India is the pearl of the East. And the best place in India is Goa. The hippies were the first to understand such a simple thing back in the 60s of the last century. It is these romantics and nature lovers who have discovered the charm of endless beaches with the gentle sun in the vast azure sky. And already the whole world elite followed them, and later ordinary tourists, who were tired of crowded and predictable European resorts. Due to some historical events, Russian citizens discovered this resort not so long ago, but have already managed to fall in love with it. And every year the influx of tourists from our country only increases: travelers massively apply for visas to Goa and go in search of new experiences.
Types of Visas
Depending on the purpose of the trip, you can apply for different types of visas:
- tourist;
- multiple and single;
- transit, with a stay of up to 15 days;
- student, issued upon admission to an educational institution in India and the presence of a letter of call;
-special, designed for people studying the culture of India or who came to different courses;
- business;
- working.
The validity period of the permit is different: from 72 hours (short-term transit) to one year. Some types of visas can be extended locally. A tourist visa cannot be extended in India.
Visa upon arrival
How much does a Goa visa do upon arrival? And how can I get it? First of all, tourists should understand that the registration of permission to visit the country is issued after arrival only as an exception. This is not even a visa, but a kind of certificate. A traveler is issued a TLF / TLP form in exchange for a passport and only if there is a return ticket. It is issued only in case of documented
confirmed death of a relative in India, short-stay transit passengers and tourist groups (4 people or more) who booked tours through Indian agencies. If you have such permission, you can not leave the territory of Goa, and a passport is given only on the way back.
Issue a TLF / TLP form in about 1.5-2 hours at the airport and, as a rule, very reluctantly.
What documents are needed for obtaining a visa
Goa visas are issued at the Embassy of India (Moscow), at the consulates (Petersburg and Vladivostok) or the visa center (Yekaterinburg). Citizens residing in other cities can obtain permission through a travel agency (when ordering a ticket) or an intermediary company. Intermediaries charge a commission for their services: 500-3000 rubles.
To obtain a visa, you need the following documents:
1. Passport with a minimum of two free pages.
2. Copy of passport (first page).
3. Application form. It is filled in English.
4. Two color photos of 3.5 × 4.5 cm without ovals and corners, taken no earlier than 6 months.
5. In the case of a private visit - an invitation and a copy of the passport of the inviting person, for tourists - a travel agency voucher.
6. Roundtrip flights.
7. A copy of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
8. For traveling with children - a copy of the birth certificate, always with a translation into English.
9. Media workers, regardless of the purpose of the trip, fill out a special form.
This is an indicative list to which documents for different types of visas can be added. In addition, the visa department may require additional information.
Goa visa: terms and price
The first thing that a person who passes documents for a visa is interested in is the timing of its receipt. After all, there are situations when time is running out, and there is no treasured stamp in the passport. So how much does a Goa visa do?
In principle, permission is usually issued in a matter of days - 4-5, no more. However, in rare cases, with issuance they drag out for 14 days, so you need to submit documents at least two weeks before departure.
The second no less popular question: "How much does a visa to Goa cost?" The price depends on the method of obtaining permission: at the embassy or consulate - 1600 rubles. for paperwork; for intermediaries - the same plus commission for services; in a travel agency - 65-75 dollars, a visa upon arrival - 70 dollars.
There is also a fake visa upon arrival, when a tourist is attributed to a non-existent group. It costs $ 150-200, plus a fee at the airport. However, this is illegal and involves restrictions on movement, as well as the risk of a very real criminal punishment.
Reasons for refusal
For what reasons can they refuse to get a visa to Goa? In fact, the embassy or consulate may not issue a permit to enter without explanation, and it is impossible to guess what the employee of the visa department did not like.
However, there are situations in which a tourist is always refused or with a high degree of probability. For example, there is not enough money in a bank account, a blank passport (very rare, but a traveler may be suspected of using a fake document), lack of medical insurance, no purpose to visit, the validity of a passport ends in less than six months (direct basis), previous refusals (even with elimination of the root cause), etc.
Interesting facts: Russian tourists in Goa
How desirable are our compatriots in Goa? A visa for Russians is more expensive than for tourists from other countries. Only Romanians make an exception: the cost of a visa for citizens of the Russian Federation and citizens of Romania is approximately the same, that is, plus $ 40 to the main amount for processing a package of documents. For example, Americans pay only plus 20, and Japanese - from plus 1 to 8 dollars for different types of visas.
This unequal situation is due to the fact that the Indian authorities are dissatisfied with Russian tourists. Not everyone, of course, for example, a law-abiding couple with children and a good bank account will not cause any complaints. But loners, who often come for the last money for dubious entertainment (in India, havehish is offered even in hotels), all the more unmarried young girls without a profession raise a lot of questions. Such tourists still receive visas to Goa, but at the same time, penalties for violation of the visa regime have become tougher. For example, there have already been cases when Russian citizens received a real prison term for an expired permit.
Nevertheless, the Indian authorities emphasize that they are always glad to tourists from Russia, and isolated unpleasant incidents do not affect the overall picture.