Know What is a Transit Visa its Purpose and Significance

Travelling abroad require plenty of preparation starting from visa application to last minute packing. While a trip to abroad always serves as a gateway to explore the  abundance of opportunities we can’t ignore various uncertainties, which can come unexpectedly through weather disturbances, unfavourable political situations, or a long journey. In the case of a long-haul flight, where you have to interchange two flights, you may have to face a dicey situation, such as a delay in the next flight. For such stopover flights, there is a mandatory requirement in some countries that you must have. This is called a transit visa for those who wish to stop over a country to board the next flight en route to the place of destination.

Does this visa name appear new to you?

Fret not! This article is all about guiding you through the process of availing a transit visa in India.

Well, before that let’s understand what exactly is a transit visa?

What is a Transit Visa?

A Transit visa is a type of visa that allows an individual to travel through India en route to another country. Travellers can obtain such a visa upon furnishing adequate proof of their journey, i.e. valid flight tickets for the onward journey showing the route via India. Accordingly, single or double-entry visas (for return journeys) are issued to applicants who wish to take their route through India. 

How to Get a Transit Visa?

It is crucial to note that a transit visa is not available at any of the Indian airports. You must apply for a transit visa and complete the formalities of the issuing authority, i.e. the embassy or consulate. Here are a few important things you must know while applying for a transit visa:

• The rules and regulations regarding the transit visa application vary from country to country. 
• Most nations have adapted to the online procedure for such a visa before your departure.
• Yet, many other countries require a manual visa application at a local embassy or consulate in your country of residence, before you embark on the journey.

So, while applying for a transit visa for a country, you must first do groundwork on the immigration by-laws and application procedure followed in that country.

How to Apply for a Transit Visa Online?

The online transit visa application procedure is easy and it hardly takes a few minutes. Given below is the procedure to apply for a transit visa online: 

1. Visit the Indian Visa Portal. Select the tab— “REGULAR/PAPER VISA APPLICATION”. 
2. The next window will open the ‘Online Visa Application’ widget. Here, you must enter the mandatory details, including:
• Your Nationality
• Expected date of arrival
• Indian Mission, where you want to apply
3. Select the type of Visa as ‘Transit Visa’. After entering the valid captcha, press ‘Continue’.
4. In the next window, you will see an online application form. Enter all the mandatory applicant details, passport details, and travel information, and complete the application by clicking the ‘Save & Continue’  button. 
5. Additionally, you must mention your intended port of entry in India and pay the visa fee using a valid debit/credit card to submit & process your transit visa online application form successfully.

Validity of the Transit Visa

In point of fact, a transit visa's validity begins from the time it is issued. The maximum validity of the transit visa is 15 days, which can never be extended. Here are some crucial points to know in this regard:

• During the 15 days period of the visa, the maximum time an individual can stay in transit in India is three days consecutively. Hence, when the validity of the transit visa expires, you have to obtain another transit visa. 
• Moreover, before seeking a transit visa, you must have a valid visa approved for your destination country.

When do I Need a Transit Visa in India?

Whenever you wish to travel to a destination where you will be flying through the airspace of India, you must apply for a transit visa. It will allow you to transit to the Indian airport for a limited period, i.e. 3 days to board your outbound flight. You cannot stay in India any longer.

Here are the different scenarios where you will be required to apply for a transit visa:

• Change of mode of transport en route to the country of destination from the country in transit.
• If you want to leave shortly after your arrival to India to another nation or back to the place of residence.
• Denial of an automatic visa for India or a visa waiver due to your nationality.
• In the case of immigration check procedure.
• For re-checking your luggage for your departure flight.
• If you choose to stay at a hotel outside the transit area. 

You will be asked for a transit visa in the above scenarios. Throughout your in-transit time, the airport authorities won’t allow you to leave the airport or seaport in India, and you must stay in the airport lounge.

Which Countries Require Transit Visa for Indian Citizens?

All countries require Transit Visa for Indian Citizens to travel via their airspace, except for the 15 countries where Indians can travel without a visa. Those countries are listed below:

• Nepal
• Maldives
• Bhutan
• Hong Kong
• Mauritius
• Barbados
• Senegal
• Grenada
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Haiti
• Dominica
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Niue Island
• Montserrat

When will I Get the Transit Visa?

After successfully submitting your online application, the Visa authorities will take around 4 working days to approve your Indian transit visa. Hence, it is always advised that you submit your online visa application form at least five days before your expected arrival date in India. This will allow sufficient time to process your application for the transit visa.

Travel Insurance for the Safety of Your Travel Documents while on the Go! 

Ideally, you can consider having an travel insurance plan to cover your trip against unanticipated emergencies such as loss of baggage or travel documents. For instance, the comprehensive travel insurance from Care Health Insurance can be of great help during a crisis situation such as losing travel documents or a medical emergency as it can cover the cost of duplicate passport. Moreover, the Care assistance service provider can also provide you the access to the consulate in case of an emergency.

Moreover, in case of loss of passport and/or other travel documents, the Care Assistance Provider in India will provide you with consular access to the Consulate or Embassy of the country of your destination.

Disclaimer: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.