All visitors to India require a visa, except for citizens ofneighboring Nepal and Bhutan. Visitors must either apply for a regular visa or an e-Visa (citizens of Japan and South Korea can also get a visa on arrival at six major airports in India). The e-Visa is hassle-free to obtain, and will be suitable for most tourists. Here's what you need to know about it.
Latest News as of September 2019
Three types of e-Tourist visas are now available with validity of one-month, one-year and five-years. The one-month e-Tourist Visa permits two entries. The one-year and five-year e-Tourist visas allow multiple entries but are subject to limitations on length of continuous stay. The fee for the one-year e-Tourist Visa has been reduced, while the fee for the new one-month e-Tourist Visa is discounted during the off-peak summer season from April to September.
Background
The Indian government introduced a tourist visa on arrival scheme on January 1, 2010. It was initially trialed for citizens of five countries. Subsequently, a year later, it was extended to include a total of 11 countries. And, from April 15, 2014 it was extended to include South Korea.
Effective November 27, 2014, this visa on arrival scheme was replaced by an online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme. It has been implemented in phases and progressively made available to more countries.
In April 2015, the scheme was renamed "e-Tourist Visa" by the Indian government, to remove confusion over the previous ability to get a visa on arrival without applying in advance.
In April 2017, the scheme was further extended to passport holders of 158 countries (up from 150 countries).
The Indian government has also widened the scope of the visa scheme to include short duration medical treatment and yoga courses, and casual business visits and conferences. Previously, these required separate medical/student/business visas.
The aim is to make getting an Indian visa easier, and to bring more business people and medical tourists into the country.
To facilitate this change, in April 2017, the "e-Tourist Visa" scheme became known as "e-Visa". Furthermore, it was divided into three categories:
- e-Tourist Visa
- e-Business Visa
- e-Medical Visa
Two additional categories—e-Medical Attendant Visa and e-Conference Visa—have since been added. Up to two e-Medical Attendant visas will be granted against one e-Medical Visa.
The visa categories can be clubbed together. However, e-Conference visas are only permitted to be clubbed with e-Tourist visas.
Be sure to research the different types of Indian visas.
Who is Eligible for an E-Visa?
Passport holders of the following 165 countries: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D'lvoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger Republic, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Island, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
However, do note that if your parents or grandparents were born in or lived in Pakistan, you will be ineligible to get an e-Visa even if you're a citizen of the above countries. You will have to apply for a normal visa.
What is the Procedure for Obtaining an E-Visa?
Applications must be made online at this website, no less than four days and no more than 30 days before the date of travel (for a 30-day tourist e-visa). A sample form with screen shots can be downloaded here.
As well as entering you travel details, you will need to upload a photograph of yourself with a white background that meets the specifications listed on the website, and the photo page of your passport that shows your personal details. Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months. Additional documents may be required depending on the type of e-Visa required.
Following this, pay the fee online with your debit or credit card. You will receive an Application ID and the ETA will be sent to you via email within three to five days (often earlier). The status of your application can be checked here. Make sure it shows "GRANTED" before you travel.
You will need to have a copy of the ETA with you when you arrive in India, and present it at the immigration counter at the airport. An immigration officer will stamp your passport with your e-Visa for entry into India. Your biometric data will also be captured at this time.
You should have a return ticket and enough money to spend during your stay in India.
What are the Fees?
The visa fees depend on the nature of the reciprocal relationship between India and each country. Citizens of some countries can get visas free of cost. There are also differing fees for e-Tourists visas and other types of e-Visas. The details can be found in this e-Tourist Visa Fee Chart and Fee Chart for Other E-Visa Types.
Citizens of the following countries are entitled to free visas:
- Argentina, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia,Myanmar, Nauru,Niue Island,Palau,Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga,Tuvalu, Uruguay and Vanuatu.
Citizens of all other countries, except Japan, now pay the same fees for e-Tourist visas. These are as follows:
- One-month e-Tourist Visa (April to June): $10.
- One-month e-Tourist Visa (remainder of the year): $25
- One-year e-Tourist Visa: $40.
- Five-year e-Tourist Visa: $80.
Japanese citizens only pay $25 for one-year and five-year e-Tourist visas.
The fees for other types of e-Visas are as follows:
- $100 Citizens of US, UK, Russia, Ukraine and Mozambique.
- $80: Citizens of the majority of countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- $25: Citizens of Japan,Singapore and Sri Lanka.
In addition to the visa fee, a bank charge of 2.5% of the fee must be paid.
How Long is the Visa Valid For?
The one-month e-Tourist Visa is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in India, with two entries permitted. One-year and five-year e-Tourist visas are valid for 365 days from the date the ETA is granted, with multiple entries permitted.
E-Business visas are valid for one year from the date the ETA is granted, with multiple entries permitted.
E-Medical and e-Medical Attendant visas are valid for 60 days from the date of arrival in India. E-Conference visas are only valid for 30 days from the date of arrival. Three entries are permitted on e-Medical visas and e-Medical Attendant visas. Only one entry is permitted on e-Conference visas. The visas are non-extendable and non-convertible.
How Long Can You Stay in India?
It's important to note that although your e-Tourist Visa may be valid for one year or five years, this doesn't mean you can stay in India continuously for the whole time. The length of continuous stay must not be longer than 90 days—except for citizens of US, UK, Japan and Canada. Citizens of these countries can stay for up to 180 days at a time.
Citizens of all countries can stay in India for up to 180 days continuously on an e-Business visa.
Which Indian Entry Points Accept E-Visas?
You can now enter at the following 28 international airports in India: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kochi, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi, and Vishakhapatnam.
You can also enter at the following five designated seaports: Kochi, Goa, Mangalore, Mumbai, Chennai.
In addition, separate immigration desks and help counters have been set up to assist medical tourists at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad airports.
Once you have the e-Visa, you can leave India (and return) through any immigration point.
How Often Can You Get an E-Visa?
You can apply as often as you want. The limit on the number of times in a calendar year has been removed.
Visiting Protected/Restricted Areas with Your E-Visa
The e-Visa is not valid for entry into areas such as Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India, by itself. You'll need to obtain a separate Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Inner Line Permit (ILP), depending on the requirements of the particular area. This can be done in India after you arrive, using your e-Visa. You don't need to hold a regular tourist visa to be able to apply for a PAP. Your travel or tour agent can take care of the arrangements for you. If you're planning on visiting Northeast India, you can read more about permit requirements here.
Need Help with Your Application?
Call +91-11-24300666 or email indiatvoa@gov.in
Important: Scams to be Aware of
When applying for your e-Visa, do be aware that a number of commercial websites have been created to look similar to thegovernment of India's official website, and they claim to provide online visa services to tourists. These websites include but are not limited to:
The websites do not belong to the government of India and they will charge you hefty service fees.
Expediting Your E-Visa
If you do need to get your e-Visa in a hurry, iVisa.com offers 24-hour and 2-day processing times. However, this comes at a price— $100 for 24-hours, and $65 for 2-days. Their standard fee for a 4-day processing time is $35. These fees are all additional to the e-Visa fee. The company is legitimate and reliable though.
FAQs
What are the documents required for eVisa? ›
To apply for an e-visa, you will need a valid passport, your recent passport-sized photographs, and an invitation letter. Do I have to visit an embassy to obtain an e-visa? No, you do not have to visit an embassy to obtain an e-visa.
How long does it take for an Indian eVisa to be approved? ›Upon receipt of the Visa Application through Indian Visa Application Center or directly, the Indian Mission/ Post requires a minimum of three working days to process the case and issue a visa depending upon the nationality and excluding special cases.
Is India allowing eVisa entry? ›The applicant must travel on the passport on which e-Visa has been applied. Entry into India will be allowed on a new passport even if the e-Visa has been granted on the old passport. However, in such cases, the traveler must also carry the old passport on which the e-Visa has been granted.
Is eVisa for India still valid? ›IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS The Indian Tourist e-Visa allows for multiple entries into India. Indian Tourist e-Visa is valid for 365 days after issue. You can enter India on any date within this period.
How much is eVisa for India? ›...
E - Visa.
| 30-day e-Tourist Visa (during July to March) | US$ 25.00 |
|---|---|
| One year e-Tourist Visa | US$ 40.00 |
| Five year e-Tourist Visa | US$ 80.00 |
The Tourist electronic visa doesn't cost anything, as long as you process it directly at the government site. If you choose to hire an expert visa service, then the final price will include their service fee. This can be anything between USD $45 and $300, depending on the provider you choose.
Is evisa for India free? ›For the Indian e-Tourist Visa cost (30 days - double entry): $25. For the Indian e-Business Visa cost (365 days - multiple entries): $80. For the Indian e-Medical Visa cost (60 days - triple entry): $80. For the Indian e-Medical Attendant Visa cost (60 days - triple entry): $80.
Can I get a 10 year visa for India? ›(i) Multiple entry Tourist Visa may be granted for a period of 10 years to the nationals of USA, Canada and Japan with a stipulation that “continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days and registration not required”.
Can I get a 5 year visa for India? ›So with effect from September 2019, a long-term 5 year Indian Tourist Visa (India e-Visa) is now available to foreign tourists who desire to visit India multiple times in a span of 5 years.
How early can I apply for India e visa? ›1 year and 5 year visas - You can apply for your e Tourist Visa 120 days before your intended date of arrival in India, and a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival to India.
When should I get my visa for India? ›
You must arrive in India within 30 days. You can apply for your visa as early as you like. To ensure that the validity of your visa has not expired when you arrive in India, your application is automatically processed exactly 3 weeks before departure, if you applied before that.
How do I pay my evisa in India? ›Payment Guidelines for Online India Visa Application
To avail online e-Visa services, you need fill online application form and after that next step is online payments. We accept Credit card / Debit Card / PayPal and Western Union methods for payments through our website.
- Apply Online. Fill and Submit Visa Application Form Securely.
- Submit Documents. Submit your application with required. documents at Indian Visa Application Center or at Indian Mission.
- Receive Passport, visa. Collect your passport/visa from. Indian Mission/Visa Application Center.
The tourist visa for India that you can apply for on this website is valid for 30 days. This means that you can arrive in India within a period of 30 days, which starts from the moment your application is approved.
How much does a 10 year Indian visa cost? ›The tourist visa to India with validity for up to 10 years will cost $100 to US citizens. They will have to pay $160 for a single-entry business visa to India for a period of 12 months, and $270 for a multiple-entry business visa to India with validity up to 10 years.
Is Indian visa better than OCI? ›If you don't have either one, you can obtain a tourist visa faster than an OCI card for emergency travel to India. However, OCI cardholders were allowed to enter India, whereas the tourist visa (both electronic and paper) was banned and tourist visa holders were restricted from traveling to India during the pandemic.
What is the difference between eVisa and regular visa for India? ›The Indian e-visa is for a shorter period of stay and it's also much easier to apply. The regular tourist visa for India requires more documents, time and is more expensive, but allows for a longer stay. Depending on your nationality, you can apply from a minimum of six months up to 10 years.
What kind of visa do I need to visit India? ›TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Yes. Travelers must enter in either on a paper visa, valid for 10 years for U.S. citizens, or an e-tourist visa.
Do I need to send my passport for Indian visa? ›You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information page of your passport. Your passport must: Be valid for six months beyond the validity of your requested visa.
How do I get an e visa? ›To qualify for E-1 classification, you must: Be a national of a country the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation with; Carry on substantial trade; and. Carry on principal trade between the United States and the treaty country which qualified you for E-1 classification.
How many times can I enter India with a multiple entry visa? ›
Foreigners holding Tourist Visas, who after initial entry into India plan to visit another country largely on account of neighborhood tourism related travel and reenter India before finally exiting, may be permitted two or three entries, as the case may be (need based), by the Indian Missions/Posts subject to their ...
When should I apply for an eVisa? ›You can apply for your e-Visa any time before your travel. However, you are advised to create an e-Visa application at least 48 hours before your departure.
How long does it take for eVisa Turkey? ›Turkish e-Visa processing time can take up to 3 business days or less, with an average of just 19 hours! Travelers must enter Turkey within one month from the date of issue of the e-Visa and not later than 90 days after the issue date.
What are supporting documents for Turkey eVisa? ›- You Need A Valid Passport.
- Your Purpose Of Travel Must Be Business Or Tourism.
- Your Nationality Must Be Eligible For An eVisa.
- You Must Have A Credit Or Debit Card.
- You Must Have A Valid Email Address.
How long does it take? Approval of an application is not given immediately. Processing applications will take approximately 3-5 working days. We will advise you by email when a decision has been made.
How long is Indian E-visa valid for? ›Duration: One year (365 days) from the date of grant of ETA. Stay: Continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days.
Is evisa for India free? ›For the Indian e-Tourist Visa cost (30 days - double entry): $25. For the Indian e-Business Visa cost (365 days - multiple entries): $80. For the Indian e-Medical Visa cost (60 days - triple entry): $80. For the Indian e-Medical Attendant Visa cost (60 days - triple entry): $80.
How does e-visa work for India? ›Persons holding e-Visa can depart from any of the authorized Immigration Check Posts in India. e-visa will be granted for a period up to 60 days with double entry on e-Tourist Visa and e- Business Visa and triple entry on e-Medical Visa.
How long does it take to process e-visa? ›For applicants present in the United States, E2 visa applications can be filed directly with USCIS. The typical USCIS process will take approximately five months. This is an average processing time, and could increase or decrease based on a number of factors.
Which country has e-visa? ›Ten countries, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Serbia, and Montenegro, are eligible to apply for Malaysian e-visa. The e-visa is valid for three months, while the e-visa-holder is entitled to stay up to a maximum of 30 days per entry.
What is Official Turkey visa website? ›
They can obtain three month-multiple entry e-Visas via the website www.evisa.gov.tr and stay in Türkiye up to 90 days within 6 months starting from the first entry date.
How do I get a visa for India from Turkey? ›Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of India
Take advantage of our extensive embassy and consular database to find the nearest one. Upon contacting the embassy confirm the required documents, the time it takes to process the visa and whether the consulate accepts applications by mail.
Bank statement reflecting transactions of last 6 months, with bank seal and sign on last page and with minimum balance of 1 lakh rupees per applicant. Salary slip for last three months with company seal.
Do I need to print my Turkish e visa? ›Passport control officers at ports of entry can verify your e-Visa on their system. However, you are advised to keep your e-Visa with you either as a soft copy (tablet PC, smart phone, etc.) or as a hard copy in case of any failure on their system.
How much does a Bahrain eVisa cost? ›| Fee for Visit Visa | BD 5 (approximately USD 14) |
|---|---|
| Processing fee for Visit Visa | BD 2 (approximately USD 5) |
| Total fee | BD 7 (approximately USD 19) |
You can only get an evisa in Bahrain by applying for a visa on arrival. The visa on arrival will require you to travel with the documents you will need to get into Bahrain.
How do I pay for eVisa in Bahrain? ›Go to the Visa homepage and press on “Pay for Application”. Fill the required information and enter the PIN to retrieve the applications.