The Government of India announced that effective 1 January 2011, visa on arrival can be granted to Philippine passport holders who wish to sightsee or visit relatives and friends. Sounds awesome, but it ain’t for us. The tourist visa on arrival (valid for a maximum of 30 days with single entry) is only available at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai airports. Shervin and I are heading straight to Tiruchirappalli.
And so we went to the Embassy of India in Dasmariñas Village, Makati last Tuesday to apply. The embassy only accepts visa applicants from 8:00-11:00 AM. Afternoons are for visa/passport releasing only. The village guard won’t let you enter past 12 noon if you don’t present a document/receipt stating your date of pick up (we actually went Monday afternoon but were told to come back the next day for the application).
Although you could easily walk to the embassy (Paraiso Street is parallel to Edsa and is accessible via small alley near the guardhouse), the protocol is, you have to take the embassy shuttle. The shuttle picks up foreign nationals, visa applicants and travel agency L.O.s from the waiting area. Driver takes everyone to the village’s association office first, and there you pay a whopping P150 each for the joyride. Yes, you’d have to pay another P150 when you come back 2-3 days later.
Highway roberry, ei? I guess that’s the price to pay for a Dasma Village tour. It was quite an entertaining ride in fairness. Imagine the driver calling out “Libya”, “Turkey” on designated stops – similar to a jeepney driver calling out “Buendia”, “Vito Cruz”. It’s as if the village’s the whole world (actually, there are more than 10 embassies located here).
Anyhoo, not to bore you with my random thoughts any further, here are the requirements (original documents must be submitted):
1. Passport with photocopy, valid for at least 6 months
2. Filled out application form, form can be asked from the counter
3. 2 passport size photos
4. Return ticket
5. Bank statement (we didn’t know they ask for this and we had to rush to the nearest mall to print)
* For housewives like me, if you’re traveling with your husband, they might ask for your marriage certificate (especially if you present a joint account bank statement).
When you arrive at the embassy, take a queue number from the counter. It wasn’t so busy when we were there but since travel agency L.O.s submit a big bunch at a time, it can take a while before your turn. When you’re called, all you have to do is submit your documents. Pay P2,100 and don’t forget your receipt. You’re done!
Then you can wait for the shuttle to take you back to the village gate or you can stroll your way out.
– Validity of the visa starts from the date it is issued, lasts up to 3 months.
– Visa fee is P4,200 for Americans and P3,150 for other nationalities.
– Processing time: 2-3 days for Filipinos and 6 days for other nationalities.
– Releasing day: Give your receipt to the same counter (there are only two, the other is solely for Indian nationals) and have a sit. They’ll call you when it’s ready.
– To get there, take the MRT and alight at Magallanes. Dasmariñas Village’s gate is just a few meters from the station.
Just a short funny kwento, I sat beside an Indian on a siesta while waiting for the release of my passport. When he awoke, he turned to me and spoke in Hindi(?). I shook my head and told him, “Filipino”. The whole room giggled. Must be the nose stud and my heavy eye make up that day. Or maybe he was just too sleepy to take a good look.
***Update April 30, 2013: Effective October 23, 2012 all Filipino applicants for tourist visa must lodge an online visa application. Visit http://www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/ for further details. Completed form must be printed out. A copy of which, together with the original passport and other documents, should be submitted to the Indian Visa Application office. Address below:
Unit 601-A, One Corporate Plaza
Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City
Telephone No. +6325555060
Schedule of application is from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Good info, though katawa nung ni ku kwento mo…haha I’ll get one soon promise
Ay naku Marky… promise ha? If not India, Indonesia.
thanks sa info, may required amount ba for the bank statement? hehehe thanks. this is my new blog na pala. 🙂
very helpful info here…pero natuwa ako sa shuttle joyride at yung pay na 150 pesos.hahaha. parang holdup nga.lol
thank you Gay for this post!!!!!!! When are you leaving??? I’m just waiting for a sign, oh and cheap airfare too! he he
I love your Visa application posts, very informative!!!
Liza, wala namang specified amount 🙂 Pero okay na rin siguro yung magdeposit tayo ng bongga, pakita lang naman. Hihi.
Anton, true. Hold up nga!
hi Gay! thanks for the info, i didn’t know about the parameters of the visa-free thingy.
okay, i have plans: flight’s going to delhi, but i need a double-entry/multiple-entry visa as i will be coming back and forth.
Thanks for the help!
Jerik, if that’s your plan, you really need to apply for a tourist visa beforehand. By the way, yung travel agency guy na nakachika ko sa embassy, sabi sa kin may client daw silang Pinoy na di tinanggap. Pinabalik sa HK. Dodgy noh?!
salamat sa tip Gael! been watching OUTSOURCED the previous days and I want to go to India!
very helpful info Gay, btw can the application form be downloaded online?
Claire, yup! Here’s the form http://www.embindia.org.ph/Forms/visaform_new.pdf
alright! thanks gay! time na para ayusin ang plans! can’t wait to read your stories of India!
hahaha, ang cute! Libya, Qatar, parang EDSA rotonda lang!
im so excited, you and sherv will be back on the road. now I wonder, bakit yan nag point of entry nyo. interesting. will watch out for this!
Chyng, haha! Tama. Anyways, we chose Trichy coz yun yung may least risk ng malaria, among others. We initially planned to bring Luna (we booked the tickets early 2010 when I was still pregnant), but changed our plan. Mahihirapan lang kami and she won’t remember such trip anyway when she gets older.
I think this arrangement was made between DFA and India or any org body concerning visas in preparation or related to Philippine Airlines’ 6x a week direct flight Manila to New Delhi starting March 27, 2011. Pinoy visitors to India will have easier and convenient way to enter the country.
I’m guessing it’s the other way around. PAL must have opened an India route because of the visa on arrival.
India not only announced the grant of such visa for Filipinos but for passport holders of New Zealand, Singapore and 2 other countries as well.
Hi Gay! Thanks for this post. What if you’re in a TAXI or in a CAR and you apply for an Indian Visa? Will the guards allow you to go straight to the Indian Embassy?
So the an approved Visa-on-Arrival is NOT sure for all Filipino tourists?????
Hi Ricky, the first time we came by taxi. They asked us to get off and take the shuttle. I don’t know about private vehicles.
And yes, VOA seems dodgy for Pinoys. When you arrive, they’ll still ask for financial proof/documents. Sucks, ei?
hello! the funny kwento was amusing. hehehe
question. how come you paid P2,100, but you stated that the visa fee is P4,200 for Americans and P3,150 for other nationalities?
a friend will be going to India via Chennai.
Heya! Nice to see you here again. Thanks for pointing that out. Hehe. It ain’t clear… P3,150 for other nationalities except for Pinoys 🙂
I need this Gay. Natawa naman ako sa kwento mo hehe. anyway, I will take the upon arrival kasi matagal pa travel plan ko for India, baka last quarter na naman hehe.
anyways, salamat ng marami and u gave me an idea how it is there getting a visa.
Yeeeyyy, time to plan a trip to Delhi na. Hmmmmm Will bookmark this if ever kaya na sa budget. =) Grabe naman yung shuttle, daylight robbery naman yan. Tsk3x Thanks for these info Gay! Maka pag book nga ng tickets for 2013 Wheeeeee Hehehe
Hi, guys.the indian embassy has started outsourcing the indian visa application based in makati city, as the number of filipinos visiting india has increased considerably. It has been a great move by the indian embassy. My gf is goin to apply for three months visa to india and they said i need to send the documents via email. i hope she will get the visa. cheers indian embasy
hi guys,i am planning to go to india on october to meet my boyfriend there who is an indian citizen,as i have a very short vacation i may not have that much time to apply for a visa in the Philippines. I plan to get a visa on arrival in india,is this a good idea?anyone who tried visa on arrival in India?and what are the requirements?please help.Filipina po ako.
Guys… the Visa on arrival for filipinos in India realy works.. had my girlfriend from Cebu just visit me… all that she realy needed was an invitation letter and my financial documents… also the good thing is the immigration officers actually called me on my cell phone to validate if she was indeed visiting me to validate …. works like a breeze… go ahead and travel… and yes i recommend jet airways.. !
Hello po ms.junkie..npaka’helpful po nga talaga ng post nyo, wonder lang ako ksi sabi ng travel agent na suki ko dapat daw kumuha talaga ng visa kahit sa new delhi and arrival airport ko..plz.enlighten me..thanks po.
Your agent wants more income. I have friends who got through New Delhi immigration via VOA.
hello po..salamat po sa info..galing na po ako india at lge ko gamit ang agensy para gets ng visa like ko naman po mag file on my own..
so you mean we can booked to india without the need to apply for visa here in the philippines? we can get it upon arrival naman..?
hi! i have an indian bf, and he ask me to visit him there. what are the requirements i needed from him..so i can get visa here.. do i need invitation letter, copy of his bank statement? and i have read in other article that i have to provide my itenerary. do i have to book hotel in india before getting my visa?
^How long do you plan to stay in India? And which airport will you arrive at?
If you want to visit India for maximum 30 days, Better get visa on Arrival. It costs you $60. Arrival airport must be Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Kolkata
Read here for more info http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/visa_on_arrival2.htm
“the production of a return ticket and availability of sufficient money to spend during his stay in India may be considered sufficient for this purpose.”
No bank ac statement needed to show.
Thanks, Hope it will help you. Welcome to India…Cheers !
Thanks po sa info.. Knina pa ako nghahanap ng mga suggestions for visa application.. First tym ko kc eh.. im so confused. I have to be there by May 15 kc wedding ng friend ko sa May 17-18.. I have to meet my bf na din.. Hehe.. Sana mabilis lang ang process
Hai.c lenie tumimbang to .good afternoon. Ask ko lang poh kong pa ano komuha ng visitor visa for india.gusto ko poh k
c kumoha.
Hello po, just really want to ask, hearing about visa on arrival really sounds good and easy for me,so if you will just get a visa on arrival..how does it work po? thanx
Hello po, just really want to ask, hearing about visa on arrival really
sounds good and easy for me,so if you will just get a visa on
arrival..how does it work po? thanks
hi, im flora vergara from cebu city..i have bf from india..he plan to visit me here in cebu phils..for tourist visa about six month
if will be granted. ..then i ask also how much money needed in the bank to be qualified for six monrhs to stay as tourist,,.,.tnx..i need an ans.pls
Hi frd..
Im lov philp girl with. Im send visa my gf nd both wedding.
My whats up cont – +917779048881
Im wting my frd
Im live india. Any prob reply my whats up no
Hi, i find ur blog very impormative, i have questions would like to ask since im from southern part of philippines and its hard for me to inquire in indian embassy in manila, i do some RnD online. Im planning to travel india with my bf when he come here in philippines, and i plan to apply for tourist visa, though i dont have bank account, can i use my bf bank account statement as this is one the requirement for applying for the visa though he will sponsor my trip and shoulder all the expenses when i get there?what is the minimum months/days i can stay there??? Im looking forward for your response to this. Thank you in advance, hope you can help me. Please.
I kindly want to ask if how much money do i need on my account for a show money if i take the tourist visa for 6 months in india…and how much money do my boyfriend needs in his account to send me a letter of invitation upon visiting him???By the way He’s an indian citizen….
Hoping for your responce….please!???
Hi,i am filipino interested to travel to india n visit my bf there,he is indian national.i want only to know how much money i need in my bank statement.hoping for ur responce …thank u sir.