Journalist Visa

Eligibility

Journalist Visa is issued to a professional journalist, a press person, a film-person (other than commercial), a representative of a radio and television organization and similar personnel in the field of information such as travel writers, travel journalists, travel promotion photographers, television producers, advertising, commercial persons and those who write on fashion, costumes and sports.

The applicants are required to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places, the Office of the Government of India's Press Information Bureau, so that they could be given necessary assistance in various matters including planning their itineraries.

There is no requirement for accreditation for journalists on brief professional visits to India, but temporary accreditation may be extended for journalists from reputed media organizations, if so requested by them. However, all journalists on long-term assignment in India are obliged to apply compulsorily for accreditation with Press Information Bureau (PIB), when they are based in Delhi. This can only be done after arrival in India.

Journalist visas are extendable after arrival in India, for representatives of established media organizations, on the basis of letters of nomination specifying the duration of assignment and provided they hold valid PIB accreditation. Extensions are issued for upto one year at a time. Visa extensions are issued by the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) in the city where the journalist is based.

Jurisdiction of Embassy of India, Beijing

Provinces Municipalities Autonomous Regions
  1. Anhui
  2. Gansu
  3. Guizhou
  4. Hebei
  5. Heilongjiang
  6. Henan
  7. Hubei
  8. Jiangxi
  9. Jilin
  10. Liaoning
  11. Qinghai
  12. Shaanxi
  13. Shandong
  14. Shanxi
  1. Beijing
  2. Tianjin
  3. Chongqing
  1. Inner Mongolia
  2. Ningxia
  3. Tibet
  4. Xinjiang

Required Documents

  1. Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with photograph pasted at the designated space
  2. Copy of passport
  3. Copy of Chinese ID Card
  4. Proof of identity as a Journalist
  5. All relevant supporting documents for the assignment
  6. Copy of return air ticket booking (Not required if J Visa is requested for working in India)

Fees

All Payments are accepted in cash only. Payment through bank cards will not be acceptable at the India Visa Application Center.
If the applicant wants to withdraw his/her application the visa and service fee will NOT be refunded either by the Consulate nor the India Visa Application Center. The applicant in order to get the refund of the visa and service fee will have to withdraw the application on the same day of submission between 8.30 am-3 pm.

India Visa Application Center will ONLY provide FAPIAO for the service fee per application and courier fee per application if any. The India Visa Application Center will NOT be able to provide FAPIAO for the visa fee.
Applicants from the below mention countries need not to pay any visa fee:

New Rationalised Visa Fee For All Nationals Other Than as Specified Below Between SN 32 to 46 w.e.f. 01.04.2017 ROE
6.89
SN Code Type Duration Entries Fee in $ Fee in RME ICWF Total
1 J Jounalist upto 6 month S 80 551 20 571
2 For Afganistan, Bangladesh, DPR Korea, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia and South African nationals:
  All types of visa 0 0
3 For Argentia nationals:
  All other types of visa fee will be same as mentioned above at SN 5 to 30
4 For Uruguay natinals
  All other types of visa fee will be same as mentioned above at
SN 3 to 31
5 For Singapore nationals:
  All other types of visa lee will same as mentioned above at SN
2 to 31
6 For Japanese nationals:
  All other types of visa for Japanese nationals 8 55 20 75
7 For Nigerian nationals:
  All types of visa 250 1723 20 1743
8 For US nationals:
  Compulsory visa application fee for all types of visa except Tourist Visa 20 138 0 0
  All other types of visa fee will be same as applicable to other countries
9 For Ukrainian nationals:
  All other visas (entry, conference, jouranalist etc.)
  upto 6 months 85 586 20 606
  upto 1 year 130 896 20 916
  less than 5 years ( S/D/M entry) 200 1378 20 1398
10 For Russian nationals: all types of visa
  Single Entry 40 276 20 296
  Double Entry 90 620 20 640
  Multiple Entry 120 827 20 847
11 For Srilankan Nationals
    more than 1 year 81 558 20 578
12 For Mozambique Nationals
  All other types visas (Except Transit
and Student)		 up to 6 months 220 1516 20 1536
  up to 6 months (
in Emergency)		 300 2067 20 2087
    up to one year 300 2067 20 2087
    up to one year (in Emerges) 300 2067 20 2087
    upto 5 year 300 2067 20 2087
    up to 5 year (in Emergenc) 300 2067 20 2087
13 For Pakistani Nationals
  All type of visas 10 20 30

Other Visa Types

New Rationalised Visa Fee For All Nationals Other Than as Specified Below Between SN 32 to 46 w.e.f. 01.04.2017 ROE
6.89
SN Code Type Duration Entries Fee in $ Fee in RME ICWF Total
1 M Missionary upto 6 month S/M 80 551 20 571
2 M Missionary 6 month to 1 year M 120 827 20 847
3 M Missionary 1 year to 5 year M 200 1378 20 1398
4 MX Mountaineering upto 6 month S/M 80 551 20 571
5 MX Mountaineering 6 month to 1 year M 120 827 20 847
6 I Intern upto 1 year M 80 551 20 571
7 F Film upto 1 year S/D 120 827 20 847
8 For UK nationals:
  Emergency visa charges 89 613 20 633
9 For Ukrainian nationals:
  Emergency visa fee 85 586 20 606
Schedule of Revised Visa Fee for Ukrainian Nationals

Exchange Rate used: USS1---- RMB 8.27
Type of visa (Validity) Existing Visa Fees Revised Visa Fees
In USD RMB (mci. ICWF
contribution of RMB20)		 In USD RMB (mci. ICWF
contribution of RMB20)
All other Types of Visas (CV, EV, JV, XV etc.) (upto 6 months) 80 682 85 723+15*+65*
All otherTypes of Visas (CV, EV, JV, XV etc.) (upto 01 year) 120 1013 130 1096+15*+65*
All other Types of Visas (CV, EV, JV, XV etc.) (upto 05 years) 200 1674 200 1674+15*+65*

Schedule of Revised Visa Fee for Nigerian Nationals

Exchange Rate used: USS1---- RMB 8.27
Type of visa (Validity) Existing Visa Fees Revised Visa Fees
In USD RMB (mci. ICWF
contribution of RMB20)		 In USD RMB (mci. ICWF
contribution of RMB20)
Other Visas
Upto 6Months- $80 682
Upto 1 year- $120 1013
Upto 5 years- $200 1674
250 2088+15*+65*

Gratis visa
S.No Country Visa Fee (RMB) Visa Service charge (RMB) Total
1 Afghanistan 0 22 22+15*+65*
2 Argentina 0 22 22+15*+65*
3 Bangladesh 0 22 22+15*+65*
4 DPRK 0 22 22+15*+65*
5 Jamaica 0 22 22+15*+65*
6 Maldives 0 22 22+15*+65*
7 Mauritius 0 22 22+15*+65*
8 Mongolia 0 22 22+15*+65*
9 Nepal 0 22 22+15*+65*
10 South Africa 0 22 22+15*+65*
11 Uruguay 0 22 22+15*+65*
12 German spouses of Indian nationals and their dependent children 0 22 22+15*+65*

  1. Nepali nationals visiting India from China require visa. It is issued gratis.
  2. Nationals of Bhutan entering India (including from China) do not require visa.
  3. All visas to Pakistani nationals chargeable @ RMB. 23.
  4. Transfer of visa- The transfer of visa from old passport to new passport is RMB 60. (Not charged from Nationals of the countries who are given gratis visa and from Nationals of Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan).

Journalist Visa up to six months
S.No COUNTRY VISA FEES (RMB) Visa Service charge Total
1 CHINA(PRC) 680 22 602+15*+65*
2 SINGAPORE 680 22 702+15*+65*
3 JAPAN 85 22 107+15*+65*
4 UK 680* 22 702+15*+65*
5 RUSSIA (SE) 349 22 371+15*+65*
6 RUSSIA (DE) 763 22 785+15*+65*
7 RUSSIA (ME) 1011 22 1033+15*+65*
8 USA 846 22 868+15*+65*
9 SRILANKA 42(SE) 22 64+15*+65*
65(ME) 22 87+15*+65*
10 MOZAMBIQUE 1838 22 1860+15*+65*
11 OTHERS 349 22 371+15*+65*

 

*SE-Single Entry; DE-Double Entry; ME-Multiple Entry


Journalist Visa up to one year
S.No Country Visa Fee (RMB) Visa Service charge Total
1 CHINA(PRC) 1011 22 933+15*+65*
2 SINGAPORE 1011 22 1033+15*+65*
3 JAPAN 85 22 107+15*+65*
4 RUSSIA (SE) 349 22 371+15*+65*
5 RUSSIA (DE) 763 22 785+15*+65*
6 RUSSIA (ME) 1011 22 1033+15*+65*
7 USA 1117 22 1139+15*+65*
8 UK 1011 22 1033+15*+65*
9 MOZAMBIQUE 2499 22 2521+15*+65*
10 OTHERS 1011 22 1033+15*+65*

Journalist Visa up to five years
S.No COUNTRY VISA FEES (RMB) Visa Service charge Total
1 JAPAN 85 22 107+15*+65*
2 RUSSIA (SE) 349 22 371+15*+65*
3 RUSSIA (DE) 763 22 785+15*+65*
4 RUSSIA (ME) 1011 22 1033+15*+65*
5 USA 1838 22 1860+15*+65*
6 UK 1672 22 1694+15*+65*
7 MOZAMBIQUE 2499 22 2521+15*+65*
8 OTHERS 1672 22 1694+15*+65*

*SE - Single Entry; DE - Double Entry; ME - Multiple Entry

Notes:

  1. Gratis Visa for nationals of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, DPRK, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa and Uruguay.
  2. Gratis Visa for German Spouses of Indian Nationals and their dependent Children.
  3. Nepali Nationals visiting India from China require visa. It is issued gratis.
  4. Nationals of Bhutan entering India (including from China) do not require visa.
  5. All visa of Pakistani nationals chargeable @ RMB.23.00.
  6. Fee for Medical/Medical attendant visa (up to 1 year) for UK nationals is RMB 1912.00
  7. Student Visa fee for Sri Lanka nationals (for institutions not covered by bilateral agreement) is RMB 688.00.
  8. Entry Visa fee for Sri Lanka nationals (1Y/ME) is RMB 349.00

 

Processing Time

The Processing time mentioned here is a normal processing time, however this processing time is dependent on various factors and may vary from time to time. Processing time mentioned here, do not include delivery time taken by courier companies. Incomplete applications will lead to delay of processing time and applicants will need to comply with any changes in the procedure that may occur during this time.
You are requested to make your travel arrangements only after receiving relevant service. India Visa Application Center/EOI/CGI will not be liable for any claims of inconvenience or penalties should applicant need to make changes to their travel plans owing to the delays and/or any inconvenience caused due to any rejections.

For Chinese national: Minimum 4- 5 working days

For Foreign nationals: Minimum 5- 7 working days

Note: Applications sent by post will take additional 4-5 working days for processing.