Do I need a visa to visit India as a tourist?

Almost certainly yes. India does not offer visa-free entry for most nationalities. Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives are the principal exceptions (Maldives nationals get visa-on-arrival). For everyone else — including all EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, and most of Asia — you need a visa before you fly.

What's the difference between e-Tourist Visa and a regular Tourist Visa?

Most travelers use the e-Tourist Visa (eTV): apply online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, get an electronic authorisation emailed to you, print it, present at immigration. The regular sticker visa is granted by Indian consulates abroad — slower, requires a passport submission, but valid at every Indian port of entry. eTV is restricted to 33 designated airports plus a handful of seaports.

How far in advance can I apply for an e-Tourist Visa?

The application window is 4 to 120 days before your intended arrival. Earlier than 120 days, the system will reject you; closer than 4 days, you may not get processed in time. Standard processing is 72 hours, but plan for 5 working days as a buffer.

How long can I stay in India on an e-Tourist Visa?

Three options: 30-day double-entry, 1-year multiple-entry (max 90 days per visit for most nationalities; some get 180), or 5-year multiple-entry (max 90 days per visit). Pick the variant that matches your travel pattern. The 30-day visa is calendar-based — the clock starts on date of issue, not arrival.

Can I extend my tourist visa once I'm in India?

Tourist visas — including all e-Tourist variants — are not extendable inside India. Once your validity window ends, you must leave. Overstaying triggers an exit fine and a future entry block. If you need longer than 180 days, look at the 5-year e-TV (still capped at 90 days per visit) or apply for a fresh visa from your home country.

Which Indian airports accept the e-Tourist Visa?

33 international airports as of the most recent MHA notification: the major hubs (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Goa-Dabolim, Goa-Mopa, Ahmedabad), plus tier-2 entry points like Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Gaya, Guwahati, Indore, Jaipur, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Nagpur, Pune, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi, Vishakhapatnam. Plus 6 designated seaports. The MHA list is the authoritative source — always cross-check before booking domestic transit.

What documents do I need for the e-TV application?

Passport with 6+ months validity from arrival date and 2 blank pages, a recent passport-style photo (digital, white background), the bio page of your passport (digital scan), a return-trip itinerary (or onward ticket), and a credit/debit card for the fee. Some nationalities have additional yellow-fever-certificate requirements if arriving from listed countries.

What does an e-Tourist Visa cost?

Fees are tiered by nationality and validity. Most travelers pay between roughly USD 25 (short-stay, SAARC and select developing-country nationals) and USD 80-100 (UK, US, EU, peak season). The official site shows your exact fee once you select your nationality. A bank-card surcharge of ~2.5% applies. We don't quote live numbers because the rate card changes — always verify on indianvisaonline.gov.in.

India tourist visa — what you actually need to know | NakshIQ

Pick the right e-TV variant

Three durations, all online, all multiple-entry except the shortest. Choose by total trip length and whether you'll re-enter.

30-day double entry
Calendar-based from date of issue. Works for short single trips. Two entries allowed (useful if you're flying out to Sri Lanka or Nepal mid-trip and back).
1-year multiple entry
Best balance for most. 365-day window, 90 days continuous stay per visit (180 days for some nationalities including USA, UK, Canada, Japan). Re-enter as many times as you like.
5-year multiple entry
Same 90-day-per-visit cap but a five-year window. Worth it if you expect to come back. Marginal cost over the 1-year is small.

Apply 4 to 120 days before arrival

The portal won't accept earlier applications. Most travelers apply 2-3 weeks ahead. Standard processing is 72 hours, but build in 5 working days as a buffer — high-volume periods around Diwali and Christmas can stretch the queue.

You'll need: passport with 6+ months validity from arrival date and at least 2 blank pages, a recent digital photo on white background, a passport bio-page scan, a return or onward ticket reference, and a card to pay. The portal asks for an Indian address — book at least your first night and use that.

Use designated airports only

The e-TV is valid at 33 airports plus 6 seaports. The hubs are all on the list — Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi — and so are Goa, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Amritsar, Pune, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Trivandrum, and Varanasi. If you're flying into a smaller domestic-only airport, you'll need a regular sticker visa instead.

Always cross-check the current designated-port list on the official portal before booking — it changes occasionally as new international gates open.

Common rejections, easily avoided

• Passport validity under 6 months from arrival — re-issue first.
• Photo too dark, with shadows, or wearing glasses — strict bio-spec photo required.
• Mismatch between scanned bio page and entered details (date format, middle names).
• No return or onward ticket evidence in the application.
• Applying with less than 4 days to arrival — system will reject.

Costs change — verify before applying

Fees are tiered by nationality. SAARC and selected developing-country nationals pay roughly USD 25 short-stay; most others fall in the USD 25-100 band depending on validity. Plus a ~2.5% bank-card surcharge. The current fee shows in your currency on the portal once you select nationality. Don't pay middlemen — there are many copycat sites that charge a markup; the only authoritative source is indianvisaonline.gov.in.

Restricted-area permits are separate

Several Indian regions still require an additional Inner Line Permit or Protected Area Permit on top of your visa: Ladakh, parts of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Foreign nationals face stricter rules than Indian citizens. We cover them separately — see the permits guide.