Who can apply? How does it work? Requirement

India Visa Information for Foreign Nationals – DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

(a 2026 update)

Passports and travel visas are the most important documents that a traveler must have before traveling to a foreign country. But what are the Indian visa requirements and applying procedures for the foreign nationals wishing to travel on short trips?

Filling out complicated application forms, presenting endless documents and standing in long lines to submit these forms and documents is very time consuming and often frustrating as well. Thanks to recent advances in technology, travel has been greatly facilitated as now travelers can obtain their visas from the comfort of their own home by completing their applications electronically.

Planning to travel to India? Then you must apply for an E-TOURIST VISA.

All foreign nationals from eligible countries planning to visit India must apply for an e-Tourist Visa to enter the country prior to their travel date. The online visa application form must be submitted a minimum of 4 days and a maximum of 240 days in advance of their intended travel date. The applicant must use his/her e-Tourist Visa within 365 days of the approval date or the visa will expire. Once issued, the e-Tourist Visa is valid for 365 days.

The documents required for an Indian e-Tourist Visa are as follows:

1. Scanned first page of Passport.

PDF Format.
Size = Minimum 10KB, Maximum 300KB

2. Digital photograph.

JPEG Format.
Size= Minimum 10KB, Maximum 1MB.
The height and width of the photo must be equal.
The photo should present full face, front view, eyes open.
Center head within frame and present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
Background should be plain light colored or white background.
No shadows on the face or in the background.
Without borders.

NOTE: Visa requirements are subject to change without prior notice so all travelers are advised to review the requirements page every time they intend to travel to India in case of new requirements or procedures. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your intended arrival date in India.

As soon as you submit your visa application form you will receive a receipt number that allows you to track the progress of the processing of your Indian e-Tourist Visa. It takes a minimum of 4 working days to get e-Tourist Visa approval.

Once you receive a confirmation email with the approval of your application form you must print a copy and keep it with you at all times during your trip to India.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Everything you need to know about the Indian Tourist Visa — updated for 2026

All foreign nationals planning to visit India must obtain a visa before travel. Citizens from eligible countries can apply for an e-Tourist Visa (eTV) entirely online, without visiting an embassy or consulate. The online system allows applicants to submit their forms and documents from home, making the process significantly faster and more convenient than traditional paper applications.

You must submit your e-Tourist Visa application at least 4 days before your intended travel date, and no more than 240 days in advance. Once approved, the visa is valid for 365 days from the approval date. It must be used within that 365-day window or it will expire, regardless of whether you have travelled yet.

Processing takes a minimum of 4 working days, so plan accordingly and do not wait until the last moment.

The two core documents required are:

Scanned first page of your passport — PDF format, file size between 10 KB and 300 KB.
A digital photograph — JPEG format, between 10 KB and 1 MB. The photo must show your full face (front view, eyes open), with a plain light or white background, no shadows, no borders, and equal height and width dimensions.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your intended arrival date in India.

📄 Additional documents may be requested based on your nationality or visa category. Always verify the current requirements on the official application portal.

After you submit your application, you will receive a receipt number to track the status of your application. Once approved, a confirmation email is sent to you. You must print a physical copy of this approval and carry it with you throughout your trip to India at all times. The e-Tourist Visa is not stamped in your passport — the printed confirmation serves as your travel document alongside your passport.

Yes — Indian visa requirements are subject to change without prior notice. Even if you have applied for an Indian visa before, you should review the official requirements page every time you plan to travel. Changes can include new document requirements, updated photo specifications, eligibility changes by nationality, or modified application procedures.