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?)
Wikipost instructions: signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost to update; wiki contents may be printed by using the

Evisa & Visa on arrival for India
#271
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 76
arrived in bengalore around christmas eve the young evisa checker immigration officer is like, why are you visiting india? what is your complete address in india, what are you doing in america and then she was bitconfused about the extra pages on my US passport.
#272
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,124
When you upload your photo during the e-visa process, does the system do an instant verification to accept the photo or not (i.e. right size, lighting, adherence to all their required specifications)?
Also, is it possible to start the process and fill in the required details, including uploading the photo and getting it accepted, and then save everything and a few weeks later come back to complete the application (without having to retype everything) and make the payment?
Also, is it possible to start the process and fill in the required details, including uploading the photo and getting it accepted, and then save everything and a few weeks later come back to complete the application (without having to retype everything) and make the payment?
#273
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 45,831
The system checks the size and dimensions. The visa approval queue usually processes the application within one working day.
#274
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,238
Also, is it possible to start the process and fill in the required details, including uploading the photo and getting it accepted, and then save everything and a few weeks later come back to complete the application (without having to retype everything) and make the payment?
#275
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, CX Silver, LY TL, Marriot G
Posts: 842
Hi, I hold a 5 yr tourist E-Visa and now I need a business E-Visa, because I will be visiting government facilities who will need to do lots of paperwork and of course will ask for my visa.
Does anyone know if I will have problem getting a second overlapping visa? Will they cancel my tourist visa?
thanks
Does anyone know if I will have problem getting a second overlapping visa? Will they cancel my tourist visa?
thanks
#276
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,124
Are they very strict about background color or any other criteria? For instance, a couple of years ago I went through a ID card application system (not Indian) when my photo kept getting rejected because the automatic checking software deemed the background either too bright or too dark, when in fact the background looked fine to me and my image was clear - my head and face was not obscured by anything, no shadow, etc. Is this Indian e-visa system as strict or fussy?
#277
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, CX Silver, LY TL, Marriot G
Posts: 842
Are they very strict about background color or any other criteria? For instance, a couple of years ago I went through a ID card application system (not Indian) when my photo kept getting rejected because the automatic checking software deemed the background either too bright or too dark, when in fact the background looked fine to me and my image was clear - my head and face was not obscured by anything, no shadow, etc. Is this Indian e-visa system as strict or fussy?
#278
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,124
Has anyone countered any issues paying for the eVisa online using a US-issued credit card?
Also, is it true that I cannot apply for the 30-day visa more than 30 days prior to my scheduled arrival to India? (The website says the application period is from 4 to 30 days prior to arrival.)
Also, is it true that I cannot apply for the 30-day visa more than 30 days prior to my scheduled arrival to India? (The website says the application period is from 4 to 30 days prior to arrival.)
Last edited by sfvoyage; Feb 9, 23 at 1:55 pm Reason: 2nd question
#279
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 45,831
The payment page is rather buggy, so make not of your application number in case payment fails. Yes, you can't apply for more than 30 d before arrival.
#282
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,124
#283
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 45,831
Since the payment gateway is operated by Indian banks you are probably going to face the same issues others have with online payments on Indian websites using US cards. More here:
Using foreign CC to buy domestic tickets at Indian OTAs
Using foreign CC to buy domestic tickets at Indian OTAs
#284
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,547
Since the payment gateway is operated by Indian banks you are probably going to face the same issues others have with online payments on Indian websites using US cards. More here:
Using foreign CC to buy domestic tickets at Indian OTAs
Using foreign CC to buy domestic tickets at Indian OTAs
#285
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,124
In the past two months, I've bought two tickets from Vistara, one from Air India, paid for my e-Visa, and booked a train on irctc.co.in without problems. Use a combo of Citi and Chase cards for the various purchases. As I mentioned above, Citi temporarily blocked the e-Visa charge, but once I said it was legit, it went through just fine. YMMV obviously.