Note: Carrying/use of satellite phones by foreign nationals (irrespective of category of passport) without prior approval is illegal/unauthorised in India
Electronic Visa (e-Visa) for India
The e-Visa facility is in addition to the existing Visa services being provided through Indian High Commission of India, Mbabane. Swaziland is among the countries whose citizens are eligible to travel to India on an e-Visa. The process of obtaining an e-Visa is simple, and you do not need to visit the HCI, Mbabane for this. You can complete the process from the comfort of your home. You will receive the visa by email. The applicant should carry a print of the email. The e-Visa scheme entails capture of biometric data of the visitor on arrival at the entry point in India.
The e-Visa has 05 sub-categories i.e., e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa and e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa and e-Conference Visa. Following activities will be permitted under these five visa categories:
1. e-Tourist Visa: It is for recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, and attending a short-term yoga programme.
2. e-Business Visa: All activities permitted under normal Business Visa.
3. e-Medical Visa: Medical treatment, including treatment under Indian systems of medicine.
4. e-Medical Attendant Visa: As attendant to an e-Medical Visa holder.
5. e-Conference Visa: Attending a conference/seminar/workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments or UT Administrators etc. and their subordinate/ attached organizations & PSUs.
For complete information on e-Visa and online application procedure, please visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
Important instructions for e-Visa:
a. In case of all e-visas other an e-Tourist and e-Business visas, the applicant can apply 120 days in advance prior to expected date of arrival in India and in such cases, the Electronic Travel Authorization that will be issued to the applicant will be valid for 120 days from the date of issue. In the case of e-Tourist and e-Business visas, the applicant can submit application without any such restriction and the ETA in such cases will be co-terminus with the visa validity.
b. The passport of the traveller should have validity of at least six months from the date of arrival in India and it should contain at least two blank pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer.
c. ETA holder must travel on the Passport which he has applied for e-Visa. Entry, will be allowed into India on the new passport even if ETA has been issued on the old passport, however in such cases a traveller must carry the old passport on which ETA was issued.
Warning about fake websites: It has been noticed that few fake websites apparently similar to Government of India’s official websites claim to provide services to Indian visa applicants desiring to travel to India. All the applicants applying online shall be careful while accessing such websites which has no authorization of the High Commission of India, Mbabane or Government of India. The correct and authorized website for Indian e-Visa application is https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
Advisory against taking Satellite Phones to India: All visa seekers are strictly advised against taking and using satellite phones (including Thuraya and Irridium) in India. There is a ban of use of Satellite phones in India. If any unauthorized use of such satellite phone sets is detected, including tourists, these sets will be seized and the holder would be prosecuted under Section 6 of Indian Wireless Act and Section 20 of Indian Telegraph Act.