E-Tourist Visa

A total of 88,162 tourists arrived in India in January 2016 on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 25,023 during January 2015, registering a growth of 252.3%. A valid passport and visa are required for travel to India. The Indian government now offers two options for tourists, a traditional tourist visa or an e-Tourist Visa (eTV) issued electronically.

Governement of India issues the following visas: Business Visa, Conference Visa, Diplomatic Visa, Employment Visa, Emergency Visa, Entry Visa, Journalist Visa, Medical Visa, Missionaries Visa, Permit to re-enter within 2 months, Research Visa, Student Visa, Tourist Visa, Transit Visa. Visa fee is divided into various types depending upon the case viz; Basic fee, special fee, processing fee by out-sourcing agency.

The e-Tourist Visa facility is presently available for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India. Upon receipt of the Visa Application through Indian Visa Application Center or directly, the Indian Mission/ Post requires a minimum of three working days to process the case and issue a visa depending upon the nationality and excluding special cases.

International travellers whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation , sight seeing , casual visit to meet friends or relatives, short duration medical treatment or casual business visit. Period of stay is as follows: tourist (180 days), transit (15 days), business (5 years), employment (1 year); student (period of course/5 years), foreigners of Indian origin (5 years).

Passport should have at least six months validity from the date of arrival in India. Travellers should hav return ticket or onward journey ticket, with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India. International Travellers having Pakistani Passport or Pakistani origin have to apply for regular Visa at Indian Mission.

Details of the scheme are available on the dedicated website created for this purpose:https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html. The status of Visa Application can be seen on the website. 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 obtained from an Indian Mission or Post abroad.

International Travellers, whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, short duration medical treatment or casual business visit may apply for eTV.