1. Foreigners entering India on a Student, Employment, Research or Missionary Visa, which is valid for more than 180 days, are required to register with the Foreigners Registration Officer under whose jurisdiction they propose to stay. This should be done within 14 days of arrival in India, irrespective of their actual period of stay.
2. Foreigners visiting India on any other category of long term VISA, which is valid for more than 180 days, are not required to register themselves if their actual stay does not exceed 180 days on each visit. If such a foreigner intends to stay in India for more than 180 days during a particular visit, he/she should get registered within 180 days of arrival in India.
3. Pakistan nationals are required to register within 24 hours of their arrival in India. Afghanistan nationals are required to register within 7 days of their arrival in India.
4. There is no fee charged for registration. However, USD30/- is charged for over-stay and/or late registration, if overstay is condoned by the competent authority.
5. Registration facilities are not provided at the Airport. Registration is done in the offices of FROs/CHIO or the Superintendents of Police/Districts.

VISA PROCEDURE

1. Valid Student Visa.

India offers various kinds of visas, depending on the purpose of visit. Student visa is a visa specifically for the students wanting to come to India for education purpose. Student Visas are issued for the duration of the academic course of study or for a period of five years whichever is less, on the basis of letters of admission from Universities/recognized colleges or educational institutions in India .

Pre-requisites for procuring a student visa

To apply/ be eligible for a student visa, you need to conform to the following conditions.

• If you are on Government of India scholarships, the respective Indian missions would be advised by ICCR to issue a regular student visa after your admission in an Indian university is confirmed.
• On the other hand, if you are coming as a self-financing student, you need to produce letters of admission from universities or recognized colleges and institutions in India for obtaining the regular student visa.
• You need to mention the name of the Institute while applying for the visa, which is then mentioned on the visa. A request for change of university or institution subsequently made cannot be considered. In this case you would be required to go back to your home country and apply for a new visa.

"Change of purpose" of visit of international students to India is not allowed once they arrive in India. Therefore, if you come to India on tourist or any other type of visa, you cannot get this visa changed to student visa. 

According to government regulations, if an international student coming to India on a tourist or any other type of visa (except a student visa ), obtains admission into a university or any institution in India, the student will be required to return to his country and obtain a new visa (i.e. a student visa) from the Indian mission there. 

To avoid this situation, all self- financing international students are advised to obtain regular or provisional student visa from Indian missions abroad by producing confirmed or provisional letters of admission from the university.

The visa can be applied for from any of the Indian Embassies / High Commission. The list of Indian Embassies / High Commission may be viewed at www.mea.gov.in/onmouse/mission.htm)

A sample visa form is provided in the prospectus.

Yes, while applying for the visa you need to keep in mind the following regulations:

• Passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of intended departure from India should accompany your visa application.
• Students holding other nationalities (other than the country where applying for visa), should submit proof of long-term (at least three years)/ permanent residence in the country (where applying).
• For citizen of other countries, a reference has to be made to their country of residence for which an additional fee is applicable and will involve extra processing time.
• Please refrain from making inquiries about the status of application during this time.

Student visa fees

The fee structure depends on the nationality of the passport holder and type/duration of visa applied. These fees are payable in the local currency as well. Please check with the embassy in your country for exact visa fees.