India Tourist Visa 2025–26: New Rules, Fees, and Easy Application Guide

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Planning to Visit India? Here's What You Need to Know

India is not just a country — it's a complete world of experiences. With its ancient monuments, sacred rivers, diverse landscapes, and vibrant festivals, India draws millions of tourists from across the globe every year. From themarble wonder of the Taj Mahal to the ghats of Varanasi, the pink hues of Jaipur, and the sunny shores of Goa, every corner of India has something unique to offer.

But before you step into this magical journey, there’s one essential step you must complete — obtaining an India tourist visa.

This comprehensive guide is designed to help travelers understand:

• The different types of Indian tourist visas
• Who is eligible to apply
• What documents are needed
• How much it costs
• And how to complete the India e-visa application easily and correctly

Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as part of a group, the information here applies to all international tourists looking to explore India for leisure, spiritual tourism, or family visits.

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1. Types of Tourist Visas Available for India

India offers multiple types of tourist visas depending on the purpose and length of your stay. The most popular among travelers is the e-Tourist Visa, which is fully online and typically processed within a few business days. However, depending on your travel plans, you may also consider a regular tourist visa.

Here’s a complete overview:

What Makes the e-Tourist Visa So Popular?

• 100% online process – no need to visit an embassy
• Faster processing time (2–4 business days)
• Available to citizens of over 160 countries
• Ideal for short-term tourism, cultural events, or family visits

Official Application Portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in

Note: The e-Tourist Visa is valid only for tourism purposes. You cannot work, study, or volunteer on this visa. Also, overstaying can lead to penalties or bans.

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2. Who Can Apply for an India e-Tourist Visa?

The India e-tourist visa is available to citizens of over 160 countries, making it accessible to most travelers worldwide. If you're from the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Japan, or almost any EU country, you are eligible.

List of Eligible Countries (Examples):

• North America: United States, Canada, Mexico
• Europe: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden
• Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore
• Middle East & Africa: UAE, Oman, South Africa, Mauritius, Kenya
• Latin America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile

(Full updated list is available on the official visa portal)

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Key Eligibility Guidelines

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival in India
• You must apply online at least 4 days before your travel date
• You must have a return ticket or onward journey ticket
• You must carry sufficient funds to support your stay in India
• The e-Tourist Visa is non-convertible and non-extendable

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What if Your Country Isn’t Eligible?

If your country is not on the e-visa eligibility list, you must apply for a regular tourist visa via the nearest Indian embassy or consulate. This process involves filling out a visa form online and attending an in-person appointment for biometric data.

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Visa on Arrival – Still Available?

For most nationalities, visa on arrival is NOT available. Exceptions include:

• Japan
• South Korea
• UAE nationals (only if they’ve previously obtained an Indian visa or e-visa)

For everyone else, you must apply in advance — either through the India e-Tourist Visa system or your local Indian mission.

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3. Documents Required for India Tourist Visa

To successfully complete your India e-tourist visa application, you must provide accurate and properly formatted documents. Mistakes in this step are one of the most common reasons for visa delays or rejection.

Here’s a complete checklist of what you’ll need:

Mandatory Documents:

A valid passport

• Must be valid for at least 6 months from your intended date of arrival in India
• Must have at least two blank pages
• Damaged or handwritten passports are not accepted

Scanned copy of your passport’s first (bio) page

• Format: PDF only
• Maximum size: 300 KB
• Must be clearly readable, without shadows or glare

Recent passport-sized photograph

• Format: JPEG
• Background: White or light-colored
• Max size: 1 MB
• Face must be visible clearly (no sunglasses or hats)

Travel itinerary details

• You don’t need confirmed tickets, but it helps to provide:
• • Tentative arrival and departure dates
• • Entry city (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai, etc.)
• • Name of hotels or addresses of where you’ll stay

Payment method

• A valid credit or debit card for online visa fee payment
• Some cards may decline for international transactions, so inform your bank in advance

Tip: Keep both your photo and passport scan ready in the right format before starting the application.

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4. Visa Fees for Tourist Visa to India

The India tourist visa fee depends on three main factors:

• Your nationality
• The visa duration you choose
• Number of entries allowed

Below is a general fee breakdown for most eligible countries:

Additional Notes:

• Bank charges (~2.5%) may apply during online transactions
• Some countries may qualify for lower or promotional fees
• Fees are non-refundable, even if your visa is rejected

Always confirm current pricing here: indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/visa-fee.aspx

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5. How to Apply for India e-Tourist Visa Online

Applying for an India e-tourist visa is a straightforward process. However, accuracy and attention to detail are essential.

Step-by-Step Application Guide:

Step 1: Go to the official visa website

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in

Step 2: Click on "Apply for e-Visa"

• Fill out the e-Tourist Visa application form with:
• Your full name (as per passport)
• Passport number, nationality, and expiry date
• Date of birth, address, and travel info

Step 3: Upload your documents

• Photograph: JPEG, max 1MB, as per specifications
• Passport scan: PDF format, clear and under 300KB

Step 4: Pay the visa fee securely online

• Payment is required to process your application
• Use internationally enabled debit/credit cards (Visa, MasterCard)

Step 5: Receive your ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) via email

• Usually takes 2–4 business days, but can take up to 7
• The ETA PDF must be printed and carried with you during travel

Step 6: Show ETA at immigration on arrival in India

• The immigration officer will stamp your passport with the actual visa
• Keep your ETA printout and passport handy at the airport

 It’s best to apply at least 7–10 days before your planned departure date.

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6. Visa Validity & Stay Duration

Different types of India e-tourist visas come with different validity periods and maximum allowed stays.

Important: The “validity” of your visa is not the same as your stay duration. Don’t overstay your allotted number of days per visit.

Consequences of Overstaying:

• Fines starting from $300
• Blacklisting or future visa denial
• Detention or deportation in severe cases

Track your stay carefully and exit the country before your visa expires.

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7. Common Reasons for Visa Rejection

Even though the India tourist visa application is simple, it is rejected often due to preventable errors.

Top Reasons for Denial:

• Poor-quality or incorrectly formatted photograph or passport scan
• Missing or incorrect personal details on the form
• Providing inconsistent travel plans or suspicious activity
• Attempting to use a tourist visa for employment or volunteering
• Past incidents of visa overstay, denial, or blacklisting

Always triple-check your application and documents before final submission. Mistakes cannot be corrected later — you’ll have to start over and pay again.

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8. Approved Entry Airports & Seaports

When traveling to India on an e-Tourist Visa, you must arrive through an authorized port of entry. You cannot enter through any airport or land border.

Approved International Airports:

• Delhi (DEL)
• Mumbai (BOM)
• Chennai (MAA)
• Kolkata (CCU)
• Bengaluru (BLR)
• Hyderabad (HYD)
• Goa (GOI)
• Ahmedabad (AMD)
• Jaipur (JAI)
• Kochi (COK)
• Lucknow (LKO)
• Amritsar (ATQ)
• Trivandrum (TRV)
• Guwahati, Gaya, Varanasi & others (total 30+ airports)

Approved Seaports:

• Mumbai Port
• Cochin Port
• Mormugao (Goa)
• Chennai Port
• Mangalore Port

Entry via land borders (e.g., Wagah Border from Pakistan or Nepal-India crossing) is not allowed on e-Tourist visas.

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9. Can You Extend or Convert an Indian Tourist Visa?

The current visa rules do not allow any extension or conversion of the India e-Tourist Visa.

Not Allowed:

• Converting from tourist visa to student or work visa
• Applying for long-term residency or volunteer work
• Extending stay beyond visa limits

What You Can Do:

Exit India before your visa expires
Wait the required cooling-off period (if applicable)
Reapply for a new India tourist visa online for your next visit

Exceptions (like emergencies) may be handled by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), but this is rare and not guaranteed.