How to apply for Return Visa and Exit Permit for Tibetans in India
This is created to make process feel easier than what one might perceive as complicated. This information could get outdated, so please double check with local Security Office of Central Tibetan Administration.
What is Return Visa?
Return Visa is a re-entry visa allowing resident to travel abroad and then return to India.
What is an Exit Permit?
If any foreign national visiting India stays on for more than 180 days continuously, they need to register at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Once your Visa expires and it is time for you to leave the country, you need to apply for an Exit Permit to legally leave the country.
These are two documents required for Tibetans to legally leave India and then re-enter after their travel abroad. Both the documents can be applied via online application at FRO.
Prerequisite documents before applying online:
- Green-book voluntary book with all dues paid out.
- Registration Certificate (RC) not expired
- Identity Certificate (IC):
- Prove of purpose of travel: Hotel Accommodation booking or Host address or Flight Ticket to prove the purpose of travel. Anyone document suffices.
- Residential proof: You can get it from your local Tibetan Settlement Office.
- Supporting Request Letter: You can get it from Security Office, CTA (Desung).
- Photo
Once you have all the above documents ready. Scan them and save them in PDF format individually. Photo should be in JPEG format (less than 1mb).
Now go to https://indianfrro.gov.in/eservices/userlogin.jsp?disclaimer=1 and register an account and then login.
- Once you have logged in. Click on Fresh/New online application submission
2. Select following
Present Nationality: Tibetan Origin
State: <choose based on your RC jurisdiction >
District: <choose>
3. Choose or check following services from list of options
- Return Visa/ NORI
- Exit Permit
4. Now make sure your screen displays same options as below marked in red box. If not, you need to deselect and select the options in the step (3). (There is a system issue as of now because of which you will sometimes not see the List of Question section).
5. Select Permanent settlement in the country of adoption as a refugee
6. Click Submit and you will see the following warning
7. Click Close
8. Then, you will see following list of documents required window which mentions UNHCR Card and UNHCR Certificate. This is wrong. So please don’t click on Submit. Click on Close
9. Now again, revisit this screen as shown below and make sure you have chosen Refugee and other valid options.
10. Now click on Submit again, and this time you will see following list of documents required window where UNHCR Card and UNHCR Certificate have been removed.
11. Click on submit again.
12. Now fill the form as per RC, and Identity Certificate.
13. Click on submit. And then upload the documents listed in the Document Type.
14. Click on Complete submission form and you will see the application form you have filled. Download and keep it with you.
15. Now wait for request for payment from FRO. You will receive SMS, Email and also you can login and check the payment request. It will look something like.
16. Next close the window, click on Payment
17. Make the payment and you will see the following page after payment is successful.
18. Now you need to wait for one or two more days to complete the process and you will be notified via email. And you can download the Exit Permit and Return VISA via email attachment.
That’s all. Hope this helps. Please visit your nearest Security Office, CTA for support and any assistance. And please be respectful. Staffs are supportive and will answer your questions and help you succeed.
