Visa for Italian citizens: only 3 months?

pillimosan · Jan 5th, 2006, 18:29

Hi everyone!

I'm planning a 5 to 6 months backpacking in India (I'm from Italy). When applying for my tourist visa I've been told that they only can give me a 3-months single entry visa, I don't know why a 6-months multiple entry is no more available for italians. Has anybody heard something about new laws about tourist visas?
Anyway...I was thinking about going to Kathmandu for a month or so, and then apply for a second visa at the local indian embassy, do you think that'll be possible?

Thanks for your help and best wishes for the new year!

sirensongs · Jan 5th, 2006, 19:54

....I have also heard Italians in India only get 3 months; no idea why!

But in Nepal, I believe everyone gets 5 months for the same price. Your first 2 months cost only $30 US, all following months $30 each. If you want 6 months' travelling in the region, why not do 3 months in Nepal, 3 in India. The climate's a bit different in Nepal so calibrate yr visit accordingly if possible. The next high season for Nepal is March-April; then Oct-December. Another reason for this suggestion is that March-April are uncomfortably hot nearly everywhere in India.

Check whether the 3 months' Indian visa is 3 months only within one calendar year, or 3 months at any time (then broken w/visit to Kathmandu, then returning to India) as you seem to be planning. I know it sounds weird, but weirder things exist rule-wise.

Nice avatar; is that a jazz musician or one of the Panthers?

have a great trip!

pillimosan · Jan 5th, 2006, 21:47

Well....visa for italian people is valid for 3 months without ANY stops (just called the indian embassy in Rome

). But I was thinking about an alternative, just stay three months in India 'til the visa expires, then go to Kathmandu and after some months up there in Nepal apply for a transit visa at the local indian embassy, just to go back to Delhi to catch the plane.
What do you think about that? I believe a transit visa is easy to obtain if you show them your return ticket (anyway if they shouldn't grant me the Visa I'd be VERY happy to stay in Kathmandu!!

).
Bye and thanks a lot siren

By the way..you're right, my avatar is the majestic Eric Dolphy, one of the greatest saxophone/flute players in jazz history! Glad you've noticed the beauty of this picture

sirensongs · Jan 5th, 2006, 22:45

Yes, it should work, but what I meant was - make sure you are allowed 3 months in India, then an exit for whatever period, then another 3 months.

For instance, Nepal only allows 5 months in any given calendar year - you can exit after 5 months but can't come back until the following new year!

That's all. I think you can follow your plan, but make sure.

Serena · Jan 5th, 2006, 23:06

Last time (december 2004) I had a 6 months visa.....

In the official site http://www.indianembassy.it/ they still report

Quote:

Tourist Visa
Tourists wishing to visit India will be granted Tourist Visas normally for a period up to six months effective from the date of issue with multiple entries. Tourist Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. Travel agents and people connected with tourism trade who have to visit India frequently, can be granted Tourist Visas for a longer duration.

pillimosan · Jan 6th, 2006, 00:02

Actually, an indian guy at the embassy told me that they were going to grant me a 3-months visa. Then I called back and an italian girl told me that the tourist visa is up to 6 months!!!!

Who should I trust in????

Moreover, I'm going to do the visa apllication through a visa agency (I live in Sardinia and if I'd go to Rome myself I'd spend MANY more money than the agency fare).....hope they'll manage to give me a 6 months visa. Anyway I just wrote an e-mail to the embassy asking the stuff about staying there for 3 months, then exit and come back for another 3 months.
I really do believe that having only 3 months to visit India is ridiculous and I can't understand why.......
Anyway..thanks again Siren and thank you Serena

gentoo · Jan 8th, 2006, 04:57

If you like jazz you might want to google for Jazz clubs in Bombay (Mumbai). The city apparently used to have a small but thriving jazz scene. MTV seems to have killed most of it. Here is one artice I found. I remember reading somewhere else that there still are some jazz enthusiasts left. Perhaps they will be able to tell you where to go.

The only "jazz" I heard during my stay was some Trilok Gurtu, more fusion world music than jazz, to my amateur ears.

And you being Italian I assume you will be visiting the land where people speak the "Italian of the East" : ))

jyotipg · Jan 8th, 2006, 10:10

May be you need to get in touch with Sonia Gandhi.. She will ensure that italians can land in india without a visa.

Serena · Jan 8th, 2006, 15:51

Quote:

And you being Italian I assume you will be visiting the land where people speak the "Italian of the East"

Please explain.

pillimosan · Jan 9th, 2006, 05:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentoo

And you being Italian I assume you will be visiting the land where people speak the "Italian of the East" : ))

Yes!Please explain!!!

And thanks a lot for the jazz-related stuff, I didn't know that there was a jazz scene in India, I'll check for it!

pillimosan · Jan 9th, 2006, 05:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyotipg

May be you need to get in touch with Sonia Gandhi.. She will ensure that italians can land in india without a visa.

Looks like the only way to get a good visa!

gentoo · Jan 9th, 2006, 07:59

The language, Telugu, is often called the “Italian of the East”. Because the first European (in the early 1800s) to study the language, C.P. Brown compared it to Italian because he found the language very mellifluous -- like Italian. And ever since then it seems like every time there is a description of Telugu, there is the invariable mention of “Italian of the East”.

Other than mellifluousness, the two languages have a few other similarities. Words in both languages end in vowels. Both languages are “syllable timed”. And classical music composers have sometimes preferred these languages even when it was not their mother tongue. Like how Mozart wrote in Italian, there have been non-Telugu composers who composed in Telugu.

I just realized, you and Serena have never heard of the “Italian of the East” bit. I always thought it was a bit of a cliché (google for Telugu + Italian of the east). But I guess Italians in Italy have never heard of this. I see a potential marketing strategy for Andhra Pradesh tourism ministry aimed at Italians. “Come hear the Italian of the East”. : ))

pillimosan · Jan 9th, 2006, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentoo

The language, Telugu, is often called the “Italian of the East”. Because the first European (in the early 1800s) to study the language, C.P. Brown compared it to Italian because he found the language very mellifluous -- like Italian. And ever since then it seems like every time there is a description of Telugu, there is the invariable mention of “Italian of the East”.

Other than mellifluousness, the two languages have a few other similarities. Words in both languages end in vowels. Both languages are “syllable timed”. And classical music composers have sometimes preferred these languages even when it was not their mother tongue. Like how Mozart wrote in Italian, there have been non-Telugu composers who composed in Telugu.

I just realized, you and Serena have never heard of the “Italian of the East” bit. I always thought it was a bit of a cliché (google for Telugu + Italian of the east). But I guess Italians in Italy have never heard of this. I see a potential marketing strategy for Andhra Pradesh tourism ministry aimed at Italians. “Come hear the Italian of the East”. : ))

thank you very much, never heard about that!
Regarding my OTHER problem, I've just forwarded all the stuff (passport, visa request and so on..) to the Indian Embassy in Rome, they wanted a written declaration along with the request for the 6-months visa accompained by my "intimate motivations" for it!

I didn't know what to write down and anyway they told me that it's nearly impossible to obtain the full 6 months...

well, let's wait and see, hope I'll get my visa in a few days and then...first time for me and my girlfriend in India, hope it's gonna be a BIG time!!

crvlvr · Jan 10th, 2006, 01:11

Its probably because Italy limits an Indian tourist's visit to 3 months. India's visa policy is reciprocal. http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp

Erbaspina · Jan 10th, 2006, 01:41

... Can i ask you to keep me posted about this topic?

I want to go there soon and it will be useful know how long is the visa ... Anyway in November 2004 i got a 6 months visa too. Tnx.

Jan 5th, 2006, 18:29	#1
pillimosan Utopian Automatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 81	Visa for Italian citizens: only 3 months? Hi everyone! I'm planning a 5 to 6 months backpacking in India (I'm from Italy). When applying for my tourist visa I've been told that they only can give me a 3-months single entry visa, I don't know why a 6-months multiple entry is no more available for italians. Has anybody heard something about new laws about tourist visas? Anyway...I was thinking about going to Kathmandu for a month or so, and then apply for a second visa at the local indian embassy, do you think that'll be possible? Thanks for your help and best wishes for the new year!

Jan 5th, 2006, 19:54	#2
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	bummer.... ....I have also heard Italians in India only get 3 months; no idea why! But in Nepal, I believe everyone gets 5 months for the same price. Your first 2 months cost only $30 US, all following months $30 each. If you want 6 months' travelling in the region, why not do 3 months in Nepal, 3 in India. The climate's a bit different in Nepal so calibrate yr visit accordingly if possible. The next high season for Nepal is March-April; then Oct-December. Another reason for this suggestion is that March-April are uncomfortably hot nearly everywhere in India. Check whether the 3 months' Indian visa is 3 months only within one calendar year, or 3 months at any time (then broken w/visit to Kathmandu, then returning to India) as you seem to be planning. I know it sounds weird, but weirder things exist rule-wise. Nice avatar; is that a jazz musician or one of the Panthers? have a great trip! __________________ *"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose* yourself."** Feringhee: The India Diaries

Jan 5th, 2006, 21:47	#3
pillimosan Utopian Automatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 81	more visa Well....visa for italian people is valid for 3 months without ANY stops (just called the indian embassy in Rome ). But I was thinking about an alternative, just stay three months in India 'til the visa expires, then go to Kathmandu and after some months up there in Nepal apply for a transit visa at the local indian embassy, just to go back to Delhi to catch the plane. What do you think about that? I believe a transit visa is easy to obtain if you show them your return ticket (anyway if they shouldn't grant me the Visa I'd be VERY happy to stay in Kathmandu!! ). Bye and thanks a lot siren By the way..you're right, my avatar is the majestic Eric Dolphy, one of the greatest saxophone/flute players in jazz history! Glad you've noticed the beauty of this picture

Jan 6th, 2006, 00:02	#6
pillimosan Utopian Automatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 81	... Actually, an indian guy at the embassy told me that they were going to grant me a 3-months visa. Then I called back and an italian girl told me that the tourist visa is up to 6 months!!!! Who should I trust in???? Moreover, I'm going to do the visa apllication through a visa agency (I live in Sardinia and if I'd go to Rome myself I'd spend MANY more money than the agency fare).....hope they'll manage to give me a 6 months visa. Anyway I just wrote an e-mail to the embassy asking the stuff about staying there for 3 months, then exit and come back for another 3 months. I really do believe that having only 3 months to visit India is ridiculous and I can't understand why....... Anyway..thanks again Siren and thank you Serena

Jan 8th, 2006, 10:10	#8
jyotipg Lives virtually on IM Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 469	May be you need to get in touch with Sonia Gandhi.. She will ensure that italians can land in india without a visa. __________________ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/himalaya_trekkers/

Jan 5th, 2006, 22:45	#4
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	Yes, it should work, but what I meant was - make sure you are allowed 3 months in India, then an exit for whatever period, then another 3 months. For instance, Nepal only allows 5 months in any given calendar year - you can exit after 5 months but can't come back until the following new year! That's all. I think you can follow your plan, but make sure.

Jan 8th, 2006, 04:57	#7
gentoo Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Posts: 19	If you like jazz you might want to google for Jazz clubs in Bombay (Mumbai). The city apparently used to have a small but thriving jazz scene. MTV seems to have killed most of it. Here is one artice I found. I remember reading somewhere else that there still are some jazz enthusiasts left. Perhaps they will be able to tell you where to go. The only "jazz" I heard during my stay was some Trilok Gurtu, more fusion world music than jazz, to my amateur ears. And you being Italian I assume you will be visiting the land where people speak the "Italian of the East" : ))

Jan 9th, 2006, 07:59	#12
gentoo Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Posts: 19	The language, Telugu, is often called the “Italian of the East”. Because the first European (in the early 1800s) to study the language, C.P. Brown compared it to Italian because he found the language very mellifluous -- like Italian. And ever since then it seems like every time there is a description of Telugu, there is the invariable mention of “Italian of the East”. Other than mellifluousness, the two languages have a few other similarities. Words in both languages end in vowels. Both languages are “syllable timed”. And classical music composers have sometimes preferred these languages even when it was not their mother tongue. Like how Mozart wrote in Italian, there have been non-Telugu composers who composed in Telugu. I just realized, you and Serena have never heard of the “Italian of the East” bit. I always thought it was a bit of a cliché (google for Telugu + Italian of the east). But I guess Italians in Italy have never heard of this. I see a potential marketing strategy for Andhra Pradesh tourism ministry aimed at Italians. “Come hear the Italian of the East”. : ))

Jan 10th, 2006, 01:11	#14
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,506	Its probably because Italy limits an Indian tourist's visit to 3 months. India's visa policy is reciprocal. http://www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp

Jan 10th, 2006, 01:41	#15
Erbaspina Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: London Posts: 26	... Can i ask you to keep me posted about this topic? I want to go there soon and it will be useful know how long is the visa ... Anyway in November 2004 i got a 6 months visa too. Tnx.

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