Knowing the Right Way to Apply for Indian Visitor Visa Online
India- the name evokes spiritualism, love for nature, and cultural amalgamation. As you desire to visit this place and soak in the richness of the country, the first step that comes to mind is obviously to acquire a visa. While India may seem like the beauty of a thousand countries rolled into one, just one visitor visa will suffice for you to cover thousands of miles. Seems unbelievable, right?
From cruising through the jungles to trekking on the mighty Himalayas, everything gets easy once you acquire an Indian visitor visa. But visiting the Indian Embassy might seem like a hassle. If you are eligible, apply for the Indian visitor visa online (eVisa).
Applying for the Indian Visitor eVisa
The online portal allows you to submit an application and all the required documents so that your visa gets approved in just about a few days. The land of impeccably rich history and strong cultural heritage awaits you! Apply online and get the visa approved so that you can visit the land and traverse through the mysteries of nature and culture.
The Indian visitor visa can be easily obtained and gives you enough time to take the trip of a lifetime.
Getting an Insight into the Indian Visitor eVisa
There are 3 kinds of eVisas a visitor to the country can apply for, depending on their individual circumstances.
Tourist eVisa
Multiple and single entry visa, valid from a month to 5 years. Meant for tourism and visiting loved ones.
Business eVisa
Multiple-entry visa with one-year validity. Allows you to stay for 180 days continuously. Meant for conducting business-related activities only.
Medical eVisa
Triple-entry, short term visa, with validity for 60 days. Meant only for receiving medical treatment from an Indian facility.
Medical attendant eVisa
Granted in conjunction with a medical eVisa to companions of a foreign-national patient receiving medical care in India. Valid for 60 days and only two attendant eVisas can be issued against one medical eVisa.
Transit eVisa
Issued when you need to pass through India on your way to another place. It is a double-entry visa and validity is only pertinent to the transit time frame.
Most nationalities need to apply for a visa in order to get access to the country and explore the land. India mostly offers two types of visas:
- eVisa
- Sticker/paper visa
Back in March 2020, there was a ban on visitor visas because of the pandemic, but it resumed once again in March 2022. Multi-year tourist visas have been reinstated.
Applying for an Indian visitor visa online is a fairly simple process, and this saves you hours from the hectic schedule of visiting the Indian Embassy. Note that the 30-day visa lets you up to 2 entries to India. This is a good opportunity to visit Nepal.
eVisas take at least 72 hours to get processed, so plan accordingly. Do not apply too close to the travel date. This may cause mayhem (if the visa gets denied, you will not have enough time to visit the Embassy). Make sure that even if you are late, there are at least 4 days in hand before you set out to travel the land.
Who can apply for an Indian Visitor Visa?
There is almost no visa on arrival for most countries. 156 countries can apply for the visitor eVisa to India. The validity is for up to 5 years, barring the exceptions of Japan and the USA, for whom the time frame is for 10 years. Canada and the UK are not eligible for eVisas. They have to apply for the sticker visa and visit the Consulate or Embassy to get approval.
Which Visa Should You Choose?
Now comes the part where you must choose the right kind of visa. Besides Canadian and UK citizens, others can apply for the Indian visitor eVisa. But be careful to choose the right type so that you get to make the most out of the trip.
A 30-day eVisa
The visa is valid for 30 days, and not a calendar month. It allows one single entry into the country.
A 1-year eVisa
This visa allows multiple entries into the land, so it is perfect for making short trips at intervals.
A 5-year eVisa
This gives the option of multiple entries to visitors and is thus just right if someone wishes to explore every corner of the land.
What Can You Do with the Indian Visitor Visa?
The Indian visitor eVisa comes with restrictions.
- Coming to India for a volunteering job demands a volunteer visa (not available online as an eVisa)
- Attending a business meeting or conference calls for a business visa (available as an eVisa)
- Resorting to Ayurvedic treatments or other medical help requires a medical visa (available as an eVisa) and an invitation letter from the center of treatment
Applying for the Visitor eVisa without Facing any Hassle
The first step to applying for the Indian visitor visa is to visit the application portal. This might turn out to be a security risk. You need to upload digital photographs and photocopies of your passport, along with the other necessary documents, in the first step. The next step pertains to paying the fee, and this will vary depending on the country you are applying from.
Make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the day you enter India. Keep two spare pages for the visa stamp that will be physically done upon your arrival to the country. Also, the uploaded photographs should show your face clearly without any shadow or haze. Check the sample application here.
Most applicants get their eVisa approved easily. Upon approval, you are going to get a digital Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) emailed to your ID. Simply print this form and carry it with you while traveling so that you can present it to the immigration authorities upon arrival.
Extending Your Stay in Special Circumstances
Unfortunately, eVisas cannot be extended. But if you are a holder of the sticker visa, the stay duration can be extended, but only under special circumstances.
- Medical emergency
- Passport theft
You need to provide adequate documentation proving you need to extend your stay. A letter from the hospital or proof that you have lodged a police complaint are eligible documentation.
Note that you will have to visit Delhi and appear before personnel at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for an interview. There can be a certain amount of fee involved; you will get to know about this at the time of the application procedure.
All Set to Explore India?
Now that you have understood the seamlessness of applying for an Indian visitor visa online, you can initiate the application process. If you belong to any of the nationalities where eVisa is not applicable, begin the procedure early as this is going to be time-consuming.
Most visitor visas to India get approved, and you will soon be entering the country to explore its magic in every nook and corner! Just remember to follow the guidelines that will ensure a safe time in India and will not land you in any trouble.
In case you are facing any issues, the helpdesk is always there with prompt replies.
Check your eligibility for Online Indian Visa and apply at least a week before your scheduled trip to India. Citizens of many countries including Austrian citizens, Danish citizens, Korean citizens, German citizens and US citizens are eligible for India e-Visa.