India e-Visa:
A step-by-step guide
If you are planning a tour in India, most foreign nationals will need a valid visa before travelling. For citizens of eligible countries and territories, the India e-Tourist Visa is generally the simplest way to obtain permission to visit India for tourism. The Government of India's e-Visa system allows eligible travellers to apply online before travelling, receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by email and, once the application has been granted, travel to India and obtain the visa endorsement at immigration.
At Indus Bound, we recommend applying well in advance of your journey and, most importantly, ensuring that your e-Visa status shows "GRANTED" before you travel. The Government of India specifically advises travellers to check their ETA status before beginning their journey."
Always use the official Government of India e-Visa website:
Why do you need a visa to visit India?
Most foreign nationals require a valid visa or other authorised immigration status to enter India.
Citizens of a large number of countries and territories are eligible to apply for an Indian e-Visa. The eligible-country list includes the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Because eligibility can change, we recommend checking the current list on the official Government of India e-Visa website before applying rather than relying on a fixed number of eligible countries.
The e-Tourist Visa is intended for eligible travellers whose purpose of travel includes tourism, sightseeing and visiting friends or relatives, among other permitted activities.
When should you apply?
The Government of India currently allows eligible travellers to apply for an e-Tourist Visa up to 120 days before the proposed date of arrival in India. Applications must normally be submitted at least four days before the intended arrival date.
This means that if you are travelling to India in November, you can generally begin your e-Visa application from around July, subject to the exact date calculated from your intended arrival.
Our recommendation
Although the Government permits applications close to the date of travel, we strongly recommend not leaving your application until the last minute.
For a trip that has already been planned and booked, we suggest applying as soon as the application window opens. This gives you time to deal with any potential problems involving your passport details, photograph, document upload or payment. Do not travel until your e-Visa status shows "GRANTED".
What do you need before applying?
Before beginning your application, have the following ready:
1. Recent passport-style photograph
Your photograph should:
- Be in JPEG format
- Be between 10 KB and 1 MB
- Have a minimum dimension of 350 × 350 pixels
- Show your full face, looking directly at the camera
- Have a plain white or light-coloured background
- Be clear and without shadows or borders
- Be a recent photograph and not simply a cropped image from your passport
2. Scanned passport bio page
You will need a clear scan of the passport page containing your personal details and photograph.
The passport document should:
- Be in PDF format
- Be between 10 KB and 300 KB
- Clearly show your name, date of birth, nationality, photograph and passport details
3. Your passport
Your passport should have:
- At least six months' validity at the time of applying for the e-Visa
- At least two blank pages for immigration endorsement/stamping
You should travel with the same passport used for your e-Visa application.
If you have subsequently received a new passport after your ETA was issued, the Government's current guidance states that you may be permitted to enter using the new passport, provided you also carry the old passport on which the ETA was issued.
4. Payment method
The e-Visa fee is country/territory specific. Payment can be made online using the payment methods available through the official Government portal.
The Government also states that a bank transaction charge may be added to the applicable e-Visa fee.
How to apply for an India e-Visa
Visit the official Government of India e-Visa website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/.
Select "Apply here for e-Visa" and begin the online application.
Step 01:
Start your application
The first page asks for basic information about yourself, including your nationality, passport details and email address. Make sure that your email address is correct, as this is where important communication regarding your application and ETA will be sent. Under Visa Service, select the appropriate e-Tourist Visa option.
The Government currently offers e-Tourist Visa options including:
- 30-day e-Tourist Visa
- 1-year e-Tourist Visa
- 5-year e-Tourist Visa
Understanding the different e-Tourist Visas
This is an important distinction.
30-day e-Tourist Visa
The 30-day e-Tourist Visa is valid for 30 days from your first arrival in India and permits multiple entries during that validity period. It is non-extendable and non-convertible. For example, if you first enter India on 15 March, the 30-day validity begins on 15 March.
1-year e-Tourist Visa
The 1-year e-Tourist Visa is valid for 365 days from the date the ETA is granted and permits multiple entries. The maximum stay in India on the 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist Visas is generally 180 days in a calendar year.
5-year e-Tourist Visa
The 5-year e-Tourist Visa is valid for five years from the date the ETA is granted and permits multiple entries. Again, the maximum stay in India on the 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist Visas is generally 180 days in a calendar year.
Therefore, the 1-year and 5-year visas do not begin on your first arrival in India. They begin from the date the ETA is granted.
Step 02:
Select your passport and arrival details
Select Ordinary Passport, unless you hold another type of passport for which a different visa procedure applies. Enter your nationality and select your expected port of arrival in India.
For example, if you are flying into Delhi, select the appropriate Delhi airport option shown on the application.
It is important to select the actual port through which you intend to enter India. e-Visa holders must enter through an authorised e-Visa entry point.
Step 03:
Complete your personal details
The next sections ask for further information about yourself, including:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Nationality
- Passport details
- Address
- Contact details
- Family information
- Profession and occupation
- Marital status
You may also be asked about visible identification marks. If you do not have one, follow the instructions provided by the online application.
Keep your Temporary Application ID
As you progress through the application, a Temporary Application ID is generated.
Make a note of this number. It can be useful if you save the application and need to return to it later.
Step 04:
Previous residence and travel information
The application may ask whether you have lived for at least two years in the country where you are applying.
This refers to your country of current/residential application rather than your country of birth.
Answer all questions accurately and consistently with your passport and personal circumstances.
Step 05:
Provide your address and family information
Step 06:
Provide your travel information
You will be asked for information about your planned journey to India. This may include:
- Expected port of arrival
- Proposed port of exit
- Places you have previously visited in India
- Your address/reference in India
- Your personal reference/contact in your home country
- Countries visited during the relevant period requested by the application
You should provide accurate information based on your actual travel plans.
The application may also ask whether you have visited countries belonging to the SAARC region during the specified period.
SAARC comprises of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Step 07:
Provide your reference in India
The application requires a contact/reference in India.
If Indus Bound is arranging your tour, you may use the contact information that we provide to you for your specific journey.
Step 08:
Upload your photograph and passport
You will now be asked to upload:
- Your recent passport-style photograph
- A clear scan of the passport bio page
The photograph must meet the Government's current technical requirements, including JPEG format, minimum 10 KB and maximum 1 MB.
The passport bio page should be uploaded as a PDF between 10 KB and 300 KB.
After selecting a document, make sure you actually click "Upload Document" before proceeding.
Check that the uploaded documents are clear and readable.
Step 09:
Check your application carefully
Before submitting the application, carefully review every piece of information.
Pay particular attention to:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Passport number
- Passport expiry date
- Nationality
- Date of arrival
- Port of arrival
- Email address
- Photograph
- Passport scan
The Government of India specifically advises applicants to check their details carefully before final submission. Errors in important passport information can cause problems even after an ETA has been granted.
Do not intentionally enter an incorrect arrival date or other information simply to give yourself additional flexibility.
Step 10:
Pay the e-Visa fee
Once you have checked your application, proceed to payment through the official Government portal.
The applicable fee depends on your nationality/territory and the type of e-Visa selected. A bank transaction charge may also apply.
Keep your payment confirmation for your records.
Please note that the e-Visa processing fee is non-refundable, including where an application is rejected.
Step 11:
Wait for your ETA
After submitting your application and payment, the application will be processed by the Indian authorities.
Your Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be communicated to the email address provided in the application.
You can also check your application status through the official e-Visa website.
If the authorities require a document or photograph to be re-uploaded, you may receive an email requesting the necessary action.
Step 12:
Check that your e-Visa is GRANTED
This is one of the most important steps.
Do not travel to India simply because you have submitted an application or made payment.
Before starting your journey, check the status of your e-Visa on the official Government website.
Your status should show:
GRANTED
The Government of India specifically advises travellers to confirm that their ETA status is "GRANTED" before commencing their journey.
Step 13:
Print your ETA
Once your e-Visa has been granted, download the ETA and keep a copy with you.
We recommend:
- Saving a digital copy on your phone
- Printing a paper copy
- Keeping the ETA together with your passport and travel documents
The Government of India advises e-Visa travellers to carry a copy of their ETA when travelling to India.
Step 14:
Complete the India e-Arrival Card
There is an additional requirement that travellers should be aware of.
The e-Arrival Card is not an e-Visa.
Foreign nationals and OCI cardholders can complete the India e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival in India.
The service is free and is used to provide arrival information to Indian Immigration. You can access the official e-Arrival Card service here:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/
We recommend completing this shortly before your journey and checking the official Government website for the latest instructions.
Arriving in India
On arrival, proceed to the immigration counters for e-Visa holders.
You should have:
- Your passport
- A copy of your granted ETA/e-Visa
- Your onward or return travel details, if requested
- Your accommodation details
- Your completed e-Arrival Card
Biometric information is captured at Indian immigration on arrival.
Your e-Visa is valid only for entry through the designated immigration points authorised for e-Visa holders. The Government of India publishes the current list of authorised airports and seaports on its e-Visa website.
A final note from Indus Bound
India's e-Visa system is straightforward for most eligible travellers, but the application form contains a considerable amount of personal and travel information.
Our advice is to apply as soon as you are eligible to do so, check every detail carefully, and never travel until your ETA has been granted.
Visa regulations and eligibility can change, so for the most current information always refer to the official Government of India e-Visa website before applying.
