Indian Visa Application for UK Nationals Is to Change

From March 16, 2015, to obtain an Indian visa, UK nationals have to visit an application center for biometric checks of their fingerprints and faces.

Previously, travelers who want to take an explore India only need to send visa applications off via post. Now, this is no longer the same case. As the visa-issuing process has been outsourced to a third party, VF Service Ltd, it involves both online and paper applications.

Each applicant must first visit in.vfsglobal.co.uk to book a separate appointment at one of 14 new application centers in the UK upon completion of an online form. The fee is £89.44 per person and will not be returned even if one is rejected. Anyone who submitted the application needs to attend the chosen office in person to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and facial imagery. If one’s application is successful, the valid date of the visa is from the issuing date, and the duration is decided by the issuing authority. Locations that receive appointments are London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford, Newcastle, Belfast, Cardiff, Bristol, Glasgow and Leicester.

The tougher visa application rules don't deter tourists from swarming to India for its unbeatable tourist attractions: the Taj Mahal, stunning beaches, wildlife parks, etc.

The High Commission of India states that it has already rolled out this requirement in several non-UK countries. It is advised travelers plan ahead and check entry requirements. Earlier this year, India extended the "visa on arrival" facility to nationals of 150 countries.

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