India

Who needs a visa for India?

Of 198 nationalities, 3 enter India with no paperwork at all. The rest: 3 can get a visa at the border and 192 must be approved before they travel.

Government fee
$25
Stay permitted
30 days, one year or five years, depending on which e-Tourist visa you are granted
Apply on the official India government site

This is the government's own portal. We are not paid to send you there.

Checked 19 September 2026 — read the fees and rules on indianvisaonline.gov.in

What India asks for

  • Passport valid for at least six months from arrival, with two blank pages
  • A recent photograph with a plain light background
  • Scan of the passport biographical page
  • Return or onward ticket
  • The address where you will stay in India

Worth knowing

  • The Indian e-Visa fee depends on your nationality. A site quoting one flat price for everyone is not reading the official schedule.
  • The Government of India charges nothing extra for an urgent or express e-Visa. Its own site states that no provision exists for emergency fees.
  • Bank charges of 3% are added to the official e-Visa fee at payment.
  • You check an e-Visa application from the portal you applied on, at indianvisaonline.gov.in. There is no separate tracking site.

What do you need?

Who needs what

Visa free 3

Nothing to apply for and nothing to pay before you travel.

eVisa (electronic visa) 161

A real visa application, made online instead of at an embassy. It is assessed, it takes days rather than minutes, and it can be refused.

Visa on arrival 3

Issued at the border rather than beforehand. Bring the fee in cash in the currency the border post accepts. It is a permission, not a guarantee.

Visa required 31

You must apply and be approved before you travel. Airlines will refuse to board you without it.