Culture

Documentary Filming in India

Guidelines

1. Prior authorisation of the Indian Government is mandatory for any audio-visual reporting/ shooting of non-fiction reportages, or documentary films/video, or photography, internet publication and new medias, regardless of their subject, category or duration. These include videos or images for websites, web magazines, documentary films, reportages, institutional or educational films, television commercials and publicity, or any other visual or audio-visual report that may be used 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/association/production agency. The Undertaking, on letterhead paper, has to be duly signed, dated and stamped. The scanned copy, in colour, of the application form and Undertaking have to be submitted to the Embassy of India, Paris, by e-mail only for processing, after being duly filled by the concerned production agency or individual, and should contain the following information in the order indicated:

1. Application Form  

2. Undertaking 

3. Detailed Synopsis

4. Itinerary (Ports of entry and exit from India to be indicated)

5. Bio-profile of the journalist/ film-director

6. Brief presentation of the production agency

7. List of crew-members giving the following details:

1. Name and surname as featuring in the passport

2. Contact coordinates - telephone & e-mail

3. Profession

4. Nationality

5. Date and place of birth (Day/ Month/ Year)

6. Passport number & validity

3. The usual processing time is from 7 to 10 days. However, it is underlined that the processing time is approximately 8 to 12 weeks if the filming proposal involves:

1. Sensitive issues, or if the itinerary includes restricted/protected/prohibited or vulnerable zones, reserve forests

2. Underwater or aerial filming

All these cases require prior and mandatory clearance from different ministries and authorities in India.

4. Applications for aerial filming are to be submitted directly 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. Priyadharshini Ravindran Counsellor (Press, Information & Culture) Embassy of India 13-15 rue Alfred Dehodencq 75016 Paris.

8. 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)

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.

India-France Co-production Agreement

Indo-French Co-production Agreement

Culture

Facilitation of J-Visa

1. J category visa is issued to media persons, covering the print and electronic media, the entire audio-visual sector including production, cinema and television professionals, photographers, authors, publishers, editors, and publicity and advertisements (this list is non-exhaustive). This category of visa is non-renewable and non-extendable, except in specific cases, such as media accreditation to India.

2. All persons in the above-mentioned and related categories of professions, even when free-lance, self-employed or temporarily unemployed, should apply for a J-visa to India, even while visiting India for tourism purposes. Foreign journalists, including interns and trainees working in foreign organisations in India, should apply for J-visas. However, journalists, interns or trainees working in Indian media organisations should apply for Employment visa (E-visa) with all the requisite supporting documents.

3. The J-visa form, like any other visa form, is to be accessed on  the internet site http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/france/ duly filled according to instructions, printed, and submitted at the VFS visa counters situated at 16 Bd du General Leclerc, 92110 Clichy.

Those going to India for professional assignments could have their visa applications processed in priority if they so wish. For the same, they should address a request to Attaché (Press, Information & Culture) along with scanned copies of supporting documents, i.e. an assignment letter (lettre de mission) from the organisation for which they are working. The e-mails to which requests for facilitation of professional J-visas should be sent are:

Pic.paris@mea.gov.in and pic6.paris@mea.gov.in

4. For further information on filming in India, you could send a mail on the above-mentioned emails or call 0140505020 (Press Desk) / 0140505106 (Reception desk). Consular information of any kind is to be sought from VFS only.

5. The Press, Information & Culture Wing remains at the disposal of the media, publications and communications sector for facilitating their demarches and for any further information.

Contact

Ms. Priyadharsini Ravindran Counsellor (Press, Information & Culture)

Embassy of India 13-15, Rue Alfred Dehodencq 75016- Paris

Pic.paris@mea.gov.in