Rules - Guidance for Foreigners - Visiting India

Forms to be filled by foreigners visiting Chandigarh

Foreigners Registration office U.T. Chandigrh

Rules-guidelines for foreigners visiting/staying in Chandigarh
(aS PER visa RULES)

Registration Officer:

                        In supersession of Chandigarh Administration, Home Department Notification dated 16^th January, 1967 and in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of rule 3 of the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992, read with Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Notification dated 7^th December,1966, the Administrator, Union territory, Chandigarh has appointed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Union Territory, Chandigarh as the Registration Officer for the purpose of the afore said rules for the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

LOCATION OF FRO CHANDIGARH:

                         The Foreigner Registration Office (UT) Chandigarh is located at 1^st floor of Police Headquarters Building, (Addl Deluxe Building) Sec-9-D Chandigarh. This office is functioning under the supervision of SSP /UT Chandigarh. However, he has further delegated the powers to perform all the functions of this unit on his behalf to DSP/CID UT Chandigarh.

FOREIGNERS SERVICES:

              FRO/UT Chandigarh is fully computerized and all type of services- Registration, Visa Extension, No Objection to Return to India (NORI), Exit Permit, Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), and other multifarious services relating to the foreigners are available at Single Window System (FRO Counter) i.e. reception of Chandigarh Police Headquarters Building Sec-9, Chandigarh.

CONTACT NUMBERS: 0172-2741900,Ext. 2226 & 2259.

  VISA RULES APPLICABLE TO FOREIGNERS (AS PER VISA MANUAL):

 1. TRANSIT VISA

       This visa is only valid for direct transit, irrespective of the period of stay in transit, which is not more then 15 days. For a stay in India    beyond 15 days, a visa of appropriate category should be obtained. 

2. LANDING PERMIT:

                 With a view to facilitate the passage of foreigners transiting though India, a landing permit facility upto a maximum of 72 hours is given to a foreigner who travels on a regulars national passport and enter India by air or sea  with a valid visa. Provided he/she has a confirmed onward journey ticket and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the immigration authorities. However, no landing permit facility is available to the citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia & Sri Lanka.

                 The validity of landing permit facility is upto a maximum period of 15 days provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied regarding the bonafides of the foreigner visiting India. For any extension beyond 15 days, the foreigners should report to the MHA, GOI, New Delhi well in time.

3. TOURIST VISA:

                 Tourist visa can only be granted to a foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight seeing, causal visit to meet friends and relatives etc.. No other activity is permissible on a tourist visa. Tourist Visa is Non Extendable and Non Convertible.

a)     In respect of foreign nationals holding the Tourist Visa with multiple-entry facility, there should be a gap of at least 2 months between   two visits to India on such a Tourist Visa.

b)    If any foreign national is required to visit India again within a period of 2 months of his last departure, such foreign national should obtain special permission from the Mission/Post concerned.  

c)     In all such cases, the foreign nationals should register themselves with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival.

d)     In case a foreign national again intends to apply for a Tourist Visa within one month of the expiry of his/her pervious Tourist visa, in such case clearance is required from MHA (Foreigners Division), New Delhi before grant of fresh Tourist Visa to such foreigner by Indian Missions/Posts abroad. 

4. BUSINESS VISA:

Business visa is granted to a foreign national who wants to visit India to establish an Industrial/business venture or to explore possibilities to set up industrial/business venture or wants to purchase/sell industrial products in India.  This Visa is granted to the following conditions:

a)     The applicant is a person of assured financial standing and expertise in the field of the intended business.       

b)    The applicant is not visiting India for the business of money lending or petty trading, or for a full time employment in India involving payment of salary in India etc.

              c)     The facility of Business Visa can also be extended to senior executives of firms, experts, tour conductors and travel agents etc, visiting India in connection with work related to projects of national importance, including those undertaken by public sector undertakings and conducting business tours of foreigners or business relating to it, etc.

d)     A foreign national will have to comply with all other requirements like payment of tax liabilities etc.

              e)     The grant of business Visa is subject to any instructions issued by the Government of India on the basis of reciprocity with other foreign countries from time to time.

5.  EMPLOYMENT VISA: 

 Foreigners coming to India on Employment Visa must be a skilled/qualified professional/person, being engaged/appointed by a company, organization, industry or undertaking etc. in India on contract/employment basis at a senior level/skilled position such as Technical Expert/Senior Executive/Managerial position etc.

 Foreigners holding Employment Visa are required to register with the concerned FRRO/FRO witnin 14 days of their arrival in India.

6.  STUDENT  VISA: 

Student Visa is granted to foreign students coming to India to pursue regular and full time academic studies.

Foreigners holding Student Visa are required to register with the concerned FRRO/FRO within 14 days of their arrival in India.

7.  RESEARCH SCHOLARS: 

Research Visa is granted to foreigners who desire to undertake research in India.

 Foreigners holding Research Visa are required to register with the concerned FRRO/FRO within 14 days of their arrival in India.

REGISTRATION:

FOR PAK NATIONALS:

AFGHAN NATIONALS:

                Afghan nationals entering into India are required to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer with in 7 days of their arrival in India.

RESIDENTIAL PERMIT:

              This permit is issued to the foreigner at the time of registration by the Foreigners Registration Officer under Para 7 of the Foreigners Order 1948.

REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE (FORM -A):

 This certificate is issued to the foreigner at the time of registration by the Foreigners Registration Officer under the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1992.

 However, minor upto 16 years of age are exempted from this formality.

SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION ON DEPARTURE:

Every registered foreigner who intends to depart finally from India shall obtained Exit Permit from Foreigners Registration Officer, after surrendering his R.P/R.C accordingly.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION:

OTHER DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AS PER VISA CATEGORY:

FOR STUDENT VISA HOLDER:

i)      Copy of Student Bonafide Certificate issued by the concerned Govt./Recognized College/Institution where studying.

FOR BUSINESS VISA HOLDERS:

                    i)      Copy of  Memorandum of the Company/Firm.

                    ii)     Copy of the approval from the Govt. of India in case of Joint Venture/Collaboration.

FOR EMPLOYMENT VISA HOLDERS: 

                     i)      Copy of  Memorandum of the Company/Firm

                     ii)     Copy of Service/Employment Contract.

FOR MEDICAL VISA HOLDERS:

          Medical Certificate of Govt. Hospital/Govt. approved Hospital.

REPORT OF CHANGE OF REGISTERED ADDRESS:

                   As per rules, while changing registered address, the foreigner is required to report to  the Registration Officer and get an endorsement in this regard on his Permit.

LIABILITIES OF HOTEL-KEEPERS:         

                    Under rules- “Hotel” includes any Boarding-House, Club, Dak Bungalow, Rest House, Paying Guest-House, Sarai or other premises of like nature. 

                    Under rules, every keeper of a hotel is required to maintain a Visitors register as per Form-F (Hotel Register).  This hotel register is to be made available at all time for inspection on demand of any Registration Officer, any Magistrate or any Police Officer not below the rank of Head Constable. 

                    “Further, it is mandatory for the hotelkeeper to transmit a copy of Form-C (Hotel Arrival Report) duly completed with the particulars furnished by a foreigner, to the Registration Officer as soon as may be, but not more than twenty four hours after the arrival of the foreigners in the hotel.”

LIABILITIES OF HOUSE-HOLDERS/OTHERS:

                    Section 2 of the Foreigners (Report to Police) Order, 1971, enjoins upon every house-holder or other person to report to the Officer-In-Charge of the nearest police station about the arrival or presence of any foreigner in his household or any premises occupied by him or under his control, if he knows or has reason to believe that he is a foreigner.

FORMS:

       1.       Registration Application Form (Single)
       2.       Form-A (in quadruplicate) R.C (for foreigners above 16 years only)
       3.       Application Form for visa extension (in triplicate)
       4.       Application Form for No Objection to return to India (in duplicate)
       5.       Intimation of Departure from India (single)
       6.       Arrival Information of Foreigner (in triplicate)
       7.       Hotel Arrival Information - Form C (in triplicate)
       8.       Hotel Register – Form F

FOR PIO CARD/OCI

Foreigners seeking for PIO Card/ OCI Registration Certificate may contact on MHA website – www.mha.nic.in

       i)     FRRO, Level-II, East Block -8, R.K. Puram, New Delhi.

      ii)      Joint Secretary (F), MHA, Govt. of India, 26 Mann Singh Road, Jesalmer House, New Delhi.