India e-Tourist Visa Guide for Foreigners 2026: Fees, Validity & Application

India's e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) is the simplest way for foreign travellers from 180+ countries to enter India. You apply online at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa, get an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email, and receive your visa stamp on arrival. This 2026 guide covers what you actually pay and how the process works.

e-Tourist Visa Types and Fees (2026)

For most major source markets — including the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, EU countries, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar — standard fees are:

• 30-day e-Tourist Visa: US $25 (US $10 during April–June)
• 1-year e-Tourist Visa: US $40
• 5-year e-Tourist Visa: US $80 standard, but several countries pay reciprocal rates — US citizens pay US $160, and UK passport holders pay US $484 (per the official Bureau of Immigration fee list updated 20 February 2026)

A bank transaction charge of 2.5% is added on top of the visa fee. Fees are non-refundable whether your application is approved or rejected.

Validity and Stay Limits

• 30-day visa: Valid for 30 days from your first arrival in India; double entry allowed
• 1-year visa: 365 days from the date the ETA is granted; multiple entries; total stay must not exceed 180 days per calendar year
• 5-year visa: Five years from ETA grant date; multiple entries; same 180-day-per-year cap

Eligibility and Requirements

• Passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of arrival
• At least 2 blank pages for stamping
• Return or onward travel ticket
• Sufficient funds for the trip
• Each traveller must apply separately, including children on a parent's passport

Pakistani passport holders and Pakistani-origin travellers must apply for a regular paper visa at an Indian Mission. Diplomatic and official passport holders are also not eligible for the e-Visa.

How to Apply: Step by Step

1. Visit the official portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa (this is the only government website — avoid third-party agents)
2. Click "Apply here for e-Visa" and fill in passport, travel and address details
3. Upload a scanned passport bio-page in PDF (10–300 KB) and a recent front-facing photo on white background in JPEG (10 KB – 1 MB)
4. Pay the fee online (credit/debit card or PayPal)
5. Wait for the ETA — usually granted within 3 working days
6. Print the ETA and carry it with your passport when you fly

You can apply between 4 and 120 days before your travel date. The fee must be paid at least 4 days before your expected arrival.

Authorised Entry Points

e-Tourist Visa holders may enter India through 33 designated airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Goa (Dabolim and Mopa), Jaipur, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Pune, Varanasi, Trivandrum, Lucknow and Gaya, and through specific seaports including Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai and Mangalore (for cruise passengers). You may exit from any authorised Immigration Check Post.

What e-Tourist Visa Does NOT Cover

• Protected, Restricted or Cantonment Areas (you'll need a separate Protected Area Permit, e.g. for parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Andamans)
• Long-term stay beyond 180 days in a calendar year
• Employment, journalism, missionary work, or research (separate visa categories)
• The e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying through unofficial third-party websites that overcharge
• Photo errors (wrong size, dark background, glasses) — the most common rejection reason
• Booking flights before the ETA is "Granted" — always confirm status on the portal
• Forgetting to carry the printed ETA at boarding (airlines may deny boarding without it)

All fees and rules verified against the official Indian Visa Online portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa) and the Bureau of Immigration fee schedule, with cross-checks against the Indian Embassy USA and Consulate General of India San Francisco. Verify your country-specific fee on the official portal before applying.