Special-Purpose Visas

Conferences, film shoots, mountaineering expeditions, media work, missionary activity, and academic research each have their own dedicated visa category. Here’s the quick reference for all of them.

NOTE

General information only, not legal advice. See our full disclaimer on the hub page.

4e-Visa special categories (added 2025)

3Regular-visa special categories

Prior approvalUsually required from a government body

Online (e-Visa) categories

VisaValidityFor

e-Conference30 days, single entryDelegates at conferences approved/sponsored by an Indian government body — not for regular business meetings

e-Transit30 days, two entriesPassing through India en route to a third country

e-MountaineeringVaries by expeditionMountaineers and trekking expeditions in notified areas

e-FilmVariesInternational film crews shooting in India

Regular (paper) visa categories

Journalist Visa

Required for media/journalistic work for a foreign organisation. Working as a journalist on any other visa type is a genuine compliance violation, not a grey area.

Missionary Visa

For religious/missionary activity, including Tabligh work. Requires specific Ministry of Home Affairs approval — this applies even to OCI cardholders undertaking the same activities.

Research Visa

For formal research affiliations at Indian institutions, including doctoral/post-doctoral work and academic exchanges. Requires invitation and approval from the relevant Indian authority, not just institutional admission.

GOOD TO KNOW

Even OCI cardholders aren’t exempt from these activity-specific permissions — a 2021 notification clarified that OCI status doesn’t waive the need for Research, Missionary, or Mountaineering approvals in notified areas. See OCI, PIO & Indian Origin for the full picture.

Official sources

indianvisaonline.gov.in

e-Visa special categories.

boi.gov.in

Regular visa categories and approvals.