Do I need to buy a return ticket / onward flight to fly UK to India?

Dr. Gajaprishthakara

Well, I guess the US State Department isw wrong too (it wouldn't be the first time) :

QUOTE
INDIA - *Passport and visa required. Tourist visas require 1 application form, 2 photos, proof of sufficient funds, onward/return ticket, and $150 fee. Visa must be obtained before arrival. Include prepaid envelope for return of passport by certified mail. HIV test required for all students and anyone over 18 staying 1 year or more; U.S. test from well-known lab accepted. For information about business visas and other requirements, consult the Embassy of India, 2536 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/939-9806/9899) or the nearest Consulate General: Chicago (312/595-0405), Houston (713-626-2355), New York (212/774-0600) or San Francisco (415/668-0683). Internet: www.indianembassy.org
UNQUOTE

As Colin's experience shows, the responses should be a little more prudent than just saying "won't be a problem".

Nick-H

It may be different for some other countries. Some countries may even require you to show such tickets before issuing a visa.

But this is not the case for India.

Nor is it for the only other immigration/visa situation I have experienced: that of an Indian citizen applying for a visa and visiting UK.

With this visa business it is very hard to make a sweeping statement and say that it applies to everyone, regardless of citizenship/origin/residence in whatever country. Periods of validity change, special restrictions may be applied.

An example of this is that British citizens of Pakistani or Sri Lankan origin do not automatically get the 'usual' 6-month tourist visa.

We can say that the normal 6-month tourist visa for UK citizens is an over-the-counter rubber-stamp job. But inadvertently mention certain words such as journalism or research and things can suddenly get tough!

But leaving aside the possible of exceptions and special cases on this, I really am confident that it is not an issue.

And making life simple for the check-in person is not a reason to buy a return if you don't want one.

The fact that some airlines charge considerably more for a single, however, might be! Pity these things are not transferable; I could offer a seat on a BA flight Chennai -> Heathrow in two days time. I won't be using it.

Nick-H

Yes... looks to me like the US State Department can indeed get things wrong. If you are going to quote supporting evidence, please do so from Indian embassy or government site: that only carries any weight.

And, as Merchant's experience shows, "won't be a problem" is just fine

doglikesparky

Well, that's cleared that one up for me

Thanks for all the feedback. It seems matt/suzi is right, that we can't be sure of what's required and/or enforced.

Departing Sydney for NZ as a British national, I was not allowed to check-in until I bought a ticket back to Australia (which was no fun after being up all night in a club). I sensed strongly there was no debating the issue.

I was also informed by the airline that I would similarly need a ticket out of Australia to get back in (to Australia), but was not asked about this when checking in to leave NZ; though, for all I know, they had the details on a computer.

These are different countries to India, but I think it does show that it's not a clear cut issue. The fact that so many have had no problems encourages me to go for it and see what comes up.

Nick-H

That would explain that one!

It is NOT an Indian requirement.

Dr. Gajaprishthakara

OK Nick, this is from the Indian High Commission in Durban(http://www.indcondurban.co.za/visa.html). Is that Indian enough?

QUOTE
Common requirements for all types of visas:-

i. A valid passport with minimum six-months/sufficient validity

ii. Visa application form duly filled in

iii. Two passport size photographs

iv. A copy of South African ID or Birth Certificate


In addition for

1.Tourist Visa

Requirement:- Return air ticket or proof there of.

2. Business Visa

Requirments:- i. All documents in duplicate.
ii. Documentary evidence of business link.
ie. invite letter from company in India plus business letter from
company in South Africa
iii. Copy of return ticket.


3. Transit Visa

Requirement:- i. Onward air ticket

4. Student Visa

Requirement:- i. Validity of passport should be sufficient to cover the stay in India.

ii. Proof of admission to a Government of India recognized education institution in India.

iii. Satisfactory evidence of financial support from their parents/guardians accompanied by bank guarantee.
UNQUOTE

I am not saying they are correct. But there is enough confusion out there that it cannot be said that someone will not experience any problems. You may and you should struggle and stand up for yourself (I never actually said that someone should buy a return ticket). So, you may have difficulties because of the confusion. I will have a look at ways of addressing this when it comes up and post again then.

Dr. Gajaprishthakara

OK - as there is such confusion, I would suggest that anyone traveling into India on a one-way ticket print off and carry the following from the Ministry of Home Affairs:
http://mha.nic.in/fore.htm

Therein you will find a table of requirements which specifically lists return/onward ticket requirement for Transit Visas only.

If you get into any difficulty with officials in your own country claiming that it is a requirement prior to you boarding you can show them this sheet. Logically, if it was required it would also appear under Tourist Visas as well (would be your argument).

Dr. Gajaprishthakara

oh...and Nick...how have you gone from the gentle, balanced and cautious first response to this thread to frothing at the mouth unmitigated certainty? I feel as though I have run over a cow.

Nick-H

Well, I think it is time I started blushing, having done what I should have done in the first place and checked out the Consulate site for Australia.


Yep... it mentions itineraries and travel tickets.

I still have never heard of the immigration desks this end asking to see those things, so with that one small proviso, I think it is time to admit that I should have looked for that country-specific information in the first place and to offer a big


I guess we both felt that we were knocking our heads against brick walls, and I guess we can both accept that our respective positions were sincere and according to honestly-held belief and experience. Sorry if I made you feel you'd just run over a cow!

There is one huge lesson here for all of us ---- the country-specific nature of these things. There was I looking up the requirements for entry to New Zealand without even thinking of checking the Australian Indian Consulate site. ...Blush again

But surely, if you have the visa already, the airline has no reason to exclude you from the flight?

I'm just confused on this one now....

Merchant

At the risk of continuing this debate . . .

"Copy of the air ticket or itinerary, showing date of entry and departure from India and departure from Australia."

This doesn't suggest that you will be denied a visa if you don't have a firm departure date. Asking for an itinerary is just asking for a sheet of paper, not the tickets themselves.

In my many years on IndiaMike I have never heard of a white first-worlder ever having to present a return ticket to anyone.

Obviously it's different for people from places like South Africa or people of South Asian origin living in places like Britain.

Nick-H

Or Australians visiting NZ, even!

My apology stands: I should have done the research --- but if it was me, I don't think I'd worry.

Well... yes, I would. I always worry on the way to the airport about anything I can think of to worry about .

SteamBuff

It's catch 22 ... If the Indian High Commission are asking to see return tickets before giving a visa, then this goes against their own advice of NOT booking your flights till you have got a visa!

On the UK form it just asks for arrival date in India and Departure Date from India. (Requires no proof)

Merchant

Not to mention the fact that tourist visas are multiple entry, so your initial arrival and departure dates are moot the second, third, and fourth times you go to India after that.

Dr. Gajaprishthakara

Apology accepted. As is the vigorous debate.

Further to my advice above in relation to the Home Office website, I also suggest the following for anyone who may want to take a cautious approach:

1. present an agent's itinerary rather than tickets with the itinerary showing a probable departure date within the period of your visa (remembering that the six months starts from the date the visa is issued to you rather than the date you arrive in India)
[any problems at this stage (UNLIKELY) and you should argue that it is unreasonable to expect you to purchase ANY ticket prior to being issued with the visa]

2. if you encounter problems with boarding present the Home Office table of visa requirements and point out that you have relied on this information in preparing all necessary documents and any requirement for a return/onward ticket ONLY applies to TRANSIT VISAS

In this way, it is possible to lessen the liklihood of being inconvenienced regardless of the existence or otherwise of the rule and how/whether it is applied.

doglikesparky

Just an update on this thread which I began ... I just passed through Heathrow with a one-way ticket on Jet airlines without them batting an eye. Thanks everybody for the invaluable info, currently in Pune and wishing I had a return ticket afterall (no, just joking ... think I'll press on elsewhere, tho).