Indian Journalist Visa Center, Beijing, Indian Journalist Visa Information

Information
Visa Fees
Document Requirements
Photo Specifications
Forms / Checklist

Eligibility

Journalist Visa is issued to a professional journalist, a press person, a film-person (other than commercial), a representative of a radio and television organization and similar personnel in the field of information such as travel writers, travel journalists, travel promotion photographers, television producers, advertising, commercial persons and those who write on fashion, costumes and sports.

The applicants are required to contact on arrival in New Delhi, the External Publicity Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and in other places, the Office of the Government of India's Press Information Bureau, so that they could be given necessary assistance in various matters including planning their itineraries.

There is no requirement for accreditation for journalists on brief professional visits to India, but temporary accreditation may be extended for journalists from reputed media organizations, if so requested by them. However, all journalists on long-term assignment in India are obliged to apply compulsorily for accreditation with Press Information Bureau (PIB), when they are based in Delhi. This can only be done after arrival in India.

Journalist visas are extendable after arrival in India, for representatives of established media organizations, on the basis of letters of nomination specifying the duration of assignment and provided they hold valid PIB accreditation. Extensions are issued for upto one year at a time. Visa extensions are issued by the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) in the city where the journalist is based.

Jurisdiction of Embassy of India, Beijing

Provinces	Municipalities	Autonomous Regions
Anhui Gansu Guizhou Hebei Heilongjiang Henan Hubei Jiangxi Jilin Liaoning Qinghai Shaanxi Shandong Shanxi	Beijing Tianjin Chongqing	Inner Mongolia Ningxia Tibet Xinjiang

Fees

All Payments are accepted in cash and Alipay only. Payment through bank cards will not be acceptable at the India Visa Application Center.

To know your visa fee, please refer to visa fee calculator on the menu page.

Document Requirements

Required Documents

Visa Application form (No column to be left unfilled) duly signed along with photograph pasted at the designated space
Copy of passport
Copy of Chinese ID Card
Proof of identity as a Journalist
All relevant supporting documents for the assignment
Bank Guarantee Certificate of minimum amount of RMB 1,00,000 or last 6 months of bank statement showing a minimum balance of RMB 1,00,000
Copy of a confirm return ticket.

Photo Specifications

All photos must meet the requirements listed below. If these requirements have not been met, the applicant will have to deliver a new photo that meets the requirements. The photo requirements are the same for children as for adults.

The Photo shall:

Size: 2” x 2” (5.08 cm x 5.08 cm).
Photo Size of Face 3.5cm ~ 4.0cm.
Position of Eye : 2.5cm~3.5cm.
Standard Measurements –2 inch X 2 inch.
Photo should present Full face, front view, eyes open .
Center head within frame and present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
Background should be white background without borders.
No shadows on the face or on the background.

Do’s and Don’ts for a Proper photograph

Lighting on face and background

The light should be even and balanced to avoid shadows on the face.
Background behind the face should be properly illuminated to avoid shadows in the background.

Photograph Print Properties

The photograph should be in size 2 inch x 2 inch (50 mm x 50 mm) and in color.
Print photo on thin photo paper.
Ensure the print is clear and has a continuous-tone quality.
Do not retouch or otherwise enhance or soften the photo.

Do and Do not

Head & Eyes- Position and Background

Head should face the camera directly and should not tilt or turned (portrait style).
Photo must show both edges of the face clearly.
The eyes must be open, level and clearly visible and must not be covered by hairs or eyeglass frames.

Do and Do not

Eyeglasses

Glare on eyeglasses should be avoided with a slight upward or downward tilt of the head.
No tinted or dark glasses.

Do and Dont

Head coverings:

Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.

Do and Dont

Exposure and Lighting

There should not be any over-exposure or underexposure which results in an unusable photo.
There should be a three-point balanced lighting. Facial features should be clearly evident in the photo.
Lighting should be adjusted to avoid shadows on the face or background. Diffuse sources of light, such as umbrella lights, are preferable to point sources.

Do and Dont

Flexibility in Children’s photographs

Babies under one year do not have to have their eyes open.
As regards the photograph of the children under ten years of age, requirements can be somewhat relaxed in respect of height of the face and the position of the eyes in the photographs; and in case of babies and infants also, the position of the face, the facial expression, the eyes and the line of sight can have some relaxation. However, a frontal photograph with clarity is required for children.
It should show the child alone (no chair backs, toys or other people visible) looking at the camera with a neutral expression and the mouth closed.