India visa requirements and entry rules

Headline

e-Visa USD 25-80, 30 days / 1 year / 5 years

Pre-arrival card

e-Visa

Official portal

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/

Specifics

Apply only on indianvisaonline.gov.in; lookalikes have produced visa denials.
Special permits required for Sikkim, Arunachal, Nagaland, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar, Ladakh.
Cannabis illegal; possession produces long prison sentences.

By passport nationality

Headline rule for the nine most-trafficked passport groups. Always confirm on India’s immigration portal before booking; visa policy changes frequently.

US passport
e-Visa required
Up to 365 days · USD 80
Pre-arrival: India e-Visa
- e-Visa via indianvisaonline.gov.in, 30/365/5-year options.
UK passport
e-Visa required
Up to 365 days · USD 25-USD 80
Pre-arrival: India e-Visa
- e-Visa via indianvisaonline.gov.in.
EU passport
e-Visa required
Up to 365 days · USD 25-USD 80
Pre-arrival: India e-Visa
- e-Visa for most EU passport-holders.
CA passport
e-Visa required
Up to 365 days · USD 80
Pre-arrival: India e-Visa
- e-Visa via indianvisaonline.gov.in.
AU passport
e-Visa required
Up to 365 days · USD 25-USD 80
Pre-arrival: India e-Visa
- e-Visa via indianvisaonline.gov.in.
IN passport
Visa-free
No day limit
- Citizens of India.
BR passport
e-Visa required
Up to 365 days · USD 25-USD 80
Pre-arrival: India e-Visa
- e-Visa via indianvisaonline.gov.in.
JP passport
e-Visa required
Up to 365 days · USD 25-USD 80
Pre-arrival: India e-Visa
- e-Visa via indianvisaonline.gov.in.
CN passport
Consular visa required
Up to 90 days
Pre-arrival: Indian consular visa
- Consular visa via Indian embassy in Beijing.

Practical guidance

For most short-stay tourists

The headline rule for India is e-visa usd 25-80, 30 days / 1 year / 5 years. US passport-holders specifically get e-visa required for up to 365 days at USD 80, with India e-Visa required pre-arrival. See the by-passport block above for your specific nationality.

Pre-arrival documentation

India requires e-Visa before boarding. Airlines check this at the gate; without it you will be denied boarding even if your visa is in order. Allow at least 72 hours for processing in case the portal queues, longer if you are travelling on a national holiday in India.

When to apply

For visa-required nationalities, apply at least 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Visa-on-arrival and e-Visa systems process in 1 to 7 days typically but can stall around major holidays or political events; do not book non-refundable travel against a pending application. India’s official portal is indianvisaonline.gov.in; only apply through that portal or through your nearest India embassy or consulate. Third-party visa services charge for what the government provides at cost.

Common rejection reasons

Passport with under 6 months validity from intended exit date. Fewer than two blank visa pages. No confirmed onward or return ticket. Travel insurance not naming India explicitly (Schengen-style coverage minimums apply for many European destinations). Prior visa overstays anywhere, especially in neighbouring countries. Most rejections cite one of these five rather than a substantive concern about the traveller.

Related for India

More on India

Read the India visa and entry requirements chapter →

India is a continent-scale country with continent-scale variation. Framing it as a single destination misses the point: a Goa beach holiday, a Kerala backwater itinerary, a Rajasthan palace circuit, a Ladakh high-altitude trek, and a Delhi-Agra-Varanasi tourist sweep all carry different risk profiles. The country is broadly listed at the standard tier of caution by every major foreign ministry, with partial-area warnings for Jammu and Kashmir, the Indo-Pakistani border, and parts of the northeast. The structural risks for the standard visitor are concentrated and addressable: persistent scam and overcharging patterns in tourist hubs, the world’s most consistent gastric-illness exposure (Delhi belly affects an estimated 60-70 percent of first-time visitors), winter air pollution in the north (Delhi PM2.5 routinely exceeds 500 in November and December), traffic injury risk that dominates everything else, and a women’s safety landscape that is widely discussed but rarely calibrated. This guide unpacks the e-Visa, the regional risk map, the rail and ride-share systems, the gastric and pollution discipline, the women’s safety reality, and the practical contacts that shape an Indian itinerary.

Frequently asked about India

Do I need a visa to travel to India?

The headline rule is: e-Visa USD 25-80, 30 days / 1 year / 5 years. Specific allowance depends on your passport nationality; the by-passport block on this page covers the 9 most-trafficked passports (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, India, Brazil, Japan, China). Always confirm on India's official immigration portal before booking, visa policy changes frequently.

How long can I stay in India on a tourist visa?

e-Visa USD 25-80, 30 days / 1 year / 5 years. e-Visa is required pre-arrival. For per-passport specifics see the block above. Overstaying carries fines and re-entry bans across most jurisdictions.

Can I extend my visa once I'm in India?

Most countries allow a one-time extension via the local immigration office for an additional 30 to 90 days, processed within 7 to 14 working days. India's policy varies; the safety guide's Getting In chapter covers it where applicable. Apply at least 2 weeks before your existing visa expires.