Depending on the reason of the visitor’s coming to India, they can apply for one of the following available Indian e-Visas
Indian Visa is now an online process which does not require visit to High Commission of India. Application can be completed online for electronic visa for India.
You can apply for
Indian Visa Online from your mobile, PC or tablet and receive eVisa India by email.
The Tourist Visa for India (eVisa India)
The Indian Tourist e-Visa is a form of electronic authorization that allows applicants to visit India if the purpose of their visit is:
- tourism and sightseeing,
- visiting family and/or friends, or
- for a Yoga retreat or short term Yoga course.
Depending on how many days the visitor wants to stay for, they can apply for 1 of the 3 kinds of this e-Visa:
- The 30 Day Tourist e-Visa, which is a Double Entry Visa. You can find more guidance on when Indian Visa of 30 Day duration expire.
- The 1 Year Tourist e-Visa, which is a Multiple Entry Visa.
- The 5 Year Tourist e-Visa, which is a Multiple Entry Visa.
The Tourist e-Visa allows you to stay in the country only for 180 days at a time.
The application can be initiated online at Indian Visa Application Form page.
The Business Visa for India (eVisa India)
The Indian Business e-Visa is a form of electronic authorization that allows applicants to visit India if the purpose of their visit is:
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selling or buying of goods and services in India,
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attending business meetings,
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setting up industrial or business ventures,
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conducting tours,
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delivering lectures under the scheme of Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN),
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recruiting workers,
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participating in trade and business fairs and exhibitions, and
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coming to the country as an expert or specialist for some commercial project.
The Business e-Visa allows the visitor to stay in the country only for 180 days at a time but it is valid for 1 Year and is a Multiple Entry Visa.
Business Travelers to India can further go through the guidelines for India Business Visa Requirements for further instructions.
The Medical Visa for India (eVisa India)
The Indian Business e-Visa is a form of electronic authorization that allows applicants to visit India if the purpose of their visit is getting
medical treatment from an Indian hospital.
It is a short term Visa that is valid only for 60 days and is a Triple Entry Visa. Many types of medical treatments can be performed under this
type of Indian Visa.
The Medical Attendant Visa for India (eVisa India)
The Indian Business e-Visa is a form of electronic authorization that allows applicants to visit India if the purpose of their visit is accompanying another applicant the purpose of whose visit is getting medical treatment from an Indian hospital. This is a short term Visa that is valid for 60 days and is a Triple Entry Visa.
Only 2 Medical Attendant e-Visas can be secured against 1 Medical e-Visa.
The Conference Visa for India (eVisa India)
The Indian Business e-Visa is a form of electronic authorization that allows applicants to visit India if the purpose of their visit is attending a
conference, seminar, or workshop that has been organised by any of the ministries or departments of the Government of India, or State Governments or
Union Territory Administrations of India, or any organizations or PSUs attached to these.
This Visa is valid for 3 months and is a Single Entry Visa.
More often than not, Indian Business Visa can be applied for people visiting for Conference to India, apply online for
Indian Visa Application Form and select the option Business under type of Visa.
Guidelines for Applicants of the electronic Indian Visa (eVisa India)
When applying for the Indian e-Visa the applicant should know the following details about it:
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It is possible to apply for an Indian e-Visa only 3 times in 1 year.
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Given that the applicant is eligible for the Visa, they should apply for it at least 4-7 days before their entry into India.
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The Indian e-Visa cannot be converted or extended.
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The Indian e-Visa would not allow you access to Protected, Restricted, or Cantonment Areas.
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The Indian Visa has to be applied for by each applicant individually. Children cannot be included in their parent’s application. Each applicant also needs to have their own Passport which would be linked with their Visa. This can only be the Standard Passport, not Diplomatic or Official or any other travel document. This Passport should remain valid for at least 6 months from the date of the applicant’s entry into India. It should also have at least 2 blank pages to be stamped by the Immigration Officer.
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The visitor needs to have a return or onward ticket out of India and must have sufficient funds for their stay in India.
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The visitor would have to carry their e-Visa with them at all times during their stay in India.
Countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for the Indian e-Visa
Being a citizen of any of the following countries would make the applicant eligible for the Indian e-Visa.
Applicants who are citizens of a country not mentioned here would need to apply for the traditional paper Visa at the Indian Embassy.
You should always check at Indian Visa Eligibility for any updates or any actions for your nationality for visit to India for Tourist, Business, Medical or Conference.
Documents Required for the Indian e-Visa
Irrespective of the kind of Indian e-Visa being applied for, every applicant must have the following documents ready:
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An electronic or scanned copy of the first (biographical) page of the applicant’s passport.
Government of India has published details guidance on what is deemed to be an acceptable Indian Visa Passport Scan Copy.
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A copy of the applicant’s recent passport-style colour photo (only of the face, and it can be taken with a phone), a working email address,
and a debit card or a credit card for the payment of the application fees.
Check Indian Visa Photo Requirements for detailed instructions on the acceptable size, quality, dimensions, shadow and other attributes of the
photograph that will enable your Indian Visa Application to be accepted by the Government of India immigration officers.
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A return or onward ticket out of the country.
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The applicant would also be asked a few questions to determine their eligibility for the Visa such as their current employment status and ability to finance their stay in India.
The following details to be filled in the application form for the Indian e-Visa should match exactly with the information that is shown on the applicant’s passport:
- Full name
- Date and place of birth
- Address
- Passport number
- Nationality
The applicant would also need certain documents specific to the type of Indian e-Visa that they are applying for.
For the Business e-Visa:
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Details of the Indian organization/trade fair/exhibition where the applicant would have business, including the name and address of an Indian reference associated with the same.
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The invitation letter from the Indian company.
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The applicant’s business card/email signature and website address.
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If the applicant is coming to India to deliver lectures under Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN) then they will also need to provide the Invitation from the institute which would host thm as a foreign visiting faculty, copy of the sanction order under GIAN issued by the National Coordinating Institute viz. IIT Kharagpur, and copy of the synopsis of the courses that they will take up as the faculty at the host institute.
For the Medical e-Visa:
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A copy of a letter from the Indian Hospital (written on the hospital’s official letterhead) that the applicant would be seeking treatment from.
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The applicant would also be required to answer any questions about the Indian Hospital they would be visiting.
For the Medical Attendant e-Visa:
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The name of the patient whom the applicant will be accompanying and who must be the holder of the Medical Visa.
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The Visa number or the Application ID of the Medical Visa holder.
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Details such as the Passport Number of the Medical Visa holder, the date of birth of the Medical Visa holder, and the Nationality of the Medical Visa holder.
For the Conference e-Visa
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Political clearance from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, and optionally, event clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India.
Travel Requirements for Citizens from Yellow Fever Affected Countries
The applicant would be required to show a Yellow Fever Vaccination Card if they are a citizen of or have visited a Yellow Fever affected country. This is applicable to the following countries:
Countries in Africa:
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo
- Cote d' Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- South Sudan
- Togo
- Uganda
Countries in South America:
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- French Guyana
- Guyana
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Trinidad (Trinidad only)
- Venezuela
Authorised Ports of Entry
While traveling to India on the Indian e-Visa, the visitor can enter the country only through the following Immigration Check Posts:
Airports:
List of the authorised landing Airports and seaports in India:
- Ahmedabad
- Amritsar
- Bagdogra
- Bengaluru
- Bhubaneshwar
- Calicut
- Chennai
- Chandigarh
- Cochin
- Coimbatore
- Delhi
- Gaya
- Goa(Dabolim)
- Goa(Mopa)
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Indore
- Jaipur
- Kannur
- Kolkata
- Kannur
- Lucknow
- Madurai
- Mangalore
- Mumbai
- Nagpur
- Port Blair
- Pune
- Tiruchirapalli
- Trivandrum
- Varanasi
- Vishakhapatnam
Sea ports:
- Chennai
- Cochin
- Goa
- Mangalore
- Mumbai
- Port Blair
While the above ports are a point in time snapshot you should check for any updates to the above ports in this section which is kept up to date:
Indian Visa Authorised Ports of Entry,
exit from India is available on significantly larger check points: Indian Visa Authorised Ports of Exit.
Applying for the Indian e-Visa
Indian Government has simplified the application process for electronic visa.
This process is elaborated and described in detail at Indian Visa Application Process.
All international travelers eligible for it can apply for the Indian e-Visa online here.
After doing so, the applicant will get updates about their application status through email and if it is approved they will be sent their electronic Visa through email too.
There should be no difficulties in this process but if you require any clarifications you should India Visa Help Desk for support and guidance.
Many nationalities can avail of this benefit of applying from home for Indian Visa including the
United States citizens,
British Citizens,
French Citizens besides 180 other nationalities
that are eligible for Indian Visa Online, check the India Visa Eligibility.