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Updated May 2023
India has expanded its appeal to global citizens by positioning itself as more than just a tourist destination. As part of this initiative, the Indian government has introduced various types of e-visa to simplify the process of obtaining an entry permit for visitors.
If you are interested in applying for an Indian e-visa, here is everything you need to know, including eligibility requirements, the application process, processing time, and more.
India e-visa 2023
Prior to their arrival in India, foreign visitors are required to obtain a valid visa. Visitors from eligible countries can apply for their visas online through the India e-visa application portal.
Currently, there are five sub-categories of the India e-Visa available:
- e-tourist visa
- e-business visa
- e-conference visa
- e-medical visa
- e-medical attendant visa
Visitors can select a sub-type of e-visa based on the purpose of their visit. It’s essential to note that electronic visas cannot be extended, and upon arrival in India, they remain valid for the indicated duration. If the e-visa expires, the visitor must apply for a new visa.
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Eligibility
International travellers who have the following visiting purposes are eligible to apply for an India e-visa:
- Recreation, sight-seeing or casual visit to meet friends and relatives
- Attending a short-term yoga programme
- Short-term courses in local languages, music, dance, arts & crafts, cooking, medicine etc., which are not formal or structured courses/programmes (not exceeding 6 months and not issued with a qualifying certificate/diploma)
- Voluntary work of short duration (for a maximum of 1-month duration and do not involve any monetary payment or consideration of any kind in return)
- Medical treatment, including treatment under the Indian system of medicine
- Business purpose
- Attendants to the e-Medical visa holder
- Attending a conference/seminar/workshop organized by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments or UT Administrations etc. & their subordinate/attached organizations & PSUs and private conferences organized by private persons/companies/organizations
However, e-visa will not be available to:
- Diplomatic/Official passport holders or Laissez-passer travel document holders
- Individuals endorsed on parent’s/spouse’s passport (Individuals should have a separate passport)
- International travel document holders other than a passport
To check the list of countries eligible for an India e-visa, you can visit the Indian visa online website.
Requirements
To apply for an India e-visa, applicants are required to possess the following documents:
- a passport that is valid for at least six months at the time of submitting the application
- a return or onward journey ticket
- a recent front-facing photograph with white background
- additional documents based on the sub-category of the e-Visa
It’s essential to note that all the required documents must be in English. Failure to do so may result in the rejection of the application. Additionally, it’s mandatory to carry a copy of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) during your trip. If you’re traveling from a country that’s susceptible to Yellow Fever, you may also need to bring a Yellow Fever Vaccination Card.
Additional required documents
Apart from the aforementioned documents, applicants also need to prepare the following documents according to their purpose of visit:
For e-tourist visa
- scanned bio page of the passport showing the photograph and details
- for short-term courses, a copy of a letter from the institute/organization/hospital etc., concerned on its letter-head
- for voluntary work of short duration, a copy of the letter from the organization concerned on its letter-head
For e-medical visa
- scanned bio page of the passport showing the photograph and details
- copy of the letter from the hospital concerned in India on its letterhead, which includes the date/tentative date on which admission has been suggested
For e-medical attendant visa
- scanned bio page of the passport showing the photograph and details
For e-business visa
- scanned bio page of the passport showing the photograph and details
- a copy of a business card
- any letter of invitation, if applicable, from Indian parties which wish you to conduct the business (optional)
- for sports-related activity:
- copy of Passport page containing personal particulars
- approval of the Government of India in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Department of Sports)
- invitation Letter to foreign sports teams and sports persons to visit India by the concerned Sports Federation/Association in India
- if the applicant had participated in any commercial sports event during his/her previous visit to India, then documents regarding Tax compliance for the said visit are to be furnished
- if the sports event entails a visit to Restricted or Protected Areas in India, below mentioned additional documents are also to be submitted:
(a) clearance for holding the event from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
(b) political clearance for holding the event from the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
(c) requisite clearance from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
For e-business visa visiting “to deliver lecture/s under Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN)”
- scanned bio page of the passport showing the photograph and details
- invitation of the host institute to the foreign faculty
- copy of the sanction order under GIAN issued by the National Coordinating Institute viz. IIT Kharagpur
- copy of the synopsis of the courses to be taken up by the faculty
For e-conference visa
- scanned bio page of the passport showing the photograph and details
- invitation from the organizer
- political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs
- event clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs
Photograph requirements
Here are the requirements for the photograph that should be uploaded when submitting a visa application:
- the format must be JPEG
- the minimum size is 10 KB, and the maximum is 1 MB
- the height and width of the photo must be equal
- the photo should present a full face, front view, eyes open and without spectacles
- center head within frame and present full head from the top of hair to bottom of the chin
- the background should be plain light coloured, or white background
- no shadows on the face or in the background
- without borders
Application process
The process of applying for an India e-visa is straightforward. Here are the steps to follow:
- visit the Indian visa online website
- input all asked details
- upload the photograph and all required documents
- pay eVisa fee
- receive ETA
Once all the documents are submitted, the authorities will review the application. If any of the documents or photographs do not meet the requirements, applicants will receive an email with instructions to re-upload the documents.
It is important to take note that e-tourist and e-business visa applicants may apply for the visa online a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival. For e-medical, e-medical attendant and e-conference visas, applicants may apply online at least 4 days before the arrival date with a window of 120 days. This means they can select any arrival date from 4 days until 120 days after the application request is submitted.
Processing time
After submitting their applications, it could take 72 hours or longer to process and issue the e-visa. Applicants will be notified via email if their application is approved or declined.
Validity
The duration of validity for an India e-visa relies on the specific sub-category of the visa selected. To ensure that applicants have ample time to complete their business, it is recommended that they carefully select the suitable type of e-visa.
e-tourist visa validity
There are three options for e-tourist visas with different validity:
- one-month e-tourist visa (double entry, non-extendable and non-convertible)
- one-year e-tourist visa (multiple entries)
- five-year e-tourist visa (multiple entries)
The maximum stay in India during one calendar year must not exceed 180 days for 1-year and 5-year tourist visas.
e-business visa validity
The e-business visa is valid for one year (multiple entries). The maximum period of continuous stay is 180 days. If applicants need a longer stay, they shall get registered with the FRRO/FRO concerned within two weeks after the expiry of 180 days.
e-conference visa validity
This visa is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival into India (single entry). Organizers should upload all details and documentation on the MHA website.
e-medical visa & e-medical attendant visa validity
These visas are 60-day visas that are valid from the date of arrival in India. Applicants are permitted to enter a maximum of 3 times.
Fees
The cost of processing an India e-visa can range from approximately USD 10 to USD 100, depending on the applicant’s home country and the type of visa applied for. A bank transaction charge of 2.5% will also apply. You can find more detailed fee information on the India e-visa website.
It’s important to note that the visa fees are non-refundable, whether or not the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is granted or rejected.
Status check
India e-visa holders can visit the visa status enquiry website to check their visa and payment status, as well as to print their ETA. To do so, they need to enter their application ID, passport number, and captcha verification.
Extension
Unfortunately, Indian electronic visas cannot be extended. Once you enter India, it is valid for the indicated duration. If your e-visa expires you will have to apply for a new visa.
