India e-Tourist Visa (eTV)
India IND
India's e-Tourist Visa (eTV) is a fully electronic entry authorisation that allows eligible foreign nationals to visit India for tourism, short-duration yoga programmes, casual business visits, or medical treatment without attending an Indian embassy or consulate in person. The scheme covers citizens of 169 countries and is applied for entirely online through the Indian government's official e-Visa portal, with a processing window of typically 72–96 hours after submission. Three validity variants are available. The 30-day double-entry e-Tourist Visa permits two entries and a maximum continuous stay of 30 days from the date of first arrival, making it well suited to short holidays or transit trips. The 1-year multiple-entry variant allows unlimited entries over 12 months, with each individual stay capped at 180 days; this option is popular with frequent visitors and travellers who plan to split time between India and neighbouring countries. The 5-year multiple-entry variant extends the authorisation period to five years with a per-visit limit of 90 days for most nationalities. Application fees vary by variant and nationality, ranging from approximately USD 10 to USD 80. Arrival must be through one of the designated e-Visa entry points — currently 30 airports and 5 seaports; land border crossings are not permitted under an e-Tourist Visa. Applicants must hold a return or onward ticket, proof of sufficient funds, and accommodation details. The e-Visa cannot be extended inside India; travellers wishing to stay longer must depart and re-apply.
Program Details
- Category
- Digital Nomad
- Processing Time
- 0 months
- Application Fee
- $25
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- No
- Path to PR
- No
- Path to Citizenship
- No
- Physical Presence
- No minimum; maximum stay 30 days (e-Tourist Visa 30-day variant), 1 year (1-year variant, 180 days per visit), or 5 years (5-year variant, 90 days per visit for most nationalities)
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- Tourist visa holders do not acquire Indian tax residency. Stays exceeding 182 days in a financial year (April–March) may trigger Indian tax residency under the Income Tax Act, but a tourist visa does not permit stays of that length without an extension or change of status.
Key Requirements
- ✓Passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended arrival date, with at least two blank pages
- ✓Recent digital photograph meeting Indian e-Visa specifications (white background, full-face, JPEG)
- ✓Scan of passport bio-data page
- ✓Valid email address to receive the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
- ✓Debit or credit card for online payment of the e-Visa fee
- ✓Return or onward ticket and confirmed accommodation details (may be checked at immigration)
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of stay
Am I eligible for India e-Tourist Visa (eTV)?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: Pakistani nationals are not eligible for the e-Tourist Visa, Afghan nationals are not eligible for the e-Tourist Visa, Citizens of certain other countries may face restrictions; applicants should verify eligibility at the official portal before applying
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Check eligibility and choose variant
onlineConfirm your nationality is among the 169 eligible countries on the official e-Visa portal. Select the appropriate variant (30-day, 1-year, or 5-year) based on trip length and frequency of visits.
Typical duration: 15–30 minutessource ↗
- 02
Complete the online application form
onlineFill in personal, passport, travel, and accommodation details on the Indian e-Visa portal. Upload a digital photograph and scan of the passport bio-data page.
Typical duration: 30–60 minutes
- 03
Pay the e-Visa fee
onlinePay the applicable fee (USD 10–80 depending on nationality and variant) by debit or credit card. Save the payment confirmation and application reference number.
Typical duration: 10 minutes
- 04
Receive Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)
onlineThe approved ETA is emailed to the address provided. Processing typically takes 72–96 hours. Print the ETA or save it digitally — it must be presented at check-in and immigration.
Typical duration: 72–96 hours
- 05
Arrive at a designated e-Visa airport or seaport
destinationPresent the ETA, passport, return ticket, and proof of accommodation and funds to immigration officers. A biometric stamp is issued and the authorised period of stay begins.
Typical duration: 30–90 minutes at immigration
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport (bio-data page scan) | Applicant's country of citizenship | No | — | — |
| Digital photograph | Applicant | No | — | — |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | Indian Bureau of Immigration | No | — | — |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: government_fee, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high.
Fee varies by nationality and variant: the 30-day e-Tourist Visa ranges from USD 10–25 for most nationalities; the 1-year variant is typically USD 40; the 5-year variant is approximately USD 80. Some nationalities (e.g., US, UK, Canadian) pay higher fees. Fees are non-refundable even if the application is rejected.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait0–0 weeks
- Decision → arrival1 weeks
- Total to residence card1–2 weeks
No consulate appointment required. Processing is normally 72–96 hours. During Indian public holidays or peak travel seasons (October–January), delays of 5–7 days have been reported. Apply at least one week before travel.
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 182 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Territorial (in-country only)
- Exit-tax country
- No
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
Examples: SafetyWing, Allianz Travel, AXA Travel Insurance
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Arrival is restricted to 30 designated airports and 5 seaports — land borders (including those with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan) do not accept e-Tourist Visa holders
- ⚠The e-Tourist Visa cannot be extended, converted to another visa category, or used to re-enter after exceeding the per-visit stay limit; travellers must exit and apply afresh
- ⚠Pakistani and Afghan nationals are categorically excluded; a small number of other nationalities face additional restrictions — always verify eligibility before applying
- ⚠The 5-year variant restricts US, UK, Canadian, and Japanese passport holders to 90 days per visit, not the full 180 days available under the 1-year variant
- ⚠Processing is normally 72–96 hours but can stretch during Indian public holidays or high-season peaks; do not apply less than four days before travel
- ⚠A fresh e-Visa application and fee payment is required every time the existing authorisation expires or the stay limit is exhausted — there is no in-country renewal mechanism
- ⚠Yoga programme and Ayurveda retreat stays are technically a sub-category of the e-Tourist Visa; commercial work, journalism, and research under a tourist visa are prohibited and may result in deportation
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Employment or paid work of any kind in India
- ×Missionary or religious proselytising activities
- ×Journalism, documentary filming, or academic research without specific additional accreditation
- ×Arrival at any land border crossing
- ×Extension of stay beyond the variant limit without departing India
- ×Conversion to any other Indian visa category while inside India
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I extend an e-Tourist Visa inside India?+
No. The e-Tourist Visa cannot be extended inside India. Once the permitted stay or validity period is exhausted, you must depart and submit a fresh application online. In exceptional circumstances (medical emergency, natural disaster), the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) may grant a short extension, but this is not a routine process.
Which airports and seaports accept e-Tourist Visa holders?+
Designated entry points include 30 international airports (including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and Goa) and 5 seaports (Mumbai, Kochi, Goa, Chennai, and Mangalore). Land border crossings do not accept e-Tourist Visas.
How many times can I enter India on a 1-year e-Tourist Visa?+
The 1-year variant is multiple-entry with no cap on the number of entries, subject to each individual stay not exceeding 180 days. You can enter, exit, and re-enter as many times as you like within the 12-month authorisation window provided you do not overstay 180 consecutive days on any single visit.
What is the fee for the India e-Tourist Visa?+
Fees vary by nationality and variant. The 30-day e-Tourist Visa costs approximately USD 10–25 for most nationalities. The 1-year variant is around USD 40, and the 5-year variant is around USD 80. US, UK, and Canadian passport holders generally pay at the higher end. All fees are non-refundable.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
Related Guides
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified 2026-06-01