Nov 28, 2014, 3:38 am
Last edit by: JDiver
E-Visa / ETA and 30 Day Single Entry Visa on Arrival in India
India new Visa On Arrival
(Actually advance online e-Tourist Visa with actual visa issued on arrival)
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
The Indian e-Tourist Visa is available for holders of passports of following countries and territories:
Albania, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Island, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong SAR), China (Macau SAR), Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vatican City-Holy See, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Eligibility
Citizens of the above-listed countries using ordinary passports from such countries when the sole objective of visiting India is one or more of the following: recreation (of most but not all sorts); sight seeing (in most of India); casual visit to meet friends or relatives (in most of India); short duration medical treatment; or casual visits for most (but not all) business purposes.
The passport should have at least six months' validity on the date of arrival.
International Travellers should have return ticket or onward journey ticket,with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India.
The visa is valid for a single entry for a stay of 30 days (from the date of entry) and cannot be extended.
Be sure to fill out your information very accurately! If there's anything off, you may be required to board the next flight out operated by your airline of entry.
Travellers having Pakistani Passport or Pakistani origin may please apply for regular Visa at Indian Mission.
Not available to Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders.
E-TOURIST VISA APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1
Apply online
Upload Photo and Passport Page
Step 2
Pay visa fee online
Using Credit / Debit card
Step 3
Receive ETA Online
ETA Will be sent to your e-mail
Step 4
Print ETA and carry it for and on the flight to India so you can present it on arrival at the immigration desks.
This being India, it is the real experience on arrival that is critical, especially since this is a brand new operation.
We need datapoints for
- How long it took you to get through immigration?
- Any issues (human, bureaucratic or technological?)
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Evisa & Visa on arrival for India
Jan 13, 2017, 5:32 am
#121
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,168
DEL has about 6 dedicated counters doing nothing but eVOA. 9pm is the quiet time in DEL, it gets really busy at 11pm onward.
Jan 18, 2017, 11:34 pm
#122
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 32
Family Immigration with Visa holder
Sharing some additional immigration experience. After landing and heading to an ad-hoc counter thinking it being an information helpdesk, the person indicated he could process the ETV visa for the baby (no one was ahead of us). ETV visa was just a stamp with expiry date.
Our (Indian nationality) immigration had to be done at different counter (normal lines). We gave our passports (which the officer processed) and also gave him babies US passport. Without opening US passport Officer indicated he can't process it. He was not sure of processing hers and then later checking with his colleague indicated nothing needs to be done since visa was already stamped for hers in the passport. We were good to go.
So basically once you get the visa nothing needs to be done (for family travelers with infants having different nationality).
(Would have been ideal if the officer who gave ETV also had processed our immigration. Not sure if it was due to our ETV being processed at a side counter at the entrance instead of main section where there were queues)
Our (Indian nationality) immigration had to be done at different counter (normal lines). We gave our passports (which the officer processed) and also gave him babies US passport. Without opening US passport Officer indicated he can't process it. He was not sure of processing hers and then later checking with his colleague indicated nothing needs to be done since visa was already stamped for hers in the passport. We were good to go.
So basically once you get the visa nothing needs to be done (for family travelers with infants having different nationality).
(Would have been ideal if the officer who gave ETV also had processed our immigration. Not sure if it was due to our ETV being processed at a side counter at the entrance instead of main section where there were queues)
Last edited by Billy001; Mar 2, 2018 at 4:38 pm Reason: Clarify statement which might be confusing
Jan 22, 2017, 11:17 pm
#123
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
On the other hand, if you are not absolutely accurate with your data you might get turned back and refused admission to India. To wit:
Two friends of mine (US passport holders with ETAs were going to India via AA and CX Business Class SMF-LAX-HKG-DEL for touring in Rajasthan last week. They made it through docs checks, etc. at SMF, LAX and HKG.
When they arrived st DEL, it turned out one digit in one friend's passport was transposed with another on the ETA forms. They were detained at DEL immigration and she was not allowed to remain in India (nor was her husband allowed to recover her baggage). She requested to submit another eVisacrequest, but she was told she had to depart India to do so, as it required 24-72 hours to process and she could not remain in India for more than 24 hours and must leave.
After a lot of palaver by several immigration staff and supervisors a CX ground staffer came and fetched her forbthevreturn flight to HKG. She was escorted to the aircraft and seated - CX was forced to hold the flight for her and was held well over an hour past scheduled departure. (Her husband received his visa and remained in India.)
At HKG, she was processed and out on the next LAX flight. During all this time, CX staff had her passport - they declined to relinquish it to her until she was off the aircraft at LAX, where it was returned to her. Even when she requested to visit the lounge to shower and freshen up, she was escorted to the lounge, and her passport was retained by CX personnel.
Yep, her error, but also one by AA staff when they checked her in at SMF, and Cathay staff in LAX and once again at HKG. As she arrived in DEL on CX, CX had the responsibility of flying her out - and is subject to a significant fine for allowing her to board with faulty documents. And of course it was a very costly lesson for my friends (most insurance will not cover this kind of event, AFAIK).
So be a bit obsessive when you apply for the ETA, regardless of where you're going - but in India, bureaucracy can be demanding and inflexible if everything is not just right.
Two friends of mine (US passport holders with ETAs were going to India via AA and CX Business Class SMF-LAX-HKG-DEL for touring in Rajasthan last week. They made it through docs checks, etc. at SMF, LAX and HKG.
When they arrived st DEL, it turned out one digit in one friend's passport was transposed with another on the ETA forms. They were detained at DEL immigration and she was not allowed to remain in India (nor was her husband allowed to recover her baggage). She requested to submit another eVisacrequest, but she was told she had to depart India to do so, as it required 24-72 hours to process and she could not remain in India for more than 24 hours and must leave.
After a lot of palaver by several immigration staff and supervisors a CX ground staffer came and fetched her forbthevreturn flight to HKG. She was escorted to the aircraft and seated - CX was forced to hold the flight for her and was held well over an hour past scheduled departure. (Her husband received his visa and remained in India.)
At HKG, she was processed and out on the next LAX flight. During all this time, CX staff had her passport - they declined to relinquish it to her until she was off the aircraft at LAX, where it was returned to her. Even when she requested to visit the lounge to shower and freshen up, she was escorted to the lounge, and her passport was retained by CX personnel.
Yep, her error, but also one by AA staff when they checked her in at SMF, and Cathay staff in LAX and once again at HKG. As she arrived in DEL on CX, CX had the responsibility of flying her out - and is subject to a significant fine for allowing her to board with faulty documents. And of course it was a very costly lesson for my friends (most insurance will not cover this kind of event, AFAIK).
So be a bit obsessive when you apply for the ETA, regardless of where you're going - but in India, bureaucracy can be demanding and inflexible if everything is not just right.
Last edited by JDiver; Jan 22, 2017 at 11:27 pm
Jan 25, 2017, 7:12 pm
#124
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 32
compare it
(different matter that being India one would have expected leniency, however guess not)
Jan 25, 2017, 8:27 pm
#125
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
How can you not be accurate with entering info? The passport is scanned and uploaded, right?
I found the list of question they ask. Seems like many are completely irrelvant to a tourism visit: the birthplace of my father??
Also, I hear there are endless problems with the payment system: page no loading, card declined, etc.
I found the list of question they ask. Seems like many are completely irrelvant to a tourism visit: the birthplace of my father??
Also, I hear there are endless problems with the payment system: page no loading, card declined, etc.
Last edited by Dieuwer; Jan 25, 2017 at 9:26 pm
Jan 29, 2017, 9:29 pm
#126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Would appreciate advice
I have questions about a few matters re the Evisa applications for my wife and myself. They may be so minor that I'm unnecessarily concerned about them. But knowing how Indian bureaucracy can be, I'll pose them anyway:
1. The application asks for a "reference name" and address and phone in India. Am I correct in assuming that simply providing a hotel name is sufficient? I do happen to have a couple of folks whose names I can provide, but would much rather just go the hotel route if possible.
2. The application also asks for the countries we've visited over the past ten years. The number of those countries far exceed the limited space in the application. Is it ok to just provide a few names,l even though our passports indicate more?
3. The passport asks for expected "port of exit from India." Since we're still finalizing that leg of our trip, am I correct in assuming that we can end up departing from a different one from the one we identify on the application?
4. The application provides size limits in terms 300KB for the passport page and 1 MB for the photo. Are these strictly enforced? It looks like my passport PDF goes over the 300KB limit.
Thanks for any help!
1. The application asks for a "reference name" and address and phone in India. Am I correct in assuming that simply providing a hotel name is sufficient? I do happen to have a couple of folks whose names I can provide, but would much rather just go the hotel route if possible.
2. The application also asks for the countries we've visited over the past ten years. The number of those countries far exceed the limited space in the application. Is it ok to just provide a few names,l even though our passports indicate more?
3. The passport asks for expected "port of exit from India." Since we're still finalizing that leg of our trip, am I correct in assuming that we can end up departing from a different one from the one we identify on the application?
4. The application provides size limits in terms 300KB for the passport page and 1 MB for the photo. Are these strictly enforced? It looks like my passport PDF goes over the 300KB limit.
Thanks for any help!
Last edited by Thunderroad; Jan 29, 2017 at 9:57 pm
Jan 29, 2017, 11:52 pm
#127
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,168
Give the last 10 countries, mention the name of someone you know and scan the passport in a lower resolution.
Feb 1, 2017, 10:35 pm
#128
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 32
Size of photo
Try some photo editor software that reduces file size, if lower resolution scan is not possible.
Last edited by Billy001; Feb 1, 2017 at 10:36 pm Reason: Typo fix
Feb 23, 2017, 7:08 pm
#129
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Delta Platinum & 2MM, Marriott Lifetime TIT, Hertz Pres Club, IHG Gold, *A Gold
Posts: 1,253
India BUSINESS visa
Please suggest an agency to use for a business visa. I've submitted 4 photos to CIBT and keep getting the same generic rejection email. Face needs to have neutral expression, white background, no shadows, space above head, part of shoulders included. My last photo satisfies all this, but was still rejected. I'm about ready to submit a picture of my ... next!
Feb 23, 2017, 9:55 pm
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Please suggest an agency to use for a business visa. I've submitted 4 photos to CIBT and keep getting the same generic rejection email. Face needs to have neutral expression, white background, no shadows, space above head, part of shoulders included. My last photo satisfies all this, but was still rejected. I'm about ready to submit a picture of my ... next!
I recommend them with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I did get tourisrt visas for wife wife and myself through them.And their form was somewhat simpler and easier to pay for (simply using a credit card) than the official form. On the other, I had to nudge them to follow up, despite the fact that I was paying for expedited 24-hour service. But they're honest and I supposed better than nothing.
Hope it all works out.
Jun 30, 2017, 11:23 pm
#134
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BUR / LAX
Programs: UA MM/Gold; WN A-list; HH something depending; Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,552
I did it for myself, spouse, friend. Just used the photos we had for USA passports but edited to meet their specs and it worked fine.
Jul 1, 2017, 12:09 am
#135
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
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Posts: 48,168