India e-Visa: Every Category in One Guide
Most visits to India now start with an e-Visa — applied for online, granted as an Electronic Travel Authorisation, no embassy visit. Here's how the system works: the categories, the fees, the ports, and the limits that catch people.
170+ eligible nationalities
Citizens of 170+ countries can apply online. Eligibility and terms vary by passport — see your nationality's guide.
Apply 4+ days ahead
The portal works to a minimum four-day processing buffer before arrival. The grant arrives by email as an ETA — print it and carry it.
Country-wise fees
Fees depend on nationality, category and validity, plus a 2.5% bank charge — non-refundable either way. Full fee guide.
Apply only on the official portal — indianvisaonline.gov.in. Lookalike sites file the same application at 2–5× the government fee. Every genuine government channel is listed in our official portals directory.
The e-Visa categories
Five purposes are covered. Each card links to the full guide for that category:
e-Tourist Visa
30-day (double entry) · 1-year & 5-year (multiple entry)Tourism, sightseeing, visiting friends and family
Stay capped at 180 days per calendar year across tourist visas; generally not extendable or convertible.
Tourist visa guidee-Business Visa
1-year, multiple entryMeetings, negotiations, trade fairs — not paid employment
Continuous stay on each visit is capped; working a job needs an Employment Visa instead.
Business visa servicee-Medical Visa
60-day, triple entryMedical treatment at a recognised Indian hospital
Requires the hospital's letter; up to two e-Medical Attendant Visas ride along for companions.
Medical visa servicee-Conference Visa
30-day, single entry (4-month validity window)Attending a conference, seminar or workshop
The event itself needs MHA/MEA clearance — the requirement most delegates discover late.
Conference visa guidee-Ayush Visa
Treatment-linked validityTreatment under Ayurveda, Yoga and other AYUSH systems
The AYUSH counterpart of the e-Medical route, tied to recognised AYUSH facilities.
Medical tourism serviceNot an e-Visa purpose? You need a regular visa
These purposes are handled by Indian missions, not the online system:
Not sure which category fits? Use the Visa Finder — free, two minutes.
Where you can enter with an e-Visa
Entry is through designated airports and seaports only (exit through any authorised checkpoint). Since 19 March 2026, 14 additional seaports accept e-Visa holders — opening cruise itineraries across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
The 2026 seaports change, explainedChecking your application status
Status checks are free on the official portal using your Application ID and passport number; the grant itself arrives by email as an ETA. Anyone charging to "check your visa status" is reselling a free lookup.
Official portal linksIndia e-Visa — common questions
What is the India e-Visa?
An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) applied for entirely online through the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in — no embassy visit, no sticker in advance. It's linked to your passport, and you carry the ETA printout to the airport. Citizens of 170+ countries are eligible.
What types of India e-Visa exist?
e-Tourist (30-day double entry, or 1-year and 5-year multiple entry), e-Business (1 year), e-Medical (60 days, triple entry) with e-Medical Attendant visas for companions, e-Conference (30 days, single entry), and e-Ayush for AYUSH-system treatment. Employment, journalism, transit, study and long-stay family purposes are not e-Visa categories.
How much does an India e-Visa cost?
Fees are set country-wise. As a reference, US citizens pay US$25 for the 30-day e-Tourist (US$10 for April–June arrivals), US$40 for the 1-year, US$80 for the 5-year, plus a 2.5% bank charge. The fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome — check your country's row on the official schedule before paying.
How early should I apply for an e-Visa?
Apply at least four days before arrival — that's the minimum processing buffer the portal works to. Don't cut it to the wire: a query or a payment issue with four days' slack becomes a missed flight with one.
Can an e-Visa be extended in India?
Generally no — e-Visas (the e-Tourist especially) are not extendable and not convertible to another category inside India, outside narrow FRRO-handled exceptions. If your plans might outgrow the visa, choose a longer validity or a regular visa from a mission up front.
Which airports and seaports accept e-Visas?
Entry is through designated airports and seaports only — and since 19 March 2026, 14 additional seaports accept e-Visa holders, bringing cruise itineraries into scope. Exit can be through any authorised immigration checkpoint. Check your arrival port is designated before booking unusual routings.
How do I check my e-Visa application status?
On the official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in) using your Application ID and passport number. Grants arrive as an ETA by email — print it and carry it. Never pay a third-party site to "check status"; it's free on the portal.
When is a regular (sticker) visa better than an e-Visa?
When your purpose isn't an e-Visa category (employment, journalism, study, transit, long-stay family), when you need validity or stay terms the e-Visa doesn't offer for your nationality, or when your case has complications (prior refusals, purpose questions) better handled through a mission application.
Official government sources
We base our guidance on official Indian government sources and update it as rules change. Requirements are set by the authorities and can change — always verify the current position directly before you apply:
Not sure the e-Visa fits your situation?
Category doubts, prior refusals, or a stay that might run long — tell us your plans and we'll confirm the right route before you pay a non-refundable fee.
Independent consulting service. Not affiliated with the Government of India or any government agency.