India Visa & Entry Requirements: What to Know Before You Go

There are more exciting parts of planning a trip to India than checking passport expiry dates and completing visa forms. I understand the temptation to leave the paperwork until later. Don’t. A little attention to the formalities now means one less thing to worry about when your departure finally arrives.

India welcomes travelers from around the world, but the rules aren’t identical for everyone. Your nationality, passport, purpose of travel and route into the country all matter. Here’s what to check before you go.

Do you need a visa for India?

For more practical planning, see my essential predeparture checklist for India.

Most international visitors need a valid visa or another recognized permission to enter India. Many nationalities qualify for an electronic visa, or e-Visa, which can be applied for online before departure. Others need to arrange a regular visa through an Indian embassy or consulate. There are exceptions, so don’t assume the rules that applied to a friend will apply to you.

Start with the official Government of India visa portal. It provides the routes for e-Visas and regular visas. Check eligibility using the passport you will actually travel with.

Check your passport first

For India’s e-Visa, official guidance generally requires a passport valid for at least six months from your date of arrival, with at least two blank pages for immigration stamps. Make sure the name, passport number and other details you enter in your application match your passport exactly.

If your passport is close to expiry, renew it before applying rather than creating an avoidable complication. Travelers with special passports, dual nationality or unusual travel-document circumstances should confirm their requirements directly with the relevant Indian authorities.

Which visa rules apply to your passport?

There isn’t one visa rule for every visitor to India. Start with the nationality of the passport you’ll use, then check whether your visit is for tourism or another purpose. These are the principal routes:

Travelers who may enter without a visa

Nepal and Bhutan: Citizens generally do not need an Indian visa, but the route of entry matters. Indian government guidance identifies additional passport and visa requirements for Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens entering from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan. Check the specific documents accepted for your journey.

Maldives: Maldivian passport holders may visit India visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days, subject to conditions, including rules about previous stays. Longer visits or other travel purposes require the appropriate permission.

Travelers eligible for an e-Visa

India’s e-Visa program covers a large number of nationalities, including passport holders from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. This is a selection of examples, not the complete list. Eligibility can change and may be affected by your passport type, background or purpose of travel. Consult the official e-Visa eligibility list before making plans.

Who can get a visa on arrival?

India has a limited visa-on-arrival program for citizens of Japan and South Korea and for UAE citizens who have previously held an Indian e-Visa or regular visa. It is available only at designated airports—Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai—and is subject to additional eligibility conditions. The immigration officer may issue a visa for up to 60 days. Read the official visa-on-arrival rules. Most other visitors should not expect to obtain a visa after landing.

Travelers who need a regular visa

If you aren’t eligible for a visa exemption, e-Visa or the limited visa-on-arrival facility—or your planned activity isn’t covered by those options—check the regular visa application process through an Indian embassy, consulate or designated application center. Certain passport types and personal circumstances have separate rules.

OCI cardholders

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders have a distinct status that generally permits travel to India without applying for a separate tourist visa. Carry the required OCI documentation and valid foreign passport, and verify any applicable travel or document-update requirements before departure.

Visa validity, entries and length of stay are different

These terms are easy to confuse. Validity is the period in which your visa can be used; entries describes how many times you can enter India; and permitted stay limits how long you can remain. A five-year tourist visa, for example, does not mean you can remain in India continuously for five years. India’s official e-Visa guidance currently lists 30-day, one-year and five-year e-Tourist options, with multiple-entry provisions and stay limits that depend on the category and nationality. Read the conditions attached to your actual authorization.

What if you’re visiting Nepal or another country and returning?

It’s common to combine India with Nepal, Sri Lanka or another neighboring country. If you leave India and plan to return, check that your visa permits another entry, remains valid on the return date and is accepted at your intended border or airport. An e-Visa is not valid for initial entry at every land crossing. Don’t rely on old articles about mandatory gaps between visits; check the current rules for your specific visa and itinerary.

Applying for an Indian e-Visa

If you’re eligible, apply through India’s official e-Visa website. For a typical tourist application, expect to provide personal and travel details, a recent front-facing photograph against a white background, and an image of your passport’s information page. The portal lists any additional documents required for your visa category.

India offers different e-Tourist Visa options, including 30-day, one-year and five-year categories. They don’t all work in the same way: validity periods, permitted entries and maximum stays vary. Choose the option appropriate to your trip and confirm the current conditions before paying.

Once your application is processed, check its status on the official website. A submission receipt is not the same as an approved visa. Before you fly, confirm that your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) shows GRANTED, and carry a copy with your travel documents.

When should you apply?

India’s published e-Tourist Visa guidance says eligible travelers should apply at least four days before arrival and currently permits applications up to 120 days in advance. Those are application rules, not a promise that a last-minute application will be approved. I would give myself a comfortable buffer and check the current window for the exact visa type I’m requesting.

Visa fees vary by nationality and visa category, and official processing fees are generally non-refundable. Be wary of websites that look governmental but charge additional service fees. The Indian government warns that it does not authorize intermediaries to offer emergency or express e-Visa approvals.

Two arrival forms you may need before flying

There is an important distinction between the e-Arrival Card and Air Suvidha 2.0. They serve different purposes, and completing one does not replace the other.

e-Arrival Card: Foreign nationals and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders must submit arrival information online within 72 hours before entering India. This is an immigration arrival form, not a visa. Complete it through the official e-Arrival Card portal, the Bureau of Immigration, or the official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app.

Air Suvidha 2.0: India reintroduced a mandatory health self-declaration for all international arriving passengers in June 2026 as part of its public-health screening arrangements. It asks for health and recent travel information and is separate from immigration paperwork. Complete it before boarding at the official Air Suvidha 2.0 portal, and retain the confirmation. The form is free; the Indian government has warned about imitation websites that demand payment.

Published guidance and the live form have described different advance-submission windows for Air Suvidha, so check the current portal instructions as your departure approaches rather than relying on a fixed number of hours in an older article.

What to have ready when you travel

• Your passport and the correct visa, e-Visa approval or other qualifying entry document.
• A copy of your approved ETA, if traveling on an e-Visa.
• Your first accommodation’s name and address.
• Your return or onward travel details, if requested.
• Confirmation that you’ve completed any required arrival or health declarations.
• Any additional documents relevant to your nationality, travel purpose or itinerary.

Also check whether your planned entry point accepts your visa type. In particular, don’t assume an e-Visa allows entry at every land border. If you’re visiting restricted or protected areas, look into any additional permissions well before the trip.

Arriving in India

On arrival, follow the signs for the appropriate immigration queue and have your passport and travel authorization ready. Immigration officers may check your documents, ask routine questions about your stay and capture biometric information. Entry is ultimately determined by the immigration authorities, even when a visa has been issued.

My advice is simple: have the paperwork sorted, keep the important details accessible, and then turn your attention back to the part of the journey that matters—the places, people and experiences waiting for you.

Last reviewed: 16 October 2026. Entry rules change, and requirements depend on nationality and circumstances. Always confirm the latest information through the Government of India and your nearest Indian embassy or consulate before travel.