Visa Application for International Attendees
Frequently Asked Questions

An official visa invitation on ISSM/SASSM letterhead will be emailed to all attendees following their meeting registration (only after payment has been received).

List of documents likely to be requested during your visa application process

  • Original passport valid for a minimum of 6 months (or for the validity requested, if greater) and having at least 2 blank visa pages
  • Two photographs conforming to Indian Government norms as per specifications mentioned on our website (5 cm * 5 cm)
  • An Indian Government visa application form the Indian embassy in your country
  • Guarantee letter from the organization where the applicant is employed, stating the purpose of visit to India
  • An invitation letter from a registered Indian organization stating the conference topic, dates and location
  • Copy of the registration of the Indian organization (Certificate of Incorporation)
  • Declaration form: to be filled by all applicants submitting any application

A Conference visa is granted to a foreigner:

  • Whose sole objective of visiting India is to attend a conference / seminar or workshop being held in India
  • Who holds a valid passport, and a re-entry permit if that is required under the law of the country of nationality of the applicant
  • Who is not a persona-non-grata to the Government of India
  • Who is not considered an undesirable person and is not the subject of a negative list or any warning circular or other restrictive list
  • Who is a person of assured financial standing (the production of a return ticket and availability of sufficient money to spend during their stay in India may be considered sufficient for this purpose).
  • If the conference/ seminar/ workshop is sponsored by an NGO or a private institution, the Mission should scrutinize the background of the NGO/private institution and grant visas to the participants.
  • Missions will be required to make a prior reference to the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs before granting conference visas to foreigners participating in
    conferences/ seminars/ workshops etc. in India only in the following cases:

    (a) Participants from Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistani origin and Stateless persons; (b) Participants of conferences/seminars/workshops who
    are required to visit ‘Restricted’ or ‘Protected’ areas in India, or areas affected by terrorism, militancy and extremism etc. viz. Jammu & Kashmir and the North
    Eastern States(other than the States of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland).

    In the above cases, Ministry of External Affairs will examine the proposal along with the Ministry of Home Affairs and grant clearance within four weeks. Clearance will be conveyed to the Missions and organizers of the conference.

Please note, the ISSM/SASSM are not liable for any finanical costs associated with obtaining a visa.