From experiencing its rich cultural heritage to savoring its delectable cuisine, India offers endless reasons for travelers to come and explore. But before hopping on that plane and visiting India, you’ll need to get the right travel visa.

Types of India Visas

India offers visas for a wide variety of travel purposes. They include but are not limited to:

  • Tourist Visa
  • e-Visa (e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa, e-Conference, e-Emergency X-Misc)
  • Business Visa
  • Medical Visa
  • Employment Visa
  • Student/ Research Visa
  • Missionary Visa
  • Project Visa
  • Conference Visa

Below, we’ve compiled all the essential information you should know about the most common visa types and how we can assist you with applying for them.

India Tourist Visa

If you’re planning to visit India primarily for sightseeing and recreation, you can get a tourist visa. To apply for a regular tourist visa, you’ll need to mail your completed application and required materials to the Indian embassy or consulate in your country. Once approved, you may need to visit the embassy in person to receive the visa.

Note: The tourist visa is not available to anyone holding a Pakistani passport.

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Tourist Visa Validity

  • Up to 10 years for nationals of the US, Japan, and Canada
  • Up to a year for all other countries except the following: Iran, Egypt, Libya, Qatar, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, Kuwait, Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Belarus, Somalia, South Sudan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka
  • For the 30 countries listed above, the visa can be issued for up to five years but is subject to shorter duration periods at the discretion of the Indian embassy in your country

This visa type is also multiple entry, meaning you can leave and reenter India multiple times on the same visa.

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Tourist Visa Required Documents

  • A valid passport with two blank pages (passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the visa application date)
  • Driver’s license
  • Two digital passport-style photos, minimum size 10 KB and maximum size 1 MB; photo should be equal height and width, no borders
  • Completed application form
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Tourist Visa Costs

Costs for this type of visa vary by country of origin. For US nationals, the cost is $150, plus any applicable service or processing fees. Entriva’s handling fees start as low as $50. Contact us to receive a quote.

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Tourist Visa Average Processing Time

Processing time for paper visas can take up to 20 business days upon receipt of the materials at the embassy.

India e-Visa

If you’re looking for a fast and easy way to get a visa to India, the e-Visa is your best option. The e-Visa is different from the regular visa in that you apply for it online through an e-Visa portal from the Government of India. Once approved, you’ll get your visa sent to you via email, and you print out a copy to show to the immigration officer when you arrive in the country.

More than 160 countries are eligible for India e-Visas, including the United States.

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Types of India e-Visas

  • e-Tourist Visa: sightseeing and tourism
  • e-Business Visa: conducting business
  • e-Medical Visa: traveling to India for medical treatment, surgeries, etc.
  • e-Medical Attendant Visa: assisting a medical traveler
  • e-Conference Visa: attending a conference or trade show
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e-Visa Validity

Here’s how long the different types of e-Visas are valid:

  • e-Tourist Visa: 30 days (one month), 365 days (one year), or five years from the date your electronic travel authorization (ETA) is granted
  • e-Business Visa: 365 days from the date your ETA is granted
  • e-Medical Visa and e-Medical Attendant Visas: 60 days from your arrival date
  • e-Conference Visa: 30 days from your date of arrival
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e-Visa Required Documents

All supporting documents should be in PDF format.

  • A valid passport with two blank pages (passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the visa application date)
  • Scanned copy of your passport’s bio page, clearly showing photo and personal details
  • One digital photo in JPG format, minimum size 10 KB and maximum size 1 MB; photo should be equal height and width, no borders

For e-Business Visa: The above as well as a scanned copy of your official letter(s) of invite and/or support from an Indian business.

For e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant Visa: The above as well as a copy of a letter from an Indian hospital (on hospital letterhead) detailing your medical treatment date and the nature of your business.

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e-Visa Costs

Fees for e-Visas vary by country and visa type. For citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands, the e-Tourist Visa costs are as follows:

  • e-Tourist Visa: US$10 (30-day visa April to June), $25 (30-day visa July to March), $40 (one-year visa), $80 (five-year visa)

For nationals of Singapore, the one-year visa and five-year visa cost $25.

In addition to the applicable e-Visa fees, you’ll also be charged a 2.5% bank transaction charge. Entriva’s handling fees start as low as $50. Contact us to receive a quote.

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When to Apply for an e-Visa

You should apply for your e-Visa well in advance of your arrival in India, as processing can take up to four days.

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e-Visa Average Processing Time:

Four business days.

India Business Visa

If you’re traveling to India for business reasons, you’ll need to get either a regular business visa or an e-Business Visa.

Applying for a regular business visa, your completed application form and required documents are mailed to the Indian embassy or consulate in your country. You are sometimes required to appear in person to receive the visa. For e-Business Visas, the application and receiving process is completely online.

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Business Visa Validity

  • Regular Visa: Up to 10 years for US nationals. For other nationals, validity ranges from three months to five years, depending on the issuing consulate.
  • e-Business Visa: Valid for 365 days from the date that they’re granted.
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Business Visa Required Documents:

All supporting documents should be in PDF format.

  • A valid passport with two blank pages (passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the visa application date)
  • Scanned copy of your passport bio page, clearly showing personal details and photo
  • Two passport-style photos, minimum size 10 KB and maximum size 1 MB; photo should be equal height and width, no borders
  • Scanned copy of your business card
  • Invitation or support letters from an Indian company(s)
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Business Visa Costs

Business visa fees vary by country from $25 to $100. Some additional processing fees and bank transaction fees may apply. Entriva’s handling fees start as low as $50. Contact us to receive a quote.

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When to Apply for Business Visa

You should apply for your e-Business visa at least four days before traveling to India. For a regular/paper visa, apply at least two weeks in advance.

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Business Visa Average Processing Time

  • Regular business visa: 10 to 15 business days (after receipt at embassy or consulate)
  • e-Business visa: three business days (72 hours)

What to Know Before Applying for an India Visa

Before applying for your India visa with Entriva, here are all the details you’ll need to compile:

  • Personal information (full name on passport, nationality, address, date of birth, email, phone number, gender)
  • Passport information (number, expiration date, place of issue, date of issue, etc.)
  • Driver’s license
  • Purpose of travel (tourism, business, etc.)
  • Type of visa needed
  • Travel dates/duration of your trip
  • Port of arrival and expected port of departure
  • Information on any current or previous e-Visas or visas for India travel
  • Emergency contact/family details (names, addresses, email, phone, nationality, etc.)
  • Two recent photos and a copy of your passport page

How to Track Your Visa Application on Entriva

When planning a trip, few things are more stressful than waiting for your visa to arrive without knowing if it will get there in time. At Entriva, we take the stress out of the equation by letting you monitor your application in real-time. Here’s how:

After registering and setting up your profile, you’ll get your own Personal Travel Dashboard, and once you have submitted your visa application to Entriva, you can track the progress of your application online. To track your application, log in to your Entriva account and click on the “My Applications” tab.

On the “My Applications” tab, you will see a list of all of your visa applications. You can click on the “View Details” link for an individual application to see the status of your application.

The status of your application will be updated as it progresses through the processing system. The possible statuses for your application are:

  • Pending: Your application is currently being processed.
  • Approved: Your application has been approved, and your visa will be sent to you.
  • Denied: Your application has been denied. You will receive an email explaining why your application was denied.

In addition to checking your Personal Travel Dashboard for updates about processing, approval, and more, you can also use it for things like organizing to-dos before your trip and checking out our other India travel resources to answer all your questions.

If you have any questions about your visa application, please contact Entriva customer support here.

FAQs about India Visas and India Visa Applications

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Can I travel to India without a visa?

With the exception of foreign nationals of Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives, all other foreign nationals are required to get a visa to enter the country. Arriving in India without a visa brings the risk of being deported.

If you’re a citizen of Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, you are eligible for a visa on arrival.

How long can I stay in India with my visa?

You can stay in India for the duration of your visa. If you plan on staying in India for longer than 180 days, you’ll need to register at the Foreign Regional Registration Office.

Can I extend or renew my India visa?

It depends. Most Indian paper visas can be extended by reaching out to the Foreign Regional Registration Office.

However, with the exception of the e-Medical and the e-Medical Attendant visas,, e-Visas cannot be extended.

Can I travel to India with a different or separate passport than the one I used to get my visa?

No, you must travel with the same passport you used to apply for the visa. If you don’t have that passport, you’ll need to apply for a new visa with your new, current, and valid passport.

If your visa is tied to an older passport that is still valid, you can travel to India with a new passport but will need to bring the old passport and visa as well.

Where can I find the Government of India’s official visa and e-Visa portal?

This is the Government of India’s official authorized visa website, where you can learn more about regular visas or e-Visas.

Where should I keep my India visa while traveling?

If you received a regular or paper visa, it’ll be put directly into your passport.

For e-Visas, you will receive a digital copy by email. You’ll need to print out a copy of the e-Visa to show immigration officers and to keep with you while traveling. International travel document holders are a tidy way to secure your essential travel documents.

Didn’t find the answer you needed? Reach out to us directly—we’re happy to help.

Preparing for Your India Trip

Obtaining a visa is an essential part of planning your trip. At Entriva, we can easily and efficiently help you with every aspect of getting an India visa. Start your visa application process.

For more information on other aspects of travel to India, such as local laws, health and safety, and cultural customs, check out our India content hub.