Original-Audio
[ALL THE INFO IN THE CAPTIONS]
If you want to cross the famous Wagah-Attari border between Pakistan and India, this is what you need to know (crossing from Pakistan):
– You have to work with an agency to get this visa as a third-country foreigner. The most known ones are TCS Visatronix (who I used) and Gerry‘s.
– These are the documents you need:
1. your original passport
2. a polio certificate. If you have a vaccination pass, a copy of that was fine for me.
3. two copies of your Indian visa form. Be very exact with the information. Even a typo in your name can ruin your application. Find the form and indianvisaonline.gov.in and make sure you don’t use any scam websites.
4. 2 pictures that you also have to upload on the online form. IMPORTANT: these are a different Format than standard passport pictures (5×5)
5. proof of financial soundness: can be a bank or credit card statement.
6. provisional travel details with itinerary: I didn’t go into detail very much and just listed the planned destinations, nobody cares if you actually follow that itinerary.
7. confirmation of a hotel reservation for your first night in India. After applying you can immediately cancel that one again.
8. proof of profession. Easy enough if you can just ask your employer, a bit less straight forward when you’re un- or self employed. I just explained my situation in a formless letter.
9. A written explanation why you are applying this way and not in the embassy in your home country. Again, I explained my situation and that I have been traveling for months prior to entering India.
10. copy of passport and Pakistani visa, just get like 3 or so as you might need them anyways.
If you have all that, head to the office of Visatronix/Gerry‘s. If you go through Visatronix they have Kings Copy Shop almost next door and they can print and copy everything for you. In total that cost me about 1000 Rupees (~3,30€)
The visa application costs 100$ but can also be paid in Rupees. NOTE: don’t try to be cheap and apply for a transit visa like me because they will still charge the same.
Hand in your documents with the agency and now all you can do is wait and hope they deliver 🤷🏻♂️
