Who can apply for India eTourist Visa?

Who can apply? How does it work? Requirement

Who Can Apply for an Indian e-Tourist Visa?

A 2026 guide for eligible foreign nationals

Apply for the Indian e-Tourist Visa – Eligibility Overview

The Indian e-Tourist Visa is available to nationals of over 160 eligible countries who wish to visit India for a short-term stay. The scheme was introduced to simplify access to India for international travellers, replacing the need for embassy appointments and paper applications with a fast, fully online process. That said, eligibility is not universal — it depends on your nationality, the type of passport you hold, and the purpose of your visit.

Before starting your application, it is worth confirming two things: that your country is listed as eligible on the official Indian e-Visa portal, and that your reason for travel falls within the permitted purposes. The e-Tourist Visa is not a general-purpose visa — it has specific permitted activities and clear exclusions.

  • Eligible purposes: Tourism, recreation, sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, short-term yoga programmes, medical treatment, business visits, and attendance at conferences organised by an Indian government ministry.
  • Not permitted: Paid employment, long-term study, journalism, or missionary work — these require a separate visa category applied for through an Indian embassy.
  • Nationality check: Eligibility varies and is subject to change. Always verify your country’s status on the official portal before applying.

Who Is Not Eligible

While the e-Tourist Visa covers a wide range of nationalities and travel purposes, there are clearly defined groups who are excluded and must apply for a regular visa through an Indian embassy or consulate instead. Understanding these exclusions before applying can save time and avoid a rejected application.

The most significant restriction relates to Pakistani origin. The e-Visa facility is not available to persons who — or whose parents or grandparents (paternal or maternal) — were born in or were permanently resident in Pakistan. This restriction applies regardless of which country’s passport the applicant currently holds. Beyond this, holders of diplomatic or official passports, UN travel documents, and INTERPOL-issued documents are also ineligible.

  • Pakistani-origin travellers: Ineligible regardless of current nationality or passport held, if the applicant or any parent or grandparent was born in or resided permanently in Pakistan.
  • Diplomatic and official passport holders: Must apply through an Indian Diplomatic Mission.
  • UN Laissez-passer holders: Not eligible for the eVisa scheme.
  • Individuals on a family passport: Must obtain their own individual passport before applying.

Passport and Document Requirements

To qualify for the Indian e-Tourist Visa, your passport must meet specific conditions. It must be a standard national passport — diplomatic, official, and UN Laissez-passer travel documents are excluded from the eVisa scheme. The passport must also have at least 6 months of remaining validity from your intended date of arrival in India, and contain at least two blank pages for entry and exit stamps.

Each traveller must hold their own individual passport and submit a separate application. Family or group applications are not accepted, and individuals listed on a spouse’s or parent’s passport do not qualify — each person, including minors, must have their own travel document.

  • Passport validity: Minimum 6 months from the date of arrival in India.
  • Blank pages: At least 2 blank pages required for immigration stamps.
  • Individual applications: One application per person — no group or family submissions.
  • Accepted documents: Standard national passports only; diplomatic and official passports are excluded.

Application Timing and Visa Validity

The Indian e-Tourist Visa is available in three duration options — 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years — and the application timing rules differ slightly between them. For all types, the minimum advance application period is 4 days before your intended arrival date in India. This is a hard limit: applications submitted fewer than 4 days before travel will not be processed in time.

The 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist Visas are valid for 365 days and 5 years respectively from the date of approval — not from the date of first entry. If the visa is not used within its validity window, it expires and a new application must be submitted. Once inside India, the 1-year and 5-year options allow multiple entries, while the 30-day option permits double entry only.

  • Minimum application lead time: 4 days before arrival for all e-Tourist Visa types.
  • 30-day visa: Double entry; 30-day maximum stay; apply up to 30 days in advance.
  • 1-year visa: Multiple entry; maximum 90 days per stay (180 days for US, UK, Canada, Japan nationals); valid 365 days from approval.
  • 5-year visa: Multiple entry; same per-stay limits as the 1-year option; valid 5 years from approval.

Who can apply for the India e-Tourist Visa – Q&As

The Indian e-Tourist Visa is open to nationals of eligible countries whose primary reason for visiting India is tourism, recreation, sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, attending a short-term yoga programme, medical treatment, business, or an officially approved conference. Eligibility is determined by nationality — over 160 countries are currently listed as eligible on the official Indian e-Visa portal, and applicants should verify their country’s status before applying.

  • Travellers must hold a valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity from the intended date of arrival in India.
  • A confirmed return or onward ticket is required.
  • Each traveller must submit their own individual application — joint or family applications are not accepted.

Yes. Several categories of travelers are explicitly excluded from the e-Tourist Visa scheme and must apply for a regular visa through an Indian embassy or consulate instead.

The e-Visa facility is not available to persons who, or whose parents or grandparents (paternal or maternal), were born in or were permanently resident in Pakistan — this restriction applies regardless of the passport the applicant currently holds. Additionally:

  • Holders of diplomatic, official, or UN (Laissez-passer) passports are not eligible.
  • Holders of international travel documents other than a standard national passport (such as INTERPOL officials) cannot apply.
  • Individuals listed on a parent’s or spouse’s passport are not eligible — each person must have their own separate passport to qualify.

The application window and validity depend on which e-Tourist Visa type you apply for. For the e-Tourist and e-Business visa, applicants may apply online a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival. The maximum advance application window varies by visa type — the official portal now allows applicants to enter an arrival date within 120 days for certain categories. Once approved, the 1-year e-Tourist Visa is valid for 365 days from the approval date and must be used within that period or it expires.

  • 30-day e-Tourist Visa: Apply up to 30 days in advance; valid for 30 days from arrival.
  • 1-year e-Tourist Visa: Apply up to 120 days in advance; valid for 365 days from approval date.
  • 5-year e-Tourist Visa: Valid for 5 years from the approval date.