India:Visa Requirements

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India Visa Requirements Map

India: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Visa-free entry is possible only within the scope of applicable bilateral agreements, special exemption programs, or exceptions recognized by the competent authority. The traveler must carry a valid identity or travel document accepted under the relevant exemption arrangement. Depending on the scope of the exemption, a valid national passport, citizenship certificate, official voter ID, or a limited-validity photo identity document issued by an authorized diplomatic mission may be accepted. These documents are not common options valid for all visa-free travelers; the accepted document depends on the arrangement on which the exemption is based and the entry route.
  • Under some bilateral exemption arrangements, children aged 10–18 may be accepted with a photo identity document issued by the school principal when traveling with parents holding valid documents. Under the same special arrangement, separate identity documents may not be required from children under 10 years of age. These child provisions are not general rules applied to all visa-free entries.
  • Exemption may depend on the route. A passport or visa may be requested from a traveler under exemption who is not arriving directly from the border or country to which the exemption applies. In case of onward travel to a third country via India, obtaining a document from the relevant diplomatic mission indicating no objection may also be required under some special exemption regimes.
  • A visa-free traveler must present a valid identity or travel document upon arrival in India. The immigration officer may request the address or planned address in India, purpose of travel, intended duration of stay, and other relevant information. A traveler whose biometric data is not in the system or who is requested to provide biometrics must submit biometric data at the entry point. A common passport validity period or common blank page requirement for visa-free entry is not explicitly stated in the central official source.
  • A traveler arriving from a region with yellow fever risk or having been in such a region within the six days prior to arrival in India must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate issued by an authorized center. The validity of the certificate begins ten days after vaccination and is lifelong.

E-Visa Application Requirements

  • The e-visa application is made entirely online. The applicant must fill in the form themselves, provide correct information in every field, and assume responsibility for the accuracy of their information. A separate application and separate passport are required for each traveler and each child. Persons entered in a parent's or spouse's passport cannot use an e-visa. Information regarding a previous Indian visa must be entered into the application form; if the previous visa number is not remembered, an appropriate explanation may be written.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of the e-visa application and contain at least two blank pages for immigration stamps. The e-visa must be based on a regular passport. Diplomatic or official passports, laissez-passer documents, and international travel documents other than passports are not accepted for an e-visa. Persons with a background in defense, military, security, police, or similar professions are directed to a regular consular visa.
  • The biographical page of the passport showing the photograph and personal information must be scanned and uploaded in the application. The passport scan must be in PDF format, at least 10 KB and at most 300 KB. Other supporting documents for business or medical purposes must also be uploaded in PDF format, at least 10 KB and at most 300 KB.
  • The digital photograph must be in JPEG format, at least 10 KB and at most 1 MB. The height and width of the photograph must be equal; the face must be front-facing, fully visible, eyes open, and without glasses. The entire head must be visible from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin, and the head must be centered in the frame. The background must be plain, light-colored or white; there must be no shadows on the face or background, and no border on the photograph. The number of physical photographs and the exact millimeter measurement of the photograph are not explicitly stated in the central e-visa source.
  • All invitation letters, business cards, and supporting documents must be in English. Documents not in English may lead to rejection of the application. Documents must be clear and legible; for unsuitable photographs or documents, the applicant may be asked to re-upload via email.
  • Applicants for a short-term tourist course are required to provide a letter on the letterhead of the educational institution, organization, or hospital. Travelers for short-term volunteer purposes submit a letter on the letterhead of the relevant organization. Volunteer work must be at most one month and must not involve remuneration or other compensation. Unofficial short-term courses must not exceed six months and must not grant a diploma or qualification certificate.
  • For a medical e-visa application, an acceptance or treatment letter on the letterhead of the hospital in India must be submitted. The letter must include the proposed or estimated acceptance/treatment date and the patient's name, nationality, and passport number. For a medical attendant application, the biographical page of the passport is required, and a maximum of two attendant e-visas may be issued to one medical e-visa holder.
  • For a business e-visa, in addition to the biographical page of the passport, the applicant's business card must be uploaded. An invitation letter from the company in India containing the company's name, address, and telephone number may be used in place of the business card. Although an invitation letter is indicated as optional for some business purposes, separate permissions and invitation documents are required for specific activities such as sports, academic programs, conferences, and film shooting.
  • For applications made for conference purposes, the organizer's invitation and the political clearance of the Ministry of External Affairs of India are required. The event clearance of the Ministry of Home Affairs is indicated as optional in the portal's frequently asked questions section. For sports activities, the invitation of the relevant sports federation and the approval of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; if entering protected or restricted areas, relevant additional official permissions are required.
  • For a student e-visa, an acceptance letter from a recognized Indian educational institution showing the duration of the program must be submitted. Persons attending medical or paramedical education are required to provide a no-objection certificate issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. For financial support, a bank guarantee letter or a bank statement for the previous six months is submitted together with a support letter from the parent or guardian. A minimum account balance applicable to all students is not specified in the central source.
  • In applicable e-visa types based on family ties or Indian origin, the voter ID or Indian passport of the Indian citizen parent or spouse, a cancelled Indian passport and surrender certificate, or the OCI card of the relative may be required. To prove the family tie, a birth or marriage certificate must be submitted.
  • For applications made for film shooting, a permission letter from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and a letter of intent explaining the shooting schedule, cast and crew information, shooting locations, and equipment to be brought are required. For applicable applications made for mountaineering, a permission letter from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation must be submitted.
  • For an e-transit application, the biographical page of the passport, ticket to India, confirmed onward travel ticket, and a visa or entry permit for the final destination country are required. An applicant who can enter the final country visa-free due to dual nationality may submit their passport of that country.
  • The traveler must have a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds to cover the stay in India. A general minimum amount for financial sufficiency, a common bank statement period applicable to all e-visa types, a hotel reservation requirement, travel health insurance, or a minimum insurance coverage are not explicitly stated in the central official source.
  • E-tourist and e-business applications must be made at least four days before the planned date of arrival. E-tourist, e-business, e-medical, e-medical attendant, and conference applications may be made at most 120 days before the planned travel. A common application window for other new e-visa subcategories is not explicitly stated in the central official source. An official and guaranteed e-visa processing time has not been published; the result is notified to the email address provided in the application.
  • The fee varies according to the applicant's nationality, e-visa type, and validity period. The applicable amount is shown in the official fee schedule and on the payment screen. The fee is non-refundable, and a bank transaction charge is added separately according to the general fee schedule. Payment can be made with international Visa or MasterCard credit and debit cards; depending on the payment gateway used, with Maestro card or PayPal. The fee must be paid at least four days before travel.
  • When the application is approved, the Electronic Travel Authorization is sent via email. The traveler must verify that the status is 'GRANTED', carry a printed copy of the authorization, and present it at the entry point. Travel must be with the passport used in the application. If a new passport has been issued, the old passport to which the Electronic Travel Authorization is linked must also be carried together with the new passport.
  • Biometric data of e-visa holders is mandatorily collected upon arrival in India. Entry may only be made through the designated international airports and seaports specified on the official portal; entry cannot be made by land border crossing with an e-visa. Exit may be made through authorized Indian immigration checkpoints.
  • The e-visa cannot be extended or converted to another visa type. It is not valid in protected, restricted, or military cantonment areas; separate prior permission from the competent civil authority must be obtained for these areas.
  • In the current category panels, options of 30 days, one year, and five years are shown for the e-tourist visa; a six-month option is shown for some applicant groups. For one-year and five-year e-tourist visas, the total stay in a calendar year must not exceed 180 days. Some sub-types of the e-business visa are valid for 30 days, some for one year, and the continuous stay in one visit must not exceed 180 days. The e-medical visa is shown as valid for one year, the e-medical attendant visa for 60 days, the e-student and e-family visas for one year, the e-transit visa for 30 days, the e-miscellaneous visa for three months, and the e-manufacturing investment visa for six months. The exact duration and number of entries must be checked on the Electronic Travel Authorization issued.
  • A traveler arriving from a region with yellow fever risk must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination card. In the absence of the document, quarantine of up to six days may be applied.

Visa on Arrival Requirements

  • The visa on arrival application form must be filled in English in block capitals and signed by the applicant. The form includes: flight date and number, name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, parent information, marital status, spouse information, previous or dual citizenship, purpose of travel, occupation, address in India, permanent address abroad, contact details, reference in India, and return or onward flight information. The form may be downloaded and filled in before travel or obtained on arrival or on the aircraft. A completed landing card must also be submitted.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months. The traveler must not have residence or professional activity in India; they must have sufficient financial means and a return or onward ticket. The minimum amount for financial sufficiency, bank statement period, hotel reservation, travel health insurance, number of photographs, and photograph size are not explicitly stated in the central official source.
  • A visa on arrival may only be granted for tourism, business, conference, or medical purposes and for visits not exceeding 60 days. The immigration officer may grant a maximum of a 60-day valid double-entry visa. The visa cannot be extended or converted to another visa type. Holders of diplomatic or official passports are not eligible for this facility.
  • A visa on arrival is only granted at the international airports of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai. The application form, landing card, and required travel documents must be submitted at the visa counter upon arrival.
  • The fee is 2,000 Indian rupees or its foreign currency equivalent per traveler including children, and must be paid before the visa is issued. The exact accepted payment methods are not specified on the central official page.
  • Upon entry, the immigration officer may request the traveler's address in India, purpose of travel, duration of stay, and other relevant information. A person whose biometric data is not in the system or who is requested to provide biometrics must submit biometric data at the entry point.
  • A traveler arriving from a region with yellow fever risk or having been in such a region within the previous six days must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • Each applicant must fill in the official online form separately. Name, address, date of birth, and other personal details must be entered completely as they appear in the passport. The form must be checked before submission; changes cannot be made after submission. The application number generated by the system must be kept.
  • After completing the online form, the application form must be printed and signed. The signed physical form, together with the original passport and supporting documents required according to the visa type, must be submitted at the authorized Indian Visa Application Center or directly to the relevant Indian diplomatic mission on the appointment date. A separate appointment may be required for each applicant.
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of application and contain at least two blank pages for immigration stamps. The applicant must be in the jurisdiction of the relevant Indian mission at the time of application. If the application is made in a country other than the applicant's citizenship or residence country, the relevant mission may consult the Indian mission in the citizenship or residence country. The type of legal residence document varies according to the local checklist of the relevant mission.
  • The digital photograph uploaded to the online system must be in JPEG format, at least 10 KB and at most 300 KB. The height and width must be equal; the face must be front-facing, fully visible, and eyes open. The head must be centered in the frame and fully visible from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin. The background must be plain light-colored or white; there must be no shadows on the face or background and no border on the photograph. The head height should be approximately 25–35 millimeters. The number of physical photographs and the exact measurement of the printed photograph vary according to the relevant mission or application center.
  • Supporting documents are determined according to the visa type and purpose of travel. For a business visa, company letters showing the genuine business purpose; for an employment visa, the appointment or employment contract and terms of employment; for a student visa, an acceptance letter from a recognized Indian institution; for a visa based on Indian origin, proof of origin. For an internship visa, a sponsorship letter from the company, educational institution, or non-governmental organization in India clearly showing the duration of the internship must be submitted.
  • For a film visa, a detailed script for a feature film or a detailed concept for a television production; a list of crew members and shooting locations; a letter of intent explaining the shooting schedule, actors, crew, and equipment to be brought are required. When a long-term visa is issued or there is a registration requirement on the visa, the applicant must register with the FRRO/FRO within the specified period.
  • Documents such as hotel reservation, travel itinerary, bank statement, employment or student certificate, sponsor documents, and return ticket may be requested by the relevant mission for a tourist visa. However, these have not been published as a common and central document list applicable to all consular visa applications. The document list must be checked according to nationality, country of residence, visa type, purpose of travel, and the mission applied to.
  • A common bank statement period, minimum account balance, travel health insurance requirement, minimum insurance coverage, universal format of invitation letter, common financial documents of the sponsor, common list of consent letters for minors, and translation, notarization, legalization, or apostille requirement applicable to all applicants are not explicitly stated in the central official source. These documents vary according to the relevant visa type and the local checklist of the diplomatic mission.
  • The consular visa fee varies according to the visa type, duration, applicant's status, and mission. The fee may consist of a basic fee, a special fee, and the processing fee of the authorized external service provider. The basic fee is shown at the end of the online registration process; it may be collected in local currency and is, as a rule, non-refundable. The accepted payment method varies according to the relevant mission or application center.
  • The Indian mission or consulate normally requires at least three business days after receiving the complete application. The time may extend depending on nationality, visa type, additional security checks, and special circumstances.
  • Visa validity begins on the date of issue. The duration of the visa, permitted stay, and single or multiple entries vary according to the category applied for and the applicant's status. The central visa table has different validity and entry arrangements for tourist, business, employment, student, internship, film, and other visa types; the duration and conditions on the visa sticker in the passport must be taken as the basis.
  • Upon arrival in India, a passport and valid visa must be presented. The immigration officer may request the address, purpose of travel, intended duration of stay, and other relevant information. A traveler whose biometric data is not in the system or who is requested to provide biometrics must submit biometric data.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • A consular transit visa is issued only for the purpose of traveling directly to a third country via India. The applicant must fill in the online regular visa form, print and sign the form, and submit it together with the passport to the Indian Visa Application Center or the relevant Indian mission. The passport must be valid for at least six months and contain at least two blank pages.
  • A confirmed return or onward travel ticket must be submitted. If the travel continues to another country after India, the applicant must carry the necessary visa or entry permit showing the right to enter that country. The second condition for a consular transit visa is explicitly mandatory in the e-transit application; the consular mission may also require proof of the right to enter the destination country.
  • A consular transit visa must normally be used within 15 days from the date of issue and may be single or double entry. The stay on each entry during direct transit must not exceed three days. This period may be extended by the competent authority only in exceptional circumstances such as strikes, transport disruptions, bad weather, or illness.
  • A transit visa is not required from travelers who continue directly on their international flight without leaving the designated transit area of the airport. Similarly, a traveler who does not leave the ship calling at an Indian port does not need a transit visa. If baggage needs to be rechecked, terminal or airport changed, or immigration control passed, this direct transit exception should not be relied upon.
  • The transit visa fee, accepted payment method, and physical document list vary according to the mission applied to. A common fee, bank balance, insurance coverage, hotel document, or number of photographs for all applications is not explicitly stated in the central official source. The processing time of at least three business days applicable to a regular consular visa may also apply to transit applications; special checks may extend the time.
  • The e-transit visa is also included in the electronic visa system. For e-transit, the biographical page of the passport, ticket to India, confirmed onward travel ticket, and the visa, entry permit, or passport of the final destination country must be submitted. On the current portal, the e-transit visa is shown as valid for 30 days from the date the Electronic Travel Authorization is issued and multiple entry.
Population
1,476,625,576(2026 est.)
Official language
Hindi, English; regional official languages: state official languages
Government type
Federal parliamentary republic
Continent
Asia
Capital
New Delhi
Currency
Indian rupee
Area
3,287,263 km²
Phone code
+91

India: Key Destinations

India's capital is New Delhi, and major gateway cities include Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. These hubs connect international travelers to the subcontinent.

The country offers diverse cultural experiences from the Taj Mahal to Kerala's backwaters. Business hubs like Mumbai and tech centers like Bengaluru attract global professionals, while the coastline, islands like Goa, and Himalayan regions provide varied visitor interests.

Travelers often plan multi-city itineraries connecting Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Domestic flights and extensive rail networks link major cities, and southern India routes include Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.