PROCEDURES FOR FILMING IN INDIA
1. Prior authorisation of the Indian Government is mandatory for any audio-visual reporting/ shooting of documentary films in India, regardless of their subject, category or duration. These include documentary films, reportages, institutional or educational films, television commercials and publicity, or any other audio-visual report meant for public diffusion or telecast.
2. All pages of the filming application form have to be printed on the letter-head paper of the company. The Undertaking has to be duly signed, dated and stamped. Five copies of the duly filled application form and Undertaking have to be submitted to the Embassy of India Paris for processing, after being duly filled by the concerned production agency or individual, and should contain the following information in the order indicated:
- Application Form
- Undertaking
- Detailed Synopsis
- Itinerary (Ports of entry and exit from India to be indicated)
- Bio-profile of the journalist/ film-director
- Brief presentation of the production agency
- List of crew-members giving the following details:
(a) Name and surname as featuring in the passport
(b) Contact coordinates - telephone & e-mail
(c) Profession
(d) Nationality
(e) Date and place of birth (Day/ Month/ Year)
(f) Passport number & validity
3. The usual processing time takes from 7 to 10 days. However, it is underlined that the processing time is approximately 8 to 12 weeks if the filming proposal involves:
(a) Sensitive issues or if the itinerary includes restricted/ protected/ prohibited or vulnerable zones, reserve forests
(b) Underwater or aerial filming, as these cases all require prior and mandatory clearance from different Ministries and authorities in India.
4. Applications for aerial filming are to be directly submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, under intimation to the Embassy of India, Paris. Information is available on the website http://www.dgca.nic.in/forms/aer_photo.pdf
5. Please note that the authorisation number is indicated on the visas of the filming crew, therefore no visa can be accorded before the clearance is issued.
6. The Embassy of India, Paris cannot be held responsible for delays in the issuance of authorisation, or for refusal of visas due to Consular reasons. This is for your information.
7. All filming applications (in English) are to be addressed by post to:
Ms Pujya Priyadarshni
Second Secretary (Press, Information & Culture)
Embassy of India
13-15 rue Alfred Dehodencq
75016 Paris.
Scanned copies of the filming application are to be sent by mail to:
pic.paris@mea.gov.in and pic6.paris@mea.gov.in
For further information, you could also contact the Press Desk (Tel. 0140505020)
Please download the Application form and undertaking from the following web link:
https://www.eoiparis.gov.in/uploadFiles/31432_Application Form and Undertaking.pdf
8. Advisory for foreigners going to India:
The use of Thuraya / Irridium satellite phones is not permitted in India under the Indian Wireless Act and the Indian Telegraph Act. Anyone using such communication devices can be penalized under sections 6 and 20-21 of the said Acts. All visitors are hereby advised, in their own interest, not to carry such phones to India.
Indo-French Co-production Agreement
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to establish a dedicated web portal for promotion of Audio Visual Services in India.
http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1531953
