If you're going to India on business or to study, you'll need to apply for a special student or business visa, otherwise a standard tourist visa will suffice. These are valid for six months from the date of issue (not of departure from your home country or entry into India), and cost A?30/US$60/CDN$62/A$55/NZ$55. As you're asked to specify whether you need a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa , and the same rates apply to both, it makes sense to ask for the latter, just in case you decide to make a side trip to Nepal or another neighbouring country.

Much the best place to get a visa is in your country of residence, from the embassies and high commissions we've listed; you should be able to download forms from the embassy and consulate websites ( http://passport.nic.in/vspassport/missions.htm ). In Britain and North America, you'll need a passport valid for at least six months, two passport photographs and an application form, obtainable in advance by post or on the day; address applications to the Postal Visa Section of the consulate in question. In Australia and New Zealand, one passport-sized photo and your flight/travel itinerary are required, together with the visa application form. As a rule, visas are issued in a matter of hours, although embassies in India's neighbouring countries often drag their feet, demand letters of recommendation from your embassy (expensive if you are, for example, British), or make you wait and pay for them to send your application to Delhi. In the US, postal applications take a month as opposed to a same-day service if you do it in person - check with your nearest embassy, high commission or consulate. Make sure that your visa is signed by someone at the embassy, as you may be refused entry into the country otherwise.

It's also possible in many countries to pay a visa agency to process the visa on your behalf, which in the UK costs from around A?25 (plus the price of the visa). In Britain, try The Visa Service, 2 Northdown St, Kings Cross, London N1 (tel 0990/343638 premium rate calls, www.visaservice.co.uk ) who offer a 48hr service; you could also try Visa Express, 31 Corsham St, London N1 (tel 020/7251 4822, visaexpress@cwcom.net ). In the US, try Express Visa Service, 2150 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 20, Washington DC (tel 202/337-2442, www.expressvisa.com ) who charge $45 and normally take six days or charge $120 for a next-day service.