Do US citizens and other nationals need a visa for India?

Yes. Most foreign visitors need a visa or e-Visa to enter India. The tourist e-Visa is open to nationals of more than 165 countries, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens, for tourism, visiting family or short business trips. There is no visa-free entry for general tourism, so you apply and are approved before you fly.

How much does the India e-Visa cost?

You pay one all-inclusive price that includes a government fee set by the Indian authorities and our service fee, with the government portion itemised on your receipt. The government fee varies by nationality and season and is paid directly to the government, while our fee covers the review and submission of your application. There are no hidden charges added later.

What documents and photo do I need?

A passport with at least six months validity and two blank pages, a clear scan of the passport bio page, and a recent passport-style photo with a plain light background. We check your photo and documents against India's current rules before submission, the most common cause of rejection. A return or onward ticket and an Indian address complete the application.

What are the exact photo rules for the India e-Visa?

India requires a recent square colour photograph with a plain light background and your full face clearly visible, with no hats or filters and neutral expression. A photo that is rectangular, dark, blurred or has a busy background is the most frequent reason applications are returned. We review your photo against these rules before submission so you can correct it in time.

Do I need to print my India e-Visa at the border?

Yes. Indian border officials commonly ask to see a printed copy of the approved e-Visa, so we recommend printing it and carrying it with your passport, along with a digital copy as a backup. Travel on the same passport you applied with, since the e-Visa is linked to that document and its number is checked on arrival.

Is the India e-Visa the same as the arrival card?

No. The e-Visa is the authorisation that lets you travel to and enter India. Any arrival or immigration card is a separate step completed around your journey; the e-Visa is what you apply for here, before you fly. Completing one does not replace the other, and the e-Visa is the document checked first on arrival.

Can I use the India e-Visa for business instead of tourism?

Tourism, visiting family and friends, short conferences and medical treatment are covered by the tourist or matching e-Visa category. Genuine commercial business such as meetings, trade and recruitment uses the business e-Visa, which has its own validity. We confirm the correct category for your purpose during the application so the e-Visa matches your trip.

Can I extend my India e-Visa or convert it to another visa?

The tourist e-Visa generally cannot be extended or converted to a work, study or residence visa from inside India, and you must leave when your permitted stay ends. If you need to stay longer or for a different purpose, you apply for the appropriate regular visa from an Indian mission. We share the latest guidance in your confirmation email.

What happens if my India e-Visa is refused?

Refusals usually come from a photo or document that fails the rules, a mismatch with the passport, or an application that does not fit the e-Visa categories. Our review catches these before submission. Where a refusal is outside your control our service fee is refunded; the government fee is paid to the authority and is non-refundable. In some cases a regular visa is the right route instead.

Is VisitPass the official India e-Visa website?

No. VisitPass is an independent service that prepares and checks your application before submitting it to the Indian Bureau of Immigration. We are not affiliated with the Indian government; the government fee is paid directly to the authorities and itemised on your receipt, separate from our service fee, so you always see what goes where.

What are the most common mistakes that get an India e-Visa rejected?

The frequent ones are a photo that is rectangular, dark or has a busy background, a name or passport number typed differently from the passport, a blurred bio-page scan, and choosing a category that does not match the trip. We check the photo, every field and your document scans against India's current rules before submission, so these are corrected in time rather than found by the authority.

Do I need to show proof of funds or financial documents?

The tourist e-Visa form does not ask you to upload bank statements, but it does ask for a return or onward ticket and an Indian address, and you should be able to show you can support your stay. An immigration officer at the border may ask about your plans and means; carrying a booking, your itinerary and a payment card is enough for a normal tourist visit.

Can I stay in India for up to 180 days continuously?

Each stay is capped at 90 days, and at 180 days for US, UK, Canadian and Japanese nationals, counted per visit. If you remain in India for more than 180 continuous days, local rules require you to register with the FRRO office within two weeks of arrival. For a longer or back-to-back stay we confirm the right category in the application.

When should I apply for the India e-Visa?

Apply at least four days before you travel, and ideally once your trip is booked. The Indian Bureau of Immigration typically decides within 1 to 5 business days, and the e-Visa is usually issued well within that window, but applying early leaves room for any photo or document checks. Busy travel periods can add time. Rush and Super Rush tiers exist for short-notice travel.

India e-Visa · VisitPass

Overview

The India e-Visa is the Indian government's online travel authorisation for short visits. It is the authorisation you obtain online before you travel, and it is different from the e-Arrival card or any arrival form completed around your journey: the e-Visa is your entry permit for India, while an arrival card is a separate immigration formality. The tourist e-Visa is the most common type: it is valid for one year from the date of approval, allows multiple entries, and permits a stay of up to 90 days each visit.

For US, UK, Canadian and Japanese nationals each stay can run to 180 days, a useful nuance if you plan a longer trip. The e-Visa is open to nationals of more than 165 countries, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens, and is used for tourism, visiting family and friends, short business meetings, conferences, and medical treatment under the matching business or medical e-Visa. It is granted electronically and linked to the passport you apply with, so you travel on that same document.

The e-Visa does not cover paid employment, long-term study, journalism, missionary work or permanent residence, which require the corresponding regular visa from an Indian mission. Each traveller needs their own e-Visa, including children and infants travelling on a family trip. Your India e-Visa application is prepared in your own language, every detail and your photo are checked against India's current government rules, and it is submitted to the Indian Bureau of Immigration.

At a glance

The key facts for a India e-Visa application.

Visa type: e-Visa
What you need: Your passport
Validity: 1 year
Maximum stay: 90 days per visit
Entry type: Multiple

Who can apply

The main eligibility conditions for this destination, and who can apply.

Available to nationals of more than 165 countries, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens. The tourist e-Visa is valid for one year from approval with multiple entries; each stay is up to 90 days, and up to 180 days for US, UK, Canadian and Japanese nationals. Business and medical e-Visas have different validity windows.

What you'll need

Have these ready before you begin your application. Requirements can vary by nationality and trip purpose.

Passport with at least six months validity and two blank pages
Recent digital photograph (square, plain light background)
Scanned bio page of your passport
An Indian address (hotel booking, host invitation or itinerary)
Return or onward flight booking
Payment card (one all-inclusive price)

Requirements in detail

India asks for a little more than a pure travel authorisation, so prepare each item before you start. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival and have two blank pages for the entry and exit stamps. You upload a recent digital photograph, and India is strict about it: the image must be square, in colour, with a plain light background and your full face clearly visible, which is different from the no-photo ESTA-style permits.

You also upload a clear scan or photo of your passport bio page, the one with your details and photograph, so the data can be matched. The form asks for an Indian address, which can be a hotel booking, a host's invitation or your itinerary, and a return or onward flight booking that shows you intend to leave. A payment card covers one all-inclusive price that includes the government fee and the service fee, with the government portion itemised on your receipt.

The single most common avoidable error is a photo that fails the size or background rules, followed by a name or passport number that does not match the passport exactly. The photo and every field are checked against India's current requirements before submission, so these problems are caught before they cause a rejection rather than after.

Government processing time

What the issuing authority typically takes once the application is submitted.

Government processing: the Indian Bureau of Immigration decides within 1 to 5 business days. Applying at least four days before you travel is recommended; the e-Visa is usually issued well within that window, but applying early leaves room for any document or photo checks. VisitPass review: Standard 1-3 business days; Rush 1 business day; Super Rush less than 6 hours. The form is confirmed complete, the photo and details are checked against India's current rules, the application is submitted to the authority, and the confirmation issued by email with a tracking code so you can follow its progress.

On arrival

India commonly expects you to carry a printed copy of your approved e-Visa at the border, so print it and keep it with your passport rather than relying on a phone alone. Travel on the exact passport you applied with, because the e-Visa is linked to its number and a different document will not be recognised. Arrive at one of the designated airports or seaports that accept the e-Visa.

Have your return or onward ticket and your Indian address ready to show. The e-Visa authorises you to travel to India and request entry, but the immigration officer at the port makes the final decision on admission and the length of your stay, so keep your travel details to hand and answer their questions clearly.

Planning your trip

India rewards the time you give it. The classic Golden Triangle links Delhi's bazaars and Mughal monuments, the Taj Mahal at Agra, and the pink old city of Jaipur, gateway to the desert forts and lake palaces of Rajasthan, from blue-lit Jodhpur to romantic Udaipur. In the south, Kerala's palm-lined backwaters drift past rice paddies and spice gardens, perfect for a houseboat and a session of Ayurveda or yoga in Kovalam or Varkala. The Himalayan north around Ladakh, Rishikesh, Manali and Darjeeling offers crisp mountain air, high-altitude trekking, river rafting and tea estates, while Varanasi on the Ganges stirs with dawn rituals along its ghats. The cool, dry season from November to February brings the most comfortable weather across the northern plains; sidestep the heavy June-to-September monsoon. Pack light cottons with a fleece for chilly evenings and mountain mornings, modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for temples, sturdy walking shoes, sun protection and a refillable water bottle for long, rewarding days.

One all-inclusive price

One price per visa with everything included. The government portion goes to the issuing authority and is non-refundable, itemised on your official receipt. Our service covers a full review of your application, secure handling and 24/7 email support.

From

$165.00

Standard tier, one all-inclusive price. You choose your processing speed at checkout, where the final price is confirmed.

Apply now See full pricing breakdown →

The government portion shown is an approximate USD equivalent of the issuing authority's official charge; the exact all-inclusive price is confirmed at checkout.

How to apply

Three steps from start to approval.

Complete the form
Answer the official questions online. Your draft is saved for 30 days, so you can finish once your documents are to hand.
Pay securely
You see the one all-inclusive price before you pay. We check your application for completeness before it reaches the government portal.
Receive by email
Your approved travel authorisation arrives by email. Bring it, or a copy, together with the passport you applied with when you travel.

Read the full India e-Visa guide

Questions about this destination

Common questions specific to this visa. For broader topics see our help centre.

Do US citizens and other nationals need a visa for India?
Yes. Most foreign visitors need a visa or e-Visa to enter India. The tourist e-Visa is open to nationals of more than 165 countries, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens, for tourism, visiting family or short business trips. There is no visa-free entry for general tourism, so you apply and are approved before you fly.
How long is the India e-Visa valid?
The tourist e-Visa is valid for one year from approval and allows multiple entries. Each stay can be up to 90 days, and up to 180 days for US, UK, Canadian and Japanese nationals. Business and medical e-Visas have different validity windows, so we confirm the right type for your trip in the application.
How much does the India e-Visa cost?
You pay one all-inclusive price that includes a government fee set by the Indian authorities and our service fee, with the government portion itemised on your receipt. The government fee varies by nationality and season and is paid directly to the government, while our fee covers the review and submission of your application. There are no hidden charges added later.
How long does the India e-Visa take to process?
The Indian Bureau of Immigration typically decides within 1 to 5 business days. Apply at least four days before travel; e-Visas are usually issued well within that window, but applying early leaves room for any document checks. Our Rush and Super Rush tiers prioritise the review on our side when your departure is close.
What documents and photo do I need?
A passport with at least six months validity and two blank pages, a clear scan of the passport bio page, and a recent passport-style photo with a plain light background. We check your photo and documents against India's current rules before submission, the most common cause of rejection. A return or onward ticket and an Indian address complete the application.
What are the exact photo rules for the India e-Visa?
India requires a recent square colour photograph with a plain light background and your full face clearly visible, with no hats or filters and neutral expression. A photo that is rectangular, dark, blurred or has a busy background is the most frequent reason applications are returned. We review your photo against these rules before submission so you can correct it in time.
Do I need to print my India e-Visa at the border?
Yes. Indian border officials commonly ask to see a printed copy of the approved e-Visa, so we recommend printing it and carrying it with your passport, along with a digital copy as a backup. Travel on the same passport you applied with, since the e-Visa is linked to that document and its number is checked on arrival.
Is the India e-Visa the same as the arrival card?
No. The e-Visa is the authorisation that lets you travel to and enter India. Any arrival or immigration card is a separate step completed around your journey; the e-Visa is what you apply for here, before you fly. Completing one does not replace the other, and the e-Visa is the document checked first on arrival.
Can I use the India e-Visa for business instead of tourism?
Tourism, visiting family and friends, short conferences and medical treatment are covered by the tourist or matching e-Visa category. Genuine commercial business such as meetings, trade and recruitment uses the business e-Visa, which has its own validity. We confirm the correct category for your purpose during the application so the e-Visa matches your trip.
Can I extend my India e-Visa or convert it to another visa?
The tourist e-Visa generally cannot be extended or converted to a work, study or residence visa from inside India, and you must leave when your permitted stay ends. If you need to stay longer or for a different purpose, you apply for the appropriate regular visa from an Indian mission. We share the latest guidance in your confirmation email.
What happens if my India e-Visa is refused?
Refusals usually come from a photo or document that fails the rules, a mismatch with the passport, or an application that does not fit the e-Visa categories. Our review catches these before submission. Where a refusal is outside your control our service fee is refunded; the government fee is paid to the authority and is non-refundable. In some cases a regular visa is the right route instead.
Is VisitPass the official India e-Visa website?
No. VisitPass is an independent service that prepares and checks your application before submitting it to the Indian Bureau of Immigration. We are not affiliated with the Indian government; the government fee is paid directly to the authorities and itemised on your receipt, separate from our service fee, so you always see what goes where.
What are the most common mistakes that get an India e-Visa rejected?
The frequent ones are a photo that is rectangular, dark or has a busy background, a name or passport number typed differently from the passport, a blurred bio-page scan, and choosing a category that does not match the trip. We check the photo, every field and your document scans against India's current rules before submission, so these are corrected in time rather than found by the authority.
Do I need to show proof of funds or financial documents?
The tourist e-Visa form does not ask you to upload bank statements, but it does ask for a return or onward ticket and an Indian address, and you should be able to show you can support your stay. An immigration officer at the border may ask about your plans and means; carrying a booking, your itinerary and a payment card is enough for a normal tourist visit.
Can I stay in India for up to 180 days continuously?
Each stay is capped at 90 days, and at 180 days for US, UK, Canadian and Japanese nationals, counted per visit. If you remain in India for more than 180 continuous days, local rules require you to register with the FRRO office within two weeks of arrival. For a longer or back-to-back stay we confirm the right category in the application.
When should I apply for the India e-Visa?
Apply at least four days before you travel, and ideally once your trip is booked. The Indian Bureau of Immigration typically decides within 1 to 5 business days, and the e-Visa is usually issued well within that window, but applying early leaves room for any photo or document checks. Busy travel periods can add time. Rush and Super Rush tiers exist for short-notice travel.

Specialist review on every file

We look at your file for the small errors that get applications refused, before any government does. Real reviewers, not AI form-fillers, not outsourced clerical work.

We don't quote specialist headcounts. Our commitment is simple: a real person reviews every file.

India help desk

Have questions about your e-Visa? Email the India desk and we reply within 24 hours.

india@visitpass-online.com

Other destinations we cover

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