- India has added 11 new international ports to its e-visa entry list, including Tirupati and Bhopal airports.
- The total number of authorized entry points reached 88, spanning airports, seaports, and land crossings.
- Foreign devotees can now access Tirumala Venkateswara Temple directly through Tirupati’s recently expanded international-ready infrastructure.
India added Tirupati International Airport to the entry list for foreign nationals using an e-visa, after the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the change on August 10, 2026. Bhopal was added in the same order. The door opened wider.
A Press Information Bureau release said the government had notified 11 more international ports. Nine are land crossings, and two are airports. The list grew.
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"The Government of India has notified 11 more International Ports, enabling E-visa holder foreigners to enter India. The newly added 11 International Ports include 09 land ports and 02 airports [Bhopal and Tirupati]. Addition of 11 International Ports further enhances attractiveness and utility of electronic visa."
The ministry tied the move to a broader visa push. It said the goal is to "liberalize, streamline and simplify the visa regime" while building technology that strengthens internal security. Security stays in the frame.
"liberalize, streamline and simplify the visa regime with a view to facilitate legitimate foreign travelers while simultaneously ramping up the technological infrastructure to enhance internal security."
The updated count now stands at 88 entry points, split among 37 airports, 38 seaports and 13 land ports. India offers the facility to nationals of 172 countries across 17 sub-categories, including tourism, business and medical travel. Roughly 95% of applications clear within 72 hours, and nearly 78% of visas issued by India are electronic. The system is busy.
Tirupati sits beside the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, one of the world's most visited religious sites. Foreign devotees from the U.S., UK, UAE, Singapore and Malaysia often had to land first at Chennai, Bengaluru or Hyderabad, then continue by air or road. The trip was longer.
The airport's runway now stretches 3,810 meters, the longest among Airports Authority of India operated airports. That length can take wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus 330. The field is ready.
Flights are still the next step
The U.S. Department of State updated its India travel advisory on August 11, 2026, keeping India at "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" and steering travelers to the official portal for the current entry-point list. Discussions are currently underway with IndiGo and Air India Express for Gulf routes. More direct traffic could follow.
