Indian visa - made easier from Nicosia (Apparently !)

[ifonly]

For those who have had trouble before. I called Ankara Indian Embassy today as they had previously issued our tourist visa (evisa is too short a time in India) for India after Nicosia had refused.
They have told me that Nicosia MUST issue it as we are no longer within the jurisdiction of Ankara. If they refuse then they must give a reason in writing. He also said the system has been made easier.
Looking online at Nicosia India Embassy it now states that "Non residents of Cyprus and those in transit can now apply". Our visa here (in the passport) is for "visitor" (although we tend to refer to it as residents visa) - not resident so that should be ok. There is. it appears, no need for supporting documents (bank statements) now either - just new form, photos and copy of flight ticket.
We are going down to have a chat with them - will update once we have spoken to them.
Fingers crossed.

[chiangbill]

Good luck going to the Indian Visa Consulate in the South.

[ozankoys]

Yes good luck!

[paul90]

We went down there a few weeks ago.
Had a meeting with Lydia in the Visa section.
She said it could be done with them by filling in the appropriate forms etc.
But now the UK has been put onto the E-Visa system so we shall use that in December before we fly out in January.
Lydia's number is +357 22351170

Hope this helps.

[paul90]

Forgot to mention: take with you scans (colour if possible) of the pages from your passports showing personal details of issue and any TRNC Annual Residency Permits and previous Indian Visas.
This should mean that you may avoid having to leave your passport with them for a week whilst your application is being processed.

[ifonly]

Well - it can be done even for those "living the other side" BUT they insist that we leave our passports with them for 5 working days (not counting the day we make the application). I did ask if they can process it using photocopy/scans in the interim and then just attach that actual visa when we go back (after 1 week) into our original passports. No was the emphatic reply - they must keep the original passport in order to process the application. I did explain about not being able to come back over to TRNC if we don't have a passport but that made no difference at all.
The visa issued by them is only valid for 3 months from date of issue and cost 169 euro each.
Now going to try Ankara again to see if they will issue one again.

[ifonly]

Update. The visa dept has had a change of heart !
They contacted me and we went in to see them today. They have now said that we must apply in person with the relevant completed form, photos, cash and travel itinery. PLUS colour photocopies of our passports. They will then process the visa using the photocopy. We have to return 1 week later at 08.30 and then hand over our actual passports. Then we return to the High Commission at 15.30 the same day to collect the passports and the visa will then be put into our passports. The visa is only valid for 3 months (instead of the usual 6) and costs 169 euro (cash no cards).
There is a visa application form that can be printed on their webpage - no need now to prove residency (before we had to provide utility bills/bank statements etc).
She has asked that this information be circulated in the "North" - it was a decision made last week by the Commissioner.

The other alternative, for future visits, is to go for less than 30 days and use the e-visa system on line which is now available for UK passport holders.

[magalan]

If at first you don't succeed etc etc etc.

Well done, and thanks for putting the information on this forum.

Enjoy your trip!

[paul90]

Good to hear it.
It is exactly what she told me she wanted to achieve when we saw her in August.

[PapaBravo]

This is an excellent example of how the Forum should be used - useful information and no supercillious comments.
Well done Posters.

[Black cat]

Has anyone tried E.Visa ,got all the way through but when it comes to pay via 'sbiepay' the web page cannot be displayed,also tried calling them but no reply...any idea's ?

[ifonly]

Hi Black Cat --- see if this link helps

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2976 ... Guide.html

But there is a note :::
(Contributor's note 28.10.2015. Please be aware that the payment process is more likely than not to fail. The author found that it permitted five attempts before requiring a whole new application form to be completed. The author made 10 unsuccessful attempts in this way, on different days of the week and at different times of day, using three different credit cards and a debit card, and despite contacting the helpline in India by phone and email. Having failed, it is then necessary to complete a similar form all over again for a regular visa application, at twice the price. You are only permitted to apply for an ETourist visa within 34 days of arrival, so do not leave it too late to discover that this type of visa will not work for you.)

There are other threads where forum members have said that they have had no problems. It may be worth joining the forum and asking them for advise - they are a friendly bunch and always seem willing to help out based on their experiences.
Good luck - we are off to RoC for ours early Dec - i will report back with an update in case anyone else needs a visa for more than 30 days.

[Black cat]

Thank you,i will check out the link..but feel we may need to go south

[ifonly]

Update.....
We went to the Indian Embassy Nicosia last Monday (Dec 7th). We took 2 x passport photos, completed visa application, colour photocopies of our passports. Nothing in the application notes mentioned taking your flight ticket of itinary ... and we were then told that they would not accept the application without a ticket/itinary --- despite the website and guidance notes stating that you should not book any travel until you have the visa !
Anyway 2 of had luckily put them in our bags (as well as loads of other stuff Just in case !!!) but 2 friends didn't have theirs and were told unless they were back with them by 11am then they wouldn't accept the application that day. Off we went to find an internet cafe to log into emails and print off the tickets. A very very kind shop assistant told us there were not internet cafes but she would do it on the shop pc.
Tickets all printed out and back to the Embassy we went.
Paid 167 euro each ( 2 for processing) and were told to return this week, with receipts, at 9am and hand in our passports and then return at between 3 - 4 to collect them and the visa.
Today were there at 9 - handed over our passports ....shopped and shopped and shopped then returned at 3pm. Checked our receipts and bingo - 3 month visa issued dated toady and inserted in our passports - out by 3.12. India here we come !!!!!

[paul90]

Pleased to hear you got your 3 month visas sorted out.

We applied on-line for our 30 day visas at the weekend (for January).
Simple, quick and efficient. Paid $60 each and got the approved visa back by email in less than a day.

Enjoy your trip!

[ozankoys]

Has anyone applied for a visa recently? We thought that we could get an e-visa now but because we are going by ship we do not qualify. Have spoken to Lydia in the Nicosia Embassy & she said we definitely have to leave our passports for a week & they might or might not accept proof of residency in the North - happy days!

[mac]

Hi.

I understand that if you speak with the customs either side at Metahan, it is possible to leave your passport at the Embassy and cross back to the North until it`s ready.

I spoke to customs previously about doing this and was told it won`t be a problem.

Will be trying in the next couple of weeks.

You can only ask.

[ozankoys]

Hi Mac
That is very interesting we will enquire as well to see if a different person on a different day says the same thing!

[DieHard]

We got our visa for China in South, they have notice up now saying non Cypriots are accepted. You have to have copy of all travel docs and hotel reservations. Leave passport for 2/3 days, so get someone else to take for you.

[ozankoys]

When I spoke to them on the phone they said it would take a full 5 working days eg. from Monday to Monday
It is also horrendously expensive compared to getting the visa in other countries
Out of interest what did you show as proof of residency here please DieHard?

[dani]

Has anyone applied for a Visa in Nicosia recently? Is the proceedure/payment ammount still the same?
Thanks.

[ozankoys]

Hi we have recently received Visa from South we decided to do one at a time to save relying on someone else to collect our passports. We filled in the forms my husband took both of them with the money, left my passport & was told to return in a week. When going over to collect my passport & leave his for processing he arranged with Metehan to come back over with a copy which they were very helpful about.
However on reaching the Consulate they said my application 'had not been approved' & to come back in a couple of days. Needless to say my husband was not best pleased so the helpful Indian guy asked him to wait a while & he would see what he could do. After dealing with other people waiting to collect he printed off both visas took them upstairs for stamping & he came home with both of them which we were not expecting.
Luckily the GC girl who is very anti TC was not there!

[dani]

Thanks for the reply Ozankoys. I think we are going to try to do the same as Ifonly - take paperwork and copies of passports and go back in a week or so. How much is the Visa now please?

[ozankoys]

A whopping €208 each! We asked if we could apply with copy passports & the answer was a definite NO but if you can circumvent the GC girl you will have a much better chance - good luck!

[Sukicat]

Ozankoys, don't know when you are going to India but on the Trip Advisor forum this week they have posted info about the newly approved e-visa availability which will include arrival by sea at 5 Indian ports. Shame it would seem to be too late for you.
I'm looking at a 11day trip next April with Voyages Jules Verne and am amazed at the amount of information they require for an e-visa!!

[ozankoys]

Oh dear how annoying! We thought we might get away with a Transit Visa which was only €85 each but the cruise company would not accept one of those. We are only going to be docked in India for 10 hours & would not have booked this cruise if we had realised we could not get an e-visa after all the trouble we went to last time. We did go to 3 different places then though so all the effort was more worthwhile than this time.

[sophie]

The more I read this thread and others in the past with similar problems, makes me eternally grateful that I did 99.9% of my globe trotting whilst we lived in UK. I'm sure I wouldn't have the patience or the will to do it now. Think I'll just rely on great documentaries on the TV. I know its not the same, but next time there is one on India, I'll nip down to the takeway first and enjoy it that way. At least my loos are probably better.

[dani]

Update. We went to the High Commission this morning to try the system that Ozankoy had used, only to be told "that was last year" by the young lady in the office. Photo copies of passports are now no longer accepted and the original has to stay with them for checking for 5 working days. Now need to do a 'relay' on Monday with husband taking my passport and paperwork to the HC, going back to collect it after 5 days (leaving me at the border)- then returning to pass my passport back to me for me to go back over the border with his, returning to collect it 5 days later. At least that is how it is today..........

[ozankoys]

Hi I think you have misread my posting we were not allowed to apply using copy of passports it's just that when my husband went to collect mine & it was not ready the guy took pity on him & did his as well. It is not really 5 days it is a full week & you can come back over this side using a copy passport but pre-arrange it when going over.
So it needs 3 trips taking 2 weeks i.e. Monday your husband takes your passport & application but might as well leave his application as well in case you are lucky. Following Monday your husband goes over gets your passport/visa leaves his passport & comes back over using a copy. Following Monday you go & get his passport/visa.

[dani]

Sorry Ozankoys, meant to say 'using the same system as Ifonly's (see above). They were able to get theirs processed last December using coloured photo copies of their passports. Thanks for the tip about trying to pre-arrange with our side, to come back using a copy. Worth a try.