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
#91
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 978
Here's my experience with the E-visa process based in NY. The website states that the fee is $60, but it is $60, when I went to pay, the price jumped to the equivalent of $127. Within 5 minutes of payment, I received a call from the NYC India Embassy and they informed me that I needed to pay the expedited fee of an additional $177 even though I will be arriving in India in 5 days. I was told the E-visa process takes 7-10 business days even though the website says 4 days (not business days, just 4 days). Since I assume these are the same people that will be processing my application, they can simply delay my processing if I don't pay the fee, so I sucked it up and paid it. So overall, I paid over $300 for a single entry visa and I'm only going to be in India for about 30 hours. Everyone should apply in advance because a single entry will only cost about $60 and multiple entry 10 years is $150.
#92
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,968
" . . . the E-visa process based in NY."
Did you go to the webpage linked above:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
Or did you get tricked by a third-party site pretending to be the official site, like this one:
http://www.indianvisaonline.org.in
Google makes real money placing these folks at the top of a search request. Shameful.
Did you go to the webpage linked above:
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
Or did you get tricked by a third-party site pretending to be the official site, like this one:
http://www.indianvisaonline.org.in
Google makes real money placing these folks at the top of a search request. Shameful.
#93
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,366
You were the victim of a con. The e-tourist visa is processed in India itself and not by any Embassy/Consulate. It is a fully automated online process.
I've arranged e-tourist visas for multiple friends and colleagues and the process could not have been simpler or smoother. Application takes about 20 minutes to compile and submit, and then approval always received within 24 hours.
I've arranged e-tourist visas for multiple friends and colleagues and the process could not have been simpler or smoother. Application takes about 20 minutes to compile and submit, and then approval always received within 24 hours.
#94
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,968
And assuming it was a con, you've given them your credit card info.
You may be able to reverse this through your credit card company, particularly if they blatantly mis-represented themselves as from the Indian Embassy. That's fraud.
No matter, you'll still want to change your credit card number. Not people you can trust with that sort of information. Especially since they've got a copy of your passport as ID!
You may be able to reverse this through your credit card company, particularly if they blatantly mis-represented themselves as from the Indian Embassy. That's fraud.
No matter, you'll still want to change your credit card number. Not people you can trust with that sort of information. Especially since they've got a copy of your passport as ID!
#95
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks

Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: Tri-State Turducken, Keisei Skinflint, KCR Headphones, Kopaja Platinum
Posts: 6,369
Novice question time...
I'm thinking of applying for an evisa now but don't expect to make to India for at least a week. Is the visa only valid from the date it is issued, or from the date stamped in India?
Additionally, it is likely that the arrival airport I choose will be decided the day before I get to India; do I have to choose one of the designated airports during the application process.
Thanks,
BmB
I'm thinking of applying for an evisa now but don't expect to make to India for at least a week. Is the visa only valid from the date it is issued, or from the date stamped in India?
Additionally, it is likely that the arrival airport I choose will be decided the day before I get to India; do I have to choose one of the designated airports during the application process.
Thanks,
BmB
#96
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 45,836
You are only technically issued with the visa when you land. So you can apply now and give a 30 day window within which you intend to arrive. You should apply at least 4 days before arriving. The airport of arrival is not specific.
#97
#98
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 45,836
#101
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: N/A
Posts: 773
I am a little confused at the process here. I only need a 30 day tourist visa, but the Indian Embassy to the US sends me to Cox and King.
Should I use them?
Or should I use: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html ???
I am traveling in less than two weeks so I am in a bit of a time crunch as well.
Thanks.
Should I use them?
Or should I use: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html ???
I am traveling in less than two weeks so I am in a bit of a time crunch as well.
Thanks.
#103
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Hamilton, Bermuda
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Plat Pro
Posts: 40
I will be visiting India in December and I will be applying for an e-visa. As part of the trip we were going to Nepal for a few days and then returning to India. Will I be allowed to re-enter India from Nepal using the e-visa?
If I will not be allowed to re-enter India, will I be allowed to go to Nepal as the last stop on my trip and then transit back through India on my original e-visa?
If I will not be allowed to re-enter India, will I be allowed to go to Nepal as the last stop on my trip and then transit back through India on my original e-visa?
#104
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,968
Unless they change the rules -- possibly in the long run but not very possibly by December -- your e-visa is good for only one entry. If you want to return to India after visiting Nepal, you'll need another visa. If arriving back from Nepal at one of the airports good for e-visas, you can get a second e-visa while in Nepal. If travelling back overland, you'll need to get a normal Indian visa in Nepal, since e-visas aren't good at land borders.
If just making a quick transit at an Indian airport after visiting Nepal, then you'll have to meet the requirements for transit without visa, since your old e-visa will have expired.
If just making a quick transit at an Indian airport after visiting Nepal, then you'll have to meet the requirements for transit without visa, since your old e-visa will have expired.
#105
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Plat Pro; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 7,623
Thanks !