JOURNALIST VISA
This category of visa will be applicable to foreign nationals:-
• who are professional journalists, photographers, documentary film producers or Directors (other than of commercial films), representatives of a radio and/or television organization, travel writers/ travel promotion photographers etc;
• who are Journalists visiting India for any other purpose, such as attending a Conference, tourism, meeting relatives etc.
Instructions:
• e-visa facility is not available for journalist visa.
• Please apply for regular paper visa at the Embassy.
• In addition to the general instructions mentioned above, the following additional points be noted:
• Journalists on tourism to India should also apply only for Journalist Visa only.
• The processing time however in this case will be same as any normal tourist visa applications.
• The processing time of journalist visa is strictly at the discretion of the Embassy.
• All journalist should apply for journalist visa even if the purpose of visit is Tourism. Hence please fill in the visa type as Journalist Visa and mention the purpose of visit to be Tourism. The fee to be paid will be that of Journalist Visa fee, not tourist visa fee.
• Applicants, who are photographers, media professionals (other than journalists) or freelancers, but going for tourism purpose, should also apply for Journalist Visa and pay the fee applicable for journalist visa.
• The above two categories of visa applicants also need to submit an undertaking that their visit is only for tourism and he / she will not take part in activities related to their profession, while in India. The format of this undertaking is here (
Click here)
1. General requirements:
1.1 Passport to be valid for a minimum period of six months.
1.2 Duly filled in and signed application form to be submitted in person. Incomplete application will not be accepted.
1.4 The normal processing time for a Visa application is 8-10 weeks after the submission of requisite documents along with the Visa application form.
2. Documents Required
2.1. Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with recent photograph pasted at the designated space. Please also upload your recent photograph on the website while filling up the form.It is a mandatory requirement to ensure that your photo is 2 inch x 2 inch (51mm x 51mm) in size with white background for pasting in the application form. Photos which do not meet this specification will not be accepted.
2.2. Copy of the Passport and original for verification.
2.3. Proof of identity as a journalist.
2.4. All relevant supporting documents for the assignment.
2.5. Bank Guarantee Certificate of minimum amount of NOK 1,50,000 or last 6 months of bank statement showing a minimum balance of NOK 1,50,000
2.6. Copy of a confirm return ticket.
b. The applicants are required to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places, the Office of the Government of India's Press Information Bureau, so that they could be given necessary assistance in various matters including planning their itineraries.
c. There is no requirement for accreditation for journalists on brief professional visits to India, but temporary accreditation may be extended for journalists from reputed media organizations, if so requested by them. However, all journalists on long-term assignment in India are obliged to apply compulsorily for accreditation with Press Information Bureau (PIB), when they are based in Delhi. This can only be done after arrival in India.
d. J visas are extendable after arrival in India, for representatives of established media organizations, on the basis of letters of nomination specifying the duration of assignment and provided they hold valid PIB accreditation. Extensions are issued for upto one year at a time. Visa extensions are issued by the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) in the city where the journalist is based.
