Can I get a visa on arrival in India?

No, India discontinued visa on arrival for most nationalities. You must get an e-visa online or a traditional visa from an embassy before travel.

What happens if my e-visa application is rejected?

You can reapply immediately after fixing any issues. Common rejection reasons include poor photo quality, passport validity issues, or incomplete information. Check the rejection email for specific problems.

Can I enter India at any airport with an e-visa?

No, e-visas only work at 28 designated airports and 5 seaports. Major ones include Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Goa. Check the official list before booking flights to smaller cities.

How long can I stay on a tourist e-visa?

Tourist e-visas allow stays up to 60 days from entry date, with double entry permitted. You cannot extend this visa type while in India.

How to Get Your First Visa for India

Most travelers need an e-visa for India, which costs $10-80 depending on your nationality and takes 3-5 business days to process. Apply online at least one week before travel with a passport valid for 6+ months, recent photo, and return ticket confirmation.

Check if you need a visa. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan don't need visas. Everyone else does, including Americans, Canadians, Europeans, and Australians. Check the official Indian government visa website to confirm your nationality's requirements.
Choose e-visa or embassy visa. E-visa is faster and easier for most tourists. It covers tourism, business, and medical visits up to 60 days. You can only enter through designated airports and seaports. Embassy visas take longer but offer more flexibility and entry points.
Gather required documents. You need: passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent color photo (white background, 2x2 inches), return ticket or onward travel proof, hotel bookings or invitation letter, and proof of funds ($25+ per day of stay).
Complete the online application. Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in (the only official site). Fill out personal details exactly as they appear on your passport. Upload your photo and passport bio page as JPEGs under 1MB each. Double-check everything before submitting.
Pay the visa fee. Fees vary by nationality: Americans pay $80, most Europeans $25-40, Canadians $80. Pay online with credit card. Keep the payment receipt - you'll need the application ID for tracking.
Wait for processing. E-visas typically process in 3-5 business days. You'll receive an email with your ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). Print 2 copies to carry with you - immigration will keep one copy on arrival.
Prepare for arrival. Land at designated e-visa airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Goa, Kochi, Trivandrum, Calicut, Mangalore, Pune, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Varanasi, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Jaipur). Have your printed ETA, passport, and return ticket ready.

Can I get a visa on arrival in India?: No, India discontinued visa on arrival for most nationalities. You must get an e-visa online or a traditional visa from an embassy before travel.
What happens if my e-visa application is rejected?: You can reapply immediately after fixing any issues. Common rejection reasons include poor photo quality, passport validity issues, or incomplete information. Check the rejection email for specific problems.
Can I enter India at any airport with an e-visa?: No, e-visas only work at 28 designated airports and 5 seaports. Major ones include Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Goa. Check the official list before booking flights to smaller cities.
How long can I stay on a tourist e-visa?: Tourist e-visas allow stays up to 60 days from entry date, with double entry permitted. You cannot extend this visa type while in India.