An Indian Visa Online, also known as an e-Visa, is a digital authorization permitting entry into India for various purposes, including tourism, business, medical treatment, education, and employment. This hassle-free process eliminates the need for traditional paper applications and visits to embassies or consulates.

Obtaining an Indian Visa Online is essential for foreign nationals wishing to visit India legally. It serves as official permission granted by the Government of India to enter the country for specific purposes, ensuring compliance with immigration laws and regulations.

Understanding the Indian Visa Process

Before diving into the online application process, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of the different types of visas available for travel to India. The most common categories include tourist visas, business visas and medical visas.

• Tourist Visas: Designed for individuals planning to visit India for tourism or sightseeing purposes.
• Business Visas: Intended for those traveling to India for business-related activities such as meetings, conferences, or trade fairs.
• Medical Visas: Issued to individuals seeking medical treatment in India.

Benefits of Applying for an Indian Visa Online

Opting for the online visa application process offers several advantages:

1. Convenience: Applying online allows you to complete the entire process from the comfort of your home or office, eliminating the need to visit a consulate or embassy.
2. Time-Saving: Online applications are processed faster, saving you valuable time compared to traditional methods.
3. Accessibility: The online platform is accessible 24/7, allowing you to submit your application at any time that suits you.
4. Transparency: The online system provides clear instructions and updates on the status of your application, ensuring transparency throughout the process.

Types of Indian e-Visas

Tourist e-Visa

The tourist e-Visa is designed for travelers who wish to explore the cultural, historical, and natural wonders of India. It is available for citizens of numerous countries and offers a simplified application process compared to traditional visa methods.

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for a tourist e-Visa, applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria, including having a valid passport from an eligible country, sufficient funds to cover their stay in India, and a return or onward ticket.

Duration and validity

The tourist e-Visa allows travelers to stay in India for a maximum period of 90 days from the date of entry. It is typically valid for one year from the date of issue and permits multiple entries into the country.

Purpose of visit

Tourist e-Visas are granted for recreational purposes such as sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, attending yoga or spiritual retreats, and participating in short-term courses or workshops.

Business e-Visa

The business e-Visa is tailored for individuals traveling to India for business-related activities such as meetings, conferences, trade fairs, and exploring business opportunities.

Who qualifies for a business e-Visa?

Business e-Visas are available to travelers who intend to visit India for business purposes, including attending business meetings, negotiations, or exploring investment opportunities. Applicants must provide proof of their business activities in India.

Duration and validity

Business e-Visas allow travelers to stay in India for up to 180 days from the date of entry. They are typically valid for one year from the date of issue and permit multiple entries.

Activities permitted under a business e-Visa

Business e-Visa holders are allowed to engage in various business-related activities, including attending meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops. However, they are not permitted to undertake employment in India under this visa category.

Medical e-Visa

The medical e-Visa is designed for individuals seeking medical treatment in India. It provides a streamlined process for obtaining authorization to visit India for medical purposes.

Purpose and eligibility

The medical e-Visa is available to foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in India or accompanying patients for medical purposes. Applicants must provide a medical certificate from a recognized healthcare institution to qualify for this visa.

Duration and validity

Medical e-Visas allow travelers to stay in India for up to 60 days from the date of entry. They are typically valid for 120 days from the date of issue and permit triple entries into the country.

Requirements for obtaining a medical e-Visa

Applicants must submit a medical visa invitation letter from a recognized healthcare institution in India, along with proof of their medical condition and treatment plan. They may also be required to provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover their medical expenses and repatriation.

Application Process

How to apply for a Tourist e-Visa

Applying for a Tourist e-Visa is a straightforward process. Applicants need to fill out an online application form, upload necessary documents, and make the required payment through the designated portal.

Application procedure for a Business e-Visa

Business e-Visa applicants are required to submit their application online, along with relevant documents such as a business invitation letter, proof of business activities, and passport details.

Applying for a Medical e-Visa

Individuals seeking medical treatment in India can apply for a Medical e-Visa by providing details of their medical condition, recommendation letters from healthcare providers, and other supporting documents.

Duration and Validity

Tourist Visa: Tourist visas for India typically have a validity ranging from 3 months to 10 years, with varying durations of stay permitted (usually up to 90 days per visit). The duration and validity depend on the country of citizenship and bilateral agreements between India and that country.

Business Visa: Business visas usually have similar validity periods to tourist visas, ranging from 3 months to 10 years, with multiple entries permitted. However, the duration of stay per visit may vary based on the purpose of the visit and the discretion of the Indian authorities.

Employment Visa: Employment visas are granted for the duration of the employment contract or up to 5 years, whichever is less. Multiple entries are typically allowed, and extensions can be sought within India under certain conditions.

Student Visa: Student visas are generally valid for the duration of the academic course or up to 5 years, whichever is less. Extensions can be applied for within India for continuing education or additional courses.

Indian Online Visa Document Requirements

To begin with, in order to start the application process for the Indian Visa you need to have the following documents required for Indian Visa:

• An electronic or scanned copy of the first (biographical) page of the visitor’s passport, which must be the standard Passport, and which must remain valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into India, otherwise you would need to renew your passport. Read about Indian Visa Passport Requirements.
• A copy of the visitor’s recent passport-style colour photo (only of the face, and it can be taken with a phone). Read about Indian Visa Photo Requirements.
• A working email address, and a debit card or a credit card for the payment of the application fees.
• (Optional) A return or onward ticketout of the country.
• (Optional) Requirements specific to the kind of e-Visa you are applying for.

Apart from having ready these documents required for Indian Visa Online you should also remember that it’s important to fill in the Indian Visa Application Form for the Indian e-Visa with the exact same information that is shown on your passport which you will be using to travel to India and which would be linked to your Indian Visa Online.

Please note that if your passport has a middle name, you should include that in the Indian e-Visa online form on this website. Government of India requires that your name must match exactly in your Indian e-Visa application as per your passport. This includes:

• Full name, including First name/Given name, Middle Name, Family name/Surname.
• Date of Birth
• Place of birth
• Address, where you reside currently
• Passport number, exactly as shown in passport
• Nationality, as per your passport, not where you are currently living

You can read in detail about Indian e-Visa Document Requirements

eVisa Eligible Countries

Citizens of the countries listed below are eligible to apply for Indian Visa Online

Andorra	Angola	Anguilla	Antigua & Barbuda	Argentina	Armenia	Aruba	Australia	Austria	Azerbaijan
Bahamas	Barbados	Belgium	Belize	Bolivia	Bosnia & Herzegovina	Botswana	Brazil	Brunei	Bulgaria
Burundi	Cambodia	Cameroon	Canada	Cape Verde	Cayman Islands	Chile	China	China- SAR Hongkong	China- SAR Macau
Colombia	Comoros	Cook Islands	Costa Rica	Cote d’lvoire	Croatia	Cuba	Cyprus	Czech Republic	Denmark
Djibouti	Dominica	Dominican Republic	East Timor	Ecuador	El Salvador	Eritrea	Estonia	Fiji	Finland
France	Gabon	Gambia	Georgia	Germany	Ghana	Greece	Grenada	Guatemala	Guinea
Guyana	Haiti	Honduras	Hungary	Iceland	Indonesia	Iran	Ireland	Israel	Italy
Jamaica	Japan	Jordan	Kazakhstan	Kenya	Kiribati	Kyrgyzstan	Laos	Latvia	Lesotho
Liberia	Liechtenstein	Lithuania	Luxembourg	Madagascar	Malawi	Malaysia	Mali	Malta	Marshall Islands
Mauritius	Mexico	Micronesia	Moldova	Monaco	Mongolia	Montenegro	Montserrat	Mozambique	Myanmar
Namibia	Nauru	Netherlands	New Zealand	Nicaragua	Niger	Niue Island	Norway	Oman	Palau
Palestine	Panama	Papua New Guinea	Paraguay	Peru	Philippines	Poland	Portugal	Qatar	Republic of Korea
Republic of Macedonia	Romania	Russia	Rwanda	Saint Christopher and Nevis	Saint Lucia	Saint Vincent & the Grenadines	Samoa	San Marino	Senegal
Serbia	Seychelles	Sierra Leone	Singapore	Slovakia	Slovenia	Solomon Islands	South Africa	Spain	Sri Lanka
Suriname	Swaziland	Sweden	Switzerland	Taiwan	Tajikistan	Tanzania	Thailand	Tonga	Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos Island	Tuvalu	UAE	Uganda	Ukraine	United Kingdom	Uruguay	USA	Uzbekistan	Vanuatu
Vatican City-Holy See	Venezuela	Vietnam	Zambia	Zimbabwe