Registration - an unavoidable paperwork

It can be the first challenge in your new home, the adaptation to the Indian paperwork or the first inside view to the Indian hierarchy. Most important is to register within 14 days after arrival for all long term visas and staying time of more than 180 days. So have a clear arrival stamp with a readable date of arrival because that is what all officers are after, because otherwise it cost penalty and that is income for that department. That means also in case they send you away because of missing documents let you give a stamp that you came for registration in the requested time. But let us go one step after the other through that nice topic.

The easiest way to get the registration handled is over an agent; he knows the latest adaptations and changes of the rules and knows the locations and the people responsible for the stamp and signature.
The fee for a normal registration is about 3000 INR. It can be worth the money for an actually free registration, because it can cost you time and patient if you get stuck in front of some nice officers. 

Nowadays the registration has been much more organized and with that smoother and less annoying. Most important is to have the papers together and follow the instruction in the FRRO office.

The address of the office is at the moment not in Infantry Road it is in Indiranagar,

No.55, Double Road,
Near Indiranagar ESI Hospital,
Indiranagar, Bangalore – 560038.

Phones: +91 80 25202052/ 25297683

FRRO Bangalore is a yellow colour building located on Double Road close to Indira Nagar ESI Hospital.

Application submission timings: 9:30 morning to 1:00 afternoon.

Open: Monday to Friday only. ( except public holidays)

Documents required are:

Find here the official web site about that docuements. 

But out of own experience we have to say that this application forms sometimes change and also the required documents. Here we recommend using the web list as a first indication and it is better to go one day in advance to collect the actual application form and the document list. Here you have to show your passport to get it.

The procedure set in place is first of all not allowing agents to enter the office, one side bad because you feel a little lost, but on the other side it equals the chance for all and reduces the fastening fee some agents offered, and if treated normal the officers try their best to help.

It is with that new procedure and the digital cameras possible to get the Registration done within 24h or even on the same day. Therefor you have to come personally with all family members in the morning between 9:30am and 12:00am pull a token. After that a first officer will check already if your documents are complete and the application is in time. To be prepared for additional request take some more supporting documents. If copies are necessary you have to find some copy shop outside, such service will not be provided inside. In case you have missed to register within the 14 days a penalty is to be pay, unfortunately you cannot pay cash or by card at the FRRO office you have to provide a Demand Draft (DD), if you come back please have a copy already made ready. Late fee for registration is 1395INR (Jan 2011). After your number is called a second check of your documents is made, more serious and it can happen new things are coming up, have patient. The officers do only their job and hear daily 100 different stories. After that check you can go to the counter, here the documents will be taken and a digital photo will be made.  If everything runs smooth you can pick up the registration in the afternoon. 

All at all service and location has really improved. Parking is possible, waiting rooms and restrooms are there, could be a bit cleaner, copy shops are in the surrounding and the Viyaja Bank is closest bank.