India e-Visa
Everything you need to apply for your India e-Visa: the requirements, the documents, and the steps from start to approval.
Official India government portalOverview
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.
Requirements in detail
India asks for a little more than a simple travel permit, so gather each item before you open the e-Visa form. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival, with two blank pages for the entry and exit stamps. The photograph is where India is strictest, so prepare it carefully: a recent colour image that is square, on a plain light background, with your full face clearly visible, which is different from the no-photo permits some countries use.
You also upload a clear scan or photo of your passport bio page, the one with your details and picture, so the data can be matched. Have an Indian address ready, 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 working email address receives the approval, and a payment card covers the single all-inclusive price, with the government fee itemised on your receipt.
Each traveller, including every child and infant, needs their own e-Visa.
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)
How to apply
The India e-Visa is applied for entirely online. First, make sure you need the e-Visa and not an arrival form: the e-Visa is your entry permit, applied for and approved before you fly, and it is different from any arrival card completed around your journey. Second, gather your passport, your square photograph, the scan of your bio page and your Indian address.
Third, complete the form, entering your details and uploading your photo exactly to India's specification, since a photo that fails the size or background rules is the most common reason an application is held up. Fourth, review the single all-inclusive price and pay; the application and the photo are checked against India's current rules before submission. Finally, the approved e-Visa arrives by email with a tracking code.
India commonly expects a printed copy at the border, so print it, carry it with your passport, and travel on the passport you applied with.
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.
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.
At a glance
- Validity
- 1 year
- Maximum stay
- 90 days per visit
- Entry type
- Multiple
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.
Is this the official application?
VisitPass is an independent travel-document service, not a government website and not affiliated with the Indian authorities. Your application is submitted to the official Indian e-Visa system run by the Bureau of Immigration, and the government fee is paid in full to that authority and itemised on your receipt; the service fee covers preparing the application, checking your photo and details against India's current rules before submission, and email support in your own language. You can apply directly on the government portal yourself; many travellers choose a guided form because India's photo and document rules are strict and a checked application avoids a common rejection.
India alone decides whether to grant the e-Visa.
India help desk
Have questions about your e-Visa? Email the India desk and we reply within 24 hours.
india@visitpass-online.com