Visa for Goa

[Im a BusyBee]

Does a visa for a holiday in goa have to be applied for in advance or can these be obtained on arrival?

[Buenchico]

You should obtain a visa in advance.

If you're a UK passport holder, a tourist visa costs �30 in person or �31 by post:
http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/index.html

Chris

[Im a BusyBee]

do you know if we go in person if they will be issued there and then - we are supposed to going on saturday!

[Dee Sa]

you will not be allowed to fly from the UK without a valid visa, if u do slip through the net u will be refused entry on arrival.
Indian Embassy is closed on Sat & Sun.
Dont forget your 2 passport photos & take cash to pay for visa.
Advise u get there by 10am,doors close around mid day.
expect big queues, and a return after 4pm to collect, sometimes it may be next day.
Take a book & a drink.
You can send by post, always register, but they are not very careful, my pal's passport came back together with a complete strangers & she mamaged to contact him & he drove from Manchester to Suffolk to collect from her
The only stress free way is to pay an agency to do it for you.
Its quite and experience, but I still go to Goa every year.
Last year.I went the day after an Indian public holiday and my number in the queue was 633,phoned my husband who said thats not bad, he thought I said 63.Good luck.

[Im a BusyBee]

Dee Sa very helpful but not what i wanted to hear! can you tell me the exact address that we have to go to in order to get the visa?

[Dee Sa]

India House. Aldwych. London. WC2 4NA nearest tube is probably Holborn and you will have to walk from there or get a bus down about 2 stops, the embassy is in the "island" in the middle of the road at Aldwych, big imposing building, just ask.

if you go to Google and type in Indian Embassy in London, all sorts of useful info comes up, also that should give u the web site address to download your visa forms.

[Im a BusyBee]

Thank you so much. Im beginning to panic a bit now as we are so short of time! We also live in suffolk so not just around the corner from london....you mentioned an agency - do you think they would do this quick enough for us? if so can you tell me where or who they are please? Im so glad you are around this early this morning.

[Dee Sa]

pls look on Google as suggested, they come up with lots of agencies, they cost about �30 per person plus the visa fee but well worth it.Type in Google --- Indian Embassy in London.
I am going on Wed this week but I live in East London, too far away to help you.

[Dee Sa]

sorry forgot, agency can usually do it in 48 hrs.

[Buenchico]

Further to Dee Sa's answer about the times for visa applications at the Indian High Commission:

The doors open at 8.30am. You have up until noon to be allocated a queue number. (You might be able to speed things up a bit by downloading the visa application form and completing it in advance).

Confirmation of those times, together with a link to download the form, can be found here:
http://www.hcilondon.net/visa/visa-application .html

Check that there is 6 months validity left on your passport, otherwise you won't be issued with a visa. As Dee Sa says, remember to take 2 passport photographs and �30 in cash.

Although (as Dee Sa states) Holborn station is fairly close to the High Commission, the nearest station is actually Temple. (From Liverpool Street, take an eastbound Circle Line train for 7 stops).

On leaving the station at Temple, turn left and then follow one of the streets which goes slightly uphill, away from the river (This will be either Arundel Street or Surrey Street). This will bring you onto the Strand, where you should turn left. A short distance along, you'll see a BBC shop on the right hand side. This forms part of the BBC World Service building, Bush House. Go past Bush House and turn right. The entrance to the High Commission, for visa applicants, is on your right.

Chris

[Im a BusyBee]

Thank you both so much for your help - this site is a godsend! I dont know what made me look through paperwork again last night (could so easily have arrived at airport without our visas). We are going to london by train tomorrow - should be there for the doors to open. Your directions will help us greatly. I'll let you know how i get on. Thanks once again much appreciated. I heard that we are not able to take the local currency into goa, would you know if that is correct? But dollars seem to be used over there?

[Dee Sa]

Dollars or pounds, ask taxi driver where to change u will get a better rate than hotel, they sem to prefer big notes �50s & �20s.We take pounds, plenty of ATM machines around too especially in Panjim.
when we were in Poone in Feb, the Thomas Cook there refused to accept any notes that people had scribbled/written on but when we got back to Goa they didnt mind at all.
You can change a small amount at Gatwick but they do tell
u its illegal and then they change it, just change about �20 for tips etc because �20 will get you a meal for 6 plus booze.
Dont buy booze on aircraft, bottle of Smrirnoff at liquor store/supermarket is about �4.50.
After all this I truly hope u have a good holiday.

[Im a BusyBee]

Well ive been and ive been at my desk since 1 o'clock! caught 5.30 train arrived at embassy 8.20 and back here for lunchtime. Buenchico your instructions were precisely accurate and saved me so much time - you're a star! You are right about the amount of people though, even at 8.20 the queue was very very long, i was number 139 and that was just downstairs they were also sending people upstairs. So i think im ready for my holiday now!

[Buenchico]

Thanks for taking the time to post.

Enjoy your holiday!

Chris