India Visa Guide for Tourists: e-Visa Requirements and What to Check

India's e-Visa is fairly straightforward for many leisure travellers, but small mistakes can create disproportionate problems. Using a commercial website that looks official, entering passport details incorrectly, assuming payment means approval, or overlooking an entry restriction can all cause trouble before the trip has begun.

The safest approach is simple: use the official Government of India portal, check the rules against the passport you will actually travel on, and confirm that your Electronic Travel Authorisation has been granted before you fly.

This guide covers the practical checks that matter for most tourist e-Visa applications. Visa rules can change, so the Government of India portal should always be treated as the final authority.

Use the official Government of India e-Visa portal

The official e-Visa website is indianvisaonline.gov.in. The Government of India states that this is the official website for e-Visa services and advises applicants not to use intermediaries claiming they can arrange a faster or express approval.

That matters because commercial visa websites can appear prominently in search results and may resemble an official application service. For a standard tourist application, begin with the government portal rather than a third-party site.

The official portal also states that the Government of India does not charge an additional emergency or express e-Visa fee. If your circumstances fall outside the normal tourist process, check the relevant Indian mission or current government guidance rather than assuming the standard e-Tourist Visa applies.

Which tourist e-Visas are available?

The official portal currently lists 30-day, one-year and five-year e-Tourist Visa options for eligible passports.

The 30-day tourist e-Visa is currently listed as multiple entry and is non-extendable and non-convertible. The one-year and five-year options are also multiple entry. For the one-year and five-year tourist e-Visas, the official guidance states that total stay in India during a calendar year should not exceed 180 days.

Do not choose a visa only by its headline duration. Eligibility, fees and the exact conditions attached to the visa depend on the passport being used, so check the live portal before applying.

When should you apply, and what do you need?

Current Government of India guidance says eligible e-Tourist Visa applicants can apply from 120 days before their proposed arrival and must apply at least four days before arrival.

Four days is the minimum, not a sensible planning target. Leave enough time to correct an unclear scan, unsuitable photograph, payment problem or mistake in the application.

The official portal requires a recent front-facing photograph with a white background and a scan of the passport page containing your personal details. Your passport should have at least six months' validity at the time you apply and at least two blank pages for immigration stamping.

Enter your name, date of birth, passport number and other details exactly as they appear in the passport you will use for the journey. Do not copy them from memory or from an older booking profile.

Payment is not approval: check the ETA before you fly

Submitting the form and paying the processing fee does not mean the visa has been granted. The Government of India advises applicants to check their status on the official website and confirm that the Electronic Travel Authorisation shows GRANTED before starting the journey.

Carry a copy of the ETA with you. A printed copy is simple, and keeping an offline digital copy as a backup is sensible. Biometric details are captured by immigration on arrival in India.

The official guidance also says international travellers should hold a return or onward ticket and have sufficient funds for their stay.

Check your arrival point and any route-specific permissions

An Indian e-Visa does not allow entry through every border crossing. e-Visa holders must enter through a designated immigration checkpoint listed on the official portal. The list can change, so check it when planning the route and again before travel if your arrival point is unusual.

This is particularly important for trips that combine India with neighbouring countries, arrive by cruise, or depend on a less common airport or port. Do not assume that a route is valid for e-Visa entry simply because the crossing handles international travellers.

The e-Visa portal also states that an e-Visa is not valid by itself for visiting Protected, Restricted or Cantonment Areas. Prior permission from the relevant civil authority may be required.

Treat the visa and any route-specific permit as separate requirements. One does not automatically replace the other.

Fees and eligibility depend on the passport

There is no single tourist e-Visa fee for every traveller. The official system applies fees according to nationality or territory, and the processing fee is non-refundable whether the Electronic Travel Authorisation is granted or refused.

Eligibility is passport-specific as well. Check the current list of eligible countries and territories on the Government of India portal rather than relying on an old article, forum answer or a companion's visa experience.

If your passport is not eligible for the e-Visa category you require, use the appropriate regular visa process through official Government of India channels.

Common mistakes are mostly preventable

• Apply through indianvisaonline.gov.in, not a commercial lookalike.
• Check that your passport is eligible for the e-Tourist Visa you intend to use.
• Apply within the current official application window and leave more than the four-day minimum where possible.
• Make sure the passport has at least six months' validity when you apply and at least two blank pages.
• Enter every passport detail exactly as printed.
• Upload a clear photograph and passport bio page that meet the current specification.
• Do not assume payment or submission means approval.
• Confirm that the ETA status shows GRANTED before departure and carry a copy.
• Travel on the passport used for the application, subject to the current government rules if that passport has since been replaced.
• Check that your planned point of entry is currently authorised for e-Visa entry.
• Check separately for Protected, Restricted or Cantonment Area permissions where relevant.

The e-Visa process is designed to be completed online, but it deserves the same attention as your passport and international flights. Use current government instructions, complete the application carefully and verify the granted status before travel.

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