The short answer is no, it’s not possible to travel visa-free to India. Nearly all foreign nationals, including United States passport holders, are required to obtain the proper visa before entering India.

Depending on the respective nation’s visa regulations and the length or purpose of your visit, that could be a tourist visa, business visa, or medical visa. If you arrive in the country without a valid visa, you risk being immediately deported.

There are only three countries whose citizens aren’t required to get visas in order to enter India. Here are the three visa-free countries:

• Bhutan
• The Maldives
• Nepal

Citizens of these countries with a valid passport are permitted visa-free travel in India for up to 90 days. For these foreign citizens, visa-free entry into India is permitted from any country except mainland China, as all visitors entering from the Chinese mainland require a visa.

Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates have visa agreements with India, and their citizens are eligible for a visa on arrival. United Arab Emirates travelers need to have previously obtained a paper or e-Visa to India on prior trips.

There is another way to visit India without a visa, and you don’t need to be an Indian passport holder to do it.

An Overseas Citizen of India card (formerly the Persons of Indian Origin card) is a lifelong card and permanent residency available for people of Indian origin (either Indian citizens by birth or through family). Similar to an American green card, an OCI card can also be issued to the spouse or children of people of Indian origin (overseas nationals).

With a valid foreign passport and a valid OCI card, you can enter India without a visa. Getting an OCI does take more time, requiring more documentation and processing than a standard visa. But for frequent visitors who are Indian nationals or married to an Indian national, it allows you to skip constantly having to get new tourist visas.

Processing takes anywhere from several weeks to several months. The visa fee is $295 for US adults. Prices vary for other countries.

You can’t apply for this card while currently in India on a visa for tourism, mountaineering, or missionary purposes. OCIs are not available to current or former citizens of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Luckily, it’s easy to get an India visa. You can apply for either a paper tourist visa that’s valid for 10 years or an e-Visa. The India e-Visa is an electronic travel authorization for business, tourism, or medical purposes. More than 165 countries can get an e-Visa, including the United States.

Electronic visas are valid for one month (30 days), one year (365 days), or five years and costs start at US$11 with applicable fees. In addition to mandatory government fees, Entriva charges amongst the industry’s lowest handling fees, starting at just $50.

It’s an easy online application for an electronic visa, which gets processed and delivered by Indian government authorities within a few business days. Because of this easy and straightforward process, many travelers opt for the e-Visa.