India Visa Requirements
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to apply for anything before I travel to India?
No — with a Maldives passport, you don't need to apply for a visa or authorisation before flying to India. Just make sure your passport itself is valid and, if you have one, bring proof of your onward or return travel in case you're asked.
Can I extend my stay in India once I'm there?
No. This permission cannot be extended from inside India, so plan to leave before it expires. An e-Visa cannot be extended, and it cannot be converted to an employment, business, student or research visa from inside India. The permitted stay is fixed when the visa is granted. In genuine emergencies — serious illness, natural disaster, closed borders — the FRRO may grant permission to remain. That is a discretionary regularisation of your stay, not an extension, and it is never granted simply to keep travelling. Exit from any Immigration Check Post before the visa expires and apply again from outside India. For a longer stay, apply for the correct paper visa category before you travel rather than trying to change it after arrival.
Is the information on this page guaranteed to be accurate?
We check what we publish against official sources where we can, and clearly flag anything still pending verification. Even so, visa rules change — sometimes with very little notice — so please treat this page as a strong starting point, not a final word, and confirm directly with the official source linked above before you book or fly.
Before you travel — checklist
- Check your passport has enough remaining validity for your trip to India — many countries require at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, even for visa-free entry.
- Check whether India requires proof of onward or return travel — some border officers ask for this even when it isn't formally listed as a requirement.
- Consider travel insurance that covers your trip to India, particularly if any medical or emergency evacuation coverage is required or advisable for the region.
- This page's details for India are still pending full verification — confirm everything directly with an official government source before finalising your plans.
Visa rules change — sometimes with very little notice. This page reflects our best information as of 2026, but if you're reading this later than that, treat it as a starting point rather than the final word, and always confirm with the official source above before you travel.