Yes, a visa would be needed to visit India. The type of visa would depend on the purpose of the visit. Please follow the relevant link on the Home page of this website (www.cgimelbourne.gov.in )

You can also visit the Indian Passport and Visa Services Centre (VFS Global) website – http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia  for the online application form and other details.

One has to first fill the application online as outlined at http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia  and take a printout. Then residents of VIC and TAS would need to submit the completed visa application forms and related documents at Indian Passport and Visa Services Centre (VFS Global), at the following address:  By Post: P O BOX 23057 DOCKLANDS VIC 3008  In Person: Suite 4, level 12, 55 Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000

Please contact the Indian Passport and Visa Services Centre (VFS Global) website – http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia . Their email address and Contact Centre Number is as follows:

Visa Enquiry – visainfo[dot]inau[at]vfshelpline[dot]com 

Passport/Police Clearance Certificate/ India Drivers license Enquiry –passportinfo[dot]inau[at]vfshelpline[dot]com

OCI and PIO Enquiry – ociinfo[dot]inau[at]vfshelpline[dot]com 

Contact Centre Number: 03 8593 9124

Please note down the temporary number of the application to begin with. In case of disconnection/technical glitch while filling up the online application, you can retrieve the application with the temporary number. If your application is saved in the system and you have not been able to save your Web Reference Number, please email your Full Name and Passport Number to Visa Helpline email id (visainfo[dot]inau[at]vfshelpline[dot]com ) or call 03 8593 9124 on all business days between 09:00 AM to 03:30 PM AEST with the same and VFS will assist with the necessary information. If you have already made a payment and your Credit Card account reflects a debit of the amounts payable but have not been able to download your online payment receipt, please email the applicant/s Full Name/s and Passport Number/s to our Visa helpline email id and VFS will assist with the same. Once you have made the payment, you will not be permitted to add more family member applications. Any additional applications will need to be added in as new applicants and not as part of the continuation of an earlier record.

Please visit the website http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia  and trace your application online by entering your web reference number and Date of Birth. You can also call our helpline 03 8593 9124 on all business days between 09:00 AM to 03:30 PM AEST or email at visainfo[dot]inau[at]vfshelpline[dot]com

The passport has to be collected from the place where the application was made i.e. the India Passport & Visa Services Centre (VFS Global Services). If you are unable to come personally to collect your passport, you may authorize someone to collect the same on your behalf as long as the person concerned has the Invoice-cum-receipt issued by VFS and an authorization letter signed by you and photo-ID of the person concerned. VFS can also return the same via courier or post for you. Additional Fees for the same will be applicable.

The Tatkal or temporary passport service is not available. The general processing time for re-issuance of passport is 6 to 8 weeks. However, in the case of a re-issue of passport in lieu of passport issued by other passport issuing authority(PIA), the processing time may take longer than six to eight weeks.

Visa Fees and Services charges can be paid by Bank Cheque / Demand Draft / Money Order / Postal Order favoring VFS Services Australia Pty Ltd or by Cash/Credit Card/Debit Card if the application is submitted in person at the Application Center. The surcharge is applicable for Credit and Debit Card payments.

If you post the application to VFS, payments are accepted only through Bankers Cheque / Demand Draft / Money Order / Postal Order favoring VFS Services Australia Pty Ltd. Applicants can also make their payment online using Credit Card (Visa & MasterCard only – 1.5% surcharge is applicable in addition to GST). Personal Cheques are not accepted

Normally, no visa fee will be refunded. However, if you cancel your application after completing and paying it online (and it is not submitted to VFS), then your visa fee will be refunded. Please allow 10 working days after the cancellation of your application for your refund to be processed. 

You can check the status of your application online, please visit the website http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia  and enter your web reference number and Date of Birth. You can also call VFS helpline on 03 8593 9124 on all business days between 0900 am to 03:30 pm or emailing us on visainfo[dot]inau[at]vfshelpline[dot]com 

The Consulate General of India offers consular services to Indians. Among them include attestation of documents (for e.g. Power of Attorney, affidavits, etc.); Issue of Marriage Certificate, Birth certificate (On the basis of Indian Passport), Death certificate and Life Certificate pertaining to Pensioners; OCI Miscellaneous Services (for incorporating changes in the personal particulars of an existing OCI holder on to the new OCI due to issue of new passport to the OCI holder following expiry/loss or damage of the passport, loss or damage of OCI U-Visa sticker/OCI Registration Certificate); Endorsement of new passport details on the existing PIO card; Renunciation/ Surrender of Indian Passport; Transfer of Valid and Visas from old passport to the new passport. For further details please visit the relevant section following the links on the Home Page.

All applications for Consular Services(excluding Emergency certificate, Life Certificate, Death certificate/Repatriation for transport of mortal remains/ashes to India and NRI(Non-resident Indian) certificate) has been outsourced to M/s India Passport and Visa Services Centre (IP&VSC)  – VFS Global(http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/australia .

For Victoria and Tasmania the applications should be submitted at:: Level 12, Suite 4, 55 Swanston St Melbourne Vic-3000

You can send in your queries to us at com1[dot]melbourne[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in  You can also call the Trade Promotion Officer at 03 9682 5800 (Extn-112).

Consulate has a dedicated trade section and you can send your query to the trade section of the Consulate, which will attend to enquiry and respond. 

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