Indian e-Visa

India is a country with a rich history and full of opportunities, and it is no surprise that it attracts a lot of visitors. According to this chart showing the foreign arrivals in India in 2023, the country had around 9.236,108 foreign visitors.

indian-e-visa chart1

The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada were the top five countries that visited India in 2023. It is clear that India has strong ties with these countries, but it is also a testament to how far the reach of the country extends.

Do UK citizens need an Indian e-visa?

An e-Visa, also known as an electronic travel authorization, is a type of visa that allows non-residents to visit India for a variety of purposes. It was introduced in 2014 and has since been continuously improved to accommodate a larger number of countries and more travel purposes. You can apply for an Indian e visa for UK citizens on our online visa portal.

indian-e-visa

It is clear that the e-visa for India has been beneficial to travelers and is the most accessible option for would-be travelers. Instead of waiting in long queues or visiting embassies, it easier than ever to apply for an Indian e-visa online. Before we dive into the requirements for the application, let's get a better understanding of the figures to understand the main reasons why people are traveling to India.

India has a rich history and naturally, the majority of foreign visitors to the country are tourists. However, India is also home to a large network of private hospitals providing world-class healthcare care at reasonable prices, which attracts many medical tourists from all over the world. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and with its fast-paced growth, it has attracted many business travelers from all over the globe and clearly the United Kingdom to.

Why are people travelling to India?

indian-e-visa chart2

As can be seen from the chart above, there are many reasons why people travel to India, and India has adapted its e-visa system accordingly.

Traveling for medical purposes or business purposes has become easier with the introduction of India e-business visa and the India e-medical visa. Those who need to travel for conferences or travel with friends or family for medical treatment have the option of applying for an e-conference visa or an India e-medical attendant visa.

Let's take a look at the details of the application and find out who can apply for an e-visa for India online.

Which Countries are eligible?

Country e-Tourist Visa e-Business Visa e-Medical Visa e-Medical Attendant Visa e-Conference Visa
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Germany
France
Japan
South Korea
Brazil

As can be seen in the table above, which lists some of the countries whose nationals frequently travel to India, all of them are eligible to apply for an e-visa for India under any category. See the list of all eligible countries.

General Requirements and eligibility to apply for an e-visa

Visa Type Eligibility General Requirements
e-Tourist Visa Foreign nationals visiting for tourism Scanned copy of passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photo (can be taken by phone)
e-Business Visa Foreign nationals visiting for business Scanned copy of passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photo (can be taken by phone), business card and invitation letter from Indian company
e-Medical Visa Patients seeking medical treatment Passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photo, hospital letter
e-Medical Attendant Visa Attendants of e-Medical Visa holders Passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photo, proof of relationship with patient
e-Conference Visa Attendees of conferences/seminars Passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photo, invitation from organizer, clearance from MEA & MHA

Please note that these requirements are mandatory. (For business visa applicants: if you don't have a business card to hand, we can help you with this if using our service)

How long does the Indian e-Visa application take?

  • The Indian e-visa is a streamlined application but it can take anywhere from 40 mins to 1 hour for the Indian e-tourist visa, the Indian e-business visa and medical visas can take a bit longer as more information is usually required.
  • The strict rules regarding accuracy and discrepancies means you should thoroughly check and make sure you understand each question correctly to avoid mistakes and the possibility of a visa rejection.
  • Our e-visa service does streamline the process and we pride ourselves on our accuracy. You can apply online using our service if you need help with your visa application.
  • Complex applications that require more information can take longer and can even be refused, in this case its best to make an appointment with an agent at VFS if more information is required as sometimes a regular paper visa is the only viable option.

Which Visa to apply for?

  • This is fairly straightforward, the purpose of your visit determines which visa to apply for, so if you are travelling to India for tourism purposes, like meeting friends or family, sightseeing or to attend short term yoga programs you would need to apply for an Indian e-tourist Visa.
  • If your purpose for visiting India included business related activities such as attending meetings, sales, recruitment or to attend trade fairs you would need to apply for an Indian e-business Visa.
  • If you decided to travel to India for the purpose of seeking medical treatment, to attend a clinic or to carry out a medical procedure in a treatment center or hospital you would have to apply for an Indian e-medical visa.
  • If your purpose for visiting India included attending conferences or seminars then you would need to apply for an Indian e-conference visa
  • If you are travelling with someone who is visiting India on an e-medical visa, you would need to apply for an Indian e-medical attendant visa (please note only 2 attendees can travel with the person on a medical visa)

Indian e-tourist Visa

The Indian e-tourist visa comes with 3 options. The 30-day, 1 year and 5-year.

30-day Indian e-Tourist Visa

Feature Details
Eligibility UK nationals are eligible. See the list of all eligible countries.
Purpose For tourism, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, sightseeing, short term yoga programs.
Validity 30 days from the date of arrival in India.
Entries Double entry is permitted on the 30-day e-Tourist Visa.
Stay The visa is non-extendable and non-convertible.
Processing Time 3-4 days if using our express service
Our Fee £79 (standard 7-10 days) £99 (express 3-4 days) includes government fee and our expert assistance.
Application Process Application can be made using our e-visa service by registering our online portal.
Documents Required Passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photograph, and details of stay.
Entry Points Click here to see list of entry points.
Conditions Unavailable for those who holds a diplomatic or an official passport. Its also unavailable to those who are endorsed on a parents or spouse passport.

Please note: the 30-day Indian e-tourist e-visa can be applied for up to 30 days before your travel date, but you cannot apply later than 4 days before you expect arrival date in India.

  • 30-day validity
  • Double entry
  • Trips for Business related activities
  • Medical related visits
  • Convertible/extendable
Apply Online

1 Year Indian e-tourist visa

Feature Details
Eligibility UK nationals are eligible. See the list of all eligible countries.
Purpose For tourism, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, short term yoga programs
Validity 365 days from the date of granted e-visa
Entries Multiple entries are permitted.
Stay Continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days per calendar year.
Processing Time Usually, 3-4 days if using our express service
Fee £99 (standard 7-10 days) £119 (express 3-4 days) Price includes government fee and our expert assistance
Application Process Online application can be made through our Indian e-Visa portal.
Documents Required Passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photograph (can be taken by phone)
Entry Points Click here to see list entry points.
Conditions Unavailable for those who holds a diplomatic or an official passport. Its also unavailable to those who are endorsed on a parents or spouse passport

Please note: Can apply for the 1-year e-tourist visa up to 120 days before your expected arrival date, but no later than 4 days before your intended arrival date.

  • 1 Year validity
  • Multiple entries
  • Visits permitted up to 180 days
  • Business related trips
  • Travel for medical purposes
  • Extendable/convertible
Apply Online

5-Year Indian e-tourist visa

Feature Details
Eligibility UK nationals are eligible. See the list of all eligible countries.
Purpose For tourism, casual visit to meet friends or relatives, to attend yoga programs
Validity 5 years from the date the visa is granted.
Entries Multiple entries are permitted.
Stay Continuous stay should not exceed 180 days per calendar year.
Processing Time 5-7 days, but it's advised to apply at least 4 days in advance of your travel date, you can however apply up to 120 days of your travel date
Fee £149 (price includes government fees and our expert assistance)
Application Process Online application through our Indian e-Visa portal.
Documents Required Passport with 6 months validity and 2 blank pages, recent photograph (can be taken by phone)
Entry Points Click here to see list of entry points.
Conditions Unavailable for those who holds a diplomatic or an official passport. Its also unavailable to those who are endorsed on a parents or spouse passport
  • 5 Year Validity
  • Can visit for up to 180 days
  • Multiple entries
  • Business related trips
  • Travel for medical purposes
  • Extendable/convertible
Apply Online

If you require help with your Indian e-tourist visa application you can find out more information about our service and apply online. Please visit our Indian e-tourist visa page.