“Countries place under “Prior Reference Category” (PRC), for getting visa to India: The term “prior reference category” (PRC) refers to a list of countries and individuals, including those from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, China, and stateless persons, whose visa applications require prior clearance from India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. This requirement is part of India’s security and vetting procedures for specific types of visas, such as conference or employment visas. In some cases, like with China, the PRC status may depend on the visa type; for example, China is in the PRC for employment visas but not for business visas, according to Digital Sansad.
PRC countries – Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Pakistan, and Sudan.
Other PRC individuals – Foreigners of Pakistani origin and Stateless persons.
Important considerations
Visa type matters: Not all visas for PRC countries have the same requirements. For instance, the PRC list applies to employment visas for China but not business visas, as noted in this Lok Sabha document.
Additional review: Foreigners from these countries may also require clearance for other matters, such as visiting “Restricted” or “Protected” areas in India.
Other agencies: This category can also include specific foreign donor agencies, like those mentioned in Prepp and this Lok Sabha document, if they are subject to additional security vetting by the Ministry of Home Affairs, as detailed by this Lok Sabha document and Prepp.