India Visa Requirements
Handled by VisaHQ. Government fees are set by the destination country.
Frequently asked questions
How long before my trip should I start the India visa process?
Start as early as possible — embassy and consulate visa processing for India is not something that can be rushed reliably, and required documents (invitation letters, proof of accommodation, financial statements) can take time to gather. Leaving this until close to your travel date is the single most common cause of missed trips.
Can I get a India visa faster if my trip is an emergency?
Some embassies offer expedited or urgent processing for a higher fee, but this isn't universal and isn't guaranteed even when offered. Contact India's embassy or consulate directly and ask specifically about emergency processing — don't assume it exists or rely on a third-party site's claim that it does.
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.
Will you make it?
Documents required
- Passport valid at least 6 months with 2 blank pages
- Digital passport-style photograph meeting the portal's specification
- Scan of the passport bio page
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds for the stay
- Application completed on the official portal indianvisaonline.gov.in
- Printed e-Visa approval (ETA) carried for the journey — airlines and immigration check it
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.
- Start your visa application process well before your travel date — don't leave this until the last few days.
- Budget for the entry fee (US$10–25 (30 days) · US$40 (1 year) · US$80 (5 years)) and check whether it needs to be paid in a specific currency or method.
- Note this specific requirement for India: Visa Exemptions: Passengers with a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card. Passengers with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet..
- 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.