Can I get a visa on arrival in India?

No traditional visa on arrival, but the e-Visa functions similarly. You apply online before travel and receive approval electronically, then get the physical visa stamp when you land at the airport. You must have the approval before boarding your flight.

What if I want to stay longer than 90 days?

Even the 5-year e-Tourist Visa limits each stay to 90 consecutive days. If you want to stay longer in one stretch, you need a traditional tourist visa from an embassy/consulate, which can grant stays up to 180 days. You'll need to visit in person or use a visa service.

Do I need a visa if I'm just transiting through India?

If you're staying airside (not passing through immigration), no visa needed for transits under 24 hours. If you want to leave the airport or your layover exceeds 24 hours, get a 30-day e-Tourist Visa — there's no transit-specific visa that's cheaper or easier.

Can I extend my e-Visa while in India?

No. E-Visas cannot be extended, converted, or changed once you're in India. If you need more time, you must leave the country and reapply. For the 1-year and 5-year visas, you can return after exiting, but each individual stay maxes out at 90 days.

What happens if my visa application is rejected?

You lose the application fee — no refunds. Common rejection reasons include poor photo quality, passport validity under 6 months, or mismatched information. If rejected, wait 3 days, fix the issue, and reapply with a new payment. For chronic rejections, contact an Indian embassy for guidance.

How to Get a Visa for Solo Travel to India

Most travelers need an e-Visa for India, which you apply for online 4-120 days before arrival and costs $10-$80 depending on type. The e-Tourist Visa comes in 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year options with multiple entries allowed. Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in, upload required documents, pay the fee, and receive approval by email within 72 hours.

Determine which visa type you need. For solo travel, you want an e-Tourist Visa unless you're staying longer than 90 days continuously or entering through land borders with Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, or Bangladesh. The e-Tourist Visa allows 30 days (double entry), 1 year (multiple entry), or 5 years (multiple entry). Most solo travelers pick the 1-year option for flexibility.
Gather your documents before starting. You need a passport valid for 6 months from arrival date with at least 2 blank pages, a recent color passport photo (2x2 inches, white background), and a credit/debit card for payment. Scan your passport bio page as a PDF. Save your photo as a JPEG under 1MB. Having these ready prevents application timeouts.
Apply on the official government website. Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in — not a third-party site. Click 'e-Visa Application' and select 'e-Tourist Visa'. Fill out the form in one session if possible. You'll need your parents' names, your current address, details of your last 2 visits to India (if any), and your intended arrival city and date. Double-check every field. Errors mean rejection.
Upload documents and pay. Upload your passport scan and photo where prompted. The system is picky about file sizes and formats — if rejected, resize and try again. Select your visa duration (30-day/$10, 1-year/$40, 5-year/$80 for US citizens; prices vary by nationality). Pay with a card. Save the Application ID that appears.
Wait for approval and print your ETA. Most e-Visas are approved within 72 hours. Check status at indianvisaonline.gov.in using your Application ID. When approved, download and print the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Carry this printout with you. Immigration will stamp your actual visa on arrival at the airport.
Understand the entry rules. Your e-Visa starts on the date you first enter India, not the application date. You can arrive at 28 designated airports and 5 seaports only — Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Goa, and others are covered, but check the list. You can exit through any immigration checkpoint including land borders. Each stay cannot exceed 90 days for tourist visas, even on the 5-year option.

Can I get a visa on arrival in India?: No traditional visa on arrival, but the e-Visa functions similarly. You apply online before travel and receive approval electronically, then get the physical visa stamp when you land at the airport. You must have the approval before boarding your flight.
What if I want to stay longer than 90 days?: Even the 5-year e-Tourist Visa limits each stay to 90 consecutive days. If you want to stay longer in one stretch, you need a traditional tourist visa from an embassy/consulate, which can grant stays up to 180 days. You'll need to visit in person or use a visa service.
Do I need a visa if I'm just transiting through India?: If you're staying airside (not passing through immigration), no visa needed for transits under 24 hours. If you want to leave the airport or your layover exceeds 24 hours, get a 30-day e-Tourist Visa — there's no transit-specific visa that's cheaper or easier.
Can I extend my e-Visa while in India?: No. E-Visas cannot be extended, converted, or changed once you're in India. If you need more time, you must leave the country and reapply. For the 1-year and 5-year visas, you can return after exiting, but each individual stay maxes out at 90 days.
What happens if my visa application is rejected?: You lose the application fee — no refunds. Common rejection reasons include poor photo quality, passport validity under 6 months, or mismatched information. If rejected, wait 3 days, fix the issue, and reapply with a new payment. For chronic rejections, contact an Indian embassy for guidance.