Your guide to obtaining a visa for travel to India

With its rich blend of cultures and landscapes, India resembles a collection of countries within a single nation. One visa grants access to over 3 million sq km (more than a million sq miles) of diverse territory, from humid jungles to the lofty Himalayan heights.

Each Indian state boasts the size and diversity of an entire country, so take your time to explore this vast and captivating land. The good news is that acquiring a visa is straightforward, offering ample time for your adventures.

Here’s everything you need to know about India’s visa requirements, including the e-Visa application process, overland travel, and how to extend your stay.

A visa is likely required for your trip to India

Most travelers need a visa to enter India, but obtaining tourist visas is typically straightforward, whether online or through your local Indian embassy or consulate. Citizens of 166 countries—including many from the EU and EEA, the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, and several nations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America—can easily apply for an e-Visa using a simple online form.

The online application process is quite simple and will save you significant time compared to applying in person at an embassy or via a visa agency (especially in countries where Indian embassies no longer handle visa issuance directly). Tourist e-Visas are offered in three validity options: 30 days, one year, or five years, with the longer visas permitting multiple entries and a maximum stay of 180 days per visit.

For one- and five-year tourist visas, you can submit applications up to 120 days before your travel date. The 30-day visa allows for two entries into India, which is useful if you're planning a side trip to Nepal, and you can apply for it up to 30 days before your journey. All e-Visas require a minimum processing time of 72 hours, so it's essential to apply well in advance (at least 4 days ahead is advisable).

Applying online is the easiest method to secure a visa

You can use the Indian government’s e-Visa portal to apply for tourist, business, and medical treatment visas, as well as those for attending conferences. The visa's cost and validity depend on your nationality, and you might need to provide evidence of return travel plans and adequate funds for your stay.

The regulations for non-tourist visas can be intricate. Business travelers typically must present letters of introduction from Indian firms or organizations they intend to meet. If you fulfill the criteria, business visas generally allow for multiple entries within a year.

Obtaining a position with an Indian company involves more steps. You'll need both an employment visa and a work permit, along with a solid job offer and help from your Indian employer to navigate the paperwork. As with all visa rules, conditions may change, so it's best to consult your local Indian embassy or consulate for the latest information.

The process for applying for a tourist e-Visa is relatively simple

To obtain an Indian e-Visa, go to the official e-Visa portal of the government. You'll need to upload a digital passport-style photo along with copies of your passport ID pages and pay the visa fee, which varies based on your nationality.

Your passport must remain valid for six months beyond your entry date, and you need two blank pages for the visa, which will be stamped into your passport upon arrival. If your application is approved—most are—you'll receive a digital Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) that you should print and keep with you to show immigration upon arrival.

You can enter India by air or sea using your e-Visa

E-Visas permit entry into India through 25 designated airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Bengaluru (Bangalore), Hyderabad, Kochi (Cochin), Goa, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy (Tiruchirappalli), Varanasi, Kozhikode (Calicut), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Pune, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Chandigarh, and Visakhapatnam.

They are also accepted at the designated seaports in Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, New Mangalore, and Mormugao (Goa).

Make sure to apply for a visa before traveling to enter India overland.

If you intend to enter India overland—such as from Nepal or Pakistan—you must have a visa stamped in your passport before you leave, which can be obtained from the Indian embassy or consulate in your home country, or through an authorized visa application center.

For trips that include both India and Nepal, opt for a multiple-entry visa. While it used to be possible to get a new Indian tourist visa through the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, authorities may now require a two-month waiting period before issuing a new visa.

You don’t need to stress about obtaining a visa for Nepal beforehand—they're available upon arrival at border crossings (just remember to bring passport photos and US dollars for the fee).

If you can't secure an e-Visa, it's advisable to apply in person ahead of time.

Reach out to your local embassy or consulate to verify the application process in your country; the Indian Ministry of External Affairs provides a list of diplomatic missions online. It’s recommended to apply for your visa in your home country, as obtaining an Indian visa from an embassy in another country can be excruciatingly slow, if it’s even an option. Fees and allowed durations of stay will differ based on your nationality.

Alternatively, you might consider applying for a visa through a visa agency, although this often comes at a higher cost than applying directly. In practice, many of these agencies simply gather applications and send an employee to the embassy to submit them in person.

Student visas are offered to those participating in full-time courses in India.

Student visas are designated for individuals enrolled in recognized full-time educational programs in India, which may include courses in yoga, meditation, and traditional Indian arts. These visas can be valid for up to five years, depending on the course length, but the requirements are stringent, and you'll need documentation from your educational institution to apply. The Ministry of Home Affairs provides some information online, but it's best to consult your local Indian embassy or consulate for the latest requirements.

Extending your stay in India is typically reserved for exceptional cases.

E-Visas cannot be extended, but other visa types may be extended in exceptional situations, such as medical emergencies or passport theft. To apply, you'll need to utilize the government’s dedicated online portal, providing proof of a valid reason for your extended stay in India (e.g., a hospital letter or a police report).

You might be required to attend an in-person interview at the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Delhi. Any applicable fees will be specified during the application process.

Certain border regions in India necessitate additional travel permits.

Due to a system inherited from British colonialism, specific permits (referred to as “protected area permits” or “restricted area permits”) are needed to access many regions near India’s disputed borders with China, Pakistan, and other territories—a zone known as the “inner line.” While applying for these permits outside of India can be challenging, you can typically apply for them locally in India with relative ease.

Permits are particularly crucial for sensitive border regions, which are often inaccessible to travelers. You can apply for these permits through local government offices or travel agencies; check with the state government offices for the latest information regarding these areas. In some cases, you may need to register with the local Foreigners Regional Registration Office upon arrival, but this process is straightforward.