Visa Details

What is an India Visa & Why You Need One? 

An Indian Visa is official permission granted by the Government of India allowing you to enter and travel across India for leisure, sightseeing, visiting family or short-term travel. Holding an visa to India from Dubai (or UAE) does not automatically guarantee entry; immigration officers at the border can still verify your credentials and you must meet all entry requirements.

Should you be living in the United Arab Emirates and are planning a trip, the Indian Visa, especially the ones going from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, issued by the Indian Consulate in Dubai or online via the e-Visa system is one of the most important requirements in order not to interrupt your travel.

Who Can Apply

Here’s who is eligible to apply for an Indian visit visa from UAE:

Citizens of the UAE holding a valid residence visa and foreign passport are eligible to apply for a visa to India

The UAE citizens can receive various entry rights (in certain cases visa-on-arrival) though, in the vast majority of cases, a full application is needed in case of foreign-passport citizens of the UAE.   

To apply, the applicants need to meet simple specifications like the possession of a valid passport, a clear history of travels and adherence to the rules of the Indian mission.   

Applicants who live in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or anywhere in the United Arab Emirates need to check for their eligibility before submitting an application for an Indian visa, thus ensuring a hassle-free process.

Required Documents

When applying for a visa to India, you’ll need to provide the following documents:

• Passport of a minimum of six months that has two blank pages.   
• A duly filled online visa application form.   
• Emirates ID (residents) and UAE residence visa (a minimum duration).   
• Newly available passport-size photographs that are in the required specifications.   
• Evidence of onward/return ticket and verified hotel reservations (to most of the cases) when making an Indian visa application in the UAE.   
• Other documents that vary depending on the status of the applicant (employed, self-employed, student, retired, minor) and the reason why they visits the country.   

We will also help you to put together and compile all the documents that you need in the proper order.  

Indian Visa Application Process 

How to Apply – Step-by-Step Process

• Select the right visa type based on the purpose of your travel (tourism, visiting family/ friends, etc.).   
• Register the online Indian visa application form on the official Indian visa application portal.
• Bring all the necessary documents: passport, photos, UAE residence documents or flight/hotel reservations, financial statements, NOC in case of employment and so on.   
• (Unless otherwise specified) Go to a visa centre or biometric capture based on your type.   
• Submit your application either directly or through an authorised agent; pay the applicable visa fee.
• Wait for the approval, get your e-Visa or stamped visa and you are ready to go for your travel to India.

This is a general procedure regardless of the country you are applying to obtain an India tourist visa whether you are in Dubai, abu dhabi or UAE

Visa Application process for Dubai & Abu Dhabi

In case you are requesting a your application from Dubai (or in UAE) via Al Rihla Travel:   

• If you are applying for a India visa from Dubai or anywhere in the UAE, Al Rihla Travel will provide you with end-to-end support – from form submission to visa approval tracking.
• With our UAE based team, you will get faster and error free processing of your India visa from Abu Dhabi.

India Visa Fees, Processing Time and Visa Validity

• Visa Costs: Visa charges depend on nationality of applicant, type of visa and length of stay. You may check the latest Indian visa fee schedule for the United Arab Emirates residents by checking with Al Rihla Travel.  
• Processing time: an e-Visa is normally 3-5 working days; a regular (stamped) visa is about 5-7 working days (depending on some nationalities or other screening measures).   
• Validity: Tourist visas can be granted in 30 days (single/ multiple entry), 1 year (single/ multiple entry) or five years (multiple entry).   

Types of Indian Visa for UAE Residents

There are a number of visa types of traveling to India that you can request Al Rihla Travel to assist in requesting your visa to India:

• Tourist Visa: (leisure, sightseeing, visiting relatives/friends)   
• e-Tourist Visa: (online version of the eligible nationals)   
• Business Visa: (business meetings, conferences)   
• Medical Visa: (medical treatment)   

The categories have their eligibility criteria, their documentary requirements, and validity. Our team will help you to choose the most suitable visa type regarding your certain traveling purpose.   

Common Reason for Visa Rejection & Tips 

When applying for a visa to India from Dubai or the UAE, you can avoid delays and rejections by being aware of some of the most common reasons for a refusal.

• Partially filled or wrongly filled application form (names do not match with passport)   
• Passport of less than six months of validity or two blank pages.   
• UAE residence visa has already expired or the period is not satisfactory.   
• Inequitable travel history, undefined purpose of visit or inadequate financial evidences.   
• No NOC/employer letter (where needed), poor photo requirements, wrong onward reservations.   

Tips to Avoid Rejection:   

• Check your form twice and then submit it.   
• Make sure that your passport and UAE residence visa abide by the regulations.   
• Al Rihla Travel has a document checklist that can be used to prevent leaving anything out.   
• Apply early enough before any problem of verification arises.   

Why Choose Al Rihla Travel for India Visa Assistance?

In Al Rihla Travel we focus on ensuring that the process of applying to visa for India is as hassle free as possible:   

• Local assistance from UAE-based experts familiar with visa centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 
• Dedicated guidance for online form submission, document preparation, and application tracking. 
• Risk of rejection minimized by having your paper work done to the standards of the Consulate.   
• Quick, hassle-free and hence you have time to plan your holiday and leave us with the formalities.   

In our case, the application of your visa is not just a form to fill but a service that will protect your travelling plans and give you a sense of guarantee.