India is home to some incredible natural scenery and architectural marvels, like the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Himalayan snow-capped mountains.
With the exception of nationals of Bhutan and Nepal, most nations require a visa in order to enter India. Since November 2014, these visas have been issued electronically as eVisas.
Everything you need to know to use the e-Visa India website to obtain an Indian tourist visa is covered in this tutorial! The last update was made in 2024, however I authored it in 2019.
Although I went through this process as a tourist, the other visa categories also go through a very identical process, according to the e-Visa India website.
What Is An eVisa for India?
The Indian e-Visa is intended for tourists who are traveling to India for a brief stay in order to engage in informal business, short-term medical treatment, sightseeing, or visiting friends or family.
The following are the five different categories of eVisas: e-Business, e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant, and e-Tourist.
The eVisa can be used for double entrance (for e-Tourist or e-Business), single entry (for e-Conference), or triple entry (for e-Medical). Its validity can be extended for thirty days, a year, or five years from the date of your arrival in India. It cannot be converted or extended.
The online application and payment must be completed between 4 and 120 days before the date of arrival in India; however, the application cannot be processed if the payment is made less than 4 days before the arrival date.
26 approved airports and 5 seaports in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Goa, accept the eVisa for entrance. You may get the complete list of seaports and airports that accept the India eVisa by clicking the Instructions For Applicant link on the left.
Who Can Apply for an eVisa?
Citizens of the US and more than 170 other countries can apply for an eVisa; the cost varies depending on your nation or region.
The website has a comprehensive list of fees by nation, which includes the current charge for inhabitants of the United States and other nations.
You may be charged an extra 2.5% for bank transactions on the eVisa India website.
Even if your application is denied for any reason, the visa cost is not refundable.
How Do I Obtain An eVisa for India?
Though it may seem difficult, obtaining a visa is actually rather easy! Here is a quick breakdown of it in four steps:
1. Submit an online application. A copy of your passport page and a personal photo must be included with your application.
2. Cover the Visa Fee. Online payments can be made using PayPal, credit or debit cards, or both.
3. Get an electronic visa. You will receive an email with your visa.
4. Go to India. The India eVisa must be printed, then brought with you for the duration of your trip.
Prior to submitting an Indian eVisa application
Your visa application can be denied if it is not correctly and completely filled out.
Verify the following before submitting an application on the eVisa India website:
Validity of Passport. Visa pages in your passport should be valid for more than six months. You should be able to stamp Sufficient Funds on at least two of the blank visa pages in your passport. It is seldom questioned that you should have adequate money for your stay in India in addition to a return or subsequent ticket.
Additionally, the following files must be installed on your computer:
Individual Photo. Your face should be clearly visible in a recent, white-background photo. The JPEG format is necessary.
A photo from a passport. This is the primary passport page where your name, nationality, date of birth, and other details are listed. The PDF format is necessary. Use https://smallpdf.com if you need assistance converting the photo in your passport to a PDF.
Remark: If you are applying for an e-company or e-Medical visa, you will additionally require a copy of the letter from the pertinent Indian hospital on its letterhead (for the e-Medical visa) or a copy of your company card (for the e-Business visa).
How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to India using eVisa
When you’re prepared to move forward, visit the official eVisa website of the Indian government to start the visa application process:
clicl on:- https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa
REMEMBER THIS. Other websites that seem similar to this one or claim to be able to provide quick visas are available online, however they are usually scammers that will steal your money. DISREGARD OTHER WEBSITES.
In order to help you with the application, I’ve included some examples of my actual eVisa submission in the photographs below. To put it another way, the addresses and other information I provided in the following photos are only samples. Having said that, the pages of your visa application will seem similar to the ones in these pictures.
Please let me know in the comments section at the bottom of this page if there have been any changes to the application process since I wrote this guide, and I will update it right away. I’ll try my best to maintain this website updated throughout.
Finalization
Following payment and submission, you will receive an email from the Indian government confirming that your online application for an Indian visa has been successfully filed and will be processed within 72 hours.
In my experience, the processing and granting of my Indian visa application took less than a day. Generally, you will receive a response much faster.
When you arrive in India, you MUST print the email that contains your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and provide it to the immigration officer. Printing and carrying at least two copies is something I would advise.
The Indian government stresses that before you travel to India, you should check the status of your application on the official eVisa India website (same URL as previously) and make sure it reads granted.
And If My Visa To India Is Denied?
Don’t panic if your India visa is denied. There is no minimum period of time that must pass before reapplying for a visa; you can apply again. You can reapply whenever you’re ready if the internet system permits you to do so.
Finding out the reasons behind your rejection is crucial, though, so you may address them in your subsequent application. Although an explanation isn’t always provided, basic mistakes like typos, incorrect dates, or incorrect picture requirements are typically the main causes of India visa rejections.
You will be asked, “Has permission to visit or to extend stay in India previously been refused?” when you reapply.
The reason(s) for your initial application rejection will determine how you respond to this question. I would say “no” if the error was a straightforward clerical one, such as entering the wrong date or photo parameters. In this case, you were not denied a visa to visit India because you were ineligible in the first place; rather, you were just the victim of a little submission error that is readily fixable.
I wish you success and a joyful trip!