India e-Visa

Overview

India e-Visa questions

• 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.

More help from VisitPass

Browse our full Help Center for speed, payments, refunds, documents and security.

• Speed & timing
• Approval & rejection
• Refund policy
• Documents
• Account
• Security & privacy