An international passport lying open next to Indian visa entry stamps, boarding passes, and official travel documents

OFFICIAL PROTOCOL • BORDER ENTRY MANUAL

India Tourist Visa — India e Visa for Tourists and Arrival Guide

Navigating official entry regulations does not have to be stressful. India operates one of the world's most accessible electronic visa systems for over 165 nationalities. This verified, non-commercial guide outlines exact documentation, common application errors, immigration biometric procedures, and official government portals.

This practical guide covers the India tourist visa and India e visa for tourists for India travel for foreigners, especially those using an India travel guide for first time visitors before they travel to India.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT AUTHORIZATION

Types of Indian e-Visas for International Visitors

Depending on your travel duration, frequency, and purpose, the Ministry of Home Affairs provides three distinct e-Tourist tiers alongside business and medical categories.

30-Day e-Tourist Visa

Double entry. Valid for entry within 30 days from the date of ETA grant. Ideal for a single focused journey or multi-week holiday. Note: Reduced government fee during the April–June monsoon shoulder season.

RECOMMENDED • FLEXIBLE

1-Year Multiple Entry e-Tourist

Valid for 365 days from the date of grant. Continuous stay per visit for most nationalities (including US, UK, EU, Canada) cannot exceed 90 days (180 days for US/UK/Japan).

LONG-TERM EXPLORERS

5-Year Multiple Entry e-Tourist

Valid for five full years from the date of issuance. Perfect for regular visitors, cultural researchers, and travelers who plan recurrent seasonal journeys to different states.

APPLICATION ROADMAP

The 4-Stage Application Lifecycle

Submit your online application between 4 and 30 days prior to your projected arrival date in India. Average official processing time is 72 hours.

STAGE 01

Document Setup

Prepare your passport (minimum 6 months validity from arrival date and at least two clean blank pages). Export a PDF scan of your bio page (10KB–300KB) and a square digital photo on white background (JPEG, 10KB–1MB).

STAGE 02

Online Submission

Fill out the official form on indianvisaonline.gov.in. Enter your passport number, parents' nationalities, home address, and reference contact in India (your hotel address and phone number are sufficient).

STAGE 03

Fee Payment

Pay the non-refundable government processing fee using an international credit or debit card (Visa/Mastercard) via the official payment gateway. Save your 15-character Application ID immediately.

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STAGE 04

Receive ETA & Print

Within 24 to 72 hours, check your status online. When granted, your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) will show “GRANTED”. You must print a physical paper copy to carry with your passport.

PREVENT REJECTION OR AIRPORT DELAYS

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

The vast majority of e-Visa rejections stem from clerical oversights rather than security concerns. Double check these eight details:

❌ Name Mismatch With Passport MRZ

Enter your full legal name exactly as shown in the two machine-readable lines at the bottom of your passport, including middle names. Do not use abbreviations.

❌ Blurry or Cropped Bio-Page PDF

All four corners of the passport bio-page must be clearly visible with zero glare or cut-off numbers. The PDF file size must be strictly between 10 KB and 300 KB.

❌ Incorrect Photograph Dimensions

Must be a square 2x2 inch recent photograph with a plain white background. Selfies, side profiles, shadowed walls, or cropped smartphone casual photos will cause automated rejection.

❌ Confusing ETA Grant Date with Entry Date

For a 30-day e-Visa, the 30-day window begins on your actual date of arrival in India, not the date the ETA was issued. You can arrive anytime before the ETA expiry date.

CLEARING IMMIGRATION

Arrival at Indian International Airports

e-Visa holders can arrive at **31 designated international airports** (including Delhi DEL, Mumbai BOM, Bengaluru BLR, Chennai MAA, Kolkata CCU, Kochi COK, Hyderabad HYD, Goa GOI) and 5 major seaports.

Dedicated e-Visa Lanes: Follow airport signs for “e-Visa Counters”. Do not stand in the regular passport/OCI lines.
Biometric Enrollment: The immigration officer will scan your ten digital fingerprints and capture an iris/facial photograph.
Physical Passport Stamp: The officer will stamp a physical visa and entry stamp into your passport displaying your authorized length of stay. Keep your passport accessible.

Customs Declaration & Currency Notes

You can bring unlimited foreign currency into India, but if you carry more than $5,000 USD in cash (or $10,000 USD including traveler's checks), you must declare it on arrival via a Currency Declaration Form (CDF).

Satellite phones (Thuraya, Iridium) and commercial drones are strictly prohibited in India without prior defense clearances; do not pack them in luggage.

VERIFIED ANSWERS

Frequently Asked Visa Questions

Essential clarifications for first-time international applicants.

Can I extend my e-Tourist Visa while in India?

No. e-Tourist Visas are strictly non-extendable and non-convertible under normal circumstances. In extreme medical emergencies, foreigners must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

Do I need yellow fever or other vaccination certificates?

Only travelers arriving from or transiting through Yellow Fever endemic countries in Africa or South America must present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. There is no general mandatory vaccination for tourists from North America, Europe, or Asia.

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