India e-Tourist Visa guide

The basics

Official sources indicate the e-Tourist Visa is one category of India's e-Visa scheme, applied for online through the Government of India portal. An Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is sent by email after approval and is presented at the immigration check post, where the e-Visa is stamped on the passport.

Validity

The official portal lists three options: 30 days, one year (365 days from the date of grant of the ETA) and five years from the date of grant of the ETA.

Stay per entry

For the one-year and five-year options, the portal states maximum stay in India during one calendar year should not exceed 180 days. A per-entry limit for the 30-day option is not stated separately.

Where you apply

Online at indianvisaonline.gov.in (e-Visa section).

Fee

Country specific. The Indian missions in the United States list US dollar fees (see fees and documents by embassy). Bank transaction charges are added.

Who it's for

Official pages say the e-Visa is for travelers whose sole objective is recreation, sightseeing, a casual visit to meet friends and relatives, a short-term yoga programme, short-term courses on local languages, music, dance, arts and crafts, cooking or medicine that are not formal or structured (not exceeding 6 months and with no qualifying certificate), or voluntary work of short duration (maximum one month, unpaid). Eligibility depends on passport nationality, and the official portal publishes a list of eligible countries and regions.

• The official portal states the e-Visa is not available to holders of diplomatic or official passports, laissez-passer holders, or holders of travel documents other than a passport.
• The portal states each individual needs a separate passport, and that travelers endorsed on a parent's or spouse's passport are not eligible.
• The portal directs travelers with a Pakistani passport or Pakistani origin to apply for a regular visa at an Indian Mission.

How to apply

Based on the official portal, the process has four steps. Applicants may apply online at least 4 days before the date of arrival. Fees must be paid at least 4 days before the expected date of travel, otherwise the application will not be processed.

• Apply online and upload a photo and a passport page.
• Pay the e-Visa fee online by credit card, debit card or payment wallet.
• Receive the ETA by email. Applicants should normally hear within 24 hours if a document or image needs to be re-uploaded.
• Print the ETA and present it at the immigration check post, where the e-Visa is stamped on the passport.
• The Government of India states it makes no provision for emergency or express e-Visa fees and does not authorize agents or intermediaries to charge such fees.

Documents

• A recent front-facing photograph with a white background.
• The photo page of the passport showing name, date of birth, nationality and expiry date.
• One additional document depending on the e-Visa type, as stated by the official pages. The sources reviewed do not list it for the e-Tourist Visa.
• Passport with at least six months validity when applying.
• A return or onward ticket, with sufficient money for the stay in India, according to the official portal.
• Applications may be rejected if uploaded documents or photographs are not clear or do not meet specifications.

Fees and documents by embassy

Fee, 30-day e-Tourist Visa (US missions)

US$25 for July to March, US$10 for April to June.

Fee, one-year e-Tourist Visa (US missions)

US$40.

Fee, five-year e-Tourist Visa (US missions)

US$80.

• The Embassy of India in Washington D.C. and the Consulate General in San Francisco list these fees and state that bank transaction charges of 2.5% are added. Fees are country specific, so check the fee for your own nationality on the portal.

Stay and extensions

The official portal describes the 30-day e-Tourist Visa as non-extendable and non-convertible, and sources state the e-Visa generally is non-extendable and non-convertible. The e-Visa is not valid for Protected, Restricted or Cantonment Areas, which require prior permission from the Civil Authority.

Things to confirm

• Eligibility for your passport, using the official eligibility list on indianvisaonline.gov.in.
• The exact fee for your nationality and the current bank transaction charge.
• The permitted stay per entry for each validity option.
• Permitted airports and seaports of entry, and the authorized immigration check posts.
• The exact additional document required for the e-Tourist Visa.
• How many e-Tourist Visas can be held or used in a calendar year. An older Ministry of Home Affairs document states a maximum of two e-Visas per calendar year, but it may not reflect current rules.
• Entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Sources

Every claim above comes from these pages. Higher tiers carry more authority. How we tier sources.