Requirements to Visit India for Filipinos

(This all took place before our marriage so I will refer to my Indian husband as my fiance.)

The Beginning

When I first wanted to meet my fiancé, I thought visiting India would be an easy task; just book a ticket, get a visa, and that’s all there should be to do. When my fiancé told me the requirements, I was shocked! I did not expect it to be very exhausting and tedious list to fulfil. Nevertheless, the long list of requirements did not stop us from fulfilling all the requirements, which, to be honest, took several months.

The Experience

Let me take you back to the year 2019. During this time, I had my Civil Engineering Board Examination review at Cebu City. I had already met my fiancé back in November 2018, and we wanted to take the next step in our relationship. We decided for us to meet in India this time. First step was to book a passport renewal appointment at Cebu DFA since my passport was almost to expiry. Second step was to to get a visa and book flight tickets which was easy, and we thought these requirements are enough for me to fly. To my utter dismay on the day of the flight, I got offloaded.

The CFO

The experience was unpleasant, and we were not sure what we did wrong. Later we found out that I did not have complete documents. We had missed on several key documents such as CFO sticker, affidavit of support etc. The immigration officer was not very helpful and did not do her job honestly. She intimidated and manipulated me so that she could offload me. It was painful since the money intended for that plan went to complete waste which the immigration did not care about at all.

The CFO Interview

Before we decided to meet again in India, my fiancé visited me in Philippines the second time in November 2019. We had pre-booked an appointment online for CFO consulting in Cebu city. We chose Cebu since my fiancé since it was easier for him to fly to and Cebu is nearer to my home town. With his presence, I attended a physical seminar with rest of the folks who had planned to meet/live with their international partner.

After the physical seminar, there was a one on one interview. In the interview, the CFO officer asked me questions such as ‘How did I meet my Indian partner?’, ‘When did we meet for the first time?’, ‘Am I willing to travel to India and adjust’, ‘Am I sure about this?’ Etc. The officer also requested to see photos, videos and documents as proof of our relationship. Despite everything, I did not get my CFO certificate since I did not have my fiancé’s a proof of singleness. My fiancé had no choice but to fly back to India and I made it back to my home.

My fiancé was finally able to get his affidavit of singles and in February 2020, I travelled to Cebu to get my CFO. We were very happy, relieved and I went back home once to prepare to fly to Delhi, India.

The Successful Travel

In March 2020, I had a confirmed ticket and all of the requirements required to travel to India and marry my Indian husband. My flight was scheduled for March 17, 2020 but due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Manila on March 16, 2020, I once again could not meet my fiancé. Since all travel was suspended we had no option but to wait for the right time.

In May 2021, EOI manila agreed to grant me a X-Misc visa. I, once more, gad to travel to Manila from my province to get the visa (you can check my blog on how I got my X-Misc visa to India) and finalise additional documents required to visit and marry in India. Finally on May 29, 2021, I set my foot in New Delhi, India and met my fiancé and In-laws. It is a really memorable day till date.

HERE ARE THE COMPLETE LIST OF REQUIREMENTS TO GO TO INDIA:

FOR FILIPINA:

1. PASSPORT

2. CFO

2.1 Proof of Relationship

2.1.1. Videos together

2.1.2. Photos together

2.1.3. Conversations with each other

2.2 Proof of single (of your partner)

1.2.1. Apostilled Bachelorhood paper from partner

1.2.2. Certificate of No Marriage (Cenomar) for the Filipina (in case)

2.3 Passport copies of both (in case they ask)

2.3.1. Signed passport copy of your partner (better use blue ballpen for signatures)

2.3.2. Your own passport copy with sign (better use blue ballpen for signatures)

3. VISA – FOR THE FULL INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC, YOU CAN READ THE BLOG ABOUT THIS.

3.1 Already filled up Visa Form

3.2. 2×2 Photo

3.3 Indian partner’s bank statements

3.4. Indian partner’s consulting agreement (this is proof of employment)(optional but could be asked)(good to have)

3.5. Tax payment of partner (optional but could be asked)(good to have)

3.6 Invitation letter for marriage (we will provide sample in our website)

3.7 Wedding card (you can make this or ask somebody to make it)

3.8 Wedding Booking (you can get it from courtmarriage.in , no need payment)

3.9 Indian partner’s passport copy with signature (better use blue ballpen for signatures)

4.0 Filipina’s original passport

4.1 Air ticket (could be dummy ticket)

4.2 Return ticket (could be dummy ticket)

4.3 Filipina’s bank statement

4. PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION / TRAVEL

4.1 Indian partner’s Apostilled Affidavit of Support

4.2. CFO certificate

4.3 Health Insurance

4.4 Valid visa

4.5 Negative Covid Test

4.6 Air Suvidha Form

4.7 Bureau of Immigration Self Declaration Form

4.8 Indian partner’s bank statements (signed by bank manager)

4.9 Filipina’s bank statement (could be downloaded online if the original is not possible)

5.0 Indian partner’s consulting agreement (this is proof of employment)

5.1 Return Ticket (very important)

5.0 INDIAN IMMIGRATION/ARRIVAL

5.1. Passport

5.2 Visa

LET’S DISCUSS EACH REQUIREMENTS ONE BY ONE.

PASSPORT – If you don’t have a passport yet, you can take an appointment at the DFA WEBSITE. If you have any queries about the requirements to get your passport for the first time or for renewal, you can check these FAQ’s from the DFA website.

2. CFO (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) – The process of getting CFO post 2019 is different because of the pandemic. If you want more information about it you can check the CFO website and you can also check the CFO online registration to know the process and requirements for CFO certificate. You can check the Steps to Secure an Appointment and Register Online PDF from CFO.

2.1 Proof of Relationship

2.1.1. Videos together

2.1.2. Photos together

2.1.3. Conversations with each other

For this, the CFO officer checks videos and photos of both of you together if you have already met each other. It is easier get the CFO if both of you have already met.

They will also likely request the conversation between both of you to make sure that both you and your partner are constantly communicating with each other.

2.2 Proof of singleness / bachelorhood (of your Indian partner) – India doesn’t have any document which proves single-hood unlike the Philippines (CENOMAR/Certificate of No Marriage) that proves that one is single. As mentioned, this was the reason I did not get my CFO on my first attempt.

2.2.1. Apostilled Bachelorhood document from Indian partner – For this, you can ask a lawyer to draw up an Affidavit of Bachelorhood, however, you will be the one to provide the contents.

Following is the content of the Bachelorhood document that my fiancé provided. All spaces marked as (___) are to be filled by Indian partner.

Take note that this document needs to be notarised by the lawyer and Apostilled at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

2.2.2. Cenomar (Certificate of no Marriage) for the Filipina (in case) – The Filipina can get CENOMAR as proof of singleness in case the CFO officer asks for it. It needs to be Apostilled to marry in India. Take note that Cenomar is only valid for 6 months.

2.3 Passport copies of both (in case they ask) – Just take a photocopy (xerox copy) of the Indian partner’s passport and the Filipina’s passport.

2.3.1. Signed passport copy of your Indian partner (better use blue ballpen for signatures) – After taking a copy of your Indian partner’s passport, he should sign each page with a blue pen.

2.3.2. Your own passport copy with sign (better use blue ballpen for signatures) – After taking a copy of your Filipino passport, he/she should sign each page with a blue pen.

3. VISA – FOR THE FULL INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC, YOU CAN READ THE BLOG ABOUT THIS.

4. PHILIPPINE IMMIGRATION / TRAVEL

4.1 Indian partner’s Apostilled Affidavit of Support – This is a crucial document that the Immigration Officer will request upon departure from Philippines.

Here is a sample of an Affidavit of Support. All spaces marked as (___) are to be filled by you.

Take note that this document needs to be notarised by the lawyer and Apostilled at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

4.2. CFO certificate – Carry your CFO certificate with you to present it at the Filipino Immigration.

4.3 Health Insurance – This requirement is crucial to make sure that your finances in case of emergency are in order. I got my health insurance at AXA.

4.4 Valid visa – If you have not read about How to get your X Misc Entry Visa, you can read it here.

4.5 Negative Covid Test – If this is still required, then you can get one from a COVID test centre near you.

4.6 Air Suvidha Form – After you get your Negative Covid Test, you can input your information at the New Delhi Airport website. You can read more about this in this pdf.

4.7 Bureau of Immigration Self Declaration Form – You need to print the form provided at the Philippine Airlines Website and present it to the Immigration Officer before departure.

4.8 Indian partner’s bank statements (signed by bank manager) – This is an important document that proves your Indian partner can finance you during the stay. Alternatively you can provide your own finances along with proof of employment or business.

4.9 Filipina’s bank statement (could be downloaded online if the original is not possible) – You can get your Filipina bank statement at the home branch for BDO. For others, please check with your bank

5.0 Indian partner’s consulting agreement (this is proof of employment) – Proof of your partner’s income source.

5.1 Return Ticket (very important) – Take note that even though you don’t plan to come back to Philippines before the expiration of your visa, you still need to get a return ticket to present at the Immigration. It is a good idea to book a refundable one way ticket. I got mine at Fly Emirates.

5.0 INDIAN IMMIGRATION/ARRIVAL

5.1. Passport

5.2 Visa

To my surprise, the Indian Immigration only asked for my passport and visa. They did not ask any further questions! Indian immigration was super smooth to sail through.