High Commission of India

Freetown, Sierra Leone

HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE

How to Obtain Indian Visa

Manually filled-in visa applications are no longer accepted.

Before coming to the High Commission of India, Freetown to submit the visa applications, all visa applicants must complete the Online Visa Application Registration Form available on the website: http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/

Please ensure that all columns are filled-in completely and correctly. The visa application will not be registered by the system unless the application form is completed properly.

While downloading the Visa Application Registration Form from the website, a Temporary Application ID will be created by the system. This must be noted down by the applicants for future reference. The application form has four pages. Please continue to the next page(s) by clicking on ‘Save and Continue’ until the last page of the form. After completing the form correctly, please click on ‘Verified and Continue’. Upon clicking this, the form will be registered in the system and a dialogue box with the applicant’s name and file number will appear. Click on ‘PRINT FORM’ on this dialogue box. Take a print out of the two-page application form. Paste (not staple) one photograph (size 2 x 2) of the applicant on the space provided and clip with the application two more photograph.

The printed form should be submitted physically in the High Commission on the next day or subsequent days along with: (i) Passport, (ii) Additional photographs, (iii) Fees, (iv) Other documentation required for the type of visa applied for, and any other relevant supporting documents. For information on types of visa, documentation required, etc., please visit the High Commission’s website: https://www.hcifreetown.gov.in/

The visa application will further be processed in the High Commission and visa will be granted/refused subject to necessary clearances from the Indian authorities concerned. In certain cases, the High Commission will require the applicants to personally come to the High Commission to submit the application / clarify the data filled-in on the online application registration form. Visa fees, once paid, will not be refunded.

While, in the normal course, visas will be issued within 48 hours of submission of the application form and fees at the High Commission in respect of nationals of Sierra Leone, in the case of foreigners residing in Sierra Leone, visas will be issued only after clearance from the Indian Mission in the country of nationality of the applicant and subject to clearance from other Indian authorities concerned.

Visa Types

Basic requirements while applying for Visas:

• A duly filled in and signed visa application form

• 2 recent passport-size photographs

• A valid passport

• Booking of an airline return ticket in the name of the applicant

• Latest statement of the bank account of the applicant

• Vaccination Certificate for Yellow Fever

• All the original documents should be presented for verification. Photocopies of the documents should be attached with the visa application form.

• While the applications will also be received from friends/relatives/colleagues of the applicants, the applicants themselves will need to come to the High Commission, if considered necessary, for further clarifications.

General Instructions / Information on Visas (For detailed queries, please contact the Consular Section of the High Commission by email to: cons.freetown@mea.gov.in)

• All visitors to India are required to carry valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate.

• Visa is valid from the date of issue.

• Acceptance of visa application does not automatically guarantee grant of a visa.

• Visa processing fee once deposited shall not be refunded. Fee should be deposited only after ascertaining the correct type and period of visa applicable to the purpose of travel.

• The duration and number of entries granted to the applicant will be solely at the discretion of Embassy/Consulates. No claims and correspondences shall be entertained in this regard.

• Certain areas in India are declared as Restricted/Protected Areas and visas to foreigners intending to visit these areas will be subject to additional conditions.

• In all cases, if the intended continuous stay in India is more than 180 days, registration with the concerned Foreigners Registration Officer must be done within 14 days of arrival in India.

• Visa will be issued to applicants holding passports other than Sierra Leonean after clearance received from the Indian Mission in their respective countries. Referral fee would be charged in addition to visa fee. 

• All applicants should check the details in their visas, passports, OCI/PIO cards and other Consular documents immediately on delivery/collection, and bring any discrepancies to the attention of the issuing authority without delay for rectification. Failing to do so, Embassy of India and the Consulates bear no responsibility for the consequences.

• All the information on this website is purely of advisory nature and shall not constitute any basis for any claim whatsoever.

• All travellers to India, especially long-term visa holders, are advised to check the latest immigration and entry regulations before travel. 

• Satellite telephone services like Thuraya and Irridium are not permitted in India. Unauthorised use of satellite telephone services will be prosecuted under section 6 of Indian Wireless Act and section 20 of Indian Telegraph Act.

• Surrogacy arrangement: "Any person seeking a visa to India for purpose of entering into surrogacy arrangement must ascertain beforehand whether the law of the country permits surrogacy and will provide appropriate travel documents to the child for accompanying the surrogate parents. Entering into surrogacy arrangement under any other visa not sought for surrogacy is punishable under the Indian law".