Foreign travelers who must visit India for short stays related to tourism, business, attending conferences or getting medical treatments, need to apply for the Indian Visa Online, issued by the Government to make things easy for travelers to enjoy a hassle-free legal entry to India.
This Indian Visa Online is an electronic visa, meaning you need to apply online, and in short referred to as Indian e-Visa.
Apply for Indian e-Visa Application
The Government of India launched the eVisa in November 2014, and currently allows citizens of 171 countries to legally enter India through the government authorised immigration checkpoints, no need of paperworks or visit to the embassy for getting visa stamps on the passport.
Since 2014, it has been a relief for the international travelers who wanted to visit India for certain reasons. Say goodbye to the traditional Indian Visa that required you to undergo paperwork, take appointments to submit the visa application and attend interviews.Applicants can now skip the hassle, instead of visiting the Indian Embassy, the Indian Visa can be obtained online.
Besides the benefit of applying for the visa online, it is also the fastest way to receive the approved Indian eVisa to legally enter India.
Stepwise Guide to apply for Indian Visa Online (or Indian e-Visa)
Fill the Indian eVisa Form
The electronic visa application is simple, requires the applicant to fill some basic questions like personal details, passport details, mobile number, email address, character and passport criminal records, if any. Here is a link to the Indian Visa Application form which you can fill online with any of the devices you have, but make sure that you have an internet connection. For receiving the approved Indian eVisa on-time, apply 4-7 days before your departure date to India.
Make payment
The form is successfully submitted after the fee is paid. To ensure that applicants enjoy a convenient fee payment option, secure payment gateway in more than 100+ currencies is provided. Applicants can make payment using their debit or credit cards (like Matercard, Visa and Amex), whatever is comfortable for them.
Upload scanned passport and other documents
After the payment has been made and the form is submitted, you will be mailed by the immigration department of India, being requested to provide additional documents like your scanned passport, photo and documents based on the reason for your visit to India. Revert on the secured link provided in the mail.
Receive the status of Indian Visa Application
The decision of your Indian eVisa Application will be notified to you via mail, within 3-4 working days. If the application is accepted after verification, you will receive the approved Indian eVisa by mail in PDF format. Travelers can take a printout copy and carry them along to the airport.
Indian eVisa Application
Fill the Indian eVisa Application Form with relevant questions, upload the scanned face photo and passport.
Apply
Make Secure Payment
Make Indian eVisa fee payment using secured gateway, Debit or Credit card.
Payment
Receive e-Visa for India
Approved Indian eVisa will be mailed to your ID.
Receive Visa
Indian e-Visa Types
There are different kinds of Indian e-Visa and the one (1) that you should be applying for apply for depends on the purpose of your visit to India.
Tourist e-Visa
Travelers visiting India for exploring the Indian subcontinent, the ancient historical monuments, hill stations, the wildlife, backwaters, tea gardens, wellness retreats like yoga and meditation, meeting friends and family members, etc, should apply for the tourists e-visa. The Indian Tourist Visa is of 3-types, which travelers can opt for according to their need.
30 (Thirty) Day India Tourist e-Visa
This visa is valid for 30-days and is granted two-entries, meaning tourists can visit India for two times within the validity period offered. Another important highlight of this e-visa is that it expires on the 29th day, one day before the validity period.
1 (One) year India Tourist e-Visa
This visa is valid for 1-year and is granted multiple-entries, meaning tourists can visit India for multiple-times within the validity period offered, and the maximum stay allowed is 90 days per visit and 180 days in total per year (multiple times in one calendar year).
5 (Five) year India Tourist e-Visa
This visa is valid for 5-year and is granted multiple-entries, meaning tourists can visit India for multiple-times within the validity period offered, and the maximum stay allowed is 90 days per visit and 180 days in total per year (multiple times in one calendar year).
Business e-Visa
Foreign travelers who need to visit India for business related purposes should apply for the business e-visa. This visa is valid for 1-year and is granted multiple-entries, meaning businessmen can visit India for multiple-times within the validity period offered, and the maximum stay allowed is 180 days, which he can use all the days together or split it into two stays. Below are some of the reasons required to apply for the Indian e-Business Visa:
Attending business meetings
Setting up of a new factory or branch office
Branch visit
For delivering lectures as a guest
Selling and buying of goods and services in India
To hire new employees
Visiting India to supervise in a project as an expert
Medical e-Visa
If you are a patient and need to visit India for getting medical treatment, you simply need to opt for the Indian eMedical Visa.This visa is valid for 60-days and grants triple-entry, meaning the traveler seeking medical treatment can visit India three-times within the validity period offered.
Medical Attendant e-Visa
If you need to accompany a patient to India, who is getting medical treatment, he needs to apply for this Indian eMedical Attendant Visa.This visa is valid for 60-days and grants triple-entry, meaning the traveler who has to accompany the patient can visit India three-times within the validity period offered. And with one medical visa, only 2-medical attendant visas are offered.
Conference e-Visa
Travelers visiting India for attending international conferences in India like webinars, events, trade fairs, exhibition, expos, etc, then he should apply for the conference e-visa.This visa is valid for 30-days and grants a single-entry, meaning the conference attendee can visit within the validity period offered, and the maximum stay allowed is 30-days or less, depending on the end date of the conference.
Transit e-Visa
Travelers who must transit through India to catch a flight to another country, should then apply for the Transit e-visa. This visa is valid for 24-hours or less and grants a single-transit, and cannot be extended.
Validity of the Indian Transit eVisa:
Only one-time transit option
If the journey is not taken within the duration provided, a new transit visa must be obtained.
Duration of the transit visa cannot be extended until and unless there is an extreme emergency case like extreme weather conditions, serious illness, strike, etc.
Validity offered for one direct transit only.
Eligibility Requirements for Indian Visa Online
To apply for the Indian eVisa, travelers must have certain eligibility criteria like
The traveler should be a citizen of one of India eVisa eligible countries (171 countries are allowed).
While filling the Indian eVisa Application Form, the details must match the passport, any misleading or incorrect information could lead to rejection or delay of your visa processing or issuance.
Valid passport which must be at least 6-months valid, from the date of entry to India, and must contain 2 blank pages so that immigration officials can put a visa stamp at the airport.
With this eVisa, you are only allowed to visit for reasons related to tourism, medical, business or conference
Entry to India is allowed through authorised immigration checkpoints, that consists of 31 airports and 6 seaports. If you want to know the list check the list on Indian Entry Ports.
If you have the passport of one of the Indian eVisa countries, and you are applying for the eVisa, then you must be present outside India. If you are applying for the Indian eVisa when you are in India, then your application will be rejected.
Applicants whose passport validity is likely to get over, has less than 6-months validity, from the date of entry to India, their application is likely to be rejected and will not be granted the Indian eVisa.
Indian Visa Online Document Requirements
To fill the Indian e-Visa Application Form, the applicant needs to have the mandatory documents for going forward with the application:
A scanned copy of the biographical page of the passport (which must be a regular passport and not a diplomatic passport), must have a validity period of 6-months at least, starting from the day you enter India. If your passport validity period is likely to expire soon, renew your passport. If you are not sure about the details, read about the Indian Visa Passport Requirements for having a better understanding
A scanned copy of the passport size photo, which must be colored, recently clicked, only the face photo, expression neutral and background should be white. If you are not aware about the Indian Visa Photo Requirements, read this detailed guide.
A working email address that you are using, mobile number, debit or credit card for Indian eVisa Application fee payment.
(Optional) Return or onward ticket, out of India.
(Optional) Specific requirements depending on the type of Indian eVisa applied.
Besides having all the documents to fill the Indian eVisa Form, the details filled in the form must match the details in the passport (the same passport should be used to apply for the Indian eVisa as it will be linked to the Indian eVisa, make sure you carry this same passport during your trip to India) and other documents.
If you have a middle name mentioned in your passport, you must include that in your Indian eVisa Application Form, as the form will be reviewed thoroughly. The Government of India wants the name and the details in the form to match exactly as it is in the passport.
Full name, that includes your First name, Middle Name, and Family Name/Surname.
DOB or Date of Birth
Place of birth
Passport number (enter in the form without making any error), issuing and expiry date
Your Nationality, as per your passport, not the place where you are currently residing
Address, your current residence
If you want to know about the documents needed, you can read about the Indian e-Visa Document Requirements article in detail.
eVisa Eligible Countries
Citizens of the countries listed below are eligible to apply for Indian Visa Online Find out your eligiblity for Online Indian Visa.
Every year certain updates are made by the Government of India, so travelers who have the intention to apply for the Indian eVisa, do take note of the important points below. Good news, for all the applicants, the Indian eVisa is issued within a few days. With this initiative, the travelers now prefer to opt for the eVisa for short visits to India for activities related to tourism, business, etc.
Currently, the number of countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for the Indian eVisa is 171.
More different types of eVisas are introduced like
Conference Visa,
Sports Business Visa and
Seaman Visa for joining a Vessel
Previously, the 30-Days Tourist e-Visa was single entry, it now offers 2 (two) entries.
If you are visiting India with the Indian Tourist e-Visa to attend a short-term program like learning cooking, local language, yoga or meditation, medicine or arts, it must not be a certificate providing course.
Travelers visiting India, need to apply for the Indian eVisa,but to do so they will require an Ordinary Passport, and not a Refugee or Diplomatic or Service passport.
Land-based entry is prohibited with the Indian eVisa or any other visa, check out the authorized immigration entry points, the Airports and Seaports allowed for entry into India with the Indian eVisa
Foreign nationals who have the intention to stay in India for more than 180 days, then they can do so by registering themselves at the Indian FRRO website, check the link to know about it in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a physical visa if I have an eVisa?
A physical visa is not required for those who already have the Indian eVisa, this electronic visa offers legal authorized entry into India for a certain duration of time.
Need more information about the Indian eVisa, where to check?
Travelers who wish to know more about the Indian eVisa, can check all the indian e-visa information on this website. If they have questions and want to get in touch with us they can simply click this Contact Form, our representatives will assist you or you can email us, we will revert back to you within a day.
What are the benefits of getting an Indian eVisa?
Eliminates the need for a physical visa stamp in your passport.
No need to visit an Indian embassy or consulate in person.