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Updated Advisory on Tourist Visas

  • Home > Updated Advisory on Tourist Visas

Updated Advisory on Tourist Visas

Embassy of India

Washington DC

The Government of India has decided, with immediate effect, to restore valid long duration (10 years) regular (paper) tourist visas for the nationals of USA. Fresh issue of regular (paper) long-duration (10 years) tourist visas has also been restored for nationals of USA.

E-Tourist visas under the three options (one month, one year and five year) which remained suspended since March 2020, shall stand restored for nationals of 156 countries. Applications for fresh e-tourist visas for eligible nationalities can also be made at the Indian E-Visa Portal [ https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html ]

  • The current scheme of regular tourist visa/e-visa (single entry of 30 days duration) on gratis basis will be discontinued w.e.f. 1 st April 2022.  

Application for fresh tourist visa can be made as per following procedure:

E visa: Eligible foreign nationals can apply for e-tourist visa at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . [The applicant may note that the Embassy does not process e-visas and any enquiries in this regard will need to be made directly on the e-visa portal].

Regular (Paper) Tourist visa: Application for regular (paper) tourist visa from Embassy / Consulate in USA can be submitted by following the link: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind

Foreign nationals on tourist/e-tourist visas would be permitted to enter India only through designated Sea Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) or Airport ICPs by flights, including those under the Vande Bharat Mission or ‘air bubble’ scheme or by any flights as allowed by Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation. In no case, the foreign nationals will be allowed to enter through land border or riverine routes on Tourist visa/E-Tourist visa.

Applicants are also advised to go through the guidelines for international travel to India available at:  https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsupdatedon10thFebruary2022.pdf .

28 March 2022

The current scheme of regular tourist visa/e-visa (one month stay only) on gratis basis will also continue.

15 March, 2022

            The Government of India has decided to issue fresh tourist visas with effect from 15 October, 2021 for group tourism and from 15 November, 2021 for individual travel.  In this context, the following may be noted:

  • All foreign nationals intending to visit India for tourism will be allowed to enter India on e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa through chartered flights (for group tourism only) with effect from 15 October, 2021.
  • All foreign nationals intending to visit India for individual tourism purposes will be permitted to enter India on e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa with effect from 15 November, 2021. Such travel will be allowed through Vande Bharat Mission, Air Bubble Scheme or by any scheduled/non-scheduled commercial flight allowed by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  • Foreign nationals will not be allowed to enter India through land routes on e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa.
  • A Single Entry e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa valid for a stay of up to 30 days will be issued, which will have to be utilized within a period of 120 days from the date of issue . This visa will be issued on a gratis basis for a limited time once to each applicant. However, VFS service charge and payments on account of value-added services like courier, etc. will need to be made.
  • It may be noted that existing valid e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa issued before 6 October, 2021 will continue to remain suspended and travel on such visas is not permitted.
  • The process of obtaining e-Tourist Visa/Regular Tourist Visa may be accessed at the following links:
  • e-Tourist Visa -  https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . The applicant may note that the Embassy does not process e-visas and any enquiries in this regard will need to be made directly on the e-visa portal.
  • Regular Tourist Visa through VFS Global with effect from 13 December, 2021 (12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time) - https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind
  • Applicants are also advised to go through the guidelines for international travel to India available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsdated30thNovember2021.pdf

Advisory on Tourist Visas

  • A Single Entry e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa valid for a stay of up to 30 days will be issued, which will have to be utilized within a period of 120 days from the date of issue . This visa will be issued on a gratis basis for a limited time once to each applicant.
  • e-Tourist Visa - https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . The applicant may note that the Embassy does not process e-visas and any enquiries in this regard will need to be made directly on the e-visa portal.
  • Regular Tourist Visa through the Embassy of India – https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/extra?id=88
  • Applicants are also advised to go through the guidelines for international travel to India available at  https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Guidelinesforinternationalarrivals17022021.pdf .

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Here's how to get a visa to visit India

Joe Bindloss

Dec 20, 2023 • 7 min read

india tourist visa 1 year

From applying for an e-Visa to extending your stay, here's what you need to know about entry requirements for India © beavera / Getty Images

With its dense tapestry of cultures and landscapes, India feels like dozens of countries rolled into one, but a single visa will cover you for travel across more than 3 million sq km (more than a million sq miles) of territory, taking in everything from steamy jungles to the high passes of the Himalayas.

Every Indian state is as large and diverse as a nation, so take your time navigating this enormous and fascinating country. The good news is that visas are easy to obtain and allow plenty of time for exploring.

Here’s everything you need to know about visa requirements for India, from the application process for e-Visas to overland travel and extending your stay.

Rear view of tourist mother and daughter wearing a hat sitting at a step well (Toorji Ka Jhalra) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

You'll probably need a visa to go to India

Almost everyone needs a visa to visit India , but for most nationalities, tourist visas are easy to obtain online or through your local Indian embassy or consulate. Citizens of 166 countries – including most nations in the EU and EEA, the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand, and many countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America – can apply for an e-Visa before traveling via a simple online form .

Applying online is a fairly painless process, and it will save you hours compared to applying in person at an embassy or through a visa agency (in countries where Indian embassies no longer issue visas directly). Tourist e-Visas are available with a validity of 30 days, one year or five years, with the one- and five-year visas allowing for multiple entries for a maximum stay of 180 days on each visit.

For one- and five-year tourist visas, applications are accepted up to 120 days in advance of travel. The 30-day visa allows two entries into India, which is handy if you’re planning a side trip to Nepal , and you can apply up to 30 days in advance of travel. All e-Visas take at least 72 hours to process, so be sure to apply in plenty of time (at least 4 days in advance is recommended).

Applying online is the most hassle-free way to obtain a visa

The Indian government’s online e-Visa portal can be used to apply for tourist visas, business visas, and visas for medical treatment and attending conferences. The cost and duration of the visa vary depending on your nationality, and you may need to show proof of return travel arrangements and sufficient funds to support yourself during your trip.

Rules for non-tourist visas can be complex. Business travelers usually need to provide letters of introduction from Indian companies and organizations that they plan to meet. Assuming you meet the requirements, business visas are usually valid for multiple entries over the space of one year.

Working for an Indian company is more complicated. You’ll need an employment visa and a work permit, and most people need a firm job offer and assistance from an Indian employer to complete the paperwork. As with all visa requirements, the situation is subject to change; contact your local Indian embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.

Applying for a tourist e-Visa is fairly straightforward

To apply for an Indian e-Visa, visit the government’s official e-Visa portal . You’ll need to upload a digital passport-style photo and copies of your passport ID pages, and pay the visa fee, which varies depending on your nationality.

Your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date of entry, and you’ll need two spare pages for the visa, which will be physically stamped into your passport on arrival. Assuming your application is accepted – which is the case for most applicants – you’ll receive a digital Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which you should print out and carry with you when you travel, so you can present it to the immigration authorities on arrival. 

Young woman checking travel timetable board

Enter India via air or sea on your e-Visa

E-Visas allow entry to India through 25 designated airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Bengaluru (Bangalore), Hyderabad, Kochi (Cochin), Goa, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy (Tiruchirappalli), Varanasi, Kozhikode (Calicut), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Pune, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Chandigarh and Visakhapatnam.

They’re also valid for entry via the designated seaports at Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, New Mangalore and Mormugao (in Goa).

Apply for a visa before you travel to enter India overland

If you plan to enter India overland – for example, from Nepal or Pakistan – you’ll need a visa stamped into your passport before you leave home, which you’ll need to obtain from the Indian embassy or consulate in your home country, or through an approved visa application office.

If you plan to visit India and Nepal on the same trip, get a multiple-entry visa – it used to be possible to arrange a new Indian tourist visa through the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu , but the authorities may now insist on a two-month gap before issuing a new visa.

There’s no need to worry about applying for a visa for Nepal in advance – they’re available on arrival at border crossings (bring passport photos and US dollars to pay the fee).

If you can't apply for an e-Visa, get one in person in advance

Contact your local embassy or consulate to check the application process in your country; the Indian Ministry of External Affairs maintains a list of diplomatic missions online. It’s best to apply for a visa in your home country – obtaining an Indian visa from an embassy in another country can be tortuously slow, assuming it’s possible at all. Fees and the permitted duration of stay will vary depending on your nationality.

As an alternative to applying through an Indian embassy or consulate, you may be able to apply for a visa through a visa agency – however, this tends to be more expensive than applying directly. In practice, many of these agencies just collect together applications and then send over a staff member to the embassy to apply in person.

Woman practicing yoga

Student visas are available to those on full-time courses in India

Student visas are reserved for people enrolled in approved full-time educational courses in India (which can include training courses in yoga, meditation, and traditional Indian art forms). Student visas are valid for up to five years, depending on the length of the course, but the rules are strict, and you’ll need documentation from the institution where you are studying to apply. The Ministry of Home Affairs provides some information online, but contact your local Indian embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date requirements.

Extending your stay in India is for exceptional circumstances only

E-Visas cannot be extended, but other types of visas can, though only in exceptional circumstances, such as medical emergencies or theft of your passport. To apply, you’ll need to use the government’s special online portal , providing evidence of a valid reason for extending your stay in India (e.g., a letter from the hospital where you are being treated or a police report).

You may then be called in for an in-person interview at the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Delhi. If there is a fee, it will be made clear during the application process.

Some border areas in India require additional travel permits

Under a system carried over from British colonial rule, special permits (known as “protected area permits” or “restricted area permits”) are required to visit many areas close to India’s disputed external borders with China , Pakistan and other territories – a zone known as the “inner line.” Applying for these permits outside India is tricky, but you can apply locally in India without too much difficulty.

Permits are especially important for highly sensitive border areas (which tend to be off-limits to all travelers). Applications can be made through local government offices or local travel agencies; contact the state government offices for these regions to get the latest information. In some areas, you may need to register with the local Foreigners Regional Registration Office on arrival, but this is an easy process.

This article was first published March 2022 and updated December 2023

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How To Apply & Get An Indian e-Visa Online

India has some amazing architecture and natural sights, with famous landmarks like the Taj Mahal in Agra, and snow capped mountains in the Himalayas.

Most nationalities (except for Bhutanese and Nepali citizens) will need a visa to visit India, which is given in the form of an electronic Indian visa (eVisa) since November 2014.

This guide explains everything about how to get an Indian tourist visa using the e-Visa India website! I wrote it in 2019 and last updated it in 2024.

I went through this process as a tourist, but the process on the e-Visa India website is very similar for the other visa categories as well.

What Is The India eVisa?

The Indian e-Visa is for visitors coming to India on a short term trip for sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, short term medical treatment or casual business related things.

The 5 eVisa types are as follows: e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant, or e-Conference.

The eVisa is valid for 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years from the date of your arrival in India, and it’s a double entry visa (for e-Tourist or e-Business), single entry visa (e-Conference), or triple entry visa (e-Medical). It’s non-extendable and non-convertible.

You can apply and pay online anywhere from 4 to 120 days in advance of your date of arrival in India, but no later than 4 days prior to arrival, otherwise the application will not be processed.

The eVisa is valid for entry through 26 designated airports and 5 seaports in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Goa. The full list of airports and seaports permitted for the India eVisa can be found here (click the Instructions For Applicant link on the left side).  

Who Is The eVisa Available To?

The eVisa is available to US citizens and those of 170+ other places , and the fee depends on your country/territory.

The current fee for American citizens and other countries can be found in their full list of fees by country on the website .

An additional bank transaction charge of 2.5% may be applicable on the eVisa India online website.

The visa fee is non-refundable, even if for some reason your application is rejected.  

How Can I Get The India eVisa?

The visa process may sound complicated, but don’t worry, it’s actually pretty simple! Here it is broken down in 4 short steps:

  • 1. Apply Online. You will need to submit an application with a personal photo and passport page.
  • 2. Pay Visa Fee. Credit or debit cards (or Paypal) are accepted for online payment.
  • 3. Receive e-Visa. The visa will be sent to you by email.
  • 4. Visit India. You will need to print the India eVisa and carry it with you at the time of travel.

Before You Apply For The Indian e-Visa

It’s important to fill out your visa application completely and accurately, otherwise it may be rejected.

Before applying on the eVisa India website, make sure of the following:

  • Passport Validity. Your passport should have >6 months validity
  • Visa Pages. Your passport should have at least 2 blank visa pages for stamping
  • Sufficient Funds. You should have enough money for your stay in India (this is rarely questioned), and also a return ticket or onward ticket.

You will also need to have the following items on your computer:

  • Personal Photo. This should be a recent, clear photo of your face with a white background. JPEG format is required.
  • Passport Photo. This should be your main passport page with your name, date of birth, nationality, etc. PDF format is required. If you need help changing your passport image to a PDF, you can use the following website: https://smallpdf.com .

Note: If you’re applying for an e-Business or e-Medical visa, in addition to the above you will also need a copy of the business card (for the e-Business visa) or a copy of the letter from the hospital concerned in India on its letterhead (for the e-Medical visa).  

How To Apply For The India eVisa (Indian Tourist Visa)

When you’re ready to proceed, you can begin your visa application at the Indian government’s official eVisa website:

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

THIS IS IMPORTANT. There are other websites circulating on the internet that mimic this one or pretend to grant speedy visas, but those are often scams and they will take your money. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER WEBSITE.

I’ve provided some photos below as EXAMPLES to guide you through the application, but these are not from my actual eVisa submission. In other words, the addresses and other data I used in the images below are only examples. With that said, the pages you see in your visa application will resemble the ones shown in these images.

If anything has changed in the application process since this guide was written, please let me know in the comments at the bottom of this page and I will update the guide ASAP. I will do my best to keep this entire page up to date.

To begin your visa application, click the button circled in red that says Apply here for e-visa .

India eVisa application guide and steps

Visa Application Page 1

E-visa application.

Passport Type*:  Select Ordinary Passport Nationality*:  Select your country from the dropdown list Port Of Arrival*:  Select the airport you will be flying into Date Of Birth*: Email ID*: Re-enter Email ID*: Expected Date Of Arrival*: Visa Service*: Select from the list, and then choose an activity that best fits your trip to India Please Enter Above Text*: Enter the captcha code given

(Items above marked with  * are required.)

India e-Visa online application guide and steps on page 1

Page 1 of the Indian visa online application on the eVisa India website. Very straightforward.

After selecting continue, if you’re applying for the Indian tourist visa (e-Tourist), then a small message will appear: “The following documents are required to be submitted. 1) Photograph. 2) Passport.” Select OK.

(For some reason the photo dimensions here state 2″ x 2″ but when you come to the actual uploader, the correct minimum dimensions will be 350 x 350 pixels. You’ll use the latter. Side note: separate messages may appear for Business/Medical eVisa applications.)

India eVisa application guide and steps on page 1

You can ignore this message on the Indian visa application and click OK.

You have now arrived at the second page of the Indian visa online application form. It’s a good idea to write down the Temporary Application ID  because it will be required if you have issues or need to come back to your application later.  

Visa Application Page 2

Applicant details form.

Surname: Exactly as in your passport Given Name*: Exactly as in your passport Have You Ever Changed Your Name?* If yes, click the box and give details Gender*: Date Of Birth: Automatically filled in Town/City Of Birth*: Country Of Birth*: Citizenship/National ID No*:  If not applicable, type NA Religion*: Visible Identification Marks*:  List any tattoos if you have them, otherwise put NONE Education*: Nationality:  Automatically filled in Did You Acquire Nationality By Birth Or By Naturalization?* Select yours Have You Lived For At Least Two Years In The Country Where You Are Applying Visa?* Select yes or no  

Passport Details

Passport Number*: Place Of Issue*: Whatever nationality is on your passport Date Of Issue*: Date Of Expiry*: Any Other Valid Passport/Identity Certificate (IC) Held?* Yes or no. If yes, give details

India eVisa application guide and steps on page 2

Page 2 of the e-Visa India application form. Personal identification details.

Visa Application Page 3

Applicant’s address details.

House No./Street*: Village/Town/City*: Country*: State/Province/District*: Postal/ZIP Code*: Phone No.*: One phone number is required Mobile No.: Email Address: Automatically filled in Click Here For Same Address*: Click here if your permanent address is the same address as above, and then it will be applied.

India eVisa application guide and steps on page 3

Page 3 of the Indian visa online. Personal address details.

Visa Application Page 3 (continued)

Father’s details.

Name*: Nationality*: Previous Nationality:  Leave blank if it never changed. Place Of Birth*:  Use the state/province/district of birth if you don’t know the town/city Country Of Birth*:  

Mother’s Details

Name*: Nationality*: Previous Nationality: Leave blank if it never changed. Place Of Birth*:  Use the state/province/district of birth if you don’t know the town/city Country Of Birth*:

Applicant’s Marital Status:  Select whether you’re single or married. If married (or separated but not divorced), enter your spouse’s details. If divorced, just select single. Were Your Parents/Grandparents (Paternal/Maternal) Pakistan Nationals Or Belong To Pakistan Held Area?  Select yes or no  

Profession / Occupation Details Of Applicant

Present Occupation*:  Select your occupation from the dropdown list. If it’s something else, select ‘Others’ and then enter it. The image below gives an example. Employer Name/Business*: Designation: Address*:  Phone: Past Occupation, If Any: Are/Were You In A Military/Semi-Military/Police/Security Organization?* Select yes or no. If yes, a dropdown will appear asking for the following: Organisation, Designation, Rank and Place Of Posting.

India eVisa application guide and steps on page 3

Page 3 (continued). Family and occupation details for the Indian visa online.

Visa Application Page 4

Details of visa sought.

Type Of Visa:  Automatically filled in Visa Service:  Automatically filled in Places To Be Visited*: Enter any cities or areas (e.g. Delhi) you will be visiting in India Places To Be Visited Line 2:  Duration Of Visa:  Automatically filled in No. Of Entries:  Automatically filled in Port Of Arrival In India:  Automatically filled in Expected Port Of Exit From India*:  Select the correct airport from the dropdown  

Previous Visa/Currently Valid Visa Details

Have You Ever Visited India Before?*  Select yes or no. If yes, enter the name and address of the place you stayed previously. Cities In India Visited*:  Enter details from previous visits Last Indian Visa No/Currently Valid Indian Visa*:  If your previous visit was with an eVisa, the number will be written on the stamp given in passport. If you don’t know the number, type unknown. Type Of Visa*:  Tourist Place Of Issue*:  United States (if it was a regular visa). Enter the airport name in India if it was an eVisa. Date Of Issue*:  The date it was issued. For an eVisa, you can use the date of entry from the stamp on your passport, or possibly in your email. Has Permission To Visit Or To Extend Stay In India Previously Been Refused?*  Select yes or no. Hopefully the answer is no  

Other Information

Countries Visited In Last 10 Years:  List any countries you’ve recently visited. I didn’t have room to list all of them, so I included a partial list. This field is not mandatory.  

SAARC Country Visit Details

Have You Visited SAARC Countries (Except Your Own Country) During Last 3 Years?*:  The list of SAARC countries can be found in the dropdown list.

India eVisa application guide and steps on page 4

Page 4 of the eVisa application. Your travel details.

Visa Application Page 4 (continued)

Reference Name In India*:  Your accommodation details will work Address*:  For a hotel this can usually be found on Google Maps or the listing at Booking.com or Agoda.com Phone*:  For a hotel this can usually be found on their website or on Google Maps Reference Name In Home Country*:  A relative or friend will work Address*:  Phone*: 

India eVisa application guide and steps on page 4

Page 4 (continued). Travel and reference details.

Visa Application Page 5

Additional question details.

  • Have You Ever Been Arrested/Prosecuted/Convicted By Court Of Law Of Any Country?*  Yes or no
  • Have You Ever Been Refused Entry/Deported By Any Country Including India?* Yes or no
  • Have You Ever Been Engaged In Human Trafficking / Drug Trafficking / Child Abuse / Crime Against Women / Economic Offense / Financial Fraud?* Yes or no
  • Have You Ever Been Engaged In Cyber Crime / Terrorist Activities / Sabotage / Espionage / Genocide / Political Killing / Other Act Of Violence?* Yes or no
  • Have You Ever By Any Means Or Medium, Expressed Views That Justify Or Glorify Terrorist Violence Or That May Encourage Others To Terrorist Acts Or Other Serious Criminal Acts?* Yes or no
  • Have You Sought Asylum (Political Or Otherwise) In Any Country?* Yes or no

Application guide and steps on page 5 for Indian visa online

Page 5 of the Indian visa online application. Background questions.

Visa Application Page 6

Upload photograph.

At this point you will be asked to upload a personal photo.

If you need to come back and do this later, you can save and exit the application (but make sure to write down the Temporary Application ID  because it will be required if you want to reuse your application later).

The photo format will need to be JPEG, with a minimum size of 10 KB and a maximum size of 1 MB. Minimum dimensions are 350 pixels wide x 350 pixels high. The personal photo needs to be recent and front facing, with a white background.

The picture needs to be a clear photo of your face. You can get these done at places like Walgreens, for example. Unfortunately you cannot crop your passport photo to use for this, it needs to be a separate photo.

It’s important to follow all of these specifications and rules, otherwise your eVisa India application may be rejected. Click choose file and navigate to the photo you want to choose; then click upload photo .

After uploading the photo, you’re given an opportunity to crop the photo or upload it again if you’d like.

Application guide and steps on page 6 for Indian visa online

Page 6 of the Indian visa online guide. Upload your personal photo.

Visa Application Page 7

Upload passport.

Next, you will be asked to upload a copy of your passport page.

This should be the photo page with personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, expiration date, etc. It should match the passport details entered in your eVisa application.

The file should be in PDF format with a minimum size of 10 KB and a maximum size of 300 KB. If you need help changing your passport file from an image to a PDF, you can use the following website: https://smallpdf.com .

Again, it’s important to follow all of the specifications and rules, otherwise your eVisa application may be rejected. Click choose file and navigate to the PDF file you want to choose; then click upload document .

Application guide and steps on page 7 for Indian visa

Page 7 of the Indian visa online guide. Upload your passport.

Verification & Payment

After submitting your passport upload, the next page will ask you to confirm ALL of the previous details from your Indian e-Visa application.

Look these over thoroughly to make sure you entered everything correctly, because this will be your last chance to edit anything. Once you verify and continue, you will be brought to the visa payment page.

At this point, you can pay for the visa now or later. Follow the instructions on the page for either option. You should also write down the visa Application ID so you can access the application again.

You can pay with international credit or debit cards, or you can make your visa payment with Paypal. I used Paypal and I would recommend this. It was easy to process.

If you don’t have a Paypal account, then the next best option is probably using your card via the Axis option.  

After submission and payment, you will get an email from the Indian government saying that your Indian visa online application was submitted successfully and will take 72 hours for processing.

Generally you will hear back in much quicker time; in my case the Indian visa application was processed and granted in under 24 hours.

You MUST print the email you receive containing the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and present it to the immigration officer when you arrive in India. I would recommend printing and bringing at least two copies.

The government of India emphasizes that you should also track your application and make sure that the status says  granted on the official eVisa India website ( same link as above ) before making your journey to India.  

What If My India Visa Is Rejected?

If your India visa is rejected, don’t worry. You can apply again, and there’s no minimum amount of time you have to wait before re-applying for a visa. If the online system allows you to re-apply, then you can go ahead and do it when you’re ready.

However, it’s important to find out why you were rejected so you can fix it in your next application. Unfortunately a reason is not always given, but generally the most common reasons for India visas being rejected are simple errors like typos, wrong dates, or wrong photo specifications.

When reapplying, you’ll be faced with this question: “Has permission to visit or to extend stay in India previously been refused?”

How you answer this question will depend on why you were rejected in your first application. If it was a simple clerical error like a wrong date or wrong photo specifications, then I would answer no, because you weren’t actually refused a visa for visiting India due to being ineligible for some reason, you only made a minor mistake in the submission process that can easily be corrected.

Good luck and happy travels!

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Best India Tours

More travel guides.

Thanks for looking! I hope you were helped by this guide on how to fill out an Indian e-visa application.

While you’re waiting for your visa to be processed, don’t forget to check out the other travel guides on my blog!

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I’m very impressed by the quality of information on this website. There are a lot of good resources here. I’m sure I will visit this place again soon.

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I have an extra copy of my passport photo. Although it is the same picture as in my passport it is not just a cropped version of the photo in the passport. Is this acceptable?

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Hi Jeanne, I haven’t tried that myself but it should be okay as long as it meets the other requirements for the personal photo. Regards

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I used my extra copy of my passport photo this past week for my India E-visa, and it worked!

Thank you, David, for providing the details regarding the E-visa information. It was really helpful and guided me as I entered the required fields in the application.

Good to hear. Thanks Esther!

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why is it that when i filled the places to be visited form, it says invalid characters

What are you trying to enter there?

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Once we receive ETA the first name and last name are shuffled is it the same for everyone?

Yes, it was the same on my ETA. No problem.

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Hi David, thank you SO MUCH for this helpful post. I’m flying to India in a month and my e-visa application was just rejected (I traveled to India in early 2020 and had no issues at all) so I’m now going through the process of carefully re-applying… one question I’m hoping you can help me with: I just got married 2 weeks ago, do you expect it to be an issue to check the “married” box despite the fact my (USA & Israeli) passports say nothing about being married (or single, for that matter?) also -I can’t seem to find anything online about a minimum amount of time to wait before re-applying… any idea? Trying to minimize all odds of being rejected again. Thanks so much again, really appreciate your guidance.

Hi Abigail! Glad the post was helpful for you. Yes, it should be okay to put married on the application. Like you say, the marital status isn’t shown on the passport anyway, and spouse names aren’t always changed right away after marriage either, or sometimes they never change. So that should be fine. As far as I know, there’s no minimum amount of time to wait before re-applying. If the online system allows you to re-apply, then I would go ahead and try again. Do you know why you were rejected the first time? I would figure that out before re-applying. Good luck!

Hi David! Another important question – for the “Has permission to visit or to extend stay in India previously been refused?” question on page 4 – would my previous e-visa rejection quality as a “yes”?

For this question, I think it would depend on the reason why you were rejected on the first application. Was it a simple error like a wrong date, wrong photo specifications, etc? If so, I would answer no, you weren’t refused a visa for visiting India, your application was only rejected because of a minor mistake. This is different from refusing you a visa because you aren’t eligible for some reason.

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My e-visa application just got rejected without any specific reason provided. All they mention in the remark is “You may apply for Regular/Official Visa at nearest Indian Mission/Embassy abroad”. I compared my application to yours and the only difference I see is that for “city/town” of birth I put down city and state as opposed to state only. Would you happen to know if this could have caused the rejection?

Hi Jan! That shouldn’t cause a rejection. I’ve heard of people doing it either way (city and state, or city only). Both are correct answers. Do you think there might be another issue on your application? The most common things are simple errors like typos, wrong dates, or wrong photo specs.

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Thanks so much. This is very helpful.

Question – on page 2 it asks if you ever changed your name. Am I correct in assuming that I put yes because I changed my name when I got married?

Hi Judy! If your passport still has your maiden name, I would use that name in the application and answer no to the question about name change. If your passport has your married name, I would use that name in the application and answer yes to the question about name change. However, I know of people who have applied successfully either way. It shouldn’t affect your application.

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Thank you, this was very helpful. I have a question on section “Previous Visa/Currently Valid Visa Details”. I have traveled to India multiple times, but as an Indian citizen and held an Indian passport. Now I am no longer Indian citizen and applying for India Tourist visa for first time. What do I click in this “Previous Visa/Currently Valid Visa Details” section’s “Have you ever visited India before?”

Hi Sylvia, in that case you can answer “No” for the question “Have you ever visited India before?” because they’re asking if you’ve visited India on a visa before, and you haven’t. You were a citizen and resident, not a visitor. They should be able to understand this since you will list your country of birth as India on page 2 of the application, and also when they ask “Did You Acquire Nationality By Birth Or By Naturalization?” you can put Naturalization.

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india tourist visa 1 year

All visitors to India require a visa , except for citizens of neighboring Nepal and Bhutan. Visitors must either apply for a regular visa or an e-Visa (citizens of Japan and South Korea can also get a visa on arrival at six major airports in India). The e-Visa is hassle-free to obtain, and will be suitable for most tourists. Here's what you need to know about it.

Latest News as of September 2019

Three types of e-Tourist visas are now available with validity of one-month, one-year and five-years. The one-month e-Tourist Visa permits two entries. The one-year and five-year e-Tourist visas allow multiple entries but are subject to limitations on length of continuous stay. The fee for the one-year e-Tourist Visa has been reduced, while the fee for the new one-month e-Tourist Visa is discounted during the off-peak summer season from April to September.

The Indian government introduced a tourist visa on arrival scheme on January 1, 2010. It was initially trialed for citizens of five countries. Subsequently, a year later, it was extended to include a total of 11 countries. And, from April 15, 2014 it was extended to include South Korea.

Effective November 27, 2014, this visa on arrival scheme was replaced by an online Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme. It has been implemented in phases and progressively made available to more countries.

In April 2015, the scheme was renamed "e-Tourist Visa" by the Indian government, to remove confusion over the previous ability to get a visa on arrival without applying in advance.

In April 2017, the scheme was further extended to passport holders of 158 countries (up from 150 countries).

The Indian government has also widened the scope of the visa scheme to include short duration medical treatment and yoga courses, and casual business visits and conferences. Previously, these required separate medical/student/business visas.

The aim is to make getting an Indian visa easier, and to bring more business people and medical tourists into the country.

To facilitate this change, in April 2017, the "e-Tourist Visa" scheme became known as "e-Visa". Furthermore, it was divided into three categories:

  • e-Tourist Visa
  • e-Business Visa
  • e-Medical Visa

Two additional categories—e-Medical Attendant Visa and e-Conference Visa—have since been added. Up to two e-Medical Attendant visas will be granted against one e-Medical Visa.

The visa categories can be clubbed together. However, e-Conference visas are only permitted to be clubbed with e-Tourist visas.

Be sure to research the different types of Indian visas .

Who is Eligible for an E-Visa?

Passport holders of the following 165 countries: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D'lvoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger Republic, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Island, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

However, do note that if your parents or grandparents were born in or lived in Pakistan, you will be ineligible to get an e-Visa even if you're a citizen of the above countries. You will have to apply for a normal visa.

What is the Procedure for Obtaining an E-Visa?

Applications must be made online at this website, no less than four days and no more than 30 days before the date of travel (for a 30-day tourist e-visa). A sample form with screen shots can be downloaded here .

As well as entering you travel details, you will need to upload a photograph of yourself with a white background that meets the specifications listed on the website, and the photo page of your passport that shows your personal details. Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months. Additional documents may be required depending on the type of e-Visa required.

Following this, pay the fee online with your debit or credit card. You will receive an Application ID and the ETA will be sent to you via email within three to five days (often earlier). The status of your application can be checked here . Make sure it shows "GRANTED" before you travel.

You will need to have a copy of the ETA with you when you arrive in India, and present it at the immigration counter at the airport. An immigration officer will stamp your passport with your e-Visa for entry into India. Your biometric data will also be captured at this time.

You should have a return ticket and enough money to spend during your stay in India.

What are the Fees?

The visa fees depend on the nature of the reciprocal relationship between India and each country. Citizens of some countries can get visas free of cost. There are also differing fees for e-Tourists visas and other types of e-Visas. The details can be found in this e-Tourist Visa Fee Chart and Fee Chart for Other E-Visa Types .

Citizens of the following countries are entitled to free visas:

  • Argentina, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Niue Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay and Vanuatu.

Citizens of all other countries, except Japan, now pay the same fees for e-Tourist visas. These are as follows:

  • One-month e-Tourist Visa (April to June): $10.
  • One-month e-Tourist Visa (remainder of the year) : $25
  • One-year e-Tourist Visa : $40.
  • Five-year e-Tourist Visa : $80.

Japanese citizens only pay $25 for one-year and five-year e-Tourist visas.

The fees for other types of e-Visas are as follows:

  • $100 Citizens of US, UK, Russia, Ukraine and Mozambique.
  • $80 : Citizens of the majority of countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • $25: Citizens of Japan, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

In addition to the visa fee, a bank charge of 2.5% of the fee must be paid.

How Long is the Visa Valid For?

The one-month e-Tourist Visa is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in India, with two entries permitted. One-year and five-year e-Tourist visas are valid for 365 days from the date the ETA is granted, with multiple entries permitted.

E-Business visas are valid for one year from the date the ETA is granted, with multiple entries permitted.

E-Medical and e-Medical Attendant visas are valid for 60 days from the date of arrival in India. E-Conference visas are only valid for 30 days from the date of arrival. Three entries are permitted on e-Medical visas and e-Medical Attendant visas. Only one entry is permitted on e-Conference visas. The visas are non-extendable and non-convertible.

How Long Can You Stay in India?

It's important to note that although your e-Tourist Visa may be valid for one year or five years, this doesn't mean you can stay in India continuously for the whole time. The length of continuous stay must not be longer than 90 days—except for citizens of US, UK, Japan and Canada. Citizens of these countries can stay for up to 180 days at a time.

Citizens of all countries can stay in India for up to 180 days continuously on an e-Business visa.

Which Indian Entry Points Accept E-Visas?

You can now enter at the following 28 international airports in India : Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kochi, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Port Blair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi, and Vishakhapatnam.

You can also enter at the following five designated seaports: Kochi, Goa, Mangalore, Mumbai, Chennai.

In addition, separate immigration desks and help counters have been set up to assist medical tourists at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad airports.

Once you have the e-Visa, you can leave India (and return) through any immigration point.

How Often Can You Get an E-Visa?

You can apply as often as you want. The limit on the number of times in a calendar year has been removed.

Visiting Protected/Restricted Areas with Your E-Visa

The e-Visa is not valid for entry into areas such as Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India, by itself. You'll need to obtain a separate Protected Area Permit (PAP) or Inner Line Permit (ILP), depending on the requirements of the particular area. This can be done in India after you arrive, using your e-Visa. You don't need to hold a regular tourist visa to be able to apply for a PAP. Your travel or tour agent can take care of the arrangements for you. If you're planning on visiting Northeast India, you can read more about permit requirements here.

Need Help with Your Application?

Call +91-11-24300666 or email [email protected]

Important: Scams to be Aware of

When applying for your e-Visa, do be aware that a number of commercial websites have been created to look similar to the government of India's official website, and they claim to provide online visa services to tourists. These websites include but are not limited to:

  • e-visaindia.com
  • e-touristvisaindia.com
  • indianvisaonline.org.in

The websites do not belong to the government of India and they will charge you hefty service fees.

Expediting Your E-Visa

If you do need to get your e-Visa in a hurry, iVisa.com offers 24-hour and 2-day processing times. However, this comes at a price— $100 for 24-hours, and $65 for 2-days. Their standard fee for a 4-day processing time is $35. These fees are all additional to the e-Visa fee. The company is legitimate and reliable though.

Visa Requirements for India

Visa Requirements for Australia

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Visa Requirements for Sweden

Visa Requirements for Norway

Visa Requirements for France

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Consulate General of India

The Government of India has decided to restore all valid regular paper /e-visa [including long term 10 years tourist regular paper visa and 5 years e-visa] irrespective of its issue date, for the nationals of USA since 16 March 2022. Fresh issue of regular paper long term (10 years) tourist visas has also been restored for nationals of USA.

The current scheme of regular Tourist visa/e-tourist visa (one month stay only) on gratis basis will be discontinued from 01 April 2022.

Maximum stay by a foreigner in India on an  e-Tourist visa or regular paper Tourist visa or both  in one calendar year shall be restricted to 180 days. Foreign nationals will not be allowed to enter India through land routes on e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa.

For issue of any visa, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months and it should have two blank pages.

In case of a minor applicant,  Notarized Parental authorization form , duly signed by both the parents is mandatory, along with copies of their passports and marriage certificate.

E-Visa  -

The process of obtaining e-visa may be seen at - https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html . The applicant may note that the Consulate does not process e-visas and any enquiries in this regard will need to be made directly on the e-visa portal.

Regular Paper visa through VFS Global only  -

Applicants residing within the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India, New York may apply for regular visa at VFS Global  https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-visa  and send the completed physical application to VFS Global at -

VFS Global Indian Visa Application Centre, 128 East, 32nd Street, 2nd Floor, New York, 10016. Email [email protected], Helpline:  +1-800-320-9693

Registration of Foreigners

All foreigners (including foreigners of Indian origin) visiting India on long term (more than 180 days)  Student Visa, Medical Visa, Employment Visa  are required to get themselves registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) / Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) concerned having jurisdiction over the place where the foreigner intends to stay, within 14 days of arrival. All  Business Visa  (including e-Business visa) holders are required to register themselves with the FRRO/FRO concerned in case the aggregate stay in India on Business Visa exceeds 180 days during a calendar year.

Emergency Visa Service  -

VFS Global will accept in-person applications, with prior appointment, on working days as well as on weekends /holidays, from US passport holders of Indian origin and their family members who are required to visit India due to a family emergency, such as critical illness or death of a family member. Documentary evidence will need to be provided and the applicant will be charged an emergency service fee . Applicants within the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General of India, New York may contact VFS as per details given below to:

Monday to Friday: Between 9 AM to 4 PM Email: [email protected] Weekends and Holidays: Between 9 AM to 4 PM Tel:  +1-929-866-2770

Diplomatic & Official Passport holders and Fullbright Scholars  -

Diplomatic/official passport holders and Fullbright Scholars, may please send an email at [email protected] for guidance on the procedure to be followed.

Guidelines for International Travel  -

Applicants are advised to go through the guidelines for international travel to India available at Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India website.

Travel arrangements  -

Applicants are advised not to finalize their travel arrangements prior to issuance of visa.

New York 01 Feb 2023

Updated Advisory on Visas

The Government of India has decided to issue fresh tourist visas with effect from 15 October, 2021 for group tourism and from 15 November, 2021 for individual travel. In this context, the following may be noted:

All foreign nationals intending to visit India for tourism purpose are permitted to enter India on e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa with effect from 15 November, 2021. Such travel will be allowed through Vande Bharat Mission, Air Bubble Scheme or by any scheduled/non-scheduled flight allowed by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.

A Single Entry e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa valid for a stay of up to 30 days will be issued, which will have to be utilized within a period of 120 days from the date of issue . This visa will be issued free of charge for a limited period once to each applicant. However, VFS service charge and payments on account of value-added services like courier, etc. will have to be made.

It may be noted that existing valid e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa issued before 6 October, 2021 will continue to remain suspended and travel on such visas is not permitted.

Foreign nationals will not be allowed to enter India through land routes on e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa.

The process of obtaining e-Tourist Visa may be accessed at -  https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html .The applicant may note that the Consulate does not process e-visas and any enquiries in this regard will need to be made directly on the e-visa portal.

Regular Tourist Visa/ Business Visa/Medical Visa/Conference Visa/Journalist and Student visa may be applied at VFS Global with effect from 13 December, 2021 (12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time) - https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/in

Applicants are also advised to go through the guidelines for international travel to India available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesforInternationalarrivalsdated30thNovember2021.pdf

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The Government of India has decided to restore all valid regular paper /e-visa [including long term 10 years tourist regular paper visa and 5 years e-visa] irrespective of its issue date, for the nationals of USA since 16 March 2022. Fresh issue of regular paper long term (10 years) tourist visas has also been restored for nationals of USA.

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India tourist visa from the embassy in 2023: A complete guide

Published: June 7, 2023

India tourist visa from the embassy

This article is a complete guide to obtaining India tourist visa from the embassy or consulate. You can learn everything about India tourist visa types, requirements, eligibility, documents needed, fee and application procedure.

Indian missions around the world issue India tourist visas for those that require a visa to enter India. Most nationalities are eligible to apply for an e-Visa or Visa on Arrival. But there are a handful of nationalities that are not eligible. These nationalities must apply for a tourist visa at their nearest Indian embassy or consulate. 

Nationalities that are eligible for India e-Visa or India Visa on Arrival are also eligible to apply for an Indian tourist visa from their nearest Indian embassy or consulate. There may be occasions where a tourist visa from the embassy is a better choice than an India e-Visa or India Visa on Arrival . For example, US nationals can get a 10-year tourist visa from the embassy vs an Indian e-Visa which is only valid for 5 years. So a tourist visa from the embassy is a better choice in this case.

There are three types of tourist visa categories T-1, T-2 and T-3. T-1 is for tourists. T-2 is for tour groups and T-3 is for cruise passengers. 

Table of Contents

Requirements for india tourist visa from the embassy (sticker visa).

Countries that require India tourist visa from the embassy

Who is required to apply for India tourist visa?

Following nationalities are REQUIRED to apply for an Indian tourist visa from the embassy in order to travel to India.

  • Congo, Dem. of
  • Congo, Dem. Rep. of
  • North Korea
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Sudan
  • Turkmenistan

NOTE Nationals who are eligible to apply for e-Visa or Visa on Arrival can also apply for an India tourist visa from the embassy. 

Pakistan citizens are restricted from obtaining Indian tourist visas from the embassy. They must apply for a special visa. 

Anyone of Pakistan origin is granted only a 3-month single-entry tourist visa. Applicants whose parents or grandparents were born or ever lived in Pakistan are considered of Pakistan origin. 

What are the different types of India tourist visas available?

Indian embassies offer three types of tourist visas depending on whether the applicant is an individual, a tour group or a cruise passenger. Below is a summary of the three categories of Indian tourist visas offered at the embassy. 

NOTE For this article, we will focus only on the T-1 category meant for individual tourists. 

What is the validity of India tourist visa?

India tourist visa is valid for 1 year, 5 years and 10 years. Your tourist visa validity varies depending on your nationality. Below is a summary of various nationalities and the corresponding tourist visa validity. 

How many days can you stay in India on a tourist visa?

You can stay up to 90 days in India on a tourist visa. Canada, Japan and US nationals can stay up to 180 days. Below is the summary of permitted stay for your tourist visa depending on your nationality.

How many times can you enter India on tourist visa?

All tourist visas from India are multiple-entry, except for those of Pakistan origin. That means you can enter India as many times as you like. But there are some restrictions on how frequently you can enter India on your multiple-entry visa.

When can you enter India on a tourist visa?

You can enter India anytime during the validity of your tourist visa. You are allowed to stay 90 days on each entry (or 180 days if you are a Canada, Japan, UK or US national).

Even if you enter India on the last day of your visa validity, you will still be given 90 days of entry (or 180 days if you are a Canada, Japan, UK or US national)

When should you apply for India tourist visa?

Indian tourist visas can be applied for up to 180 days in advance. But the latest is 30 days as the visa processing takes 15-20 calendar days in some locations. 

Where should you apply for Indian tourist visa?

You can apply for an India tourist visa from any Indian embassy/consulate in any country. You don’t have to be a citizen or resident of that country. You can be a tourist as well. 

In case you are a non-resident or a tourist in a country, the Indian embassy where you have applied may consult the Indian embassy in your home country for the visa process. This usually does not delay the visa process. 

Which airports or land borders you can enter India from using tourist visa?

You can enter India from all international airports, sea ports and land borders using an India tourist visa obtained from the Indian Embassy. There are no restrictions on where you can enter or exit the country with a tourist visa.

What is the minimum passport validity required for India tourist visa?

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.

How many blank pages are required in the passport for India tourist visa?

You need at least two blank pages in your passport for your Indian tourist visa. One blank page is necessary for the visa sticker and another is for entry and exit stamps when entering and leaving India. 

What are the documents needed for India tourist visa?

The following documents are needed for tourist visa.

  • Completed and signed India visa application form
  • One digital photo for the online application
  • One physical photograph to affix on the completed application form
  • Proof of residence (ID, passport or visa)

What are the India tourist visa photo requirements?

You must upload one digital photo during your online application. The photo must meet the following specifications.

  • Must be in JPG or JPEG format only
  • Must be a minimum of 10 KB and a maximum of 300 KB
  • Must be square in dimensions
  • Must not have any borders
  • Background must be white or light color
  • Must not have any shadows on the face or on the background
  • Must show full head from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin
  • Head must be about 1 inch to 1 ⅜ inches, i.e roughly 25mm to 35mm
  • Eye height must be between 1 ⅛ inches to 1 ⅜ inches

What is the current India tourist visa fee?

The visa fee varies depending on the visa period, the embassy’s location and the nationality. For example, the fee for a 10-year India visa for a US citizen applying from the US is $160 plus VFS charges. The fee for a 1 year India visa for Bangladesh nationals applying from Bangladesh is free of charge. 

What is the current India tourist visa processing time?

The India tourist visa processing time is 3 working days the application is submitted directly at the Indian embassy/consulate. 

The processing time is 15 calendar days or more if applied through a visa application center such as VFS. 

Whether you must apply at the visa application center or directly at an Indian mission depends on your location and whether or not the Indian embassy/consulate has outsourced its visa application process. 

INDIA TOURIST VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

India tourist visa portal

How to apply for Indian tourist visa from the embassy?

The India tourist visa application is a two-step process.

STEP 1: Online Application

Step 2: appointment.

The first step in the Indian tourist visa application process is to fill out an online application on the India visa portal . 

If you are a family or group, each person must complete one online application form. There is no family application. Similarly, each person must schedule one separate visa appointment for document submission. 

In the online application, you must select the Indian embassy/consulate where you plan to apply for your visa. 

After filling out the application, you must print and sign it. 

If the Indian embassy/consulate did not outsource the visa application to a visa application center, then you can walk into the embassy/consulate any day to pay the fee and submit your visa application. 

If the Indian embassy/consulate has outsourced the visa process to a visa application center, then you will have to go to the visa application center’s website and schedule an appointment. You may be able to pay the visa fee while scheduling the appointment. 

On the day of the appointment, you must submit your completed and signed application form, photographs and original passport. You must also pay the fee if you haven’t while scheduling the appointment. 

If there is no visa application center near you, you can also send your completed application and documents to the visa application center by mail. 

Word of caution on India tourist visa fake websites

If you search on the internet, you will see that there are many Indian visa websites posing as “official websites”. There is ONLY one OFFICIAL website for Indian tourist visas. The rest are all fake. The OFFICIAL website is below.

India tourist visa OFFICIAL website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html  

How to track India tourist visa application?

If applied directly at an Indian embassy or consulate: There is no option to track your application. But the processing time is fairly quick. The Indian mission where you are applying will tell you when to come back and pick up your passport, which is usually within 3 working days. 

If applied at a visa application center such as VFS: You can track your visa application status on the visa application center’s website. 

How to receive the approved India tourist visa?

If applied directly at an Indian embassy or consulate: At the time of submitting your documents at the embassy, the visa officer will tell you when to come back to pick up your passport. You will simply have to go back on that day to pick up your passport with your India visa. 

If applied at a visa application center such as VFS: When your visa is processed, you will be notified by email to pick up your passport. If you have opted for returning the passport via mail/courier, your passport will have mailed to your address.

Is there a priority service for India tourist visa?

Unfortunately, there is no priority visa service for Indian tourist visas. You must apply at least 30 calendar days prior to your travel to avoid any delays. Or you can opt for an India e-Visa which usually is processed within 72 hours. 

How to contact India tourist visa customer service?

You will have to contact your nearest embassy or the visa application center for any questions.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

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01. Apply for your visa

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02. Book your fight

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03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

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05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

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Tourist visa for India from embassy

Get 1 year Indian Tourist Visa from any Indian Embassy without Hassle

INDIA VISA EXPERIENCE: GETTING AN INDIAN TOURIST VISA FROM AN INDIAN EMBASSY

By Claudia Lizeth last updated on September 3, 2022

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Probably the first thing that comes to your mind while reading this, is why would anyone go to all the trouble to get an Indian tourist visa while a tourist Evisa or e-Tourist visa is an easy peasy?

There are 5-year Evisas, 1-year Evisas, 90-day Evisas, and now 10-year Evisas for tourism. My own parents got Indian Online Evisa when they accompanied me.

The answer is simple: The Evisa or e-Tourist visa for India has limitations.

But before we jump into the technicalities, let me tell you a bit about what to see and do in India.

What to Do in India

Here is the thing: India is huge. Home to some of the tallest mountains, beautiful beaches, ancient temples, deserts, national parks- it’s truly a traveler’s paradise.

The Taj Mahal, the Golden temple of Amritsar, Jaipur, Delhi and Rishikesh are some of the most visited tourist destinations in north India.

North India is popular for its hill stations and treks as well. If you are interested in treks, here are some of the best treks in India . If you are interested in forts, here are the best forts of Rajasthan .

If you want to venture south, Kerala is a must-stop, owing to its natural beauty and beaches. Auroville, a universal city with an international community, and Pondicherry, a former French colony are two other popular destinations in South India.

If Pondicherry is on your bucket list, then here is a list of all the things to do in Pondicherry .

india tourist visa 1 year

Table of Contents

India Tourist Visa vs India Online eVisa

  • For any long-term Evisa, you need to leave India every 3 months and reenter.
  • You can’t convert an Indian eVisa to any other visa . So let’s say you find a job or want to study or something else, you would need to leave India and get one of those proper visas outside. I have heard stories of people who did it with help from Immigration lawyers and such, but I wouldn’t recommend this route.

As per me, the second reason mattered a lot more. My Indian boyfriend and I had plans to get married after I would come to India.

We planned to stay in India for a long time which needed me to convert my tourist visa to an Indian X visa for spouse . And, later I converted it to an OCI card as well.

And, no matter how you are entering India, you would need to fill in the Air Suvidha form .

So I went to the embassy of India in Bogota, Colombia while I was there and got my India tourist visa there. The process is more or less the same irrespective of your country, although they might ask for a few more documents.

Most of the Indian consulates in different countries offer walk-in appointments, although some consulates have authorized a third-party agency to manage the whole process.

Things to Know before India Visa Application

Do you need insurance for india visitor’s visa.

The fact is some countries need you to have insurance for tourist visa applications. For example, if you need a tourist visa for Turkey or a Schengen visitor’s visa , you would need to get insurance.

India visa application doesn’t specifically need you to submit insurance proof. However, I recommend everyone to have travel insurance in India.

I recommend Saftey Wing which covers your medical expenses in case of hospitalization and a bunch of other things like when you lose your passport in a foreign country or in case of trip interruption.

Saftey Wing Insurance for Thailand visa

India Visa Application for US citizen

Note – If you are applying for a visitor visa to India from USA, you can do it through VFS Global only. The Indian embassies in USA don’t accept any applications directly.

Tourist Visa for India from UK

If you are in the UK, pre-Covid you could walk in but now, it is not allowed. They have outsourced the document collection to VFS Global UK, and you can schedule an appointment with them.

India Visa processing time in UK takes about 10-15 days.

So you can apply Indian visa online in UK.

Application for Indian Visa for Australian Citizens

Citizens of Australia can apply for Indian visas through VFS Global Australia.

Apply Visa for India When You are Sure

The reason I say when you are sure is that the India tourist visa is valid from the day it’s issued. So if you get a visa before you know when you can travel, you would start losing days. The visa processing rarely takes more than 15 days. I got mine in a week.

Here is how to apply for India tourist visa through an embassy, and the list of documents you would need.

Document Checklist for Indian Tourist Visa

The list of documents for an Indian tourist visa are pretty standard actually.

Valid passport

You passport valid for a year at least with at least three continuous blank pages. The six months passport validity rule doesn’t hold because the visa is issued for one year.

Bank Statements for Visa Application for India

Your bank statements should have a minimum balance of $ 6,000,000 COP / 2000 USDs approx. I showed the bank statements for the last 3 months with a balance of $ 10,000,000 COP. I simply took the PDF statements from the bank and showed them. There was no need to notarize it or get any official bank statements. It’s always a good idea to have more than the minimum required amount. In case, your spouse/parents will be responsible for your expenses, a notarized letter stating responsibility for trip expenses along with the copy of the birth registration or marriage certificate.

Round trip Flight reservation for Visa or Confirmed Tickets

It doesn’t have to be a confirmed flight. You can make a reservation in an airline and present that ticket. As my plans were confirmed, I had bought a flight ticket on Turkish Airlines.

But I would recommend you to simply make a reservation or buy a ticket on Expedia or Orbitz, and then cancel it. That way you can have a flight reservation for free. For my return ticket to Bogota, I showed a reservation from Turkish airlines 5 months after my date of arrival.

International Yellow Fever vaccination certificate

In Colombia, you can get it easily in a public hospital for free.

India visa application form

You need to fill the visa application form for India online and then take a printout of the same, and carry it for your visa appointment.

Indian Visa Photo Requirements

The photo size for the Indian visa is 2 cm X 2 cm. It must be a color passport pic in white background. In case your pic doesn’t work, you can get your photo taken in a studio right across the consulate.

Signed Consent

A signed consent form is something specific to regular Indian visa applications that you need to print out from the website of the Indian embassy in Bogota and sign, and submit with your application.

Fill in the Indian Tourist Visa Application Form Online

You need to fill in the application form for India tourist visa on the official website : https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/Registration .

The visa application form is quite long and detailed. So don’t hurry.

India tourist visa application form

Once you fill in the details and click on ‘continue’ button, you would see a Temporary Application ID on the next page. Note this ID. In case, you can’t complete the form or any other issue comes up, you can use this ID to complete it.

Things to note

  • Port of entry and exit for India- Make sure this matches the flight reservations you have provided.
  • Duration of visa and no. of entries – You can choose maximum up to 6 months. Make sure to choose multiple entries.
  • Photo to upload – It should be min 10 KB and max 1 MB, and in JPEG format. It should be a recent front-facing photograph with a white background.

After you complete the visa application form, you can download it and print it out. Make sure that you carry it with you when you go to the embassy.

Submit Documents at Indian Embassy and Pay

The best part is that there is no need to make payments before you submit the documents for the Indian visa application for tourism. They ask you to pay once they revise all your documents. I went to the embassy in the early morning. The embassy receives visa applications from 8.30 am to 12 pm.

There were like 10 or so people waiting in the lobby. There was a guy by the main door who I explained the purpose of my visit to and handed him the documents. He then asked me to wait.

Address and Contact Info of Indian Embassy in Colombia Embajada de la India Calle 116 # 7-15 Int.2. Of.301 Torre Cusezar, Santa Bárbara de Bogotá  [email protected], [email protected][email protected] (+571 6373259, 6373451) 

Afterwards, I waited in the lobby. It took 30 minutes or so before I was called to the reception. The receptionist thoroughly examined all my docs and told me that my photo wasn’t as per the specifications.

My face ate up like 90% of the photo while it should have been 70-80%. Not really the news I was expecting for.

So, I rushed to a studio right across the street and got a new photo taken. Then I darted to a cyber cafe and filled in a new application form coz’ the application form had my previous photo. I got the printout and came back to show it in the embassy.

Once they were satisfied, they gave me a slip along with the payment details. I went to the Banco Itau to make the payment for the visa. Following that, I came back with the original deposit slip and submitted it along with the other documents.

After the payment, I received a receipt with my passport number. Make sure not to lose it.

Receive the Indian Tourist Visa

The embassy called me to inform after 4 days that my visa has been granted and I could collect the passport any time from 2-3 pm. I went to the embassy the same day and received my passport with the Indian tourist visa sticker.

Indian Visa sample for 6 months India tourist visa

Note** To return Passport outside Bogotá in Colombian territory Applicants can deposit additional $ 20,000 pesos and make a note with the address (including ZIP code www.codigopostal.gov.co) to which Applicants want to get their passport back.

Indian tourist visa processing time : 1 week Visa validity : From the day of issuance Visa duration : One year but you need to leave after six months and re-enter India Visa cost : 340,000 Pesos or 103$

Note – You need to leave India 180 days after you arrive there and re-enter.

Go for an Indian Buffet

Now that your India trip is on the horizon, it’s time to go to your favorite Indian restaurant and have some Indian food. The Taj Mahal restaurant in Bogota is my fave Indian restaurant and they have an amazing buffet Monday to Friday.

So, I and my family went there and ate to our heart’s content.

Note for Ecuadorian Citizens Applying Indian Tourist Visa in Colombia

Citizens of Ecuador can apply for India tourist visa by sending in all the documents along with the passport to the Indian embassy through DHL and opt to collect their passport through DHL as well.

Make sure to pay at Banco Pichincha and send the original deposit slip along with the documents.

Indian Embassy Account at Pichincha Bank Bank’sName: Banco Pichincha C.A. Accountholder’sname: Embajada de la India, Bogota Account type: Current account Account No. 3460152804

The Visa Project’s Comprehensive Visa Series: Guides & Experiences

Visa requirements are always changing. Here on The Visa Project, they are kept up-to-date and should answer most visa questions.

And not just guides and tips, we also rely on real people’s experiences on visas, coz’ we know how much visas change based on your nationality, financial status, age, ethnicity, etc.

In the South Asia Visa Series: Experiences

  • India X Visa : How to Get India Spouse Visa in FRRO
  • Indian Visa Extension : How to Extend Indian Visa in FRRO
  • India e Visa
  • Nepal Visa on Arrival
  • Srilanka eVisa Online

Did you ever get an India tourist visa?

If you ever had to apply for India tourist visa, let us know in the comments. The visa process is constantly changing and it will help me update the article if there is any change. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have and share if you think it’s useful.

Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links. Please see my  disclaimer policy  here. The Visa Project would by no means be liable for any purchase of tours, tickets, and any other online reservations that are made with any third-party provider.

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india tourist visa 1 year

About Claudia Lizeth

Born in Colombia, Claudia now calls India home. She is keenly interested in the spiritual and cultural aspects of India. She is a certified Spanish teacher and a creative thinker.

Reader Interactions

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January 30, 2020 at 11:51 am

Great ! I would like to point out something. Can you explain the limitation of getting an Indian tourist visa? Sometimes we all keep in mind only beneficial things not limitation.

india tourist visa 1 year

April 3, 2020 at 3:53 pm

Hi Luz, in my opinion the e-visa might has some limitations. The tourist visa gives you more flexibility.

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April 16, 2020 at 11:32 pm

Wow that’s quite a lot of work to get that visa isn’t it? But glad that you did it as you obviously needed it. Love that you went for a big Indian feast after! I would too. All the best with the wedding!

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April 17, 2020 at 12:56 am

Very nice and informative article! Trying to obtain a visa always gives me a headache. Personally I would be mostly looking to point number 6 🙂

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April 19, 2020 at 4:44 pm

Very helpful article for obtaining visa to India as tourists. This should help travel of international tourists very easy. I especially liked the step by step approach to this. And how and why each step is important.

india tourist visa 1 year

July 12, 2020 at 7:05 am

Hi Indrani, thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comment.

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June 16, 2020 at 9:07 pm

Being an Indian, its quite amusing for me to read about Indian tourist visa! I’ve never given a thought about it at all! Interesting to know about the various steps and the restrictions about going out & coming back in 3 months!

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June 19, 2020 at 10:07 pm

India is surely on my bucket list. And I understand, why you got a tourist visa rather than an evisa which would have been faster. Did you get the spouse visa after you got married? Hope you are having a good time in India. I liked the roundtrip ticket tip you mentioned, as well as the length it usually takes to hear back. The worst thing about traveling is waiting to hear about your visa.

July 12, 2020 at 7:04 am

Hi Joe,Nice to know that India is on your bucket list. I am having a good time in India. It’s a country that’s so unique and interesting. I did get a spouse visa after getting married. I will be posting that article later.

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June 27, 2020 at 2:52 pm

Such a detailed guide on getting an Indian visa. It’s good to know that visitors need to leave India every 3 months if they’re on long term Evisa. Thanks for your tips on Roundtrip Flight reservation as well. I’d love to visit India with my boyfriend, so your post is very useful.Hope your wedding went well.

July 12, 2020 at 11:20 am

Thanks Ha. Yes, my wedding went well.

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July 15, 2020 at 7:47 am

I guess I am lucky I never had to go to an embassy to get a visa, but I can see why this is better than a e-visa. Still seems like a complicated process ( or least for me, cause I am lazy and I hate bureaucracy). So thank you for making it easier to understand!

August 11, 2020 at 5:57 pm

Glad that it helped you.

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August 3, 2020 at 3:55 pm

This is such helpful Guide to obtain Indian tourist visa from any Indian Embassy. India gives e-visa to many counties which eases visa hassles.

August 11, 2020 at 5:56 pm

It’s true that e-visa is much easier to get. The problems arise when if you want to stay longer or convert it.

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August 10, 2020 at 7:36 am

Thank you for sharing all this useful information with us. India has been on my list for a long time. But because it is such a big country, I have never decided where to go first. I would try Ladakh to see the Himalayan views but in the same time, I would go to the south in Goa too. Is it easy to extend your visa for more than three months in case you want to stay longer?

August 11, 2020 at 5:54 pm

Hi Luliana, thanks for stopping by. If you get the one year visa, you get 6 months at a time. After that you need to leave and reenter India. After that you can extend your visa if needed.

September 22, 2020 at 7:36 am

Thank you for sharing all this useful information with us. India has been on my list for a long time. But because it is such a big country, I have never decided where to go first. I would try Laddakh to see the Himalayan views but in the same time, I would go to the south in Goa too. Is it easy to extend your visa for more than three months in case you want to stay longer?

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October 31, 2020 at 8:03 pm

Hello,firstly belated hearty greetings for your marriage and i wish you a very happy n prosperpus life ahead.Thank you for such an informative n detailed post. Allow me to introduce myself ,i am an Indian citizen,40 years medical doctor by profession ,i m in deep love with an iranian female 38 years(never been married) since almost a decade.i m planning to marry her in India soon after covid restrictions are lifted,forgive my ignorance ,frankly speaking i have never been out of India before n pretty much newbie in such matters. After going through Indian embassy in iran website i came to know that ,visa upto max SIX months can b issued and multiple entries can b considered DEPENDING on itinerary .my main concern is only that she get 6 months visa successfully.while filling application ,site ask for the name of places u wanna visit etc,so i have few queries,i will owe u a life time for the guidance.

1)being a 38 years unmarried lone female traveller,shall she apply for 3 months or 6 months that chances of visa rejections r prevented?

2)what places u mentioned u planning to visit while in India in application? i was wandering does she need to write 3 or 6 months detailed DAILY travel plan with name of places along with proof of train or domestic flight resevations inter city while in India, or just reservation of return flight back to her homeland after 5 or 6 months will do ?

3)Did ur husband to be back then sent a letter of invitation or its a bad idea and simply as an independent traveller will do?

November 1, 2020 at 4:31 pm

Hi Rayees, Thanks for stopping by, and thank you for your kind words.

1) I don’t think her marital status or age would really be an issue in her getting a 6-months visa. Usually Indian embassies are helpful and not too strict.

2)I mentioned the usual tourist spots like Jaipur, Delhi, Amritsar, Rishikesh, Udayapur etc. in North India. No need for daily travel plan or proof of train/flight reservations. Simply mentioning the places will do the job.If they ask, she can explain that she will plan after arriving in India. Yes, a return ticket/reservation back to her homeland after 6 months will be fine.

3) No, he didn’t send any invitation letter. She can apply independently.

Note that my visa was issued with a duration of 1 year, multiple entries although it needed me to leave India after 6 months, and reenter.

November 2, 2020 at 2:10 pm

Hi Claudia,

Thanx for the detailed reply, u are a wonderful human being.Actually that second part of the sentence on Indian embassy website caught my mind stating, ” single entry visa upto six months can be issued, ,multiple entries can be considered depending on the itinerary.” I work as an associate in cardiology department in Andhra pradesh.In case if i cud b of some help ,i will b delighted. I thanx Mr.Deb Pati also for taking this guidance initiative.

November 3, 2020 at 10:58 am

Thank you Rayees. Glad that we could help you. You are a kind human being yourself, I believe. Hope your beloved makes it to India.

November 12, 2020 at 2:58 am

Hello Claudia, Thanx again,going through Indian visa application form i came across this part where they ask you about ,have you booked any hotel or something & I guess same might be asked at immigration at the airport.plz give ur suggestion regarding it. Merci

November 13, 2020 at 5:32 pm

Hi Rayees, Yes, proof of accommodation is needed for the visa application. Your girlfriend can do a refundable reservation in a hotel for a week or two for this, and carry the printout with her when she travels. She can show this in immigration in case they ask.

November 14, 2020 at 4:09 pm

Hi Claudia, Thanx alot.Happy Diwali to you and your family.

November 14, 2020 at 5:47 pm

Happy diwali to you and your family Rayees.

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May 5, 2021 at 4:33 am

Can I get your email address, please?

May 5, 2021 at 5:39 pm

Hi Deep, We prefer the queries about the article to be posted as comments so that they will be public and everyone can benefit. But if you have anything really personal or any other queries, you can use the contact us page to send us an email.

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November 11, 2021 at 8:32 am

Hi Claudia, All the information you posted is very helpful. My question was…I am planning to get married in India to my foreign partner next year around may….So which visa i should tell her to apply for while coming to India?? I will later convert it into a spouse visa once she is here.

November 12, 2021 at 2:26 am

Hi Taher, If she can come on a long-term tourist visa, that’s the best. If not, a student visa is not that hard to get.

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April 21, 2022 at 9:58 pm

Hi… this was reassuring … I am a long time many times India traveller but have not been back since August 2018 and wondered if and how things had changed. I DO want to spend 6 months in India… So.. from what I glean (I am Australian so I will go through vfsglobal in Sydney as I have always done before) I can now get a ONE YEAR validity with 180 days at a time duration.. right? That suits me perfectly as I don’t want to lose days once I have the visa (i.e. I want the whole 180 days and with this 1 year validity that becomes easy)…. Sounds right? Of course if I were able to get a FIVE year validity I will go for that.. not sure that is possible or even exists for Australians??? thanks again

April 24, 2022 at 6:24 am

Hi Paul, You can get a 5-year eVisa for tourism as an Australian. The 1 year tourist visa is also available.

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October 17, 2022 at 5:20 pm

Hi Claudia, Thanks for the article, very well written. Now I have a situation (maybe you van help me) I am Colombian and I have a US citizenship. I applied for the tourist e-visa online twice and got “rejected” both times. I am planning to go to Bogota this week, to the Embassy of India and apply there in person. Is this viable? Here in the US, the process is by mail and through a third party provider (It takes at least 15 days that I don’t have) Thanks for your input.

October 19, 2022 at 1:47 pm

Hi Luz, Thanks for the kind words. Any idea why it got rejected? It is very unusual. You can surely apply in Bogota with your Colombian passport. You should get it in a very short time, usually a week max.

All the best.

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May 7, 2023 at 5:17 pm

Hello, sorry to bother you, but you wrote that the visa application form is quite long and detailed. I was wondering what kind of questions are there in the online form, just so I can be prepared before starting. I hope you can reply. Thanks in forward!

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May 19, 2023 at 7:31 am

Hi Claudia, A great helpful article, thank you so much, I have few queries as below

1) My Fiancé is from Ukraine and we are planning to marry in November 2023, so should she apply Normal tourist visa or E-Visa for 90 days/1 year with multiple entry , can she change it to X-visa and OCI later ? 2) She is working online with an American company and after getting married can she continue working with the same company from India online? 3) For long term E -visa she needs to leave India every 3 months? 4) As I read, you suggested for normal tourist visa from Indian Embassy, she is staying in Manchester , UK, so she should visit the embassy or what is the procedure post Covid? ( in case we decide for normal tourist visa)

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What you need to know.

The India Tourist eVisa permits international travelers to enter India for tourism purposes

Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after you enter India and have at least two blank pages

This eVisa isn’t allowed at every port of entry in India, keep reading to learn which ports of entry allow this visa

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Last updated: April 2024

Ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and breathtaking beauty of India? The India Tourist eVisa is an essential requirement. With us, applying for this eVisa is as easy as pouring a cup of chai.

Apply online for the India Tourist Visa or use our handy app for an even smoother experience.

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What is the India Tourist eVisa?

The India Tourist eVisa is an electronic authorization that allows travelers to enter and explore India for tourism purposes.

The online application process eliminates the need for physical paperwork and visits to embassies or consulates.

Officially known as the "e-Tourist Visa," it provides a convenient and quick way to secure travel permissions for those looking to experience India's rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes.

What you can do with the India Tourist Visa:

Visit tourist sites across India.

Attend cultural and festival events.

Take short-term yoga or cooking classes.

Visit family or friends.

What you cannot do with the India Tourist Visa:

Work or volunteer.

Enroll in long-term educational courses.

Engage in journalistic activities.

Conduct business or start a business.

Enter protected or restricted areas without special permission.

Who requires the India Tourist eVisa?

The India Tourist eVisa is available to citizens of many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

To see if you are eligible, please check at the top of this page, where you can input your nationality to determine your visa requirements.

Requirements to apply for an India Tourist Visa:

Travel purpose: Your visit must be for tourism purposes such as sightseeing, meeting friends or family, or attending a short-term yoga program.

Passport validity: Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry into India.

Digital photo: You must provide a digital photograph that meets the eVisa requirements.

Email address: An email address is required to receive the eVisa electronically.

Payment method: A credit or debit card is needed to pay the eVisa processing fee online.

By providing these details and meeting the conditions, you can apply for the India Tourist eVisa comfortably and efficiently.

Visa-exempt: Who doesn't need to apply for India Tourist eVisa?

Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not require a visa to enter India. These travelers can enter, live, and work in India without a visa. For all other nationalities, a visa or eVisa is typically necessary to travel to India. For specific conditions and a full list of visa-exempt countries, please check the eligibility section at the top of this page.

Do children also require the India Tourist eVisa?

Yes, children require an India Tourist eVisa just like adults. The application process is the same for minors, and they must have a visa to enter India regardless of their age.

When applying for a visa for a minor, legal guardians need to provide additional documents:

A copy of the minor’s birth certificate.

Copies of the passports of the child's parents or legal guardians.

A consent letter signed by both parents or legal guardians, which authorizes the child's travel to India.

These extra steps ensure the safety and proper documentation of minors traveling to India.

India Tourist eVisa validity: How long can I stay in India?

Here are the options for the India Tourist eVisa we offer, along with their validity and entry types:

30-day double-entry visa: This eVisa allows two entries into India and is valid for 30 days, so you must use it to enter India within that time. You also have 30 days max stay from the date of your first entry.

1-year multiple-entry visa: This visa is valid for one year from the date of issuance. You can enter India multiple times during the year, and it permits stays of up to 90 days per visit for most nationalities, except for the U.S., UK, and Canada, who can stay for up to 180 days per visit. The maximum stay for all nationalities is 180 days per year.

5-year multiple-entry visa: This eVisa offers the greatest flexibility. Valid for 5 years from the date of issue, it allows multiple entries, with each stay capped at 90 days. Except for those from the U.S., UK, and Canada, who can stay for up to 180 days. The maximum stay within a year for all nationalities is 180 days.

For comprehensive information on your India Tourist e-visa validity check out our blog .

For both the 1 and 5-year India visas, you need to ensure that your first entry into India is within 120 days from the date the visa is issued. Plan your trips according to these rules to make the most of your India Tourist Visa.

How to read your Tourist Visa validity

Validity period: How long can your visa be used for.

Max stay: The longest you can stay in India each time you visit.

Expiry date: This depends on which visa type you have.

For example:

If you've got a 30-day India Tourist eVisa, and the expiry date is March 14:

The latest date you can enter India is March 14, 2024.

This is the expiry date of your visa. From this date, you're allowed to stay in the country for up to 30 days.

If you've got a 1-year or 5-year India Tourist eVisa, and the expiry date is March 14:

The latest date you can leave India is March 14, 2024.

The expiry date, in this case is the date by which you must depart India.

You can stay in India for as long as your maximum stay but not longer than the validity period.

Can I extend my India Tourist eVisa?

Generally, the India Tourist eVisa cannot be extended. Tourists are expected to adhere to the validity period specified on their eVisa—either 30 days, 90 days per visit on the 1-year visa, or 90 days per visit on the 5-year visa.

If you need to stay longer than the terms of your original visa due to exceptional circumstances, you must apply through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) in India. For detailed procedures and exceptions, it’s advisable to consult the official Indian government immigration website .

India Tourist eVisa required documents

To apply for the India Tourist eVisa online, you generally need:

Passport : A scan of the information page of your valid passport, which must have at least six months of validity from the date of arrival in India and at least two blank pages.

Photograph : A recent passport-style color photo, which can be uploaded during the application process.

Email address : To receive the visa confirmation.

Payment method : Credit or debit card for the visa fee payment.

Additional documents:

Depending on your circumstances and the purpose of travel, you may also need:

Travel itinerary : Details of your stay, including flight bookings and accommodation.

Financial proof : Statements or other documents showing you have enough funds for your stay.

Invitation letter : If visiting friends or family, an invitation letter may be required.

Note : This is a general list, and we will send a complete list of required documents via email upon application. This service ensures you are fully prepared for your application.

Once your visa is approved:

Confirmation delivery : You will receive an email containing your eVisa in PDF format.

Recommendation : We recommend printing out the eVisa and carrying it along with your passport when you travel to India, as immigration officers will want to see a copy upon your arrival.

We will be in touch by email if we need any more information from you during the application process.

India financial requirements

For the India Tourist eVisa, applicants should provide proof of financial stability to cover their stay in India. This can typically be shown with:

Bank statements : Recent statements indicating sufficient balance.

Sponsorship letter : If someone is sponsoring your trip, a letter from them stating their commitment to cover your expenses is accompanied by their financial documents.

These financial documents help demonstrate that you can support yourself during your visit to India. We will guide you on how to provide these proofs effectively as part of our visa application services.

India Tourist eVisa costs and processing times

The cost of processing your visa depends on the chosen validity and your nationality.

For those exempt from government visa fees, the only cost incurred will be our iVisa service fee. Countries exempt from the government fees include:

Argentina Cook Islands Fiji Micronesia Indonesia Jamaica Kiribati Marshall Islands Myanmar Mauritius Nauru Niue Papua New Guinea Palau Solomon Islands Seychelles Tonga Tuvalu Uruguay Vanuatu Samoa South Africa

You can check if you should expect to pay government fees at the top of this page. Note: all nationalities applying through us will still need to pay our processing fees. You will be shown a detailed breakdown of the costs during your application.

Typically, the processing time for an India Tourist eVisa ranges from 2 to 5 days. However, in certain cases, it might extend to a few weeks.

Opting for our services can streamline and expedite this process, making it more efficient and less time-consuming for you.

Benefits of applying for India Tourist eVisa with us

When you apply for your India Tourist eVisa with us, you get more than just guidance. You get:

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My application couldn’t be completed due to an error. what now, my india tourist evisa has been canceled. what can i do, is the indian e-tourist visa valid for travel on cruises, if i cancel my e-tourist visa application, will the fee be refunded to me.

Unforeseen events happen and can change your travel plans. This is why we understand you may want to request a cancellation of your visa application and a credit for the amount paid. However, these are the iVisa refund policy guidelines:

If your application has not been reviewed by our team , nor submitted to the government for approval, then you will receive a credit for the full amount of the iVisa processing fee and government fee .

If your application has been reviewed by our team but has not yet been submitted to the government for approval, you will receive a credit for the full amount of the government fee .

If your application has been submitted to the government for approval or a visa is already issued , unfortunately, no credit is available.

What if I made a mistake on my e-Visa India application?

What is the visa policy of india, how do processing times work, where can i read more.

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  • India eVisa for Nicaraguan citizens
  • India eVisa for Guinean citizens
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Other Available Visas: India?

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  • iVisa is NOT affiliated with any government agency. This site does not provide legal advice and we are not a law firm. None of our customer service representatives are lawyers and they also do not provide legal advice. We are a private, internet-based travel and immigration consultancy provider dedicated to helping individuals travel around the world. You may apply by yourself directly on the various government websites. The source of information: https://boi.gov.in/boi/

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Eligible Country for Indian 1 Year e-Tourist Visa in 2024

Note: As per Indian government, dated 16.03.2022, e-Visa under the following categories 1 Year e-Tourist Visa has been restored.

Tourist Visas are issued to those who want to visit India for tourism, recreation, sightseeing, religious work, or visit India to meet their friends or relatives. This type of India visa is valid for use within 01 year/365 days from the date of the issue, and it allows travelers to visit India multiple times in these years. Applicants can visit India on any date within the period time of the validity of the visa. For all countries, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 90 days for countries except the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan. (For the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan Continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days). Electronic Indian Visa ( online Indian visa application ) is an official document, which allows travelers to enter and travel within India.

Travelers will receive their own eVisa via email after the completion of the online application form with the required information, and the online credit card payment is verified.

Eligibility:

Applicants under this visa category are citizens or permanent residents of the countries listed below: it allows the e-Visa for nationals of more than 165 Countries. They are eligible to apply for an online Indian 1 Year e-Tourist Visa. The validity of an ordinary passport for an ETA visa should be a minimum of 6 months. Please note that countries are not on the list below. They need to apply for a paper visa or need to contact the embassy.

Requirements:

  • A digital photograph of the applicant
  • Passport must have a validity of at least 6 months from the date of your intended arrival in India.

Eligible Countries for Indian 1-year e-tourist visa:

  •  Albania
  •  Andorra
  •  Angola
  •  Anguilla
  •  Antigua & Barbuda
  •  Argentina
  •  Armenia
  •  Aruba
  •  Australia
  •  Austria
  •  Azerbaijan
  •  Bahamas
  •  Barbados
  •  Belarus
  •  Belgium
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European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity

On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date. This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history, if the passport validity allows. 

According to the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years. The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals.

This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU. 

Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered 

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

April 23rd, 2024 at 5:39 AM EDT

Destinations value Indian travelers, but lengthy visa processing times lasting months act as significant deterrents. The adoption of these new regulations by European authorities reflects a proactive effort to tackle these concerns, aiming to boost tourism flow.

Peden Doma Bhutia

The European Commission has introduced a new visa “cascade” regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen visas in India. This regime looks to offer longer-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, based on the applicant’s travel history.

Indian travel agents had been complaining of Schengen visa delays as a major challenge to the summer travel rush from India.

  • How does one qualify for the longer duration visas?

The European Commission can issue a two-year multiple-entry visa after a traveler “has obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.” This demonstrates a positive travel history and compliance with previous visa regulations.

Subsequently, after granting the two-year visa, authorities may issue a five-year visa if the passport has has adequate validity remaining.

  • What benefits do holders of these extended visas enjoy?

During the validity period of these visas, holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals within the Schengen area, allowing for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

  • Which countries are part of the Schengen area?

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 European Union member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden. Additionally, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are also part of the Schengen area.

  • Are there any restrictions or conditions to these visas?

Schengen visas do not grant the right to work within the Schengen area and are for short stays only. Additionally, the visas are not purpose-bound, providing flexibility for travel within the specified period.

Industry Take

Skift also spoke to players in the Indian outbound travel industry to understand what has changed in the new Schengen visa rules.

  • How is this different from the earlier visas that Schengen countries offered? Don’t they already offer multi-entry visas with longer duration to Indians?

Mahendra Vakharia, managing director of Pathfinders Holidays, said there was no standard policy of Schengen states for issuing these long-term visas earlier. Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Italy and Spain usually issued long-term visa, but it was all subjective. “With this new policy it should be a standard rule now,” Vakharia said.

  • Travelers mainly complain of longer processing times, has that changed?

Here too, there is no standard processing time as it varies from country to country, according to Vakharia. “France and Spain have been processing visas within four days, and then there’s Croatia, which takes 60 days,” he said.

Processing time will not change as of now, it will take time for the visa rules to be enforced, said an industry source, while highlighting that the visa would be especially useful for corporate travelers.

What Promoted The Move?

Speaking on the possible motivations, Vakharia acknowledged various reasons, including administrative capacity constraints at embassies to cater to the huge inflow of applications.

“As there is an overwhelming demand from Indian travelers, the process of securing visa appointments has posed significant challenges , especially for travelers residing in cities lacking VFS Global centers,” he said.

The European Commission said in an statement that the decision reflects the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, aimed at fostering comprehensive cooperation on migration policy. Facilitating people-to-people contacts is a key aspect of this agenda, acknowledging India’s importance as an EU partner.

The decision also reflects a realization of the strong economic benefits derived through the spending power of Indian tourists. As Vakharia aptly puts it, “Why let go of the Golden Indian Goodie Bag?”

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Tags: asia monthly , europe , european commission , European summer travel , european union , india , india outbound , schengen , visa , visas

Photo credit: Park Guell in Spain. Unlike many Schengen countries, Spain has been processing visas within four days for Indian travelers. Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz / Pexels

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Explained: How Indians can now get five-year, multi-entry Schengen visa

Schengen visa 'cascade' regime: after successfully utilising the two-year visa, indian travellers can expect to get a five-year schengen visa, provided their passport has enough remainining vaildity.

Visa (Source/Unsplash)

Visa (Source/Unsplash)

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First Published: Apr 23 2024 | 8:10 AM IST

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Explained: How New Schengen Visa Rules Ease Europe Travel For Indians

The schengen area comprises 25 countries out of the 27 eu countries except the republic of ireland and cyprus..

Explained: How New Schengen Visa Rules Ease Europe Travel For Indians

A Schengen visa permits a brief stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day timeframe.

The European Union (EU) recently introduced a revamped visa system tailored specifically for Indian nationals. This new system offers substantial advantages to Indian citizens, allowing them access to long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas, which can significantly streamline travel plans and enhance the overall experience for those venturing into the Schengen area.

What Is Schengen Visa

The Schengen area comprises 25 countries out of the 27 EU countries except the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus. It includes countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. This extensive area not only offers diverse cultural experiences but also facilitates seamless travel across borders for visa holders.

A Schengen visa permits a brief stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day timeframe. This visa may be issued as either a single-entry, enabling one entry into the Schengen area, or a multiple-entry, allowing multiple visits for the duration of its validity.

How The New Rules Affect Indians

Under the new regulations, Indian travellers can now obtain a two-year Schengen visa, a marked improvement from the shorter validity periods previously available. To qualify for this extended two-year visa, applicants must have acquired and appropriately utilised two Schengen visas within the preceding three years. Upon successful utilisation of the two-year visa, travellers can typically expect to be eligible for a five-year Schengen visa, provided their passport maintains sufficient validity.

The new rules essentially say that Indian travellers can move freely within the Schengen member countries for short stays, typically up to 90 days within any 180-day period, without the need for additional permits or authorisations. Under this system, eligible travellers with a proven track record of travel will have simplified access to visas with extended validity, provided their passport's validity permits.

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The 'Cascade' system, as it's termed, is designed to reward frequent travellers with progressively longer visa durations. It begins with a two-year visa, and upon successful use, travellers can potentially qualify for a five-year visa. While these visas do not restrict the purpose of travel, they do not allow the right to work within the Schengen area.

The decision to tweak the rules comes in the broader context of improving relations between the EU and India

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Indian passport holders can get multi-year Schengen visa: How to apply for it?

Adopted on April 18, the new regulations are part of the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which was developed in the framework of "strengthened relations".

Kristina Das

What is the Schengen visa “cascade” regime for Indian passport holders?

As per the recently implemented visa "cascade" policy for India, citizens of India are eligible to receive long-term, multiple-entry Schengen visas that are valid for two years, provided they have legally secured and utilised two visas in the preceding three years. If there is still enough validity on the passport, the two-year visa will usually be followed by a five-year visa. The validity period of these visas allows their holders to travel with the same freedoms as citizens of other countries.

This decision is made within the framework of enhanced relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which aims to achieve comprehensive cooperation between the EU and India on migration policy. Given the significance of India as an EU partner, one important aspect of this cooperation is the facilitation of people-to-people contacts. 

How to apply for a multi-year Schengen visa?

  • According to the India Today report, if you have applied for and been granted two Schengen visas in the last three years, you are eligible to apply for a two-year multiple-entry visa.
  • If your passport's validity permits, a five-year visa will then be issued in place of this two-year one.
  • You have the same travel privileges as citizens of countries without a visa to enter the region as long as your Schengen visa is valid.

What are the countries under the Schengen visa?

With a valid Schengen visa, an individual can visit any part of the Schengen region without restriction for up to 90 days out of 180 days. Although the visas have no specific purpose, they do not give the ability to work. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

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india tourist visa 1 year

How to get a multi-year Schengen visa on your Indian passport

There's good news for indian passport holders who are planning to visit europe this summer. the eu is easing the schengen visa process for frequent travellers..

Listen to Story

Zurich, Switzerland

  • Visiting Europe is getting easier for Indian passport holders
  • A new 'cascade' visa scheme will allow frequent travellers to get a multi-year multiple-entry Schengen visa
  • However, you need to meet certain criteria to be able to apply for this 'cascade' visa

There's good news for Indian passport holders who want to visit Europe this year on. The European Union is looking to ease Schengen visa processes for Indian tourists.

Paris. Photo: Unsplash/Ilnur Kalimullin

  • Now, eligible Indians can get long term Schengen visas as EU adopts 'more favourable' rule for the country

Now, eligible Indians can get long term Schengen visas as EU adopts 'more favourable' rule for the country

Now, eligible Indians can get long term Schengen visas as EU adopts 'more favourable' rule for the country

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COMMENTS

  1. Welcome to Consulate General of India, New York (USA)

    The application is liable to be rejected if the uploaded documents and photograph are not clear / as per specification. 7. The revised fee structure for e-Tourist visa is as under:-. 30-day e-Tourist Visa (during July to March) US$ 25.00. 30-day e-Tourist Visa (April to June) US$ 10.00. One year e-Tourist Visa. US$ 40.00.

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    Authorized Portal for Visa Application to India. All foreign nationals entering India are required to possess a valid international travel document in the form of a national passport with a valid visa from an Indian Mission/Post or eVisa (Limited Categories) from Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs. Avail Indian Visa plus services ...

  3. Welcome to Embassy of India, Washington D C, USA

    The Government of India has decided, with immediate effect, to restore valid long duration (10 years) regular (paper) tourist visas for the nationals of USA. Fresh issue of regular (paper) long-duration (10 years) tourist visas has also been restored for nationals of USA. E-Tourist visas under the three options (one month, one year and five ...

  4. E-VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

    Ans- The validity of e-Visa would be according to the e-Visa service you have requested in the application form as - For e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years), the validity would be 365 days / 05 years from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and Maximum stay in India during one Calender Year should not exceed 180 days.

  5. Here's how to get a visa to visit India

    For one- and five-year tourist visas, applications are accepted up to 120 days in advance of travel. The 30-day visa allows two entries into India, which is handy if you're planning a side trip to Nepal, and you can apply up to 30 days in advance of travel. All e-Visas take at least 72 hours to process, so be sure to apply in plenty of time ...

  6. How To Apply & Get An Indian e-Visa Online

    The eVisa is valid for 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years from the date of your arrival in India, and it's a double entry visa (for e-Tourist or e-Business), single entry visa (e-Conference), or triple entry visa (e-Medical). It's non-extendable and non-convertible.

  7. Indian 1-Year e-Visa for US Citizens

    Visitors must apply online at least four days before arrival. There are two types of Indian 1 year e-Visas for US citizens, known as 1 year e-Tourist and e-Business visas, valid for 365 days. The maximum duration a US national can stay in India on a one-year e-tourist visa or business e-Visa within a calendar year is limited to 180 days.

  8. Indian E-Visa Information: What to Know and How to Apply

    The one-month e-Tourist Visa is valid for 30 days from the date of arrival in India, with two entries permitted. One-year and five-year e-Tourist visas are valid for 365 days from the date the ETA is granted, with multiple entries permitted.

  9. Consulate General of India, San Francisco, California : E-Visa

    US$ 10.00. One year e-Tourist Visa. US$ 40.00. Five year e-Tourist Visa. US$ 80.00. 8. Bank transaction charges of 2.5% will be charged additionally on applicable e-Visa fees. The fee must be paid at least 4 days before the expected date of travel otherwise application will not be processed.

  10. India Visa Online

    Collect your passport/visa from. Indian Mission/Visa Application Center. or by post. Applicants may fill the online application form by going to the tab placed below. Once the form is filled and submitted, applicant must print the completed application form and sign and submit the physical copy along with the supporting documents and the ...

  11. Welcome to Consulate General of India, New York (USA)

    128 East, 32nd Street, 2nd Floor, New York, 10016. Email [email protected], Helpline: +1-800-320-9693. Registration of Foreigners. All foreigners (including foreigners of Indian origin) visiting India on long term (more than 180 days) Student Visa, Medical Visa, Employment Visa are required to get themselves registered with the ...

  12. India Visa Fees

    India visa costs vary depending on several factors, including the type of visa, the applicant's nationality, and the duration of the visa. Here's a general breakdown of India visa fees: Visa Type. Visa Fee (Indian Rupee ₹) Visa Fee (US Dollar $ approx.) Tourist Visa. Up to 1 year - Single or Multiple Entry. 7,415.

  13. Consulate General of India, San Francisco, California : Tourist Visa

    Maximum stay by a foreigner in India on an e-Tourist visa or regular paper Tourist visa or both in one calendar year shall be restricted to 180 days. Foreign nationals will not be allowed to enter India through land routes on e-Tourist Visa/regular paper Tourist Visa. It may be noted that it could take up to 5 business days (longer in certain ...

  14. India e-Visa for tourists in 2023: Requirements, eligibility and more

    Updated: September 8, 2023. This article is a complete guide to obtaining India e-Visa as a tourist. You can learn everything about India e-Visa types, requirements, eligibility, documents needed, fee and application procedure. India e-Visa is quite easy to apply. All you need is a photo, a scan of your passport ID page and a credit/debit card.

  15. India tourist visa from the embassy in 2023: A complete guide

    The visa fee varies depending on the visa period, the embassy's location and the nationality. For example, the fee for a 10-year India visa for a US citizen applying from the US is $160 plus VFS charges. The fee for a 1 year India visa for Bangladesh nationals applying from Bangladesh is free of charge. —.

  16. Get 1 year Indian Tourist Visa from any Indian Embassy without Hassle

    Indian tourist visa processing time : 1 week. Visa validity: From the day of issuance. Visa duration : One year but you need to leave after six months and re-enter India. Visa cost : 340,000 Pesos or 103$. Note - You need to leave India 180 days after you arrive there and re-enter.

  17. PDF DETAILS OF VISAS GRANTED BY INDIA I. e-VISA 1

    below), Multiple entry Tourist Visa may be granted for a period of 5 years as a default option. Grant of 5-year Tourist Visa will be with the stipulation "Continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 90 days and registration not required". However, in the case of nationals of UK, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 ...

  18. India Tourist eVisa: Apply online now

    For comprehensive information on your India Tourist e-visa validity check out our blog. For both the 1 and 5-year India visas, you need to ensure that your first entry into India is within 120 days from the date the visa is issued. ... If you've got a 1-year or 5-year India Tourist eVisa, and the expiry date is March 14: The latest date you can ...

  19. India E-Visa Fees and Costs in 2024

    India E-Visa Visa Extension and Overstay Charges. In exceptional circumstances, tourist visas can be extended. The extension fee for an Indian e-Tourist visa usually matches the original visa fee. As of 2024, for most countries, this means an extension fee of $100 for an e-Tourist visa. Overstaying your e-Visa can lead to fines of $30 per day ...

  20. Visa Fee Structure

    Visa Category. Visa Duration Up to One Year (Single / Multiple entry) Visa Duration from One Year Up to Five Years (Multiple entries) 1. Tourist Visa. GBP 127. GBP 378. 2. Business Visa. GBP 189. GBP 567. 3. Entry Visa. GBP 127. GBP 378. 4. Conference Visa (up to 6 months) GBP 63 : 5. Student Visa (Up to 5 years) GBP 179 . 6. Journalist Visa ...

  21. How hard is it to get a 1year tourist eVisa? : r/india

    ChelshireGoose. • • Edited. It's just as easy as the 30 day visa. You'll simply have to pay a higher fee. (Same goes for the 5 year visa). Also, note that 1 year is just the validity of the visa. You will need to exit the country within 90 days of arrival. But since 1-year visas are valid for multiple entries, you can come back within the year.

  22. Indian 1 Year e-Tourist Visa in 2024, Indian Visa Application

    Eligible Country for Indian 1 Year e-Tourist Visa, Indian Government launched e-Visa scheme for the nationals of more than 165 Countries, to visit India by using new e-Visa services from applying online through their own Countries. All visitors except visa exempt countries are legally required to hold a valid Visa to travel to India.

  23. European Union adopts more favourable Schengen visa rules for Indians

    22.04.2024. New Delhi. Press and information team of the Delegation to INDIA and BHUTAN. Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity. On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard ...

  24. New Schengen Visa Rules for Indian Visitors: Key Questions Answered

    The new visa "cascade" regime for Schengen visas from India will now provide Indian nationals with longer-term, multi-entry visas. Javascript is required for this site to display correctly. search

  25. Explained: How Indians can now get five-year, multi-entry Schengen visa

    Visa-free-equivalent travel: While holding a valid two-year or five-year visa, Indian citizens will enjoy travel rights within the Schengen area that are equivalent to those of visa-free nationals.This means they can travel freely within the member countries for short stays (typically up to 90 days in any 180-day period) without needing additional permits.

  26. Explained: How New Schengen Visa Rules Ease Europe Travel For Indians

    India News NDTV News Desk Updated: April 23, 2024 1:53 pm IST. A Schengen visa permits a brief stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day timeframe. New Delhi: The European Union (EU) recently ...

  27. Indian passport holders can get multi-year Schengen visa: How to apply

    According to the India Today report, if you have applied for and been granted two Schengen visas in the last three years, you are eligible to apply for a two-year multiple-entry visa. If your ...

  28. How can you get a multple-entry multi-year Schengen visa?

    You can apply for a two-year multiple-entry visa if you have obtained and used two Schengen visas within the previous three years. This two-year visa will then be followed by a five-year visa if your passport validity allows it. While your Schengen visa is valid, you can visit the area with the same travel rights as visa-free nationals.

  29. India Visa Online

    Extendable in India: 1: Tourist: 5 years: M-No: 2: Transit: 15 days: S/ Double: Return/ onward journey ticket: No: 3: ... 5 years: M: Documents to prove bonafide purpose (Company’s letter etc.) Yes: 4: Employment: 1 year/ period of contract: M: Proof of employment (appointment document), terms and conditions: Yes: 5: ... If visa is for ...

  30. Now, eligible Indians can get long term Schengen visas ...

    Though less than America's 10-year visitor visas and United Kingdom's option of getting a visa valid for up to the same period by paying over 1lakh as fees, EU officials told TOI five years is ...