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India hosts millions of travelers worldwide annually, drawn by its rich cultural tapestry, stunning landscapes, and economic prospects. Yet, if you don’t call India your home, it’s likely that you’ll require a visa to embark on your journey.
An Indian visa is an official stamp affixed to your travel document, often your passport, serving as the key to unlocking India’s myriad attractions and experiences.
Who Needs an India Visa?
Whether you need a visa or not to enter India depends on your nationality and the type of visa you are applying for.
India E-Visa
If you are a citizen from one of the following countries, you are eligible to apply for an India e-Visa:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Niue
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Palestinian Territory
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Cyprus
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
On the other hand, if you are a citizen from one of the countries below, you must apply for a visa at an Indian embassy or consulate:
- Afghanistan
- Aland Islands
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Antarctica
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bermuda
- Bonaire
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Burkina Faso
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Congo
- Curacao
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guernsey
- Guinea Bissau
- Hong Kong
- Iran
- Iraq
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Macau
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mayotte
- Morocco
- New Caledonia
- Nigeria
- Norfolk Island
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pakistan
- Pitcairn Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Reunion
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Sint Maarten
- Somalia
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- the Syrian Arab Republic
- Tokelau
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- the United States Virgin Islands
- Wallis and Futuna
- Yemen
India Visa-Free Countries
Nationalities that do not require a visa to visit India are listed below:
- Bhutan
- Maldives*
- Nepal
*Citizens from Maldives have the right to stay in India visa-free for a maximum of 90 days.
»Also read: 29 Visa Free Countries for Indian Passport Holders
India Visa Types
India offers various visa types to suit your needs:
- E-Visa. An e-Visa is granted to foreigners for tourism, medical treatment, business, and similar non-specific purposes in India.
- Visa on arrival. Visa-on-Arrival is offered to Japanese citizens traveling to India for business, tourism, conferences, or medical reasons.
- Transit visa. A transit visa is issued to a foreigner solely to facilitate their travel through India to a destination outside the country.
- Tourist visa. A tourist visa is provided to a foreign national whose primary purpose for visiting India is recreational activities, sightseeing, casual visits to friends or relatives, attending short-term yoga programs, receiving brief medical treatment, including Indian traditional medicine, and not for any other specific purpose or activity.
- Medical visa. A medical visa (MED Visa) is issued to a foreigner exclusively to seek medical treatment at established, recognized, or specialized hospitals or treatment centers in India.
- Employment visa. An employment visa is provided to a foreign individual with exceptional skills and/or qualifications.
- Project visa. A project visa is awarded to foreign nationals arriving in India to manage projects within the power and steel sectors.
- Business visa. The India Business Visa is designed for individuals planning to visit India for business purposes. This can include attending meetings, conferences, negotiations, exploring business opportunities, establishing contacts, and more.
- Student visa. The India student visa is designed for individuals pursuing academic or vocational studies in India.
- Research visa. A research visa is granted to a foreign research scholar for three years or the duration of the research project, whichever concludes earlier.
- Intern visa. An intern (I) visa is issued to a foreign national who plans to undertake an internship with Indian companies, educational institutions, or NGOs.
- Entry (X) visa. An Entry (X) Visa for India is issued to individuals of Indian origin and their family members, allowing them to visit India for various purposes, including tourism, family visits, or business.
- Conference visa. A conference visa is issued to a foreign national whose primary purpose for visiting India is to participate in a conference, seminar, or workshop taking place within the country.
- Sports visa. This is granted to individuals coming to India to participate in sports-related activities, such as competitions, tournaments, coaching, training, and sports events.
- Mountaineering visa. The mountaineering visa is designed for foreign mountaineers and adventure enthusiasts who intend to participate in mountaineering expeditions or climbing activities in India’s mountainous regions.
- Journalist visa. An India journalist visa is a type of visa issued to foreign journalists, reporters, and media professionals who intend to visit India for journalistic purposes, such as reporting, coverage of events, or journalistic assignments.
- Film visa. The visa is issued to foreign journalists, reporters, and media professionals who intend to visit India for journalistic purposes, such as reporting, coverage of events, or journalistic assignments.
- Missionary visa. A missionary visa is issued to a foreign national whose primary purpose for visiting India is engaging in missionary work that does not include proselytization.
- Emergency Visa. An India emergency visa is exclusively for Indian-origin citizens and their families facing unexpected family emergencies in India, like serious medical situations or family deaths. This visa is distinct from regular tourist, business, or medical visas.
How to Apply for an India Visa?
You can apply for an India visa in one of the following ways, depending on your nationality:
- At the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate. In many cases, you will have to schedule an appointment and complete an online application form to apply for an Indian visa.
- Online on the official eVisa website. An online application is also available for tourist, business, and other types of short-term visas for the eligible nationalities.
Read this article for more detailed information, on how to apply for an Indian Visa.
How Long Can I Stay in India With a Visa?
The duration of your stay in India with a visa depends on the type of visa you have been granted. Different visa categories come with varying periods of allowed stay, ranging from a few weeks to several years. You must check your visa’s terms and conditions to understand how long you can stay in India. Overstaying the allowed duration can lead to immigration issues and penalties.
How Long Does It Take to Process an India Visa?
The processing time for an India visa varies depending on the visa type, your nationality, and the current application workload. e-visas, designed for tourism, business, and medical purposes, are often processed quickly within 1 to 4 business days. In contrast, regular paper visas can have variable processing times, from 7 to 45 days or longer.
When submitted in person at the center, applications falling under the following categories may require extended processing times:
- Non-UK passport holders residing in the UK for less than two years, especially when clearance from competent authorities is necessary (minimum 6-8 working days).
- Applicants of Pakistani nationality (Minimum 7-8 weeks).
- Applicants from Sri Lanka, China, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and holders of UK Travel documents (minimum 15 working days).
How Much Does an Indian Visa Cost?
The visa type and its duration determine the visa fee. The visa fee structure comprises various components, including the basic fee, special fee, and a processing fee charged by an outsourcing agency, depending on the specific case.
The initial basic fee is estimated when completing the online registration process. However, this displayed fee is indicative, and the final fee will be assessed and collected when you submit your application at the respective counters.
It’s important to note that visa fees are non-refundable, even if the visa application is withdrawn, not granted, issued for a shorter duration than requested, or issued with terms and conditions different from those initially sought by the applicant.
For more information, read: India Visa Fees
India Visa Extension
Extending an India visa is possible in certain situations, but it’s essential to understand the specific rules and requirements for each visa category. Tourist visas are usually not extendable, and if you need more time, you may need to exit the country and reapply for a new visa.
However, extensions may be an option for other visa types like employment, business, student, or medical visas. These extensions are subject to approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs and must be applied for well before the visa’s expiration date.
To initiate an extension, you must visit the local Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) in your Indian city of residence. The process involves submitting required documents, paying applicable fees, and providing a valid reason for the extension.
India Visa for US Citizens
All U.S. citizens planning a trip to India must ensure they possess a valid passport and the appropriate documentation, either a valid Indian visa or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, regardless of their travel purpose. It’s important to note that Indian visa regulations and guidelines can change frequently and with little notice. Therefore, you must review the most current information on the website of the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., before traveling.
For U.S. citizens planning a tourist visit to India lasting less than 60 days, an eVisa application should be submitted at least four days before the intended arrival date. However, if U.S. citizens plan to stay in India as tourists for more than 60 days or any other purpose, they must obtain a visa through an Indian embassy or consulate. To facilitate this process, the Government of India has designated VFS Global to provide visa services for individuals in the United States. Applications for Indian visas can be submitted through the following link.
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