Update: India has restored the eVisa system to travelers from 156 countries. Land and river crossing remains shut down. All previously issued eVisas have also been restored.
India eVisa Overview
The India e-Visa is an official document required to enter and travel inside India. It is not required to meet with the Indian embassy or consulate at any time.
People traveling for tourism, business, or medical reasons can apply for and receive a visa to India online. The process is straightforward and makes entering India smoother than ever before.
It takes a few minutes to apply for a eVisa to India and a few days to get it processed. Before long, travelers will have their visas in hand without ever surrendering their passports or standing in line.
This online application has been designed to streamline the visa to India process, making it as easy as possible. Currently, travelers from over 160 countries are eligible to apply for a number of different electronic visas online.
Processing Steps
Online Application
Form is received and reviewed for approval.
Receive Document
Receive the approved document via e-mail.
Arrive in India
Present the document upon arrival.
Requirements for Application
Funds and Exiting India
You need to have a return ticket or ticket of your onward visit and sufficient money to support your stay in India.
You may exit from any of the authorized Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) in India.
Pakistan Origin
If you are of Pakistan-origin or you have a Pakistan passport, then you will have to apply for a regular visa at Indian Mission.
Passport Validity
Your passport needs to have at least six (6) months' validity from the date of arrival to India. Your passport needs to have at least two blank pages required for stamping by the Immigration Officer.
Unavailable to Certain Passport Holders
Unavailable to Laissez-passer travel document holders or Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders. A regular visa will be needed. Contact India embassy or mission.
India e-Visa Processing
Currently, the India eVisa is only to be used at approved entry ports, and the document must be printed out prior to departing to India.
India Visa for Tourism
India issues eVisas for tourism. However, transit visas are not considered eVisas.
Foreign travelers can visit their friends and family, explore India's culture and landscape, arrive in a cruise, and attend short-term yoga and Indian languages courses with this visa.
There are three types of India eVisas for tourism. Foreigners can apply for e-Tourist visas that are valid for one year, five years and 30 days. 10 year visa is also available (not eVisa).
The India evisa for one year is valid for exactly 356 days from the date of issuance. Foreigners with this visa can enter and leave the country multiple times. They can also stay in the country for up to three months at a time. The same goes for an e-Tourist visa with five-year validity.
However, citizens of the USA, UK, Canada and Japan can stay consecutively for 180 days using this visa.
International travelers holding an e-Tourist visa with one month validity can enter India a maximum of two times before its expiry.
India Visa for Business
Citizens of eligible countries can apply for an eVisa for business online. Travelers holding this visa can visit India to attend business conferences, seminars and workshops.
The validity of the visa is one year. This is a multiple entry visa and the applicants can stay up to 180 days at a time.
However, if they want to stay for more than 180 days, they will have to register with the FRRO (Foreigners' Regional Registration Office).
India Visa for Medical Visit
This eVisa is granted only for medical treatments in India. Treatments in India is comparatively cheaper and healthcare services offered by hospitals is on par with that in many American and European nations.
The Indian government's visa policy for medical treatments is lenient and foreigners with certain ailments can get medical visas on priority.
The ailments in the priority list include heart problems, organ transplantation and join replacements, neurological and renal issues, cosmetic surgeries, and ophthalmic and congenital disorders.
However, the vetting process for this visa is stricter and the applicants should be genuine visitors for medical treatment.
The Indian medical visa is valid for only 60 days and foreigners have to provide a letter of invitation from the hospital in India to apply for the visa.
They can enter and leave the country a maximum of three times and have to provide proof of funds to sustain themselves during the period of treatment.
India Visa for Conferences
This visa is granted to foreigners who are planning to attend a conference, meeting or workshops conducted by the Union government, state governments, educational institutions or companies in India.
This includes the yearly events like Indian International Film Festival, Pravasi Bharathiya Divas and international seminars conducted by Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and other educational institutes of repute.
The visa validity is for the duration of the conference. However, they have an option to club this visa with a short-term tourist visa.
The applicants need to provide a letter of invitation from the organizers of the meet while applying for the visa.
If the agenda of the conference deals with socially, politically and religiously sensitive issues, the visa can be denied. Also, foreigners may not get a visa to attend meetings that are organized in the restricted areas of the country.
Uploading Passport
It is mandatory for applicants of an Indian eVisa to upload the scanned copy of their passports irrespective of the nature of their visit and their country of origin.
Applicants can use a scanner or their smartphone cameras to scan the document provided that images are not pixelated or blurry.
The scan copy should be clear, legible and machine-readable.
All four corners of the passport and details including personal and passport information should be visible and should not be blurry.
Note that indecipherable scan images can be a reason for visa rejection or delays.
Applicants should scan the page that has details such as the name, gender and date of birth of the applicants and number, issuance and expiry date of their passports.
The images can be uploaded in PDF, PNG and JPG formats. The size of the scanned copy should not be more than 600 (height) pixels by 800 pixels (width).
However, agents at Natvisa will resize the passport image uploaded so it is up to India government guidelines.
Uploading a Picture of Self
Applicants can get a professional's help in taking photographs or can use a smartphone.
The photographs should be clear, concise and plain. There should not be any glare or shadow. The tone quality must be continuous.
The height and width of the image should be equal and it should be a 2X2 size color image. The applicants' full faces should be covered with eyes wide open.
See here for full guide on photo of self.
The expression on the face should be natural. There should not be funny expressions. No head covering and spectacles are permitted.
If they are using their smartphone cameras to take the passport photograph, they need to be careful.
They should avoid taking pictures in colorful backgrounds such as in a park or on a beach. Selfies with family members and friends are a strict no-no.
The applicant, while taking his/passport photographs should stand in front of a plain wall. Remember, only white and off-white backgrounds are allowed. They need to stand up straight with their eyes open. The image should cover their full face from the top of hair to the chin and should not have any distractions.
The passport photographs should not have any borders.
Uploading Supporting Documents
Depending on the India eVisa type, applicants need to submit additional documents. Scanned copies of all these documents need to be uploaded during the visa application.
The scan copies should be taken on A4 size papers and in color. Nothing should obstruct the copies and it should be legible and clear.
Applicants need to gather all the documents in order and keep them in two different groups- applicants' details and sponsors' details. They should not staple it. They have to scan using a scanner and upload it.
They can also use their smartphone cameras. Make sure that the scanned image is not pixelated or blurry. This can result in denial of their India visa application.
What If the eVisa is Rejected?
The eVisa can be rejected because of various reasons. If the electronic visa is rejected, applicants can approach the nearest Indian mission to apply for a regular visa.
The reasons for visa rejection can vary from hiding the criminal background to blurry face photograph.
Incorrect information like misspelled names, country of origin and date of passport expiry can result in the rejection of the visa application.
Multiple applications can also be a reason if the applicant still holds a valid eVisa or visa to India, the authorities will not issue a new one.
People with Pakistani origin can also be denied an eVisa irrespective of their current nationality. They have to apply for a regular visa. If the intention of the visit does not match the visa type, the eVisa may be rejected.
Insufficient funds and expiry of the passport are another reason for visa denial.
Note that eVisa are granted only for foreigners with regular passports. Travelers with special, official or diplomatic passports should apply for a regular visa.
Extending the Indian eVisa
As of now Indian eVisas cannot be extended. The electronic visa is issued only for tourism, business and medical purposes and foreigners visiting on this visa should leave the country before the expiry of the validity. They also cannot visit restricted or prohibited areas.
Visiting Protected Sites
The Indian government has prohibited foreigners from visiting some areas of the country like parts of Jammu and Kashmir, parts of Rajasthan, Mizoram and Nagaland due to various security reasons like extremism and terrorism.
However, international travelers with prior special permission are allowed to visit these areas. They should have genuine reasons like meeting their family members to get permission from the Indian home ministry.
To promote tourism, the Indian government also grants Protected Area Permit (PAP)/ Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to foreign tourists who do not pose a threat to the country's security.
The RAP is required to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and part of Sikkim.
Who Needs a Visa to India?
Citizens of all foreign nations need a visa to enter India except a few visa-free neighboring countries.
There are two types of visas- eVisas and regular embassy visas. Citizens of eligible countries can apply for eVisas for short term visits for the purpose of tourism, business and medical treatment.
Citizens of a few entitled foreign nations can obtain visas on arrival for short term visits that do not exceed 60 days for tourism, business and medical treatments.
Travelers wanting to intern in India will also need a visa. Also, Pakistani citizens are not eligible for eVisa and will require a regular visa.
What is Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cards?
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards are immigration authorization issued to foreigners of Indian origin and their spouses who can stay and work in India indefinitely. At the moment, India does not allow dual citizenship and expects its citizens to renounce their citizenship if they want to move away from India permanently.
India Visa (mission) vs eVisa
An Indian eVisa is granted to the citizens of a few foreign countries for shorter visits. The application process is simpler, easier, faster and online. There is an array of available eVisas travelers can pick from.
However, regular visas are issued to all foreigners. The application process has both online and offline steps. It is more expensive and issued for longer periods.
Delivery of Visa Document
Now that your application is approved, we will send you your eVisa to the email you used during the application process. It typically takes about 1-4 business days for our team to send your eVisa to the email provided, once you receive your eVisa you need to print it out and place it with your other required travel documents. This is one of the primary benefits of using our service to obtain a travel visa to India when compared to traditional methods.
Some of the other benefits you gain access to by using our online visa service are:
- No visit to the embassy
- Visa is sent via email after approval
- Credit card payments
- Secure application process
If an embassy visit is needed, British citizens can visit the center in Edinburgh or the visa center in Glasgow.
Avoid Multiple Visa Applications
Do not apply for your visa several times, multiple visa applications will be rejected and the application fee will be non-refundable so keep this in mind before trying to submit another application. If your visa application is denied, you will need to wait to receive an email from our team with the next steps required. Rest assured, if your visa application is denied, we will work with you to resolve any issues so you can start exploring.
Who Are The Leading Countries That Visit India?
Currently, travelers from Bangladesh are leading foreign arrivals in India as of 2019. Other leading tourist arrivals are:
India's Covid Response
Since the country's first cases were reported at the end of January 2020, India has worked tirelessly to minimize the loss of human life to Covid-19. This has included tracking services augmented with preventive and therapeutic healthcare facilities along with diagnostic and research facilities.
Travel restrictions were implemented in March of 2020 but with confirmed cases of Covid-19 constantly dropping since January of this year, India joined the growing ranks of countries reopening their borders. This is due to several factors, such as worldwide cases decreasing, almost one-billion residents of India having received at least one vaccine dose, well over 800,000,000 being fully vaccinated, and a positivity rate of just 0.4%. When you compare that to a 2.16% for the U.S. and 10.8% in the U.K. as of March 21, it's clear that India's response is working rather well.