What is an India Tourist Visa
A Tourist Visa to visit India is a travel document that allows foreigners to enter the country for tourism purposes. There are different types of tourist visas depending on the purpose and the duration of your visit, but common categories typically range between 30 days and 1 year. Eligibility criteria typically involves planning to visit India for recreation, sightseeing, or visiting friends or relatives. India offers the option to apply for your Tourist Visa either in person at your country’s Indian embassy or consulate or online for an e-Tourist Visa. It is important to note that visa requirements and processes may be subject to change and vary based on nationality, applicants should always refer to the official sources of their country for the most accurate and up to date information.
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Who Needs an India Tourist Visa?
Most countries are required to hold a Tourist Visa to visit India. In fact, the only country that can enter India without a visa are citizens of the Maldives if they are visiting for less than 90 days. All other nationalities are required to hold Tourist Visas to enter India for tourism purposes.
The following countries are eligible for an Indian e-Tourist Visa:
Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Cambodia, Cameroon Union Republic, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, 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, Morocco, 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, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Island, Tuvalu, UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
India Tourist Visa Application
Depending on your nationality, you can either apply online for a e-Tourist Visa or in person at your local Indian embassy or consulate for a Tourist Visa. These steps may vary based on the country you are a citizen of and your specific embassy or consulate. We advise you to double-check the application steps for your nationality on the official website of the Indian embassy or consulate.
Applying Online for an India Tourist e-Visa
You will be prompted to create an account. Create your account by providing your email address and creating a password. After you have created your account, you can log in to the website to start your application process.
Complete the online application form found on the website with accurate and complete information. It will ask you for personal details, passport information, your travel plans, and other required details. Make sure that you double-check what you have written to ensure no mistakes have been made.
You will be prompted to upload the necessary supporting documents. These include a scanned copy of your passport, a passport-sized photograph, and various other documents based on your nationality and travel plans. Make sure you upload every file that is required to ensure there are no delays in the application process.
Pay the visa fee by using the online payment methods that are available on the website. The fee varies depending on your nationality and the duration of your chosen e-Tourist Visa. After you complete the payment, you will receive a receipt.
After you have successfully submitted your application, you can check the status of your application on the website. The processing time varies, so it is advised to monitor the status regularly.
Once your application has been approved, you can download your e-Tourist Visa from the website. You should bring a printed copy of the visa on your trip as you will be required to present it upon arrival to India.
Now that you have completed the application process, it is time to visit India. Make sure you have your printed visa ready to present upon arrival and that you follow any guidelines given to you by Indian immigration officials.
Applying in Person for an India Tourist Visa
Visit the official website of the Indian consulate or embassy you are going to be applying at to check the specific requirements for your nationality to apply for a Tourist Visa.
On the official website, you will find the visa application form. Download it and fill the form out accurately and completely with the required personal information, details of your travel plans, and other relevant information. Double-check that all the information you have written is correct and matches the details on your supporting documents.
Gather all of the documents required for your application. include a copy of your passport, passport-size photos, your flight and accommodation information, and financial statements. Make sure to have all documents that are required of your nationality.
Check the requirements for the specific Indian embassy or consulate you will be applying through to find the appointment process that they follow. They may have specific walk-in hours for visa applications or you may be required to schedule an appointment. Follow the process stated for how to schedule your appointment, it will likely be via phone call or using an online appointment system.
On the scheduled date, go to the Indian embassy or consulate in person. Bring your completed application form along with all supporting documents. Make sure they are neatly organized in the order requested. You may be required to undergo biometric data collection, such as fingerprints or a photograph, while you are at the embassy or consulate.
Pay the required fee at the consulate or embassy while you are applying for your visa. The fee may vary based on your nationality and the duration of time you are requesting to spend in India. Make sure you get the receipt after you complete your payment.
The processing time may vary, it is advisable to check with your embassy or consulate how long they take. They will either give you a specific date to come back and collect your passport or they will notify you when the process is complete.
Once your visa has been approved, return to the consulate or embassy where you applied to collect your passport. Make sure to verify the details on your visa to ensure everything is correct before you leave.
Now that you have your visa in hand, it is time to travel to India. Make sure you bring your passport with the affixed visa and follow all requirements given to you by Indian immigration officials once you arrive in the country.
India Tourist Visa Requirements
When applying for a Tourist Visa to enter India, the requirements may vary based on your nationality. While most of them are generally the same, we advise you to check the specific requirements for your nationality at your country’s official Indian embassy or consulate website.
Valid Passport
You are required to have a valid passport. It must have been issued in the last 10 years and have at least 6 months of validity beyond your intended departure date from India. You should also have at least 2 blank pages available inside your passport.
Completed Visa Application Form
You should fill out the tourist visa application form accurately and entirely. You will need to provide details such as your personal information and your travel plans. This form can be downloaded from the official website of the consulate or embassy in your country.
Passport-Size Photos
You must submit passport-sized photos with your visa application. There are specific size and format requirements for these photos, which you can find outlined by your Indian consulate or embassy.
Travel Plans
You must present your round trip flight itinerary or confirmed method of entering and exiting the country if you are not traveling by flight. This serves as evidence of your intended travel plans.
Proof of Accommodation
Provide proof of accommodation arrangements for your stay in India. This may include a hotel reservation, guesthouse booking, or a letter of invitation from a host in the country.
Proof of Financial Means
You are required to provide proof that you have the financial means to cover the cost of your stay in the country. This may include bank statements, salary slips, or other financial documents that demonstrate your ability to support yourself in India.
Additional Documents
Based on your nationality, you may be required to provide additional documents. These may include biometric data collection, a cover letter explaining the purpose of your visit, proof of employment or education and a letter confirming your current status and approval to leave, and health certificates or travel insurance. Check if you are required to provide additional documents on the website of your country’s Indian embassy or website
India Tourist Visa Fees
Based on your nationality and the duration of your tourist visa, the price will differ. The fee will even differ based on what months you are visiting India. For example, for American citizens, an e-Tourist Visa for 30 days (April to June) is 10 USD, for 30 days (July to March) is 25 USD, for 1 year is 40 USD, and for 5 years is 80 USD. This is a standard price for many nationalities, but they may vary.
Where to Apply
India Tourist Visa Processing Time
The processing time varies based on whether you apply online or in person at an Indian embassy or consulate. On average, the processing time for an Indian e-Tourist Visa is around 5 business days. If you are applying in person, the wait time will vary based on your specific embassy or consulate, but can range anywhere from 3 business days to several weeks. It is important to apply well in advance in case there are issues with the processing of your visa.
Approved Visa Applications
Once your visa has been approved, it is time to travel to India. If you applied in person, you should go to the embassy or consulate where you applied to pick up your passport. Make sure your visa inside has accurate information and there are no mistakes made. If you applied online, you can download your visa. Be sure to print it out and bring it with you to present to Indian immigration authorities.
India Tourist Visa Validity
The Indian Tourist Visa has varying options for validity. You will have the option to choose options for 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years. The 30-day visa allows for 2 entries, while the 1 year or 5 year options allow for multiple entries. The maximum stay during one time for the 30-day visa is 30 days. The maximum stay at one time for the 1-year and 5-year visas are 180 days per year.
Denied Visa Applications
If your India Tourist Visa has been denied, there are a few options you can take. First, understand the reason for denial. Obtain the information about the reason, you should receive a rejection letter or a different form of communication from the embassy or consulate where you applied. This should provide details about why your visa was not approved. If the denial of your application was due to errors or missing documents, the easiest route is to correct these issues and reapply. There may be a waiting period you must follow before applying a second time. This depends on your specific embassy or consulate. If applicable, you may choose to appeal the decision. This isn’t always an option so it is advisable to consult with your embassy or consulate over this decision. You must provide the necessary documentation to support your case. This will typically take a longer period of time, but you will not be required to pay a second visa fee. Your visa may have been denied because it is not the correct visa for you. You should consider exploring alternative visa options that may be more suitable to your travel purpose, such as a Business Visa or Student Visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum application period before travel to apply for a Tourist Visa is 4 days, but it is advisable to apply well in advance before your trip. If you are applying for a 1-year or 5-year e-Tourist Visa, you can apply 120 days before you plan to travel. If you are applying for a 30-day e-Tourist Visa, you can apply 30 days before you plan to travel.
You are not eligible to extend or renew an e-Tourist Visa. You are also not authorized to convert your visa to a different visa category. If you applied in person for your Tourist Visa, you are authorized to extend it. You will be required to visit the embassy or consulate in person to submit your visa renewal. It generally takes 5 to 10 days and you are not permitted to exit the country until the renewal process is complete. You should apply for the extension well in advance before your visa expires as once you have overstayed your visa, you are no longer eligible for visa extension.
If you applied in person and have a physical Tourist Visa, you are eligible to enter the country via any port of entry. The Indian e-Tourist Visa can only be used at specific ports of entry. If you have an e-visa, you can enter the following airports:
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Goa, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy, Varanasi, Calicut, Mangalore, Pune, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Madurai, Bhubaneswar, Port Blair, Kannur, and Indore.
You may enter at the following seaports:
Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai, and New Mangalore.