Indian visa!

Does anyone (especially any brits), know how long it is presently taking to get an indian visa issued in Islamabad.

cheers
ian

Bonsoir from Peshawar,

In 2007, an English friend got it within a week from the Indian consulate, Islamabad, double entry visa, with 6 months validity, tourist visa.

There is a fellow traveler and TTer, joerea, he got it within 2 days
Indian visa at Islamabad

Normally it takes 7 working days to get it, from the day of submitting the application, another report by a ground traveler
Indian visa report at Islamabad

I post the details, please send them a message and get the info,

High Commission of India
G-5, Diplomatic Enclave,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Telephone:+92-51-814371 to 75
Fax:+92-51-820742
E -mail: hicomind@isb.compol.com

Bon voyage,

Photos of treks from Everest and Pakistan,

Travel tips for Pakistan

All the luck.

It takes takes around plus minus a week to Indian visa in Islamablad.

Do not worry the Indians are quite generous in grantting visas to tourists. It normally takes 7working days. It depends on your luck as mentioned above some TTers on this forum got it in two days.
Best of luck.

Yeah.

Yes they are pretty generous in issuing the visas to tourists.
Good luck.

It is true.

Fingers crossed.

Edited by: chitralguy

well I have to say that the Indian high commission isn't being as generous as everyone here makes out or as generous as they used to be perhaps.

I am going to be applying for mine in about a week and the 20 or so people I have talked to who have got their India visa in the last month have said it is easy to get but hard to negotiate a long stay or more than a single entry.

If you are happy with 3 months single entry then no dramas but if you want 6 month m-entry you may have to negotiate hard. Most people have only been able to get double or triple entry but could get 6 months.

10 days seems to be the norm at the moment for British/Europeans. You put in the application and passport, get your receipt so you're free to travel around, then come back after 10 days for collection.

Dear heledd,

Normally 6 months single/double entry visas are granted by the Indian High Commission at Islamabad.
A week time but I've posted a link above when a traveler got it within 2 days.

All the best.

The ones who say that the Indian high commission is generous in granting visas because they never applied for Indian visa personally.

When we make a comparison of the Indian high commissions with Pakistan, regarding the visa policy, duration and attitude to the travelers, they look a lot generous.

To some extent it's true.

Pakistani high commission abroad reluctant to deliver visas due to the on going political scenario otherwise they have been flexible too.

Look back, even before 9/11, they'd the same attitude, nothing to do with the ongoing situation in Pakistan.
It's not their duty, when a country issues the LOI to their citizens, along with an insurance, so why they are rubbing their butts??

The Pakistani high commissions ask for LOI then their country issues it and the LOI thing does not exists for any other country around.

There are many countries for your kind information that ask for a LOI in the host countries besides Pakistan.

Edited by: chitralguy

For instance?

AstaghfiruAllah.

Sorry guy.

For instance, Uzbekistan.

Ok Ok.

Shukr hai.

I have had far too much experience of this embassy recently than is healthy for any sane person. Standard issue is about 10 days (10 days, not 10 working days), although if you have good reason to want it quicker, you can sometimes negotiate them to process it more quickly. I know of one guy who recently got a visa in only 3 days, though he was Korean and not British. You have to download the visa application form in advance, and type it in. They do not accept hand-written application forms. Unless you have super-charm, chances are you will have to take the official bus to get into the Diplomatic Enclave. It is a pain in the ass. Get there early - non-Pakistanis are allowed to queue-jump at the Indian embassy.

Make sure your application and passport are absolutely squeeky clean, otherwise you could experience all kinds of problems.

Giora

Shukria Giora, for the detailed report, things are much clearer than before.

Thanks Giora for the detailed info.

Giora,
Do you know if Uzbekistan's embassy ask for LOI?

Nice update by Giora.

Bon voyage mes amis.

I'm fairly sure that the Uzbek embassy doesn't ask for an LOI for Brits. But I'm not 100% sure, and I don't know anything about other nationalities.

Okay.

Giora, with a (LOI, LOR), it's usually quicker, I've spoken to some travelers, one who got it without LOI, that took much time and with LOI it was quicker.

Merci.

No difference. It will take normal routine days for overlanders.. no LOI required..