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| The beautiful Taj Mahal in Agra, India |
A few weeks before I left, I was busy doing my preparations and planning for my first trip to Incredible India when I learned that the tourist visa on arrival (TVoA) facility process has changed! Good thing I was able to read about it from another travel blog. Otherwise, I would have had difficulty or worst denied entry!
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| The new Indian TVoA processed online |
The Philippines is only one of the countries which India allowed for a tourist to apply a tourist visa on arrival in designated airports. It is welcome news for Filipinos who want to travel to this incredible country on a short notice.
The new TVoA for India required one to apply for the visa online and payment is also done online. It was pretty easy since you are only required to fill up a form. The process takes only at most 24-72 hours if all goes well. After payment, I got my approval and confirmation in less than 24 hours. One just needs to print it and show the paper when you arrive in the airport of your destination.
In the old procedure, one is required to apply for the tourist visa only upon arrival in India. From what I know, this facility is available in Kolkata, Chennai, and New Delhi and more airports will be added soon. With the old procedure, filling up of forms as well as payment is done right upon ones arrival at the airport before you are cleared by Indian Immigration.
I was thinking what if you are denied entry right there after travelling for almost 9 hours! That must have been a truly awful experience. Nevertheless, I have yet to to hear a story of one being denied a tourist visa in India. I guess our own Immigration is doing a good job of filtering those who are not worthy to travel to India.
Take note that not all airports in India may accept the tourist on arrival visa so better check it out first. It helps to be vigilant because things and procedures can change without prior notice.
The new procedure is easier for tourists like me because you don't have to worry of looking for a moneychanger to pay for your visa fees. I learned before that the Indian immigration may ask either in USD payment or Indian Rupees which is a bit confusing. So now, since payment is done online via credit card, you will not encounter the same hassle. I paid $60.00 for the visa which allows me to stay in India for maximum of 30 days.
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| Blogger at the steps of Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India |
