All You Need to Know About Getting an Electronic Visa to India

Are you ready to explore India and all it has to offer? India is a vibrant country with rich culture, interesting history, and unique experiences. To make traveling easier, Indian authorities decided to introduce an electronic visa program. The India eVisa gives visitors easy access to this stunning country.

In this article, you’ll find the most important information on the Indian online visa. This short guide describes the visa application process and highlights what documents are essential for your visa to be approved. It also provides more information about the guaranteed validity period and available visa types.

What is the eVisa to India?

The India eVisa is an electronic visa obtainable through an online application. It can be issued to all eligible foreigners for short-term travel related to tourism, business, or medical treatment. The Indian online visa may also be obtained for transit.

Depending on the selected India visa type, your visa will remain valid for a specific period of time. Different visas also allow you to pursue different activities abroad – from enjoying a sightseeing tour to concluding international contracts.

In order to apply online for the Indian eVisa, you need to follow three easy steps – fill in the application form with personal details, upload the required documents in digital form, and make the visa fee payment.

After a few days of visa processing, you’ll receive the approved Indian eVisa to your e-mail address. Don’t forget to print it out prior to the travel. On arrival to India, you must present a paper copy of your visa.

The Indian visa requirement does not apply to nationals of Bhutan and Nepal. Citizens of these countries can enjoy visa-free travel to India without any time limits for their stay abroad.

What are the available types of Indian eVisa?

As for now, there are five types of available visas for India. Depending on the activities you plan for the journey and the time you’d like to spend abroad, select a suitable visa type during the application process.

Tourism eVisa (30 days) – double entry visa issued for travel related to tourism purposes, valid for 30 days from the date of issue, allowing you to spend up to 30 days in India.
Tourism eVisa (1 year) – multiple-entry visa allowing eligible travelers to meet with relatives, participate in cultural events, or enjoy holidays abroad, remains valid for an entire year.
Tourism eVisa (5 years) – multiple-entry visa issued for visitors planning to enjoy tourism, leisure, and sightseeing in India, effective for 5 years, with each visit lasting up to 90 days.
Business eVisa – multiple-entry visa required for travel related to conducting negotiations, participating in business conferences, and concluding contracts, valid for 1 year with 180 days spent in India.
Medical eVisa – multiple-entry visa issued for visitors who plan to undergo medical treatment in India, valid for 4 months with visits to India for up to 60 days in total, consecutively or spread over 3 visits.

How to apply for an Indian eVisa?

For your Indian visa application to be hassle-free, make sure you won’t face any technical difficulties. It’s highly recommended to ensure your laptop (or smartphone) is working correctly and is connected to the Internet.

The Indian eVisa application process can be divided into three easy steps:

Fill in the visa registration form – provide personal data and travel details.
Submit the required documents – your documents should be in PDF form.
Pay for the visa processing fee – use a credit card, debit card, or PayPal.

When your visa is authorized, it’ll be delivered directly to your e-mail inbox. Once you have your online visa, remember to print it out. On arrival to India, you’ll be asked to present your valid passport and your approved visa to border customs officers.

What documents are required for an Indian eVisa?

Preparing for the India visa remote registration, remember to collect all the essential documentation first. Without uploading the documents, you won’t be able to complete the application.

The documents required for the Indian eVisa application include the following:

Tourism eVisa

copy of bio-data page from the applicant’s passport
applicant’s biometric photograph

Business eVisa

copy of bio-data page from the applicant’s passport
applicant’s biometric photograph
invitation letter from the Indian company
business card of the Indian company

Medical eVisa

copy of bio-data page from the applicant’s passport
applicant’s biometric photograph
official declaration from the Indian medical institution

How much does the India eVisa cost?

Depending on the India visa type you have chosen in the online application, you’ll be required to cover a different visa fee. The price depends mostly on the guaranteed validity period and the granted number of entries.

Tourism eVisa (30 days) – 79 EUR
Tourism eVisa (1 year) – 129 EUR
Tourism eVisa (5 years) – 149 EUR
Business eVisa – 149 EUR
Medical eVisa – 129 EUR

There are a few methods of online payment that you can choose from. Usually, customers prefer covering the processing fee using their credit card, debit card, or PayPal. However, there are also other options you can choose.

What is the average processing time for an India eVisa?

The Indian visa online application is effortless and uncomplicated – you can complete the entire procedure from the comfort of your home. Moreover, it shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes of your free time.

While waiting for the visa approval notice to be sent to your e-mail address, be patient. The average waiting time is a few business days, but the processing may be prolonged depending on the Indian Government’s decision.

Is a visa required for transit through India?

If you plan on passing through India while traveling to another destination, you don’t need to apply for a separate Transit Visa as long as you have an onward travel ticket. You also cannot leave the airport transit area and your transit cannot exceed 24 hours. Otherwise, a Transit Visa is required for your travel. It can be easily obtained online.

Who can apply for India eVisa online?

Below, you can find a detailed list of all countries whose citizens can apply online for the Indian eVisa.

Albania
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Niger
Niue
Norway
Oman
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Which entry ports accept the India eVisa?

Remember that not all ports of entry accept electronic visas. Before leaving for India, it’s recommended to check if the entry port of your choice approves India e-Visa.

Airports: