Passport and Indian Visa Requirements

Passport Information

To meet Indian government requirements, be certain that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the date of your scheduled departure from India.

Your passport must contain at least one blank page for your India visa and one blank page for your entry/exit stamps.

To apply for a Passport

Residents of the US may apply for a passport at their local post office. Some post offices offer passport photo services. For more information go to:

http://www.usps.com/passport/

Alternatively, the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Passports/Customer Service operates a website to help locate the nearest location to apply for a passport:

http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/

Note that it may take weeks or even months to process a passport application. Therefore it is recommended that you begin this process as soon as possible if you need a new passport. Several online businesses offer assistance in expediting passport applications including:

http://www.travisa.com

Residents from other countries must go to their government agencies responsible for passport issuance and renewals.

All participants are responsible for fees associated with procuring their personal travel documents.

Note: You should be aware that when you apply for an India visa you must submit your passport so they may insert and secure your visa inside it. Therefore, if you need to apply for both a new (or renewed) passport AND an India visa, these applications must be made sequentially. Make sure to allow adequate time in order to fulfill your application requests.

It is your responsibility to check that your passport is valid for the length of time required on the pilgrimage plus six months and inform KYIO at: kriyayoga_150years@kriya.org of your most up to date passport details. Please act urgently to secure a new passport if your current passport expires within 6 months of the completion of your pilgrimage.

Confirming your personal details:

If you have not yet provided KYIO with any of your personal details, or if they change (ie: mobile phone number, passport details, next of kin contact information, medical information), please email them to: kriyayoga_150years@kriya.org to update your information.

Visa Information

The Indian government requires that all foreign nationals hold either a tourist, transit or entry visa to enter India. If you arrive without a visa you can expect to be sent back.

As a tourist the maximum stay is 6 months within each 12-month period. Visas cost approximately $50 or the equivalent for 6 months, more for a 1 year, 5 year, or 10 year multiple entry visa.

You must to apply for an Indian tourist visa if you are not a resident of India. Please apply to the Indian Embassy or relevant authority in your country of residence, with enough time (but not so early that your visa expires before the end of your pilgrimage -- if you are getting a short term visa). You are responsible for all fees incurred for your travel documents.

To apply for an India visa:

If you are a resident of the United States you may apply for an Indian visa through Travisa Outsourcing, which handles all India visa requests from inside the United States as a private contractor to the Indian Embassies and Consulates. Their online application form promises a streamlined experience. In addition they offer real time passport tracking online, or if applying by mail they will notify you by email as your visa is processed.

U.S. citizens may find Travisa Outsourcing at: https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage

Residents of other countries are instructed to contact their Indian Embassy or Consulate regarding India visa services.

The following information may be helpful in completing your Visa application form:

Purpose of visit: Tourism

Duration for which visa is required: three weeks

Number of entries: In some countries you may apply for a multiple entry, multi-year visa. Check the options available to you.

Places to be visited in India: New Delhi, Almora, Ranikhet, Allahabad, Varanasi, Habibpur, Serampore, Kolkata, Puri

Contact in USA:
Kriya Yoga International
P.O. Box 924615
Homestead, FL 33092-4615
USA
kriyayoga_150years@kriya.org

If you are applying for an Indian visa, you may use this information for your Contact in India:

Contact person is
Raghu Kurnool - Telephone 09437513314
Prajnana Mission - India
Nimpur, P.O. Jagatpur
Cuttack 754021, Orissa
INDIA
indiakriyapilgrimage@gmail.com

You will need to mail your physical passport to the Visa office of your choice, in order to receive your visa (which is stapled into your passport).

Please remember to verify your visa particulars when you receive your passport back by mail. When you receive your Indian visa make sure to include your visa details on your pilgrimage registration form or, if you submitted your registration form before you received your visa, e-mail your visa information (visa number, visa type, issue date, expiration date) to kriyayoga_150years@kriya.org.