The 2025 "No-Drama" Guide to Indian Film Permits, Visas & Carnets

From a UK Team That Has Navigated It All. (Yes, It's Dry, But This Is the Page That Will Save Your Production.)

Let's be honest. This is the page you've been dreading.

India is a mind-bogglingly diverse and creatively inspiring place to film. But it is also a place of mind-numbing, complex, and occasionally contradictory paperwork.

And here’s the critical part other fixers won't tell you: getting this wrong isn't just a headache. It's a major financial and legal risk. We're talking police enquiries, problems with unions (mainly Mumbai), significant delays, or your key crew being held up at immigration and customs.

As UK nationals running a production company in India, we don't just see this as a bureaucratic checklist; we see it as a critical legal and financial liability. We've written this guide to give you the honest, unvarnished truth.

For full technical details an expanded version of this guide is available as a free downloadable e-book here.

The Big Question: "How Long Does This All Take?"

The short, unhelpful answer is: "It depends."

The better, more honest answer is: "Longer than you think."

For any major shoot, you must secure your national permits before you can even apply for your crew's visas. Depending on which country you're applying in, and the content of your application, you should allow anywhere from 3-12 weeks from your first application to your crew stepping on the plane.

The timeline graphic below illustrates a best-case scenario. If your application clashes with a major festival like Diwali, or you need to film in a restricted area, add several more weeks to your schedule.

You can find a high-resolution version that’s easy to zoom in on by clicking on the image below.

The Great Visa Divide: Are You an 'F' or a 'J'?

This is the single most important part of this guide.

Officially, filming any content on a Tourist or Business Visa is illegal. Our job as your risk-mitigation partner is to give you this honest assessment. We will always manage the 100% compliant, "by-the-book" route first.

To film legally, your entire crew must have one of two specific visa types, which depend on your project.

1. The 'J' (Journalist) Visa: For Documentary, Commercials & Corporates

This is the "journalist" route. Your application is routed through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) via the Indian Consulate or High Commission in your home country. The MEA is essentially vetting your intent.

• Who it's for: Documentaries, TV Commercials, Photo Shoots, and Corporate Videos.
• The Catch: 'J' Visas are typically single-entry and valid for only 1-3 months. They cannot be extended.

The 'Gotchas': Contentious Content & Restricted Areas

Both ministries will "scrutinise" your script and synopsis. What do they consider "contentious"? The classic unholy trinity: religion, politics, poverty, or (in their words) "anything that shows India in a bad light".

If your project touches these, or lists any Restricted Areas, your application will be referred to Delhi for a much, much longer review. We're talking 10 weeks or more.

If Aerial filming is mentioned on the application documents this will also have a drastic effect on the processing time.

The Customs Conundrum: ATA Carnet vs. The 'Free' (and Stressful) Letter

First, why bring your own gear at all? Because renting equipment in India always comes with additional, non-optional crew or attendants (we call them "obligatory crew"). This can rapidly expand your crew size and budget and, in reality, if you want to rent your gear in India, unavoidable.

There are some things you absolutely must not bring with you (unless you like prison food) all Drones, Long Range Walkies, and Satellite Phones are strictly prohibited for foreigners traveling into India. The good news is that we have talented DGCA qualified, and properly insured, drone pilots to solve that problem and satisfy strict guidelines from foreign broadcasters.

For a lean, Western-style shoot, bringing most of your own core equipment is often smarter. You have two ways to get it in.

1. The 'I-Like-Control' Option: ATA Carnet

This is the international passport for your gear. You pay a specialist agent in your home country for a bond, which guarantees you'll take the equipment home.

• The Good: You are in control. You acquire it before you leave.
• The Bad: It's expensive, and only 11 major airports in India (like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore) can process them.

2. The 'I-Like-Free' Option: Customs Facilitation Letter

As part of your visa application, you can request a "Customs Facilitation Letter" from the Indian government.

• The Good: It's 100% free and can be used at any international airport you specify in your application.
• The Bad: You are completely reliant on Indian bureaucracy to issue it. These letters are routinely issued at the last possible minute, which is fantastic for your pre-departure stress levels. You also must carry blank, signed letterhead with you, as customs officials have been known to ask for a new, handwritten undertaking "according to their whims". (We're not joking). 

The Final Step: Navigating the Local Permit Labyrinth

This is the hurdle that trips up most productions.

Your national 'F' or 'J' visa permission is not a permit to film. It's effectively just permission to apply for local permits. You still need separate permits from every local authority, railway, state, and monument you want to shoot at. 

• Simple permits (streets, markets) take approximately 3 weeks.
• Complex permits (heritage monuments, national parks, railways, airports) can take 1-2 months.

This is where a deeply-networked local Producer or Fixer is non-negotiable. You cannot do this from your desk in London or LA.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel: India’s NEW 40% Cash Rebate

After all that, here is the reward. Yes, you read that correctly: up to 40% cash rebate on your Qualifying Production Expenditure (QPE) in India.

This is a game-changer, and it's run by the same India Cine Hub that manages 'F' Visas. Here are the basics:

Who Can Apply? You must apply via an eligible Indian partner (like us).

What's the Minimum Spend?

• For Feature Films/Series: Rs 30 million (approx. $338k).
• For Documentaries: No minimum spend!

How the 40% Breaks Down:

• 30% (Base Rebate)
• + 5% (Bonus for employing at least 15% Indian labour).
• + 5% (Bonus for "Significant Indian Content" - i.e., portraying India positively).

How to Apply (The Simple Version):

• Interim Approval: You apply before you start shooting.
• Final Approval: You apply within 90 days of finishing your shoot. 
• Disbursement: You get paid.

(More on our film incentives page and in our downloadable guide)