e-Visa for India: documents, fees and steps

Documents requested

Ordinary passport from a country or territory eligible for the eVisa, valid for at least six months on the date of application, with at least two blank pagesConditions and details
Each person must have their own ordinary passport, valid for at least six months on the date of application and containing at least two blank pages. An entry in a parent's or spouse's passport is not sufficient. Diplomatic or official passports, laissez-passer and other travel documents are not accepted for the eVisa. If your country requires a return permit, arrange for that as well. Travel with the passport used in the application; if it has been renewed, see the instructions below.
Scan of the passport biographical page, showing the photograph and personal details (PDF, from 10 to 300 KB)Conditions and details
Compulsory upload: the page must show the photograph and personal details (name, date of birth, nationality, date of expiry). The application may be rejected if the uploaded documents are not clear or do not comply with the specifications.
Recent digital photograph, front-facing, on a white or plain light background (JPEG, from 10 KB to 1 MB)Conditions and details
Equal height and width; full face front-facing, eyes open, without glasses; head centred, from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin; without shadow on the face or on the background; without border.
Return or onward ticket, and sufficient means for the stay in IndiaArrange a return or onward ticket and sufficient means to fund your stay in India.
Printed Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), to be presented at the immigration checkpostConditions and details
The ETA is sent by email once the application is granted. Travellers carry a copy and check on the portal, before departure, that their status is “GRANTED”. The eVisa is affixed to the passport at the immigration checkpost.

Depending on your situation

For a short-term course: copy of a letter from the institution, organisation or hospital concerned, on letterheadConditions and details
Only if the stay includes a short-term course (local languages, music, dance, arts and crafts, cooking, medicine…), which must not be formal or structured training: six months at most, without a qualifying certificate or diploma. The document must be in English.
For short-term volunteering: copy of a letter from the organisation concerned, on letterheadOnly if the stay includes short-term voluntary work: one month at most, without pay or consideration of any kind. The document must be in English.
For a mountaineering expedition: authorisation letter from the Indian Mountaineering FoundationConditions and details
For a mountaineering expedition under an e-Tourist Visa, attach the authorisation from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation in addition to the passport biographical page. For an expedition in the Himalayas, send the detailed application to this foundation at least four months before departure.
Yellow fever vaccination certificate, in original, for the persons concernedConditions and details
Required of nationals of countries affected by yellow fever and of travellers arriving from them; according to the FAQ, of any foreigner arriving in India within six days of departure from an endemic country. Failing that, a six-day quarantine is possible on arrival. The list of countries is published by the Indian Ministry of Health.
In the case of a new passport: the old passport on which the ETA was issuedConditions and details
If your ETA remains attached to the old passport, bring the old and the new passport: the FAQ provides for possible admission under these conditions. The portal also offers a service to transfer the ETA to the new passport. Check its instructions and the status of your authorisation before travelling.

Steps

Check eligibility: passport from a listed country or territory, covered purpose (leisure, tourism, visiting relatives, short yoga program, short non-degree course, volunteering for one month at most) and absence of exclusion.
Prepare the documents to upload in English (JPEG photo, PDF scan of the biographical page, letter specific to the purpose if applicable) before filling out the application.
Submit the application online at least 4 days before the date of arrival, and at the earliest 120 days before the planned date of travel, by uploading the photo and the passport page.
Pay the e-Visa fee online (credit or debit card, payment wallet) at least 4 days before the planned date of travel, otherwise the application is not processed.
Monitor your email: if a document or the photo is not compliant, an email, received in principle within 24 hours, asks you to upload it again ("Reupload Data" tab).
Receive the ETA by email, check on the portal that its status is "GRANTED", then print it.
Fill out the electronic arrival card (e-Arrival card) online within 72 hours before arrival; it does not replace the visa.
Arrive at a designated e-Visa checkpoint: present passport and ETA, and complete biometric data collection at immigration

Where to apply

Online, on the e-Visa portal of the Bureau of Immigration (indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa), the only official application website.

Good to know

Length of stay and validityConditions and details
The e-Tourist Visa offers a 30-day option from first arrival, as well as one-year or five-year options from the issuance of the ETA. Check on your ETA the period allowed for first entry, the number of entries and the duration granted. For the one-year and five-year options, each continuous stay is limited to 90 days, or 180 days for nationals of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan. The total of stays under an e-Tourist Visa and a paper tourist visa must not exceed 180 days per calendar year. The five-year option is not open to nationals of Sri Lanka.
Neither extension nor conversionConditions and details
The eVisa can neither be extended nor converted. It is not valid for protected, restricted or military areas (“Cantonment Areas”): going there requires prior authorisation from the civil authorities.
Non-refundable feesConditions and details
The fees depend on the country or territory. Check the total and the payment fees displayed before paying: they vary according to the gateway and the method used. Processing fees are not refundable, even in the event of refusal or cancellation of the trip. No eVisa surcharge is due at the airport and no urgent or express rate is provided. If the account is debited without confirmation, check the payment status before any new attempt.
No intermediary neededThe service is entirely online; no intermediary or agency is needed. The page warns against unauthorised sites and persons who promise an expedited eVisa for payment.
Enter and exit through an authorised checkpostConditions and details
Check the “Authorized Immigration checkposts” list before booking: entry with an ETA must be through a checkpost designated for the eVisa. The current list includes airports, seaports for cruises and designated land checkposts. The checkpost may differ from the one indicated in the application. Have it confirmed that the chosen checkpost is open and accepts your ETA on the date of travel. Exit is through an authorised immigration checkpost.
Military or police background (Canadian nationals)Conditions and details
A Canadian national who has served in defence, the military, security or the police (serving or retired) is not eligible for the eVisa and must apply for a regular visa. Concealing this background may lead to refusal of entry and removal.
Pakistani originConditions and details
Foreigners of Pakistani origin are not eligible for the eVisa, including those whose parent or grandparent was born or permanently resided in Pakistan. They may apply for a regular visa at an Indian mission.
Accuracy of the applicationConditions and details
Fill out the application yourself and check the name, nationality, passport number, date of birth and photo before submitting. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information. If the ETA received contains an error, contact indian-evisa@gov.in at least 24 hours before travel for assistance.
Visa on arrival for three nationalitiesConditions and details
Nationals of Japan and South Korea, as well as those of the United Arab Emirates who have already obtained an e-Visa or an Indian visa, can also obtain a visa on arrival. Other eligible nationalities must wait for the ETA to be granted before traveling.
Entry at the discretion of immigrationA visa does not confer the right to enter India: entry is up to the immigration authorities. The traveler must adhere to the purpose declared in their application.
Arrival card and health declarationConditions and details
Complete the electronic arrival card on indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival within 72 hours before arrival. All international passengers must also fill out the Air Suvidha 2.0 health declaration on airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in before immigration control. This declaration can be filled out within 24 hours before arrival, preferably before boarding. Present the downloaded form at the health or immigration control. These formalities do not replace the visa.

Nationalities covered

This procedure applies to 163 nationalities.

Albania
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chile
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Official links

e-Visa (new tab) indianvisaonline.gov.in
India Bureau of Immigration — visa terms and conditionsBureau of Immigration - Home Content (new tab) boi.gov.in
General Guidelines | Bureau of Immigration (new tab) boi.gov.in
How to apply | Bureau of Immigration (new tab) boi.gov.in
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — Press Information Bureau (new tab) www.pib.gov.in

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