Entry & documents
India visa guide
How to get an Indian visa the simple way — the official e-Visa process step by step, the types and validity, per-nationality notes, and the entry rules that catch people out — from an operator who walks guests through it every week.
Updated · Written by the Era Tours team, New Delhi
Almost every visitor to India needs a visa, and for tourism and most business the simplest route is the e-Visa — applied for online in advance, approved by email, and stamped when you land. We guide guests through this process every week, so this is the practical version: what to do, in what order, and the details that trip people up. One rule above all others — apply only on the official Government of India portal, never a lookalike site.
Please note: we are a tour operator, not immigration advisers, and visa rules change frequently. This guide is general information to help you prepare, not legal advice. Always verify the current requirements for your nationality on the official Indian government website, and we'll gladly help you through the process once you're travelling with us.
The e-Visa, step by step
For most travellers the whole process takes twenty minutes online and a few days' wait:
- Go to the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa, and choose the e-Visa type (Tourist, Business or Medical).
- Complete the online application: personal and passport details, travel dates, a reference address in India (your hotel or ours), and your purpose of visit.
- Upload a recent passport-style photo and a scan of your passport bio page.
- Pay the fee by card — the amount varies by nationality and visa length, shown before you pay.
- Receive your Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by email, usually within about 72 hours.
- Print the ETA and carry it. On arrival at a designated airport or seaport it is checked, your biometrics are taken, and the visa is stamped into your passport.
Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond arrival and have at least two blank pages. Apply at least four days before travel; we suggest a week or two for peace of mind.
Types & validity
The e-Tourist Visa comes in three forms: a 30-day double-entry visa, a one-year multiple-entry visa, and a five-year multiple-entry visa, each with limits on how long a single stay can be. The e-Business Visa is generally one year, multiple entry, for meetings and commercial activity (see our business travel to India guide). The e-Medical Visa covers treatment at recognised hospitals. Longer stays, employment, journalism, and entry by land require regular paper visas from an Indian embassy or consulate.
Notes by nationality
United States
US citizens need a visa; there is no visa-free or general visa-on-arrival entry. Most use the e-Tourist Visa (30-day, one-year or five-year), applied for online in advance. The five-year option is popular with frequent visitors. Passport valid six months, two blank pages.
United Kingdom
UK citizens likewise need a visa and typically use the e-Tourist Visa online. The same 30-day, one-year and five-year multiple-entry options apply. There is no visa-free entry for British passport holders.
Australia
Australian citizens require a visa and use the same e-Tourist Visa system, applied for before travel on the official portal. Choose the validity that fits how often you expect to visit.
South Africa
South African citizens need a visa for India and can use the e-Visa facility online. As with all nationalities, confirm the current fee and any conditions for your passport on the official website before applying.
Visa-free & exempt
Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not require a visa to enter India. Holders of an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card — many people of Indian origin abroad — travel visa-free on their OCI. Everyone else should assume a visa is required and check the portal.
Arrival & the entry rules that catch people out
Two details cause most problems. First, the e-Visa is valid for entry only at designated airports and seaports — you cannot use it to cross a land border; land entry needs a regular paper visa. Second, the reference details you enter (your address in India) should match your actual first-night accommodation — we're happy to be your India reference. On arrival you'll complete immigration formalities and, at many airports, an online arrival/customs declaration; keep your printed ETA and onward details handy. Some travellers from yellow-fever-risk countries must also show a yellow-fever vaccination certificate — see our India travel vaccinations guide.
Protected & Restricted Area permits
A visa alone isn't always enough. Parts of the North East, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh's inner-line areas, Sikkim and a few border regions fall under Protected or Restricted Area Permit rules that require an additional permit on top of your visa. These are exactly the kinds of arrangements we handle as part of a tour — so if your itinerary includes them, you don't have to navigate the paperwork alone. For the broader pre-trip checklist, see our India travel tips.
Travelling with us? The visa gets easier
We give you a valid India reference address, help you pick the right e-Visa, and handle every Protected-Area permit your route needs.
Right visa, first time
We help you choose 30-day, 1-year or 5-year, tourist or business.
Your India reference
Use our office or your hotel as the reference address the form asks for.
Permits included
Restricted-Area permits arranged as part of the itinerary, not left to you.
FAQ
India visa — frequently asked questions
Yes — almost all foreign nationals need a valid passport and an Indian visa to enter India. The main exceptions are citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, and holders of an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card. Most other travellers can apply online in advance for an e-Visa through the official Indian government portal, which is the simplest route for tourism and business. Always confirm the current requirement for your nationality on the official website before you travel.
Apply only through the official Government of India portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. You complete the online form, upload a passport-style photo and your passport bio page, pay the fee by card, and receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by email — usually within about 72 hours. Print the ETA and carry it; it is checked and the visa is stamped when you arrive at a designated airport or seaport. Beware of lookalike third-party sites that charge extra.
Yes, US citizens need a visa to enter India. Most American travellers use the e-Tourist Visa, applied for online in advance, which is available in 30-day, one-year and five-year multiple-entry options. There is no general visa-on-arrival for US citizens — the e-Visa is the online equivalent and must be obtained before you fly. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with two blank pages.
India does not offer a general visa-on-arrival to most nationalities. Instead, the e-Visa (e-Tourist, e-Business or e-Medical) is applied for online before travel and effectively serves the same purpose — you arrive with an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation which is stamped on entry. A limited visa-on-arrival facility exists only for a few nationalities (such as Japan and South Korea) under specific conditions. For everyone else, apply online in advance.
The Indian e-Visa is usually approved within about 72 hours, so apply at least four days before travel — though we recommend a week or two to be safe. Validity depends on the type you choose: the e-Tourist Visa comes in a 30-day double-entry version and one-year and five-year multiple-entry versions (with limits on the length of each stay). The e-Business Visa is typically one year, multiple entry. Confirm the exact terms for your nationality on the official portal.
No — the e-Visa is valid for entry only through designated international airports and seaports, not at land border crossings. If your itinerary involves entering India overland (for example from Nepal), you need a regular paper visa from an Indian mission instead. If you fly in, you can leave the country by any authorised route. When your route includes land borders or protected regions, we advise on exactly what you need.
Questions about your India visa or permits?
Once you’re planning a trip with us, we’ll help you choose the right e-Visa, be your India reference address, and arrange any Protected-Area permits your route needs. Message us on WhatsApp.