The validity of the tourist visa comes into effect from the date of issue. But the validity of the three months
tourist visa will come into effect from the date of first entry.
Every foreigner who arrives in India on the strength of a tourist visa having duration of more than 180 days
(6 months) should register his/her visa with the nearest foreigners' registration officer concerned within 15
days of arrival to India. In Kerala Superintendents of Police or District Police Chief or Commissioners of Police are acting as the
Foreigners' Registration Officer (in some other states District Collector is acting as the Foreigners Registration
Officer) after necessary verification the Foreigners Registration Officer will issue the registration certificate
and residential permit to the foreigner. District Police Chief, Kozhikode City is the Foreigners
Registration Officer of Kozhikode City.
Tourist visas are non-extendable. Therefore the tourist (foreigner) should leave India on or before the expiry
of the validity of the visa. But the tourist visas having duration of 3 months are eligible for an extension of
an additional 3 months by Foreigners' Registration Officer, subject to the payment of the required fee. However
in emergent situations the State Government can grant an extension of 15 days.
The foreigners, who come to India on the strength of a tourist visa are not eligible to convert the tourist
visa into any other types of visa, and are not eligible to engage any other activities other than tourism.
The foreign tourists who have been over staying in India are liable to be prosecuted.
If the registration documents issued by the Foreigners' Registration Officer to the foreigner are valid,
he/she can leave India simply on production of the confirmed ticket to the port authorities concerned
(after surrendering the registration document to the port).
Several foreigners are coming to India with tourist visa’s will usually seek admission for
studying yoga and meditation. But as per the prevailing norms they should hold proper student
visa for studying yoga meditation etc. And their venue of study should clearly recorded on the
side of the visa stamp. (The institution should be an authorized one). More over change of
institution is also not permitted.
If the passport of the foreigner is irrecoverably lost he should report the same to the nearest
police station, and obtain a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) in the case of theft or a
certificate if it is lost otherwise. The foreigners should obtain new passport/emergency certificate from
their missions in India. Before leaving India the foreigner should seek an exit permit from the Chief
Immigration Officer, Madras or from the Foreigners' Regional Registration Officers of Mumbai, Calcutta or
New Delhi and produce the same at the port of embarkation.
At the time of lodging an application for registration of visa the foreigner should furnish his address in
India and which is known as his registered address. Whenever the foreigner shifts his residence he should
intimate the same to Foreigners' Registration Officer. And also intimate the same to the Foreigners'
Registration Officer of his new residence. Based on the enquiry report his registration documents will be
forwarded to the new Foreigners' Registration Officer.
If a foreign tourist is occupying houses on rental basis the house owner is obliged to report the details
to the police authorities concerned within 24 hours of occupation. The foreigner should ensure that house
owner has intimated the same to police authorities.