What is the India eVisa?
The India eVisa is an electronic visa service operated through the official Indian Visa Online system.
It allows eligible foreign travelers to apply online before traveling to India, without submitting a standard paper visa application at an Indian mission for eligible travel purposes.
The India eVisa is a visa. It is different from the India e-Arrival Card, which is an arrival information form and not a visa.
What is the official India eVisa website?
The official website for India eVisa applications is indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa.
The official eVisa FAQ states that this is the only official website to apply for Indian eVisa services.
Travelers should avoid unofficial websites that claim to provide faster approval, express processing or special access to the Indian eVisa system.
Who can apply for an India eVisa?
Foreign travelers should check the official Indian Visa Online website to confirm whether their nationality, passport type and travel purpose are eligible for an India eVisa.
The eVisa system is generally used for eligible travel purposes such as tourism, business, medical treatment, medical attendant travel and conferences.
If your travel purpose does not match the eVisa categories, you may need a regular paper visa from an Indian mission or post.
India eVisa categories
The India eVisa service includes several categories, such as e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa and e-Conference Visa.
Each category has its own conditions, validity, entry rules and permitted activities.
Choose the category that matches your real travel purpose. Do not apply for a tourist eVisa if your trip is mainly for business, medical care or another purpose that requires a different visa type.
India eTourist Visa validity
The official India eVisa FAQ states that the e-Tourist Visa can be issued for 30 days, 1 year or 5 years, depending on the service requested in the application.
The 30-day e-Tourist Visa is valid for 30 days from the date of first arrival in India and allows double entry within the validity period shown.
The 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist Visas allow multiple entries, with the maximum stay in India during one calendar year not exceeding 180 days.
India eBusiness and eMedical Visa validity
The official India eVisa FAQ states that the e-Business Visa is valid for 365 days from the date of grant of ETA, with multiple entries. Continuous stay during each visit should not exceed 180 days.
The e-Medical Visa and e-Medical Attendant Visa are valid for 60 days from the date of first arrival in India and allow triple entry within the eVisa validity period.
Always check the validity, allowed entries and stay rules shown on your approved eVisa before traveling.
When should you apply for an India eVisa?
You should apply before traveling to India and allow enough time for processing, payment confirmation and possible corrections.
Do not wait until the last minute, especially if your passport scan, photo, payment or travel details may need review.
Apply only when your passport, travel dates, arrival airport or seaport and address in India are clear enough to complete the application accurately.
Information required for the India eVisa application
To apply for an India eVisa, prepare your passport details, personal information, nationality, date of birth, travel dates, port of arrival, address in India and contact information.
You may also need to upload a passport photo and a passport bio page image that meet the official system requirements.
Depending on the eVisa category, additional documents may be requested, such as business, hospital or conference-related information.
Step-by-step India eVisa application process
First, go to the official India eVisa website at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa.
Then complete the online application with your personal, passport and travel information. Upload the required documents and review every field before payment.
After submission and payment, check your visa status through the official website. The official FAQ states that applicants are informed of the visa status by email.
India eVisa status and approval
After submitting your India eVisa application, you can check your visa status on the official Indian Visa Online website.
The official FAQ states that visa status can be Granted or Rejected and that the result is sent to the email address provided in the application.
Do not travel only with a payment receipt. Make sure your eVisa status and travel authorization are confirmed before departure.
India eVisa entry points
India eVisa holders must enter through approved airports or seaports listed by the official Indian Visa Online system.
Your chosen route should match the entry points accepted for eVisa travelers.
If your route changes, check the official website before departure to make sure your port of arrival is allowed for eVisa entry.
India eVisa and India e-Arrival Card
The India eVisa and the India e-Arrival Card are separate requirements.
The India eVisa is a visa or travel authorization for eligible foreign travelers. The India e-Arrival Card is an arrival information form submitted before arrival.
If you need an eVisa, completing the e-Arrival Card does not replace the visa. If you already have an eVisa, you should still check whether you must submit the e-Arrival Card before arriving in India.
India eVisa scam warnings
The official India eVisa FAQ warns travelers not to use unauthorized websites or intermediaries claiming to provide fast or express eVisa approval.
Do not share passport details, payment information or personal data with websites that are not official Indian government services.
Before submitting your application, always check that the website address is indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa.