Indian passports are issued to citizens of India for the purpose of international travel. It is proof of Indian nationality. The Consular Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for issuance of Indian passports to all eligible Indian citizens. This document is issued from 28 locations across the country and 160 Indian missions abroad.

[edit] Types of passports

Types of Indian PassportsRegular Passport (Navy Blue cover) - Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips (36 or 60 pages)
Diplomatic Passport (Maroon cover) - Issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers.
Official Passport (White cover) - Issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business

[edit] Physical appearance
Indian Passports have a navy blue cover, with the Emblem of India and the motto सत्यमेव जयते in Sanskrit, (read: Satyameva Jayate) translated in English as "Truth Alone Triumphs" emblazoned in the center of the front cover. The words “PASSPORT” (Hindi: पासपोर्ट) and “REPUBLIC OF INDIA” (Hindi: भारत गणराज्य) are inscribed above the Emblem and below the Emblem respectively. The standard passport contains 36 pages, but frequent travelers can opt for 60 pages (as noted above).


[edit] Passport holder identity
Indian passports have identity information printed on both front and back cover ends. Both of these pages are laminated to protect from modification.

The opening cover end contains the following information:

Page 1 of an Indian PassportPhoto of passport holder
Signature of the passport holder
Type of travel document (P)
Country code (IND)
Passport number
Surname
Given names
Nationality
Sex
Date of birth
Place of birth
Place of issue
Date of issue
Date of expiry
The information page end with the Machine Readable Passport Zone.


Last page of Indian PassportThe closing end contains the following information:
Name of Father/ Legal guardian
Name of Mother
Name of Spouse
Address
Old Passport No. with date and place of issue
File No.

[edit] Passport note
Most passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside of Indian Passports states:

These are to request and require in the name of the President of the Republic of India all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford him or her, every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.
The note bearing page is typically stamped and signed by the issuing authority in the name of the President.


[edit] Languages
The textual portions of Indian Passport are printed first in Hindi and then in English


[edit] Visa Free Travel for Indian Passports
Around 60[1] countries and territories offer visa free travel or visa on arrival facilities to Indian citizens as per the latest count.





[edit] Europe
Andorra 90 day visa free entry for Indian citizens. (must enter from France or Spain)
Gibraltar 90 days (if holding valid multiple entry visa for UK)
Georgia 90 days on arrival for $37 available for Indian citizens. (as per latest rules)
Germany - Airport transit visa not required (if possessing any type of valid visa from the UK)
Switzerland - 90 days visa free travel (only for holders who have residency permit in any EU nation, Canada or USA and having a return ticket)
Russia - If holding a diplomatic or service passport, visa not required. (90 days)[2]

[edit] Asia
Azerbaijan- 30 days (Visa on Arrival can be purchased)[1]
Nepal - free movement of people
Bahrain- 7 day Visa on Arrival for Indian travelers.
Bhutan - 14 days free visa on arrival
Bangladesh- 15 days free visa on arrival
Sri Lanka - visa on arrival (30 days)
Maldives - visa on arrival (30 days)
Malaysia - visa on arrival (30 days)[3]
Laos - visa on arrival (15 days)
Cambodia - visa on arrival (30 days)
Indonesia - visa on arrival (30 days)
Thailand - visa on arrival (15 days)
Hong Kong - 14 days
Macau - 21 days
Singapore - 96-hour visa free transit facility[4]
Myanmar - 28 days [5]
Timor-Leste - 30 days
Iran - visa on arrival at airports (7 days)[6]
Oman - 1 month (Visa on Arrival)-can be extended for further 30 days.
Kuwait: 1 month (Visa on Arrival with conditions)[1]

[edit] Pacific
Cook Islands 31 days
Fiji - visa on arrival (120 days)
Vanuatu - 30 days (extend able upto 120 days)
Tonga- 30 days
Niue - 30 days
Micronesia - 30 days Visa-free entry
Palau - 30 days (Visa on Arrival and can be extended)
Samoa - 60 days (Visa-free entry)
Tuvalu - 30 days (Visa on Arrival)

[edit] South & Central America
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - 21 days visa on arrival as per current info.
Jamaica - Visa free travel as per current info.
Bermuda - Visa not required (max upto 180 days)
Ecuador 90 days for diplomatic and official passports only
Costa Rica 90 days if holding valid US/ EU visa
Dominica 21 visa on arrival for Indian citizens
Grenada 3 months (extendable to 6 months)
El Salvador visa on upon arrival... if official fax is sent to MFA prior to departure
Turks and Caicos Islands 30 days visa free entry

[edit] Africa
Burundi- On arrival visa can be issued at Bujumbura airport for Indian citizens
Comoros Visa on arrival up to 45 days
Gambia visa on arrival 90 days
Djibouti 30 days visa on arrival for $30
Mauritius - 60 days visa on arrival
Madagascar: 90 days (Visa on Arrival)
Togo- 7 days visa on arrival which can be extended
Mozambique: 45 day Visa on Arrival. cost $25.
Seychelles - 30 days visa on arrival
Ethiopia 3 month visa issued upon arrival
Kenya - 90 days visa on arrival
Tanzania - 90 days visa on arrival
Uganda - 90 days visa on arrival- can be extended to 1 year.
Egypt- 14 days visa on arrival for South Sinai resorts
Cape Verde 30 Visa on arrival for Indian citizens
Eritrea 30 day visa upon arrival for Indian citizens and can be extended 2 months

[edit] Fees
The cost of obtaining a standard passport

INR 1000 - Fresh Passport (36 pages) of 10 years validity. (including 15-18 year minor, with 10 years of validity)
INR 1500 - Fresh Passport (60 pages) of 10 years validity.
INR 600 - Fresh Passport for Minors (below 15 years of Age) of 5 years validity or till the minor attains the age of 15 which ever is earlier.
INR 2500 - Duplicate Passport (36 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.
INR 3000 - Duplicate Passport (60 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.


VISAA visa (short for the Latin carta visa, lit. "the document having been seen") is a document issued by a country giving an individual permission to formally request entrance to the country during a given period of time and for certain purposes (see below for caveats and exceptions) and usually stamped or glued inside of a passport, or sometimes issued as separate pieces of paper.

Many countries require possession of a valid passport and visa as a condition of entry for foreigners, though there exist exemptions (see below for examples of such schemes).

Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter (or exit) a country, and are thus, for some countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country.

Some countries, such as some states of the former Soviet Union, require that their citizens, and sometimes foreign travelers, obtain an exit visa in order to be allowed to leave the country. Until 2004, foreign students in Russia were issued only an entry visa on being accepted to University there, and had to obtain an exit visa to return home. This policy has since been changed, and foreign students are now issued multiple entry (and exit) visas.

[edit] Conditions of issue
Some visas can be granted on arrival or by prior application at the country's embassy or consulate, or sometimes through a specialized travel agency with permission from the issuing country in the country of departure. If there is no embassy or consulate in one's home country, then one would have to travel to a third country (or apply by post) and try to get a visa issued there. The need or absence of need of a visa generally depends on the citizenship of the applicant, the intended duration of the stay, and the activities that the applicant may wish to undertake in the country he visits; these may delineate different formal categories of visas, with different issue conditions.

Some, but by no means all, countries have reciprocal visa regimes: if Country A requires citizens of Country B to have a visa to travel there, then Country B may apply reciprocity and require a visa from citizens of Country A. Likewise, if A allows B's citizens to enter without a visa, B may allow A's citizens to enter without a visa.

Examples of such reciprocal visa regimes are between:

Algeria[1] and Canada[2]
most CIS member states and African countries
Brazil and Canada/CIS member states
Armenia and most non-CIS member states[3]
A fee may be charged for issuing a visa; these are typically also reciprocal, so if country A charges country B's citizens 50 USD for a visa, country B will often also charge the same amount for country A's visitors. The fee charged may also be at the discretion of each embassy. A similar reciprocity often applies to the duration of the visa (the period in which one is permitted to request entry of the country) and the amount of entries one can attempt with the visa. Expedited processing of the visa application for some countries will generally incur additional charges.


Entry visa to the West African country of Ghana.This reciprocal fee has gained prominence in recent years with the decision of the United States to charge nationals of various countries a $100 visa processing fee (non-refundable, even if a visa is not issued). A number of countries, including Brazil, Chile, and Turkey have reciprocated. Brazil requires an advance visa before entry into the country, and that a US citizen be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival--matching U.S. requirements for Brazilians and other foreigners.

The issuing authority, usually a branch of the country's foreign ministry or department (e.g. U.S. State Department), and typically consular affairs officers, may request appropriate documentation from the applicant. This may include proof that the applicant is able to support himself in the host country (lodging, food), proof that the person hosting the applicant in his or her home really exists and has sufficient room for hosting the applicant, proof that the applicant has obtained health and evacuation insurance, etc. Some countries ask for proof of health status, especially for long-term visas; some countries deny such visas to persons with certain illnesses, such as AIDS. The exact conditions depend on the country and category of visa. Notable examples of countries requiring HIV tests of long-term residents are Russia[4] and Uzbekistan.[5] However, in Uzbekistan, the HIV test requirement is sometimes not strictly enforced.[6]

Developed countries frequently demand strong evidence of intent to return to the home country, if the visa is for a temporary stay, and especially if the applicant is from a developing country, due to immigration concerns.

The issuing authority may also require applicants to attest that they have had no criminal convictions, or that they do not partake in certain activities (like prostitution or drug trafficking). Some countries will deny visas if the travellers' passports show evidence of citizenship or travel to a country which is not recognized by that country. For example, Saudi Arabia will not issue visas to nationals of Israel or those with evidence of visiting Israel.


[edit] Types of visa

Entry tourist visa to ChinaCommon types of visas are:

transit visa, usually valid for 3 days or less, for passing through the country to a third destination.
tourist visa, for a limited period of leisure travel, no business activities allowed. Some countries do not issue tourist visas. Saudi Arabia introduced tourist visas only in 2004 although it did (and still does) issue pilgrimage visas for Hajj pilgrims.
business visa, for engaging in commerce in the country. These visas generally preclude permanent employment, for which a work visa would be required.
temporary worker visa, for approved employment in the host country. These are generally more difficult to obtain but valid for longer periods of time than a business visa. Examples of these are the United States' H-1B and L-1 visas.
on-arrival visa, granted immediately prior to entering the country, such as at an airport or border control post. This is distinct from not requiring a visa at all, as the visitor must still obtain the visa before they can even try to pass through immigration. The on-arrival visa usually is nothing more than an arrival tax, though the visitors can still be denied entry even with a visa.
spousal visa, granted to the spouse of a resident or citizen of a given country, in order to enable the couple to settle in that country. Examples include the United Kingdom's EEA family permit.
Less common visas include:

student visa, which allows its holder to study at an institution of higher learning in the issuing country. Students studying in Algeria, however, are issued tourist visas.[7]
working holiday visa, for individuals traveling between nations offering a working holiday programme, allowing young people to undertake temporary work while traveling.
diplomatic visa (sometimes official visa), which confers diplomatic status on its holder and is normally only available to bearers of diplomatic passports.
courtesy visa issued to representatives of foreign governments or international organizations who do not qualify for diplomatic status but do merit expedited, courteous treatment. A courtesy visa does not normally confer privileges or immunities.
journalist visa, which some countries require of people in that occupation when travelling for their respective news organizations. Countries which insist on this include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United States (I-visa) and Zimbabwe.
fiancee visa, granted for a limited period prior to intended marriage based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country. For example, a German woman who wishes to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancee Visa (also known as a K-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States.
immigrant visa, granted for those intending to immigrate to the issuing country. They usually are issued for a single journey as the holder will, depending on the country, later be issued a permanent resident identification card which will allow the traveller to enter to the issuing country an unlimited number of times. (for example, the United States Permanent Resident Card)...

[edit] Entry and duration period

Single-entry visitor visa to CanadaVisas can also be single-entry, which means the visa is cancelled as soon as the holder leaves the country, double-entry, or multiple-entry, permitting multiple entries into the country with the same visa. Countries may also issue re-entry permits that allow temporarily leaving the country without invalidating the visa. Even a business visa will normally not allow the holder to work in the host country without an additional work permit.

Once issued, a visa will typically have to be used within a certain period of time.

The validity of a visa is not the same as the authorized period of stay in the issuing country. The visa validity usually indicates when the alien can apply for entry to the country. For example, if a visa has been issued January 1st and expires March 30th, and the typical authorized period of stay in a country is 90 days, then the 90-day authorized stay starts on the day the passenger reaches the country, which has to be between January 1st and March 30th. The traveller could therefore stay in the issuing country until July 1st.

Once in the country, the validity period of a visa or authorized stay can often be extended for a fee at the discretion of immigration authorities. Overstaying a period of authorized stay given by the immigration officers is considered illegal immigration even if the visa validity period isn't over (i.e. for multiple entry visas) and a form of being "out of status" and the offender may be fined, prosecuted, deported, or even blacklisted from entering the country again.

Entering a country without a valid visa or visa exemption may result in detention and removal (deportation or exclusion) from the country. Undertaking activities that are not authorized by the status of entry (for example, working while possessing a non-worker tourist status) can result in the individual being deemed removable, in common speech an illegal alien. Such violation is not a violation of a visa, however despite the common misuse of the phrase, but a violation of status hence the term "out of status."

Even having a visa does not guarantee entry to the host country. The border crossing authorities make the final determination to allow entry, and may even cancel a visa at the border if the alien cannot demonstrate to their satisfaction that they will abide by the status their visa grants them.

Visa and immigration laws may be very different among countries. As such, aliens are advised to check with immigration lawyers for visa and immigration laws governing the countries they wish to enter and eligibility to receive visas or other immigration benefits.


[edit] Visa extensions

Visa Run exampleMany countries have a mechanism to allow the holder of a visa to apply to stay longer in that country. For example, in Denmark a visa holder can apply to the Danish Immigration Service for a Residence Permit after they have arrived in the Country. In the United Kingdom applications can be made to the Border and Immigration Agency. In certain circumstances, it is not possible for the holder of the visa to do this, either because the country does not have a mechanism to prolong visas or, most likely, because the holder of the visa is using a short stay visa to live in a country. In such cases, the holder often engages in what is known as a visa run; leaving the country for a short period in order to apply for a new visa prior to their return or so that they can be given a fresh permission to stay when they re-enter.


[edit] Visa refusal
A visa may be denied for a number of reasons, including (but not limited to) if the applicant:

has committed fraud or misrepresentation in his or her application;
intends to permanently reside or work in the country she/he will visit;
does not have a legitimate reason for the journey;
has no visible means of sustenance;
does not have lodging in the destination country;
has not arranged his or her transportation;
does not have a health/travel insurance valid for the destination and the duration of stay;
has a criminal record or has criminal charges pending;
does not have a good moral character;
is considered to be a security risk;
had their previous visa application(s) rejected;
is a citizen of a country with whom the host country has poor or non-existent relations
has a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis;
has previous immigration violations.
has never undertaken any foreign travel before. [1]
has travelled before, but taken visas for other countries which are nowhere near the destination country.[2]
does not have a sufficient command of the language for the purposes of tourism.[3]
has planned a holiday for no particular purpose other than sightseeing[4]

[edit] Visa exemption schemes
Possession of a valid visa is a condition for entry into many countries, however various exemption schemes do exist. In some cases visa-free entry may be granted to holders of diplomatic passports even as visas are required by normal passport holders (see: Passport).

Some countries have reciprocal agreements such that a visa is not needed under certain conditions, e.g. when the visit is for tourism and for a relatively short period. One example of this is the Visa Waiver Program of the United States. Such reciprocal agreements may stem from common membership in international organizations or a shared heritage:

All citizens of ECOWAS member states, excluding those defined by law as undesirable aliens, may enter and stay without a visa in any member state for a maximum period of 90 days. The only requirement is a valid travel document and international vaccination certificates.[5]
Nationals of the East African Community member states do not need visas for entry into any of the member states.[6][7][8]
Some countries in the Commonwealth do not require tourist visas of citizens of other Commonwealth countries.
Some countries in the Association of South East Asia Nations do not require tourist visas of citizens of some Association of South East Asia Nations countries.
Armenia[8] and Uzbekistan[9] allow citizens of CIS member states, except Turkmenistan, to enter visa-free as tourists.
Other countries may unilaterally grant visa-free entry to nationals of certain countries in order to facilitate tourism.

Visa-free travel between countries also occurs in all cases where passports are not needed for such travel. (For examples of passport-free travel, see International travel without passports.)


[edit] Common visas
Normally visas are valid for entry only into the country which issued the visa. Countries that are members of regional organizations or party to regional agreements may however issue visas valid for entry into some or all of the member states of the organization or agreement:

the Schengen Visa may be the best-known example of a common visa. This visa has it origins in the 1985 Schengen Agreement among European states which allows for a common policy on the temporary entry of persons (including visas). The visa allows a tourist or visitor access to the area covered by the agreement (known as the “Schengen area” or “Schengenland”). Citizens of non-EU, non-EEA countries who wish to visit Europe as tourists, and who require a visa to enter the Schengen area, are simply required to get only the common Schengen Visa from the Embassy/Consulate of any of the Schengen countries. After this, they may visit any or all of the Schengen countries as tourists or for business without hindrance. They are not required to get separate visas for all the Schengen countries they wish to visit.
the CARICOM Visa was introduced in late 2006 and will allow visitors to travel between 10 CARICOM member states (Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago). These 10 member countries have agreed to form a "Single Domestic Space" in which travellers will only have their passport stamped and have to submit completed, standardized entry and departure forms at the first port and country of entry. The CARICOM Visa will be applicable to the nationals of all countries except CARICOM member states (other than Haiti) and associate member states, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the overseas countries, territories or departments of these countries. The CARICOM Visa will be obtainable from the Embassies/Consulates of Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago or in countries which have no CARICOM representatives, from the Embassies/Consulates of the United Kingdom.
the Central American Single Visa (Visa Única Centroamericana) was implemented by the CA-4 agreement between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It is required for citizens of all other countries, eliminating the need for separate entry visas for each of the countries. Persons entering the region on Type "B" visas can enter the area through any Port of Entry. Persons entering on Type "C" visas (issued through prior consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) must enter through a Port of Entry in the country that issued the visa. Once a person has been admitted, they may travel onto any of the other countries and are allowed to stay through the date authorized at the original Port of Entry.
An East African Single Tourist Visa may be ready for November 2006, if it is approved by the relevant sectoral authorities under the East African Community (EAC) integration programme. If approved the visa will be valid for all three partner states in the EAC (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). Under the proposal for the visa, any new East African single visa can be issued by any partner state's embassy. The visa proposal followed an appeal by the tourist boards of the partner states for a common visa to accelerate promotion of the region as a single tourist destination and the EAC Secretariat wants it approved before November's World Travel Fair (or World Travel Market) in London.[9] When approved by the East African council of ministers, tourists could apply for one country's entry visa which would then be applicable in all regional member states as a single entry requirement initiative.[10]
The SADC UNIVISA (or Univisa) has been in development since SADC members signed a Protocol on the Development of Tourism in 1998. The Protocol outlined the Univisa as an objective so as to enable the international and regional entry and travel of visitors to occur as smoothly as possible.[11] It was expected to become operational by the end of 2002.[12] Its introduction was delayed and a new implementation date, the end of 2006, was announced.[13] However, the SADC now aims to have the univisa system in place by 2008, before the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[14][15][16][17][18] The univisa was originally intended to only be available, initially, to visitors from selected “source markets” such as Australia, the Benelux countries, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the USA.[19] It is now expected that when the Univisa is implemented, that it will apply to non SADC international (long-haul) tourists travelling to and within the region and that it will encourage multi - destination travel within the region.[20] It is also anticipated that the univisa will unlock the tourism potential of transfrontier parks by lowering the boundaries between neighbouring countries in the parks. The visa is expected to be valid for all the countries with transfrontier parks (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe) and some other SADC countries (Angola and Swaziland).[21]