Embassies

Do you actually need an Indian mission abroad?

If you ask me, mostly No. India gives e-Visas. Going to an embassy abroad is a waste of time. For some nations there is also Visa on arrival. Check out The Gov of India e-Visa site.

However, if you are a journalist, researcher, student or seeking employment in India, you will need a paper Visa.

Lost your passport? You certainly need to contact the embassy. For a foreigner in India, contact your country's mission in India. If you are Indian living abroad, you will have to contact the nearest Indian mission.

Embassy vs. consulate vs. honorary consulate

Embassy: This is your country's diplomatic mission in Delhi. You mostly won't contact them except for emergencies. It is your country's largest office in India.

Consulate: These are the people you'll mostly interact with. They are one level below the embassies. Major cities like Delhi (usually within the embassy), Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad have Consulates. Whether you are a foreigner, they are the ones who will help you. For Indians wanting to visit that country, again the consulate through VFS Global is the contact point.

Honorary consulate: This is a respected personality representing a foreign country. Can't issue passports/Visas. For a foreigner in an emergency, this is your contact point.

See the wiki page for all diplomatic missions in India.

Find your nearest Indian mission

Mission addresses, phone numbers, and staff change too often for a static list on this site to stay accurate. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) keeps the only directory worth trusting here.

Indian Missions Abroad (official MEA directory, igod.gov.in)

Source: Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

A few missions to start with

Direct links for some of the more common visitor-origin countries:

• Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. (USA)
• High Commission of India, London (UK)
• High Commission of India, Ottawa (Canada)
• High Commission of India, Canberra (Australia)

Each of these pages also lists that country's Indian consulates outside the capital, not just the main embassy or high commission. For any other country, use the full directory above.

See also: Visa and Visa Document Checklist.