Do babies and toddlers need their own Indian visa?

Yes. Every person entering India needs a visa, including infants. The baby needs their own passport and e-Visa application. The fee is the same as for adults. Parents fill out the application using the child's information.

Can I submit one application for my whole family?

No. Each person needs a separate application and separate payment. You fill out the same form multiple times, once per family member. You can do them back-to-back in one sitting, but they're individual submissions.

What if my child doesn't have the same last name as me?

Bring your child's birth certificate showing you as the parent and your marriage certificate if applicable. If you have different surnames due to divorce or other reasons, a birth certificate showing parental relationship is usually sufficient. For extra caution, carry legal guardianship papers if you have them.

One of our e-Visas was denied but the others approved — now what?

The approved visas remain valid. You can reapply for the denied person, which takes another 3-5 days, or apply for a traditional visa at an Indian consulate, which takes 1-2 weeks. Or you cancel the trip. Visa fees are non-refundable. Check the denial reason carefully — it's usually fixable (wrong photo format, passport validity issue).

Do both parents need to sign consent if one is traveling alone with the kids?

Technically India doesn't require it by law, but immigration officers have discretion. Safest practice: carry a notarized letter from the non-traveling parent stating they consent to the trip, with dates, destination, and their contact information. This prevents issues at check-in and immigration. If you're a single parent, carry court documents showing sole custody.

How long does an e-Visa last for children?

Same as adults. The standard e-Tourist Visa options are 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years. The visa validity starts from the date it's approved, not from your entry date. For young children whose passport photos change quickly, shorter validity makes sense since you'll need to reapply anyway when the passport expires.

How to Get an Indian Visa for Your Family

Families traveling to India need e-Visas for most nationalities, applied for individually online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Each family member needs their own application, including infants. Processing takes 3-5 business days and costs $10-100 USD per person depending on visa type and nationality. Parent consent is required for minors.

Determine which visa type each family member needs. Most families use e-Tourist Visas (valid 30 days to 5 years depending on option selected). Children need the same visa type as parents. If grandparents are traveling, they apply separately but can list the same travel dates. Business or medical visas have different requirements. Check indianvisaonline.gov.in for your nationality's eligibility — about 170 countries qualify for e-Visa.
Gather documents for each family member. You need: passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, digital passport photo (white background, 2x2 inches, taken within last 6 months), digital copy of passport bio page, return ticket or itinerary, and accommodation details for first night. For children under 18: birth certificate and consent letter from both parents if only one is traveling. Have everything in PDF or JPEG format before you start.
Complete separate applications for each person. Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in. You cannot submit one family application — each person needs their own form. Start with one person, complete it entirely, pay, then move to the next. The form takes 20-30 minutes per person. For children, parents fill out the form but use the child's information. You can apply up to 120 days before travel but no less than 4 days before arrival.
Upload documents and pay fees individually. Upload the photo and passport scan for each applicant. Photo requirements are strict — most rejections happen here. Use the photo tool on the website to check compliance. Pay by credit card. Fees range from $10 for most e-Tourist Visas to $80 for 5-year options. Each application is paid separately. Save all payment confirmations.
Link family applications if desired. While each person applies individually, you can note other family members' application IDs in the 'Reference' section. This doesn't speed up processing but helps if you need to contact support. Make a spreadsheet with everyone's application ID, date submitted, and status link.
Wait for approval and download e-Visas. Check your email and the status page. Processing normally takes 3-5 business days but can take up to 30 days during peak season (October-March). You receive approval emails separately for each person. Download and print each e-Visa. Bring two copies per person when you travel — one for check-in, one for immigration. Also save PDFs on your phone.
Prepare for arrival with children. At Indian immigration, families can usually stay together but each person is processed individually. Have all passports, printed e-Visas, and return tickets ready. Officers may ask children simple questions (name, age, where staying). Parents answer for very young children. First-time visitors get biometrics (photo and fingerprints) — this includes children over 12. Budget 45-90 minutes for immigration at major airports.

Do babies and toddlers need their own Indian visa?: Yes. Every person entering India needs a visa, including infants. The baby needs their own passport and e-Visa application. The fee is the same as for adults. Parents fill out the application using the child's information.
Can I submit one application for my whole family?: No. Each person needs a separate application and separate payment. You fill out the same form multiple times, once per family member. You can do them back-to-back in one sitting, but they're individual submissions.
What if my child doesn't have the same last name as me?: Bring your child's birth certificate showing you as the parent and your marriage certificate if applicable. If you have different surnames due to divorce or other reasons, a birth certificate showing parental relationship is usually sufficient. For extra caution, carry legal guardianship papers if you have them.
One of our e-Visas was denied but the others approved — now what?: The approved visas remain valid. You can reapply for the denied person, which takes another 3-5 days, or apply for a traditional visa at an Indian consulate, which takes 1-2 weeks. Or you cancel the trip. Visa fees are non-refundable. Check the denial reason carefully — it's usually fixable (wrong photo format, passport validity issue).
Do both parents need to sign consent if one is traveling alone with the kids?: Technically India doesn't require it by law, but immigration officers have discretion. Safest practice: carry a notarized letter from the non-traveling parent stating they consent to the trip, with dates, destination, and their contact information. This prevents issues at check-in and immigration. If you're a single parent, carry court documents showing sole custody.
How long does an e-Visa last for children?: Same as adults. The standard e-Tourist Visa options are 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years. The visa validity starts from the date it's approved, not from your entry date. For young children whose passport photos change quickly, shorter validity makes sense since you'll need to reapply anyway when the passport expires.