Hi fellow Yogis and Yoginis,
I am travelling to India for 6 months with the intention of studying yoga and meditation at various ashrams. I am including a YTT in the journey.
Do I need to apply for a Tourist or a Student Visa?
Important detail: the Student visa is delivered only when a letter of confirmation of stay from an ashram is presented and valid only for the duration of that stay. How do I manage to travel further after completion of the course?
Thank you for you help!
NAMASTE
If you are intending to study at one particular ashram and they require a student visa, then use that. If you are intending to travel around and visit many ashrams and schools for under six months, then just get a tourist visa (provided you are able to get a six month visa through your consulate). I have always traveled to my courses with a tourist visa and it enables me to have a lot more freedom.
Yes, the tourist visa is best…try to do everything you can to avoid Indian bureaucracy. A student visa is much more complex to get.