India

1. Passport Requirements

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into India.
• It should have at least two blank pages for entry stamps and visa sticker.
• Machine-readable passports are required for e-Visa and visa-exempt entry.
• Passport must not be damaged or expired – immigration officers can refuse entry.

2. Visa or Visa Exemption – What You Need Depends on Your Nationality

India offers visa exemption, e-Visa, or visa on arrival for short-term stays to citizens of many countries.

• Visa-exempt nationalities (very limited): Bhutan (unlimited stay with Voter ID / Passport / Entry Permit), Nepal (unlimited stay with Passport / Voter ID / Birth Certificate), Maldives (90 days).
  
  → No visa required for tourism/business (Bhutanese/Nepalese citizens can enter with ID card).
  → Allowed stay: varies (90 days for Maldives; indefinite for Bhutan/Nepal).
  → No extensions needed in most cases.


• e-Visa eligible nationalities (almost all countries worldwide except Bhutan and Nepal): Andorra, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
  
  → Apply online for an Electronic Visa (e-Visa) before arrival.
  → Official site: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa
  → Types: Tourist e-Visa (30 days / 1 year / 5 years), Business e-Visa, Medical e-Visa, Medical Attendant e-Visa.
  → Cost: USD 25–80 depending on type/duration/nationality (plus processing fee).
  → Valid for 30 days (double entry), 1 year (multiple entry), or 5 years (multiple entry) – stay up to 180 days per year for long-term.
  → Processing: 3–5 working days (urgent option available).
  → Print the approval – show at immigration (QR code scanned).


• Visa on Arrival (VoA)
  
  → Available only at selected airports for limited nationalities (Japan, South Korea, UAE – being phased out in favor of e-Visa).
  → Recommended to use e-Visa instead – VoA is limited and often slower.


• Regular visa required (only for Bhutan and Nepal – all other nationalities are eligible for e-Visa)
  
  → Apply at Indian embassy/consulate before travel.
  → Processing time: 10–30 days.

Quick check: Official e-Visa & eligibility → indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa or Indian Embassy sites

3. Length of Stay

• Tourist e-Visa (30 days): up to 30 days per entry (double entry within validity).
• Tourist e-Visa (1 year / 5 years): multiple entries, max 180 days continuous stay per visit (total 180 days per calendar year for some nationalities).
• Visa-exempt (Nepal/Bhutan): indefinite or 90 days.
• Extensions: possible for some e-Visas (apply at FRRO office before expiry; not guaranteed for tourism).
• You cannot work or study long-term without separate visas/permits.
• Frequent visa runs may lead to refusal or blacklisting.

4. Other Important Requirements

• Proof of onward/return ticket — very often checked at check-in or immigration.
• Proof of sufficient funds and accommodation (hotel booking) — may be requested (especially for e-Visa approval).
• No COVID-19 vaccination, testing, or quarantine required (rules fully removed since 2022–2023).
• Customs: Declare cash over USD 5,000 (or equivalent), restricted items (drones, certain medicines, food, plants, weapons, etc.). Fill out customs declaration on arrival.
• Fingerprinting & photo: taken on arrival for most non-Indian nationals.

5. Practical Tips for a Smooth Trip

• Apply for e-Visa at least 4–7 days before travel – print approval and have digital copy ready.
• Complete the India e-Arrival Card online before travel to save time at immigration.
• Verify latest rules directly on official sites (rules can change frequently):
  → e-Visa portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa
  → Bureau of Immigration: boi.gov.in
  → India Tourism: www.incredibleindia.org
• Admission is at the discretion of immigration officers – answer questions honestly and have documents ready.
• Avoid overstaying – fines INR 500/day + possible detention/deportation/ban (5+ years for serious overstays).

Safe travels to India — whether you're heading to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal), Goa, Kerala, Varanasi or Ladakh!