India 5 Year e-Visa for UK Citizens

An electronic visa is a convenient option for the citizens of the United Kingdom planning to visit India. With the availability of a 5-year India tourist e-Visa, UK travelers can enjoy multiple entries and an extended stay.  

Please note that a five-year tourist e-Visa is not valid for visiting protected/restricted and cantonment areas in India. 

Who is Eligible

The United Kingdom is among the India e-Visa eligible countries. Therefore, UK nationals can easily apply for an e-Visa or a regular visa.  

Exceptions

1. British travelers holding a diplomatic/official passport or those having international travel documents are not eligible for the e-Visa  

2. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) with a valid OCI card and a current foreign passport do not need a visa.  

3. Applicants of Pakistani origin with dual British-Pakistan nationality must apply for a regular embassy visa using their Pakistani passport.  

Some items needed for a tourist eVisa

Passport image

Personal details (name, dob, etc)

Valid email address

5-year e-Tourist Visa

UK passport holders planning to visit India over the course of years can apply for a 5-year tourist e-Visa. They need to keep the following conditions in mind:  

Purpose of the visit: sightseeing, meeting friends and family, short-term yoga retreats, volunteer work without payment, etc.  

Duration: Five years from the date of grant of ETA  

Entries: Multiple  

Stay: Maximum stay in India during one calendar year should not exceed 180 days 

Extension: Visa in non-extendable and non-convertible 

Processing Time: It is typically processed within 96 hours. However, applying at least seven days before the scheduled flight is recommended 

Cost: GBP 67 (processing fee of 2.5% included)  

Important Note:  

UK applicants must ensure that the five-year tourist e-visa fee must be paid at least four days before the intended travel date.  

The fee for an e-Visa is non-refundable, irrespective of the grant or rejection of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).  

Payment and Technical Delays

Applicants from the United Kingdom must pay attention to the following:   

• Updating the 5-year tourist e-Visa fee payment status may take up to 2 hours on the e-Visa portal. Applicants from the UK should not reapply but wait for the payment status to update.  

• If the fee is deducted, but the status is not updated, applicants should check their payment status online.  

Choosing a 5-year India e-Visa for Tourism over One-year e-tourist Visa

UK passport holders planning to make multiple trips to India should consider applying for the India 5-year e-Visa, which offers flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and a longer validity period than the India 1-year e-Visa. However, for those planning only one or two trips to India within a year, the 1-year e-Visa is a simpler and more convenient option.  

Conclusion

A 5-year India e-Visa for UK Citizens is ideal for those visitors wishing to explore various regions or travel at different times without the restriction of a shorter visa.  

It saves travelers from the repetitive process of reapplying for future visits. It is particularly advantageous for those with tight schedules or last-minute travel plans.