India e-Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
Nearly all foreign visitors need a visa for India — coverage runs from the US and EU to the Gulf states, South Africa, Brazil, and most of Southeast Asia, all via the same online e-Tourist Visa. China is the major exception: no e-Visa, only a regular visa through an embassy. The e-Tourist Visa comes in 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year options, costing roughly $10–80. Apply online 4–120 days ahead, on India's official e-Visa site only.
India's visa process has a reputation for being complicated, and it's more involved than a lot of destinations — but it's genuinely manageable once you know the actual steps. Here's the real breakdown: who's eligible, what it costs, and the checklist that keeps your application from getting bounced back.
Do you need a visa? Yes — almost everyone does
Unlike many popular destinations, India does not offer broad visa-free entry to Western passport holders. Citizens of roughly 165+ countries and territories are eligible for the e-Tourist Visa, applied for entirely online before departure, and that list keeps growing — another 25 nationalities (mostly in Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe) join from 15 August 2026. Eligibility isn't uniform across the board, though: China is the one major, long-running exception, and a handful of other nationalities still need a regular visa via an Indian embassy or consulate instead — check the official eligibility list for your specific passport before assuming either way.
| Passport | Typical route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States, Canada | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Apply at least 4 days ahead; approval usually arrives within a few business days. |
| United Kingdom | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Same process and pricing tier as US/Canada. |
| EU / Schengen countries | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Covered under the same e-Visa scheme; fees vary slightly by specific country. |
| Australia, New Zealand | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Same process as above. |
| China | Regular visa via an Indian mission — no e-Visa | India suspended e-Visas for Chinese passport holders in 2020 and, as of mid-2026, still hasn't reinstated them. Regular tourist visas (typically 3-month single entry) resumed in July 2025 after a five-year freeze, but you'll need to apply in person, not online. |
| Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia) | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Fully eligible — same online process and fee tiers as Western passports. |
| South Africa | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Eligible for the e-Visa; approval typically comes back within about 72 hours. |
| Brazil | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Long-standing e-Visa eligibility, same standard process and fees. |
| Other Latin America (Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, etc.) | Paper visa now; e-Visa from 15 Aug 2026 | Several Latin American nationalities are newly added to the e-Visa scheme starting 15 August 2026 — before that date, apply the traditional way at an Indian mission. |
| Philippines, Malaysia | e-Tourist Visa (online) — fee waived | Both currently get a free 30-day e-Tourist Visa promotion: Philippines through 31 July 2026, Malaysia through 31 December 2026 — check the official portal since these deals are date-limited. |
| Indonesia | e-Tourist Visa (online) | Eligible under the standard e-Visa scheme; normal fee tiers apply. |
| Other nationalities | Check the official eligibility list | e-Visa coverage now runs to roughly 190 countries and territories once the August 2026 expansion lands; a small number (notably Pakistan) are excluded entirely and must apply for a regular visa in person. |
e-Visa types and cost
| e-Visa type | Validity | Typical fee (most nationalities) |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day e-Tourist Visa | Double entry, 30 days from arrival | ~$10–25 |
| 1-year e-Tourist Visa | Multiple entry, 1 year | ~$40 |
| 5-year e-Tourist Visa | Multiple entry, 5 years | ~$80 |
Fees vary by nationality and change periodically — always check the exact current fee for your passport on India's official e-Visa portal rather than relying on a fixed figure. A roughly 2.5% bank/processing charge applies on top of the listed fee. Only use the official government site (indianvisaonline.gov.in) — a number of unofficial third-party sites charge a hefty markup for the same free-to-apply-yourself process.
How and when to apply
Apply online through the official portal, uploading a recent passport-style photo and a scan of your passport's bio page. You can apply as early as 120 days before arrival and as late as 4 days before — most approvals come back within a few business days, but leave a comfortable buffer rather than applying right before you fly.
Entry requirements checklist
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival, with at least 2 blank pages.
- Printed or digital copy of your approved e-Visa to show at check-in and on arrival.
- Proof of onward or return travel and sufficient funds, occasionally requested by immigration officers.
- A valid international certificate of yellow fever vaccination, required only if you're arriving from (or have transited through) a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.
Airports and seaports where the e-Visa is valid
The e-Visa is valid for entry only through a specific list of around 30 designated international airports (including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Goa) and a handful of designated seaports — check that your specific arrival point is on the current list, especially if you're flying into a smaller regional airport.
Overstaying and extensions
Overstaying an e-Visa is taken seriously and can result in fines, difficulty with future visa applications, or worse for extended overstays — it's genuinely not worth risking. If your plans change, apply for an extension or a fresh visa well before your current one expires, through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) if needed.