Sometimes, a travellerʼs profession can affect the type of visa that can be applied for, regardless of the purpose of travel. This is the case, for example, for journalists travelling to India. They must always apply for a Journalist Visa (J Visa). What is the J Visa and why do journalists have to apply for this visa if they are only going on holiday?
The Journalist Visa
The journalist visa is not only intended for journalists. Editors and writers of television and radio programmes must also apply for this visa to travel to India, for example, to make a documentary. To make a television series, a reality show, or any other form of entertainment, a different visa is required.
Travel purpose and visa
Generally, a certain visa must be applied for based on the travel purpose. For example, a student visa is meant for studying, a work visa for working, and a tourist visa or a holiday. However, for people who work in journalism who travel to India for a holiday, this is not the case.
People with a profession in journalism always need a J visa to visit India, even if they only travel to India for a holiday and without the intention to do journalistic work. This also applies even if they meet all the requirements of the e-visa for tourism. The website of the Indian High Commission in London does not explain why this is the case.
Requirements for travelling with a visa
Many countries have requirements for using visas in combination with certain professions. These requirements are usually about which professions or activities may be carried out with a certain digital travel authorisation or visa. An example of this is Canada. For example, with an eTA Canada, the digital travel authorisation for Canada, as a journalist or member of a film crew, you can temporarily travel to Canada. However, the eTA is not sufficient for certain physical work or employment with a Canadian employer.
India also has such requirements, which are intended to prevent someone with the wrong visa from joining an Indian company. The India e-visa that can be applied for through e-Visa.co.uk is intended for tourist travel. This visa can therefore not be used for other travel purposes.
The application form on this website asks about your profession. If you select that you are a journalist or select another profession for which India has specific requirements, you will receive a warning that you need to apply for another visa. If you work in journalism, you will need to apply for the J visa. This visa is significantly more expensive than the e-visa for tourism. The price of the J visa is £99 for a stay of up to three months or £148 in the case of a stay exceeding three months. The permitted duration of stay with this visa is therefore longer than that of the e-visa.
Applying for the India e-visa
If you are not a journalist and do not have another profession for which you need a specific visa, you can easily apply for an e-visa for a holiday to India. You can do this for £59.95 through our website. It is cheaper than a physical visa. The maximum stay allowed with the e-visa 30 days. For most travellers who travel to India for a holiday, this is more than enough.
If you leave India once during these 30 days to visit a neighbouring country, for example, you can travel back into India with the same e-visa. In this case, the second arrival date has to be within the maximum duration of stay of 30 days, counted from the first arrival date. With a second arrival, the maximum length of stay does not start again; it continues from the first arrival date.
Please note: this news article about the visa for India is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the visa for India.