Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives

Bhutan and Nepal

Citizens of Bhutan and Nepal entering into India by Land or Air, and are coming from their own respective countries, do not require VISA or Passport for entry into India.

For example, A Nepalese citizen entering India by air at Delhi IGIA and coming from Katmandu (Nepal) does not require VISA or Passport.

However, to establish the Identity of such passengers by the Indian Authorities, the citizens of these countries are required to carry any one of the documents mentioned below for presenting it to Immigration officers on arrival, departure, and as and when required during their stay in India.

1. Nepalese or Bhutanese Passport depending on their Nationality.
2. Citizenship Certificate of Nepal or Bhutan depending on their Nationality.
3. Voter Identity Card issued by the Election Commissions of Nepal or Bhutan depending on their nationality
4. In case of Children aged 10-18 years and accompanied by their parents, an Identity Card with photograph issued by the principal of the School should be presented. No such document is required for children aged below 10 years.

However citizens of these countries should possess their valid passports if coming to India from a country other than their own respective countries. Also if they are going from India to a country other than their respective countries they need to possess a valid Passport. And If the Nepalese and Bhutanese Nationals are arriving in India from China, Macau, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Maldives they need to possess a Passport along with a VISA for India.

Maldives (a special case of conditional VISA free entry)

Maldivian nationals who wish to travel to India need to mandatorily carry valid Passports issued by the Government of Maldives. Maldivians travelling to India for purposes allowed under a Tourist VISA do not require a prior VISA if the period of stay is less than 90 days. If the stay requirement is beyond 90 days, one should obtain a VISA. For all other purposes other than tourism not exceeding 90 days, a Maldivian national needs to obtain a VISA before travelling to India.

The 90 days period shall also include any prior period of stay in India in the last 180 days immediately preceding the date of seeking new entry into India. For example, if a Maldivian national stayed in India for more than 90 days in the preceding 180 days on the strength of a Tourist VISA she/he is not eligible for the aforesaid VISA free entry. In this case, a VISA should be obtained for new entry.

The purposes allowed under the tourist VISA category are as follows (for which the above mentioned 90 day period is applicable for VISA free entry):

1. Tourism
2. Meeting with friends and relatives
3. Casual medical purposes or consultations; and
4. such other purposes if explicitly mentioned and allowed by the Indian authorities concerned.

Notwithstanding anything said above, entry into India or for that matter acquiring any VISA is not a matter of right and it is the discretion of Indian authorities concerned to allow it.