Tourist Visa for India: Processing Times, Costs, and Tips to Speed up Your Application

Are you visiting India for a vacation? The first step is to apply for a tourist visa for India and then proceed with other plans for the trip. Get the visa and explore the country without a hitch.

Hailed as a land of rich culture and history, India is one of the most popular destinations known for its mysticism. If the land beckons you, apply for a visa first in order to explore the magic of the land.

Know about the tourist visa in India processing time and some points to avoid when applying for the visa.

Coming to India means you have to choose the right type of visa from the options available. The plethora of options might make it confusing for tourists.

Applying for your visa needs to be a top priority as soon as you are done finalizing your travel destination. It has been noticed that many travelers are often mindful about planning the trip with plenty of time in hand, but without paying any attention to the visa application procedure. Travelers often plan accommodations, flights, and itineraries in advance but leave the visa applications at the last minute. This approach should change to ensure smooth travel outside the country.

Considering the fact that thousands of tourists travel to explore India every year, the visa processing time might get higher as a result of this. Limited visa appointment availability is a reality in this case. This is why it calls for you to be mindful about initiating the visa application with ample amount of time in hand. Unnecessary delay might lead to last minute complications.

Plan ahead of the schedule so that you can get the visa application process done smoothly and also tackle other problems, if any.

Types of Tourist Visas for India

There are two main types available for tourism purposes:

e-Tourist visa

It allows foreign travelers to enter India for non-work purposes. The visa is often sought-after by travelers who visit India for:

• Recreation
• Sightseeing
• Meeting friends or relatives
• Attending short term programs
• Medical emergencies.

This visa is available in one month, one year, and five year durations. The one month e-tourist visa is for single or double entry. You can not extend your stay with this visa and nor can you convert the visa to a different type.

The one and five year e-tourist visas allow for multiple entries. The maximum stay for these two are 180 days at a time.

Regular tourist visa

It is a traditional travel authorization that allows travelers to visit India for events like attending short term programs. The validity depends on the visa category and the situation of the applicant.

Eligibility criteria for each type

• A passport which has at least 6 months validity after returning from India and two blank pages
• Return or onward journey ticket
• Sufficient amount of money to fund the stay

You can stay in India for 90 days with the visa. People from some places like the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan are eligible to stay for 180 days.

Exemptions

Some nations are exempt from having to get a tourist visa for India. These are outlined below.

Nepal and Bhutan

Citizens from these two countries don’t need a visa to cross India’s borders by land or air. But that does not indicate that they can gain entry into the country without presenting any documents whatsoever.

• A passport that is valid at least for the next six months.
• Citizenship certificate from their respective countries.
• Respective voter IDs
• Photo ID cards issued by the Royal Bhutanese Mission in India/Nepalese Mission in India (as applicable, limited validity)
• For travelers under 10 years of age, documentation is necessary. For those between 10 and 18 years, a photo ID issued by their school principal will suffice.
• Hold a valid passport if you are coming to India from anywhere other than Nepal.
• If entering India from the Maldives, China, Macau, Hong Kong, or Pakistan, a visa is necessary.
• All travelers must produce a photo ID. This is applicable for children below 15 (if either parent has them listed as the child in their passport). They need to have a tourist visa as well.
• For children 16 and above, a separate passport/visa is mandatory. In rare situations when they turn 16 while in India, his or her guardian must apply for a passport right away.

Note: You will not be allowed to use your IDs as transit documentation; that is, you cannot go to a third destination from India with your passport. To do this, you must produce a No Objection Certificate from the Royal Bhutanese Mission in India or the Embassy of Nepal, whichever is applicable.

Processing Times for Indian Tourist Visas

An E-tourist visa has a processing time of 4 days on average. In comparison, you might have to wait for a whole week for regular visa processing.

Tourist visa in India processing time actually varies depending on the nationality and other factors of the applicant. Elements that influence the processing are:

Accuracy

The application should be correct and properly filled. If the information is not proper then the processing time will increase.

The set of complete documents

The documents that you must submit should be in a specific format as mentioned in the guidelines. Any issue will lead to delay in the processing.

Current application volume

Sometimes tourist visas in India processing time is higher due to busy travel periods. Applying during the busy seasons must be done with enough time in hand, as you will need some time to get the application processed.

Complexities

Some applications require additional verification to get proper information. This takes much time for processing.

Costs Involved in tourist visa for India

• The prices vary depending on the country.
• After applying for a tourist visa for India, you can pay the fees online. Use a credit or debit card to make the international transaction.
• In this regard, note that once the transaction is done, the visa application fee cannot be refunded. The costs are for processing and verification, and not subject to granting or rejection of the visa.

Tips to Speed up Your Visa Application

You can abide by some tips to get your visa soon:

• Apply for the tourist visa for India a few times earlier before your journey.
• Double check the documents one more time before submitting them finally.
• Use the e-visa option for faster processing.
• Choose a reliable visa service or agency for proper and fast process.

Possible Mistakes to that Can Get the Indian Tourist Visa Rejected

Many applicants make some common mistakes in the application form that results in the visa getting canceled. Take note of the following points to be aware of the problems and avoid them at the time of application:

Giving wrong information in the application form

There could be chances of spelling mistakes of your name or errors while filling out your DoB or any other personal information. Make sure that there remains no such discrepancy on the application form.

Not paying attention to guidelines

The tourist visa for India, just like every other eVisa application, comes with specific photograph requirements for the applicants. You must submit a color photograph with your face visible clearly and taken in front of a white background. Failing to do so will get the visa application process rejected. This makes it imperative to follow the guidelines properly.

Submitting incomplete documents

Check the required documents properly before submitting. Cover all the points with valid information. Before making the submission, check if you have filled out all blank spaces with correct information.

Ready to Take the Next Flight to India?

The Land of the Taj Mahal awaits you! While traveling to the country will give you a lifetime of memories, the first step to ensure that is to apply for a tourist visa for India online. Be mindful of taking the right steps and submitting the right documents so that you do not stand a chance to have the application get canceled. With our online portal now at your service, you can get all ready to enjoy exploring India without facing any legal issues.

Whatever questions you have about eVisa, our helpdesk is here to answer your queries.

---