Getting An Indian Visa in the Philippines

Hello everyone! I just got back from an amazing trip in India. It is, indeed, a must-see place if you want to fully experience a culture that's totally different from ours.

Applying and getting an Indian Visa isn't that hard but you have to really set a schedule for it like we did. Here are some things you need to know first:

1. You can only apply for an Indian Visa in Makati. I don't know if travel agencies cater to this but this office (BLS International) is the only one authorized by the Indian Embassy.

2. E-VOA (Visa On Arrival) so far is not available for us Filipinos. You might read forums stating that it is possible. Apparently, I e-mailed the Indian Embassy about it and it's not.

3. You have to apply two to three weeks prior to traveling.

And did we already pay for the tickets before applying:? Yes (because it was a promo fare) and it was a risk we didn't really mind taking.

So with that being said, here's how you can get that mere sticker in your passport:

1. Go to http://www.blsindiavisa-ph.com/ and on the left pane you can see Online Visa Application and Visa Categories. Click on the link to be redirected to the application page. Click here for the requirements.

2. In the application page (Indian Visa Online), click Regular Visa Application. Fill in the details and click continue.

3. Prepare your photo because you will need to upload it in the last part of the application. BUT don't worry if you can't finish it in one sitting. You can save your details anyway. Remember to take note of your application number as you will input it later on.

4. Photo specs are found on the requirements page. Oh, and they need glossy photo paper! We had to get our photo taken twice because of this.

5. Finish everything, upload your picture and print the form.

6. Visa fee is PhP 2,210.00 Click here for a list of the corresponding fees.

Note: You need to bring extra photos because they'll be asking for some upon application. You also must fill in a form from the front desk. Funny thing, we were in serious business attire thinking it would be that serious while everyone else was in semi-formal clothes. LOL

SCHEDULE:

BLS Visa International accepts walk in applicants so long as you fit the time frame before traveling (2-3 weeks). Click here to contact them.

Since we are from Cebu, we had to book a flight and hotel (yes, that much effort). Ah, the things your do to satisfy your wanderlust, right?

You have the option to do pick-up or have your visa mailed via 2Go. Of course, we chose the latter. It took less than two weeks! We only had to pay a minimal fee for it. Processing time is four to six working days. Not so bad.

It's not that much of a hassle but really learn to set a schedule because they don't accept applications months prior. It has to be weeks. Three weeks is fine.

So yeah, that's about all of it. Good luck and enjoy enchanting India. It's going to be a one-of-a-kind experience for you!