The Government of India invites foreign film teams to shoot their films in India – a country with locations of untold beauty.  We have simplified the procedure for shooting films by foreigners in India. The new procedure for obtaining permission to shoot documentaries/feature films in India is given below:

WHAT SHOULD ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION?

You need to send us a simple letter, telling us of your intention to shoot  films in India, mentioning dates of shooting, particulars of cast and crew, and your chosen locations.  Please send your letter to the following address a month before your planned shooting schedule:

FOR SHOOTING FEATURE FILMS/ TELEFILMS IN INDIA

TO:
JOINT SECRETARY (FILMS)
THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
‘A’ WING, SHASTRI BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110 001
Tel: 0091-11-23384453

FOR SHOOTING DOCUMENTARIES IN INDIA

TO:
OSD (PR)
THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(EXTERNAL PUBLICITY DIVISION)
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
‘A’ WING, SHASTRI BHAVAN
NEW DELHI – 110 001
Tel: 0091-11-23383462

Attach with your letter, four copies of the final detailed shooting script, a detailed list of shooting locations, detailed information regarding the cast and crew coming to India (complete names, dates of birth, nationality, passport numbers and date of issue of passport.) You need to pay US$ 200 or its equivalent in local currency as fee for scrutiny of the script to the Indian Embassy in your country. A receipt for this payment must also be attached with the above documents.  No fee is required for shooting documentaries in India.

1 If you wish to bring your own shooting equipment, please send us a list of the equipment to be temporarily imported.  This will enable us to make a recommendation to the customs authorities to exempt the temporary import from customs duty.

2  Your permission to shoot will normally not take more than three weeks to process, after the application reaches the above offices. The permission letter issued by the Government of India will facilitate your permission from other local authorities, which may, in some cases, need to be obtained directly from these authorities.

3  In case any living personality is portrayed in the film as a Character, we suggest that you share the script with that personality or his/her legal heirs, before beginning the shooting, and obtain a  'No Objection Letter'.  This letter will expedite clearance of your application, and also guard against the possibility of any defamation or libel suits.

4  If you propose to shoot your film as a co-production, a copy of the agreement between  your company and the Indian party indicating the role of each party,  its responsibilities and liabilities, must accompany the application.

5  If your film requires shooting in the scenic but sensitive areas of Jammu & Kashmir, the North Eastern India or border belts, and your application will be considered for specific approval in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.  In such cases, you would need to allow more time to process your application.

6  An expert from a panel constituted by Ministry of I&B will examine your script.  If considered necessary, to facilitate shooting,  a liaison officer may be attached to a film shooting team. This officer will help you to get local clearances, and provide an interface with any local institutions.  Where a liaison officer is so attached to the shooting team, the Government of India will bear his expenses.  In exceptional cases you may need to show the completed film to a representative of the Government of India, in India or in an Indian Mission abroad, before its release anywhere in the world.  This requirement will apply only to films made on subjects of political, religious or socio cultural sensitivity, and is focused on ensuring that the film has been shot in accordance with the scrutinized script and that the film has nothing objectionable from the point of view of presentation of a correct and balanced perspective on the topic covered.

7 During the shooting of the film if it is felt that any material changes or deviation from the approved script is necessary, permission may be taken from this Ministry before shooting these scenes.

OBTAINING VISA FROM THE INDIAN  EMBASSY IN YOUR COUNTRY

At the same time that you send your application letter to the Ministry of Information and broadcasting you can apply for business visas in the Embassy. Visa forms and fee can be seen at www.indianembassy.se. Alongwith your visa applications provide the Embassy detailed information about all members of the film crew and cast and a copy of your letter, documents submitted to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Permission for shooting a film will be issued by Ministry of I & B directly to you and to the Indian Embassy.

UNDERTAKING TO BE SIGNED BY THE PRODUCER

After final permission for shooting a film is issued by Ministry of I&B, the applicant has to sign and send the following undertaking directly to Ministry of I&B.

To

The Secretary,
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of India,
New Delhi.

Sub:

Sir/Madam,

With reference to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s letter No…………………. dated ………………….. we hereby give the following undertakings: -

(i)  Shooting of the film will be done in locations in India in accordance with the script as approved by the Government of India.  If we consider any material changes are necessary in the script, we shall obtain, the prior approval of the Government of India for such changes.

(ii) We shall furnish the detailed particulars of the members of the shooting team and the exact locations where the shooting would take place in India at least one month in advance of the arrival of the team in India.  We note that prior approval of the Government of India is necessary   for the fixing of locations for shooting in certain areas.

(iii) We note that in the case of assistance to be obtained from other Ministries such as Defence, Education etc. separate agreements as stipulated by these Ministries, are required to be signed with them.

(iv)  We shall shoot the film only in the presence of a Liaison Officer where attached to the team by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

(v)  We accept that part of the Liaison Officer’s duty will be to ensure that nothing detrimental in the depiction of India or the Indian people shall be shot or included in the film.  In the event of any disagreement arising between the team and the Liaison Officer in this respect, the matter will be immediately referred to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting whose decision will be final.  We shall ensure that India’s security interests are not compromised in any manner.

(vi)     We undertake to show our completed film to the representative of the Government of India/the Indian Mission in*_______________ for scrutiny if recommended by the Ministry of I&B and we further undertake to delete and destroy the portions of the film that may be found objectionable on such scrutiny by the Government of India, before the film is utilized for public exhibition anywhere in the world.

(vii)    After the shooting of the film is completed in India we shall provide, in duplicate, to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting a narrative report about the details of shooting done in India. 

Yours truly, 

(               )