Travel to India: Indian Visa for Newborn Babies
Every US citizen must have an Indian visa to visit India. Newborn babies and minor children are no exception to this. If you are traveling to India, your baby will need their own Indian visa. Travel to India without an Indian visa is impossible for a newborn baby.
This article describes the process of applying for an Indian visa for a newborn baby in U.S. We assume that:
- You have already applied for a U.S. birth certificate and SSN for the newborn baby.
- You have applied for a U.S. passport for the newborn baby. (As a U.S. citizen, your baby must have a U.S. passport in order to re-enter the United States).
- You understand that your child is a U.S. citizen by birth.
Options for Indian Visa for a Newborn Baby
To visit India with your newborn baby, you have the following options:
- Apply for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card for the newborn baby. PIO (persons of Indian origin) Card is no longer being issued.
- Apply for a tourist visa to India for maximum 6 months. You will not need a visa for the baby to enter US as she is already a US citizen holding a valid US passport.
The OCI card allows a multiple entry, multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India. Once you get a passport for your baby, you should immediately apply for an OCI card at the Indian Embassy. The processing time may take 3 to 6 weeks.
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Applying for OCI Card
Newborn babies and minors who are U.S. citizens may apply for a OCI card if they are the child or grandchild of a person who:
- Was eligible to become an Indian citizen on January 26, 1950;
- Was an Indian citizen on or after January 26, 1950; or
- Belonged to a territory that became part of India after August 15, 1947.
To apply for an OCI card for a newborn baby, you should apply at least 2 months before the date of travel. The application process includes the following steps.
- Complete OCI card application by visiting Online OCI Services. (This includes 2 parts: Part A and Part B).
- Gather all required supporting documents listed on New OCI Card-Minor Checklist.
- Pay fees.
- Submit application to your appropriate Indian mission. See below for Embassies, Consulates, and their jurisdictions to locate your Indian mission. The Consular jurisdiction shows what Consulate applies to you. For example if you are in Georgia, you will have to apply to the Indian Consulate at Houston.
Embassy/Consulate | Address/Contact Information | Consular Jurisdiction |
---|---|---|
Embassy Of India, Washington DC | 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 Tel: (202) 939-9806 Fax: (202) 797-4693 | Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South- Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, DC. |
Consulate General Of India, New York | 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 Tel: (202) 939-9806 Fax: (202) 797-4693 | Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands. |
Consulate General Of India, Chicago | 455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, #850 Chicago, IL 60611, U.S.A., Tel(312) 595-0405 Email: [email protected] | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin. |
Consulate General Of India, Houston | 1990 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 600 Houston, TX 77056 Tel: (713) 626-2355 Fax: (713) 626-2450, Email: [email protected] | Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas. |
Consulate General of India, San Francisco | 540 Arguello Boulevard San Francisco, CA 94118 Tel: (415) 668-0662 | Fax: (415) 668-7968 Email: [email protected] | Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. |
OCI Card Fees
The OCI card fee for adults as well as minors and newborn babies is $275 plus applicable fees. For more information about OCI card fees, visit OCI Card Application Fees or visit the VFS Global website.
Applying for a Tourist Visa
To apply for a tourist visa to India for a newborn baby, you may apply online and must submit all required minor supporting documents.
If you are traveling to India for no longer than 30 days, you can apply for an Indian e-Tourist Visa for your newborn baby.