VISA procedures are one of the most anticipated processes that international students usually worry about when making plans to go study abroad. Several countries require bulky bundles of documents that are often a tedious task to collect and compile. However, for studying at budget-friendly countries like India, this is usually not the case. The documents required to study in India are simply some of the most basic pieces of information that confirm your identity, your family background and your verification as a credible student. Let’s break this down part by part so that you are fully equipped and ready to apply for your student VISA to India.

Photographs

Passport-sized photographs are considered an essential part of the documents required to study in India because they serve as a photo identification of you as a student to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in India. This passport photograph should have a plain white background and a front-facing photo of your face till shoulder length. It is important to note that you will have to take such a photograph without any accessories, like spectacles.

Letter of Acceptance/Approval

Most Indian universities provide you with a letter of approval or acceptance to their institution after you have successfully passed their respective admission tests and cleared all admission procedures. This letter of acceptance or approval is a necessary component of all the documents required to study in India. You will have to submit a copy of this letter (or the original in most cases) to the Indian VISA issuing authority of your region.

Evidence of Financial Background

Although studying in India is relatively easy on your pocket, the Indian Government still requires you to provide evidence of adequate financial support to study in India. This can be done by providing copies of your parent’s, guardian’s or sponsor’s bank statement of the last 3 months. These documents required to study in India are essential because they serve as proof of your financial security so that the Indian Government is assured that you will not be economically inhibited during your course of studying in India.

VISA Application Form

Finally, a filled-up VISA application form needs to accompany all the other documents if you seek to apply for a student VISA in India. The VISA application form is the most crucial of all the documents required to study in India as it records your purpose of studying in India, your physical identification marks, details of your family and even holds testament to your previous educational qualifications.

What if I don’t have a Letter of Acceptance?

All the above-mentioned documents required to study in India pertain to students who have already selected and applied to an Indian university of their choice. However, for students who are still unsure given the massive array of educational institutions spread throughout the country, a provisional student VISA is also available. Such a provisional student VISA requires only a few basic documents like your government photo identification cards, passport-sized photographs and a passport that is valid for at least 6 months. You can travel the country with this provisional student VISA that is valid for 6 months and explore all the educational prospects available in India.