The High Commission of India in Wellington has initiated Online Visa procedure with effect from 30^th May 2011. The High Commission does not accept manual handwritten/typed Visa Applications anymore. All applicants are requested to submit Visa applications to the High Commission online for all types of Visa requirements. Online Visa application can be accessed through the Weblink: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/indianVisaReg.jsp. After applying online, the applicant is requested to submit the print-out of the online filled application form along with all required documentations to the High Commission for issue of Visa.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

VISA IS NOT A RIGHT. VISA CAN BE DENIED WITHOUT ASSIGNING ANY REASON. All our visas are valid from Date of Issue, not from date of arrival in India.

Visa fee is processing charges. Once received it can not be refunded under any circumstances, even if in case of visa is denied or visa is granted for a shorter period than applied for.

All details as to how to apply for a visa are here.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN ( PIO )

Of late, many cases have been coming to the notice of this High Commission where the applicants have not surrendered their Indian Passports within three years of acquisition of New Zealand citizenship. In some cases, the applicants have gone even further and used the Indian passports for travel after acquisition of foreign nationality.

In this regard, kind attention of all People of Indian Origin (PIO) in New Zealand, Samoa and Nieu who have acquired foreign nationality is invited to the following relevant extracts of the Indian Passport Act 1967:

“The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, does not allow dual citizenship. Holding Indian passport/acquiring Indian passport/travelling on Indian passport after acquisition of foreign citizenship constitutes an offence under the Indian Passport Act, 1967, and attracts penalties. The Government of India has prescribed imposition of penalty on a graded scale, depending on number of trips made on Indian passport after acquiring foreign nationality, for the violation of Passport Rules and retention of Indian Passport for more than 3 years after acquiring of foreign nationality.”

All PIOs who have been in violation of the Indian Passport Act have become liable to GOI prescribed penalty in terms of the provisions of the Act. All PIOs concerned may kindly note that this High Commission has no authority or discretion to waive such penalty. It may also be noted that ignorance of rules is not acceptable as an excuse for waiving the penalty.

In view of the above, all PIOs who have been in violation of the Indian Passport Act are advised to surrender their passports without further delay and deposit the penalty wherever it has become due to escape further penalty. The defaulters may contact the High Commission to know the actual penalty due in each case.

Parents of minor children of Indian origin holding New Zealand nationality are henceforth required to submit a copy of their cancelled Indian Passport with the visa application of the minor children as a proof of compliance of the Indian Passport Act to enable processing of the visa application.