Coming - from abroad to join Auroville as a Newcomer
An
Entry Visa for Auroville can be obtained through Indian Embassies / Missions
abroad with a Letter of Recommendation issued by the Auroville Foundation
through the Entry Service in Auroville. Under “type of visa” an X or the word
Entry is marked. This visa allows a non-Indian to reside in Auroville for one
year with the possibility of extending the duration of stay for 3 more years.
On arrival in Auroville as a Newcomer
Non-Indians:
As
soon as possible after arrival, you should go to the Auroville Residents
Service (RS) situated in the Town Hall. The RS will prepare the necessary
documents for registration with the Regional Registration Office (RRO) based in
nearby Puducherry, where you will be registered to reside in Auroville. This
registration has to be done within 14 days of arrival in
India. Anyone not managing to register in that time will be required to pay a
penalty imposed by the RRO.
You
also have to fill out an Arrival Form at the Residents Service office within 48
hours of arrival in Auroville, and contact the Entry Service at this time as
well.
Indian Citizens:
If
you are an Indian citizen, please register with the Entry Service at their
office in the Town Hall within one week of your arrival. Only when you have
done so can the process of joining Auroville begin.
Financial contributions
Both
Newcomers and all Aurovilians contribute a fixed monthly amount towards
Auroville. These contributions are used to maintain the existing infrastructure
of Auroville, including roads, health services, education facilities, Newcomer
housing, etc. Additionally, a one-time administration fee contribution is
requested from everyone. For foreigners, a financial deposit covering the value
of a return ticket to their home country needs to be made at the Financial
Service. This deposit will be returned to you should you decide or be requested
to leave Auroville, or when going back to your country in order to renew your
entry visa.
If
someone genuinely cannot afford to make these contributions, the situation will
be considered individually. More important than the monetary contribution is
one’s contribution through regular and useful work for the community.
Other expenses
Newcomers
are expected to maintain themselves and their dependents for at least the year
of their Newcomer period. After that, as any other Aurovilian, they are
expected to continue maintaining themselves for as long as their financial
means allow it. The overall cost of living varies depending on one’s individual
needs and lifestyle, but for most people a minimum of Rs.15,000 per person per
month is needed to meet the most basic expenses. In addition, useful initial
purchases may include a bicycle or motorcycle (up to Rs. 70,000). And then there
is the question of housing.
Housing
As
there is currently a housing shortage in Auroville, it may be difficult for
Newcomers, particularly those with families, to find a suitable place to stay.
Auroville cannot yet afford to build houses for all those joining, and one
should therefore come prepared to live in a temporary home, and if possible to
pay for the construction of an apartment or house. Most residences in Auroville
are built with contributions made by Auroville residents and Newcomers. There
are architects and building units to assist with construction. The location of
new /residential projects is finalised in consultation with the group
overseeing the development of Auroville. Normally Newcomers can only join a
collective Housing project and will not receive building permission for a free
standing house. Meanwhile, there is a very limited number of Newcomer
houses/units available to accommodate families or individuals for the time of
their Newcomer period.
Auroville’s ideals or fundamental standards of
social conduct, though only after all other reasonable efforts at solving the
issue and correcting the unacceptable behaviour have failed.
You may be interested to read:
Some words on joining
Auroville Entry policy 2017
Entry procedure timeline
