Can I apply for my whole family on one application?

No. Every person, including babies, needs their own individual e-Visa application. You'll fill out the same form multiple times. Budget 2-3 hours for a family of four.

What if my kid's passport expires in 4 months?

Renew it first. India requires 6 months validity from your arrival date. If you apply with less, your application will be denied and you lose the fee.

We're visiting family in India — should we put their address as our accommodation?

You can, but it's easier to list a hotel for your first night even if you're staying with family. Immigration is used to seeing hotel names. If you list a family address, bring an invitation letter from your relatives with their phone number.

What if one person's visa is approved but another family member's is delayed?

Each visa is independent. Legally the approved person could travel alone, but most families wait until everyone's visa comes through. If one is taking too long, check the application status and contact the Indian embassy if it's been more than 7 days.

Do we need to submit our passports by mail?

Not for e-Visa. It's all online. You only need scanned copies. For regular tourist visas through VFS Global, yes, you submit physical passports.

Can my teenager apply themselves or do I need to do it?

Parents/guardians must complete applications for anyone under 18. Use the parent's email address so all confirmations come to one place.

How to Get a Visa for India for Your Family

Indian family visas require each family member to apply individually through the e-Visa portal or VFS Global, even infants. Most travelers use the e-Tourist Visa (valid 30-365 days, $10-$100 USD depending on duration). Apply at least 4 days before departure, though 2-3 weeks is safer for families to handle any issues.

Decide which visa type you need. Most families use the e-Tourist Visa. It covers tourism, visiting family in India, and short yoga/recreation courses. Valid for 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years depending on which you select. The 30-day version ($10 USD) allows 2 entries. The 1-year ($25) and 5-year ($100) versions allow multiple entries with stays up to 90 days each visit. If you're visiting family who are Indian citizens or OCI holders, you might qualify for an e-Conference Visa instead, which some families use, but e-Tourist is simpler and works fine for family visits.
Gather documents for each family member. Every person needs: passport valid 6 months beyond your arrival date with 2 blank pages, a recent passport-style photo (white background, 2x2 inches, uploaded as JPEG), travel dates (arrival/departure flights), and accommodation details for your first night in India. For children: birth certificate if they're on a separate passport. You'll also need a scanned copy of your passport bio page. Have a credit/debit card ready for payment.
Complete one application per person online. Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in (the official site). Fill out a separate application for each family member, including babies. The form takes 15-30 minutes per person. You cannot group family members on one application. Enter information exactly as it appears on passports. Common mistakes: wrong passport number, photo file too large (must be under 1 MB), or not selecting the correct airport of arrival. Save the application regularly — the system times out.
Pay and wait for processing. Pay with credit/debit card immediately after submitting each application. You'll get an Application ID — save it. Processing officially takes 72 hours, but can be as fast as 24 hours or as slow as 5-7 days. Check status at indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/statusEnquiry. The e-Visa comes as a PDF by email. Print 2 copies per person and carry them — one for Indian immigration, one for your airline at check-in.
Handle complications if someone's application has issues. If one family member's visa is delayed or denied, the others can still travel. But practically, families usually wait to travel together. If denied, you can reapply or contact the Indian embassy for a regular tourist visa (slower, more expensive, but consular officers can override certain issues). Common denial reasons: previous visa violations, Pakistani or Bangladeshi nationality (requires regular visa), or passport damage. Double-check everything before submitting to avoid delays.

Can I apply for my whole family on one application?: No. Every person, including babies, needs their own individual e-Visa application. You'll fill out the same form multiple times. Budget 2-3 hours for a family of four.
What if my kid's passport expires in 4 months?: Renew it first. India requires 6 months validity from your arrival date. If you apply with less, your application will be denied and you lose the fee.
We're visiting family in India — should we put their address as our accommodation?: You can, but it's easier to list a hotel for your first night even if you're staying with family. Immigration is used to seeing hotel names. If you list a family address, bring an invitation letter from your relatives with their phone number.
What if one person's visa is approved but another family member's is delayed?: Each visa is independent. Legally the approved person could travel alone, but most families wait until everyone's visa comes through. If one is taking too long, check the application status and contact the Indian embassy if it's been more than 7 days.
Do we need to submit our passports by mail?: Not for e-Visa. It's all online. You only need scanned copies. For regular tourist visas through VFS Global, yes, you submit physical passports.
Can my teenager apply themselves or do I need to do it?: Parents/guardians must complete applications for anyone under 18. Use the parent's email address so all confirmations come to one place.