I am posting here about my experience of gaining a "re-entry permit" from Delhi (Ministry of Interior Affairs & FRRO) to enable me to leave and return to India in less than 60 days & also of my experience on re-entering India which shed light on the fact that I probably didn't need the re-entry permit after all.
So, first the NEWS from Immigration Officials at Delhi Airport on when you do & when you don't need a "re-entry permit" -
(N.B. I have a multiple-entry tourist visa for India (6months), UK passport; on the visa is written (sub-clause): "no re-entry permitted within 60 days of exit from India". I exited India for 1 week, to visit Nepal. I had gained a "re-entry permit" from Delhi)
On returning to India at Immigration at Delhi Airport I got into discussion with two Immigration officials. They saw my "re-entry permit" in my passport but said that I did not need it for making a trip to Nepal. They said it was not needed for visiting a neighbouring (they also said "Asian") country. They explicitly named: Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand ... ; and also explicitly said that if I were to return to my own country and wished to return in less than 2 months then I would require it. I told them that I had spent 3 days running around getting this permit... "3 days wasted" - was the response! They were quite clear. I interacted with three Immigration Officers; the two more senior were both clear (including one Manager/Supervisor) - they also told me to circulate this information to friends/others. For visit to neighbouring/nearby countries, if you hold a multiple-entry visa, then there is no "60-day rule" - you can return at any time. They applied the usual caveat that information should be checked at the time of travel - rules can change (my own comments come with that caveat too... ).
For confirmation/further advice - Given my experience today I would check with Immigration at the airport (when landing if you have the chance). My discussion and experience with them was the clearest direction I have found after asking in many places. At Immigration ask to see someone senior to confirm.
The Immigration Officers were very clear that they were not looking for a "re-entry permit". However, I do wonder what the situation would be at the land borders; information and interpretations of these rules could be localised, and of course it is easier to turn someone back at a land border. Hopefully dissemination of this information will improve.
So, here is the info, in case you believe you do need a "re-entry permit" to re-enter India in less than 60 days on a Tourist Visa.
1. According to Immigration at Delhi Airport you need this if you are returning to your home country, not for visiting a neighbouring country.
2. "re-entry permit" - This is a note in your passport saying that you can re-enter in less time. It WAS NOT date specific.
3. To obtain a “re-entry permit” first go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Jaisalmer House, Mansingh Road. Opens 9am (good to get there before that – I reached at 8.20am and it proved advantageous). Take with you: passport, booked return itinerary to/from India; they also asked me for my confirmed flight from India to home. There is a photocopy machine there; or you can have extra copies with you already.
4. You must fill a form and discuss your case with an officer (they did not ask me my reasons for wishing to make my trip – just logistics, checking you have the above papers). You are seen in number order of the number you gain from reception when it opens at 9am, hence it is good to be present early so you can be near the front. Providing everything is there, you will be asked to return at 5pm.
5. At 5pm, back at Jaisalmer House, you are given an envelope addressed to the FRRO office. DO NOT open this envelope. Take this to the FRRO office the next working day. Again, get there early.
6. FRRO – again opens 9am. There is a register on which foreign nationals (who are not Afghan) register their arrival. Find this form/register, put your name on it. Then wait.
7. When the line opens, get in it, at your place, and when you reach the desk you will be given the appropriate form to fill, and asked to submit: your magic envelope, plus again copies of your travel itinerary, passport, visa…
8. After a bit of waiting (do keep checking in whether your papers have been approved – they could be sitting on the desk) finally you should get a note (“observation”) written in your passport “one re-entry permission granted”.
