6 months validity on passport?

Siena · Jul 25th, 2005, 13:47

I have heard that you need at least 6 months validity on your passport but is that 6 months from the time you arrive in India or 6 months from when you get the visa?
Nationality - Australian
Expiry date of passport - 4 June 2006
Dates of travel - 9 December 2004 - 1 January 2005.

If it is the former then we may have to get a new passport as we would be 5 days short of 6 months.

Does anyone know the technicalities?

Thanks

shere · Jul 25th, 2005, 14:38

I got a relative a visa for India. His UK passport had validity of under 6 months. The staff at the High Commission asked me to get a letter from the relative stating he would accept a visa for 4months (I think). He did this and travelled on the passport without any problems.

Might be worth phoning you local Indian embassy to make sure that this is still possible.

soki · Jul 25th, 2005, 15:37

I applied for my visa on Friday. they ask me for 6 month passport validity starting with the moment when I applied (that's in Romania ). but ( starting this year !) they supply the visa for 3 months only. This procedure will result in an, at least, 3 months passport validity after I'll be back from India. Last years, I think, it was 6 months visa by default. The first day of visa validity is the day when it is supplied. It could be different in your country...

Alan D · Jul 25th, 2005, 15:44

I think you meant to say

Dates of travel - 9 December 2005 - 1 January 2006

If your passport is valid until 4 June 2006 I don't see any problems. I think the main concern of the Indian High Commission is that your passport doesn't expire while you are in India. As shere says, check with your local IHC office.

Siena · Jul 25th, 2005, 15:52

Yes, I did mean to say 9 December 2005 - 1 January 2006! I have sent an email to the High Commission but as yet am still waiting for a reply!
Thanks for all the assistance.

Alchemy · Jul 26th, 2005, 02:16

Sometimes embassies even state that passports should be valid for six month after the visa expiry date, but I've never seen it enforced. Staff at Indian embassies are mostly rather pragmatic, I think.

BTW -- the High Commission in London has a fabulous list of "Frequently Asked Questions" on its website -- some of which I really don't think can come up too often

Worth a read, even if you're not currently in the market for a visa!

Merchant · Jul 26th, 2005, 03:20

The six-month thing is just a guideline. Suppose you are in car accident on your last day in India and are in the hospital for a month and can't be moved? Suppose there's a terrorist attack on an Australian airport and flights are grounded for weeks, this on the day you were supposed to leave India? You get the idea. You don't have to have six more months left on your passport, though it might be helpful if you did--in case some unpleasant thing happened.

charlotte · Jul 31st, 2005, 02:07

On the reverse side of the UK visa application form is says

Requirements: Valid passport, valid for at least 8 months, correct vis fee etc.

Jul 25th, 2005, 13:47	#1
Siena Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 40	6 months validity on passport? I have heard that you need at least 6 months validity on your passport but is that 6 months from the time you arrive in India or 6 months from when you get the visa? Nationality - Australian Expiry date of passport - 4 June 2006 Dates of travel - 9 December 2004 - 1 January 2005. If it is the former then we may have to get a new passport as we would be 5 days short of 6 months. Does anyone know the technicalities? Thanks

Jul 25th, 2005, 15:44	#4
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,869	I think you meant to say Dates of travel - 9 December 2005 - 1 January 2006 If your passport is valid until 4 June 2006 I don't see any problems. I think the main concern of the Indian High Commission is that your passport doesn't expire while you are in India. As shere says, check with your local IHC office. __________________ What a long strange trip it's been!

Jul 26th, 2005, 02:16	#6
Alchemy Fair and Lovely Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Europe Posts: 160	Faq Sometimes embassies even state that passports should be valid for six month after the visa expiry date, but I've never seen it enforced. Staff at Indian embassies are mostly rather pragmatic, I think. BTW -- the High Commission in London has a fabulous list of "Frequently Asked Questions" on its website -- some of which I really don't think can come up too often Worth a read, even if you're not currently in the market for a visa!

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Jul 25th, 2005, 14:38	#2
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,105	I got a relative a visa for India. His UK passport had validity of under 6 months. The staff at the High Commission asked me to get a letter from the relative stating he would accept a visa for 4months (I think). He did this and travelled on the passport without any problems. Might be worth phoning you local Indian embassy to make sure that this is still possible.

Jul 25th, 2005, 15:37	#3
soki Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: romania, cluj napoca Posts: 67	I applied for my visa on Friday. they ask me for 6 month passport validity starting with the moment when I applied (that's in Romania ). but ( starting this year !) they supply the visa for 3 months only. This procedure will result in an, at least, 3 months passport validity after I'll be back from India. Last years, I think, it was 6 months visa by default. The first day of visa validity is the day when it is supplied. It could be different in your country...

Jul 25th, 2005, 15:52	#5
Siena Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 40	Yes, I did mean to say 9 December 2005 - 1 January 2006! I have sent an email to the High Commission but as yet am still waiting for a reply! Thanks for all the assistance.

Jul 26th, 2005, 03:20	#7
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	The six-month thing is just a guideline. Suppose you are in car accident on your last day in India and are in the hospital for a month and can't be moved? Suppose there's a terrorist attack on an Australian airport and flights are grounded for weeks, this on the day you were supposed to leave India? You get the idea. You don't have to have six more months left on your passport, though it might be helpful if you did--in case some unpleasant thing happened.

Jul 31st, 2005, 02:07	#8
charlotte Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Spain Posts: 119	On the reverse side of the UK visa application form is says Requirements: Valid passport, valid for at least 8 months, correct vis fee etc.

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