)	T-1- For tourism : Recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, attending a short term yoga programme, short duration medical treatment (including treatment under Ayush systems), short term courses on local languages, music, dance, arts & crafts, cooking, medicine etc. which should not be a formal or structured course/ programme (courses not exceeding 6 months duration and not issued with a qualifying certificate/ diploma etc.) and voluntary work of short duration (for a maximum period of one month, which do not involve any monetary payment or consideration of any kind in return) etc. and no other purpose/ activity T-2 - For foreign nationals coming for mountaineering expeditions
11	Transit Visa (TR)	For travelling through India to a destination outside India
12	Miscellaneous Visas (X)	X-1 - For Persons of Indian Origin and foreign spouse & foreign children of an Indian citizen/ Person of Indian Origin/ OCI cardholder (other than those registered as OCI cardholder) X-2 For those coming to join Auroville Foundation, Aurobindo Ashram, Missionaries of Charity, Temples or similar approved organizations and for foreign Buddhist monks coming to India for joining the Buddhist Monasteries/ other Buddhist organizations for charity work X-3- Double Entry Visa (for Bangladeshi nationals only). For those coming to India to apply for a visa in foreign missions accredited to both India and Bangladesh X-4- Stay Visa for Afghanistan nationals X- Misc. - For purposes which are not covered by any other visa category
13	Long Visa Term (LTV)	Long Term Visa (LTV) for certain specific categories of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan nationals

General document requirements:

Printout of online filled Visa application form duly signed by the applicant (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html)
Passport with at least six months’ validity at the time of travel and at least two blank pages (please note that validity of the visa issued can only be till the expiry of passport)
Two recent colour photos - one pasted on the application form (size 5 x 5 cm, white background, front view) and one for official record
Other than Botswana nationals: A copy of a valid residence permit or any other document confirming the period of stay of the applicant in Botswana

Please note that the High Commission issues only regular/paper visa and is not involved in eVisa which is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India.

For Minors:

Written permission from parents (in English) in own words.
Document confirming the relationship with the minor
Self attested Passport copies of parents
In addition to documents mentioned above, the High Commission may request additional documents, if necessary. The applicants are required to provide the documents requested in the same form as determined by the High Commission.

Other requirements as per Visa type:

a) Tourist Visa (T)

Duly signed hard copy of the visa application filled online
Travel itinerary (confirmed Air tickets)
Bank statement for the last 3 months with sufficient balance for your stay in India
Additional documents may be sought at the discretion of High Commission

b) Business Visa(B)

Duly signed hard copy of the visa application filled online
Hard copy of Guarantee letter from the sending company (the letter must mention the requested visa duration and indicate who will be financially responsible for the applicant)
Hard copy of personal invitation from the receiving company in India
For nationals other than Botswana, minimum two years stay in Botswana is mandatory (for less than 2 years stay, one can apply from their home country)
Travel itinerary (confirmed Air tickets)
Additional documents may be sought at the discretion of High Commission
c) Conference Visa(B-5)

Duly signed hard copy of the visa application filled online
Personal invitation from the conference organizers
No objection certificates/clearance issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
Confirmation/Recommendation letter from the Employer, if the participation is sponsored by the employer
Travel itinerary (confirmed Air tickets)
Additional documents may be sought at the discretion of High Commission
d) Student Visa(s)

Duly signed hard copy of the visa application filled online
Acceptance/Admission letter from the recognized Indian School/University/Institute
Letter from the Botswana School/University/Institute (under student exchange programme)
Consent letter from both the parents in case of minor going for school education
Travel itinerary (confirmed Air tickets)
Additional documents may be sought at the discretion of High Commission

e) Medical Visa/Ayush Visa/Medical or Ayush Attendant Visa(M)

Duly signed hard copy of the visa application filled online
Hard copy of the Medical/Ayush Invitation Letter
Hard copy of the Invitation Letter from Hospital in India where the treatment is to be taken from
Hard copy of recommendation/referral letter from the hospital in Botswana (justifying the requirement/necessitating treatment in India)
Supporting documents for the treatment taken in Botswana for the disease/ailment
Travel itinerary (confirmed Air tickets)
Additional documents may be sought at the discretion of High Commission

f) Work Visa (E)

Duly signed hard copy of the visa application filled online
Employment contract in English
Personal invitation from the Indian employer
Certificate of Incorporation of Employing company
Additional documents at the discretion of High Commission

g) Miscellaneous Visa(X)

Duly signed hard copy of the visa application filled online
If the applicant is of Indian origin (born Indian) and has held an Indian passport in the past (one of the documents mentioned below to be attached with the application form):
A copy of their “Surrender Certificate” or A copy of their cancelled Indian passport
If the applicant is Spouse of Indian national/person of Indian origin, the following documents are required to be submitted along with the application form:

copy of marriage certificate
copy of passport/Surrender Certificate of Indian Passport/OCI Card issued to the Spouse of the applicant.
In case of a minor child, Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate of the parents with a consent letter signed by both parents
In case of Single parent, a copy of custody letter from the court.
*Additional documents at the discretion of High Commission

ADVISORIES

a) Please read Visa-related detailed instructions/guidelines at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/instruction.html

b) Those travelling to India are also advised to go through instructions available on the website of Bureau of Immigration at https://boi.gov.in

c) Each visa application is considered on its merit and High Commission of India, Gaborone may ask for any additional information at any stage during the processing of the application. Submission of application along with prescribed fees does not guarantee issuance of visa. Once the visa application has been approved, the applicant will be informed to visit High Commission and submit bio-metric information to complete the process of obtaining visa. At present applicants under the age of 12 years and above the age of 70 years are exempt from this biometrics requirement.

d) Applicant's passport has to be valid for a minimum of six months from his/her date of departure from India, having at least 2 blank pages.

e) Applicants holding nationalities other than Botswana please note that in order to apply visa here they need to submit proof of long-term stay (minimum three years) and that it involves extra processing time.

f) Visitors intending to stay for more than six months (6 months) in India on a long-term visa, need to register themselves with the concerned local Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), within fourteen days (14 days) of arrival in India.

g) JOURNALISTS and those seeking Visa for RESEARCH or FILMING in India have to fill up separate forms and provide additional information. The High Commission has to seek clearance for such visas from the Government of India in New Delhi which takes longer processing time. Applicants should, therefore, submit their documents at least 8-10 weeks in advance.

Note: (a) Granting of Visa is at the sole discretion of the High Commission. Refusal of Visa cannot be challenged under any circumstances

(b) Visa fee for all types of visa are mentioned in Visa Fee tab under Consular Services of the Mission’s website (https://www.hcigaborone.gov.in/page/visa-fee/) .