January 3, 2026
- Updated title and focus to India e-Visa 2026 with step-by-step application guidance
- Added new 2024–2026 Tourist e-Visa options, fees ($10/$25/$40/$80) and validity details
- Included nationality-specific stay limits (180 days for US/UK/Canada/Japan; 90 days for many others)
- Added processing times (4–72 hours), typical form completion time (10–15 minutes), and fee surcharge (2.5%)
- Clarified entry rules: 33 airports, 9 seaports, no land border entry for e-Tourist visas
(INDIA) India’s 2026 entry rules are simple: most travelers must get an online e-Visa before boarding, then carry a printed approval to show immigration on arrival. For tourists, the newer Tourist e-Visa options introduced in November 2024 make both short trips and repeat visits cheaper, but the stay limits are strictly enforced.
The system covers more than 170 eligible nationalities and is designed to keep travelers out of long consulate queues, while still requiring tight document checks at the airport or seaport. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, most application problems come from small upload mistakes, not from the traveler’s purpose of trip.
Start with the only safe place to apply: the official portal
Apply only through the Government of India’s e-Visa website: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. That portal is where you complete the form, upload documents, and pay the visa fee.
Avoid third-party “agents” that promise faster approvals or special access. The official system already processes many cases fast, and scam sites often keep your money while submitting incomplete forms that lead to rejection.
Pick the right Tourist e-Visa option for your trip length
India’s tourist e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible, which means you cannot turn a tourist entry into another visa type after arrival. Choose based on how long you plan to travel and how often you’ll return.
Here are the main Tourist e-Visa options for 2026:
- 30-day e-Tourist visa: double entry, valid 30 days from arrival, fee $10 (Apr–Jun) or $25 (Jul–Mar).
- 1-year e-Tourist visa: multiple entry, valid 365 days from ETA grant, fee $40.
- 5-year e-Tourist visa: multiple entry, valid 5 years from ETA grant, fee $80.
Stay limits matter more than the visa validity period:
- Travelers from the United States (🇺🇸), the UK, Canada (🇨🇦), and Japan can stay up to 180 days continuously per visit on the 1-year and 5-year visas.
- Many other nationalities are limited to 90 days continuously per visit on those visas.
- India caps total tourist presence across e-Tourist and paper tourist visas at 180 days per calendar year. If you plan repeated trips, track your days carefully.
Document checklist — prepare files before you begin
Most delays come from missing files, wrong formats, or unclear photos. Build a single folder on your phone or laptop and confirm the file sizes before you start.
Required items:
- Passport valid for at least six months from arrival, with at least two blank pages.
- Color photo: recent, front-facing, 2×2 inches, white background, JPEG under 1MB.
- Passport bio page scan: PDF under 300KB.
- Flight itinerary showing return or onward travel.
- Accommodation proof, such as hotel bookings or a host invitation letter.
Additional evidence for non-tourist purposes:
- Business: invitation or business letter.
- Medical: treatment paperwork.
- Conference: official clearances tied to the event.
The application journey in 5 steps (with timing expectations)
India’s e-Visa process is fully online and usually takes 10–15 minutes to complete if documents are ready. Processing commonly takes 4–72 hours.
Apply timing rules:
- Apply at least 4 days before arrival and as early as 120 days in advance.
- For the 30-day visa, the advance window is shorter—do not apply months early for that option.
Keep a log of total 180 days allowed per calendar year across all tourist visas. For repeated trips, track days used and start a new count when the year resets to avoid penalties.
Step-by-step:
- Fill in the form carefully
– Enter name, birth details, passport data, and travel plan exactly as shown in the passport. Small spelling differences can trigger extra checks at the airport.
- Upload photo and passport scan
– Most rejections happen here. Use clear images with the required sizes and formats.
- Add travel and stay details
– List intended entry and exit points and your address in India. Use your first hotel if you will move around.
- Pay the fee online
– Fees are non-refundable. The system adds a 2.5% banking charge. Pay with a supported credit or debit card.
- Receive the ETA and print it
– Approval arrives by email as an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Print two copies and keep one in your carry-on.
Important: The ETA does not replace border inspection. Always carry printed copies and digital backups.
Where you can enter and what happens at the border
An approved ETA does not replace inspection at the border. Immigration officers will:
- Check your passport and ETA
- Confirm your purpose of visit
- Collect biometrics
- Stamp your passport
Entry on a tourist e-Visa is limited to 33 airports and 9 seaports. Land border crossings are not allowed for e-Tourist entries — travelers cannot enter India by road on an e-Tourist visa.
Bring to the counter:
- The passport used in the application
- Your printed ETA
- Proof of onward or return travel
- Hotel booking or host contact details
The passport stamp and ETA together are commonly requested by hotels and airlines during your trip.
Rules that cause the most trouble
Key issues that lead to penalties or extra scrutiny:
- Overstays: The tourist e-Visa is non-extendable. Overstaying often results in fines and a formal “regularization” process with immigration authorities, and it can affect future travel.
- Extra scrutiny: Some travelers (for example, people of Pakistani origin) are not eligible for e-Visa and face longer reviews or ineligibility.
- Health rules: Travelers from yellow fever risk countries must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate or face up to 6 days of quarantine.
Family travel and minors — extra paperwork to prepare
Families often encounter additional requirements at airline check-in or immigration. For minors, India may request supporting documents such as parental details or consent when one parent is not traveling.
- Confirm the six-month passport validity rule applies to each traveler.
- A child’s soon-to-expire passport can derail travel even if adult passports are fine.
- Keep consent letters and parental contact details ready when relevant.
Practical habits to avoid last-minute surprises
A few habits reduce stress and the risk of being turned away:
- Apply about two weeks early if possible, even though approvals often arrive faster.
- Use common browsers (Chrome, Firefox) to avoid upload glitches.
- Carry both passports if your ETA is linked to an old passport number.
- Keep digital backups of ETA, photo, and passport scan, but still print the ETA.
Key takeaway: Treat the e-Visa as a document filing process, not a casual travel task. Match passport details exactly, choose the correct Tourist e-Visa option, and apply through the official portal to minimize problems. Usually you’ll arrive with nothing more dramatic than a fingerprint scan and a stamp.
India’s 2026 entry requirements mandate that travelers from over 170 countries obtain an e-Visa via the official government portal. Options include 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year visas, each with specific fees and stay limits. Success depends on exact passport matching and correct document uploads. Approved travelers receive an ETA, which must be printed and presented at one of 33 designated airports or 9 seaports upon arrival.
