After your Japanese or Finnish citizenship has been approved, you may want to visit the country where your ancestors were from before you were born. In order to do so, it’s crucial that you know how to apply for an Indian visa as a Japanese or Finnish citizen, as well as what documents you will need and what other preparations must be made before your trip begins. This guide explains each of these considerations in detail so that applying for an Indian visa will not be confusing or stressful as it so often can be for foreign citizens wishing to travel to this part of the world.
How to apply for an Indian visa if you are a Japanese citizen
Indian visas are issued by Indian missions abroad. The process of applying for an Indian visa varies depending on your nationality and where you will be applying. Here is how to apply if you are a Japanese citizen: An application for an Indian visa should be made at least 15 days before the intended date of departure from Japan. A valid passport is required when applying at any foreign embassy or consulate including India’s mission in Tokyo, Japan. The passport must have at least six months of validity from the expiry date and two blank pages. The document should be signed by the holder and applicant in presence of attesting authorities such as the General Manager, Foreign Regional Registration Officer etc. INDIAN VISA FOR FINLAND CITIZENS
How to apply for an Indian visa if you are a Finnish citizen
If you are a Finnish citizen and planning to travel to India, make sure you carry with you your passport valid at least six months beyond your return date. Your passport should have at least two blank pages. In addition, if you’re going to stay in India longer than 180 days, you need to apply for permission at a Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in New Delhi. At most Indian embassies abroad, Indians do not need visas for Finland citizens.
What documents do I need?
You’ll need original documents and photocopies of all required documents to apply. Check with your Indian embassy, but you may need: your Passport valid for at least six months, two passport-sized photos, and a completed visa application form. You’ll also have to pay applicable fees in cash (usually U.S. dollars). Once you meet all requirements and submit everything necessary, you should hear back about your visa status within three weeks. Some Indian consulates will let you pick up your approved visa in person, while others send it by mail or courier service—consult with them directly to see what their process is like. INDIAN VISA FOR JAPANESE CITIZENS
Which application centre should I go to?
If you’re applying for a visa from Finland, there are application centres in London, Glasgow and New Delhi. If you’re applying from Japan, there are application centres in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi. The good news is that it doesn’t matter which country you apply from; once your paperwork is submitted at one of these centres, it gets sent to other parts of India and will eventually end up at the Indian embassy in your home country. In fact, many travellers head straight to their closest consulate to get their paperwork done – but not all do!
What are my chances of getting a visa?
Getting a visa is never guaranteed. Even if you have all of your paperwork in order, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get approved. Still, if you meet most of these basic requirements, it’s likely that your visa application will be accepted. First and foremost, be realistic about whether you actually need to apply for an Indian visa and when exactly you will be travelling to India.
How much does it cost?
Indian tourist visas are free and do not require proof of return flights, hotel bookings, and so on. But Indian tourist visas are only good for three months at a time, meaning that you need to renew them if you plan to stay longer than six weeks. So how much does it cost? For non-Japanese and non-Finnish citizens who live in Japan and Finland, there is no fee (or proof of return tickets) required—you simply have to apply at your nearest Indian consulate before leaving home. To save time, contact your nearest consulate directly before applying—they might even be able to provide assistance with hotel bookings. For example, members of Finland’s South Asian community can usually obtain their visa via India’s Helsinki consulate without returning to Finland beforehand.
My passport has expired. Can I still travel with it?
Most countries will let you travel with your expired passport—even if it’s in its final month. One important thing to note is that you’ll need to check with each country’s embassy directly since rules can vary by country (they often do). For example, while some countries let you travel on an expired passport, others don’t allow you to leave until it has been renewed. Also keep in mind that if your current trip is going to take longer than your passport’s expiration date (which it likely will), there’s no point in extending it because customs officials won’t accept it. In other words, make sure your trip falls within your passport’s validity period before getting started.