How to Apply for the India E-Tourist Visa on Arrival | E-Visa
India is truly one of the most memorable destinations to visit when traveling the world. From Jaipur, Delhi, Agra to the holy Varanasi, India offers wonderful and magical sites for the young and old alike. If you like lavish palaces, colorful bazaars, temple carvings, Bollywood movies and off course buildings, such as the Taj Mahal, then you’re in need of the India E-Tourist Visa to make your India travel dreams a reality.
When we first left on our travels in the beginning of 2014, we knew we wanted to visit India but we weren’t sure how to go about getting the required visa for a visit while we were on the road. In the past, taking a trip to India was a bit of a process. There were embassy’s involved, loads of paperwork, long wait times and uncertain results. However today, hundreds of citizens from all over the world can now apply online for their India E-Tourist Visa instead of visiting an Indian embassy in their home country or during their travels.
We happened to be traveling in Thailand when the announcement was made that you could now apply for your visa to India online without having to visit an embassy. It was an overwhelming sigh of relief because we were originally planning to spend several weeks attempting to obtain a visa in Bangkok. With the announcement and new process, came an almost instantaneous visa from the comfort of our hotel room. Traveling to India no longer has to be a headache of paperwork, delays and long lines.
The Process:
For those planning a trip, whether it be for business or leisure, everyone requires a valid passport and a visa to take a flight to India. Remember that you need to get your Indian E-Tourist Visa Online when planning your trip to enjoy this absolutely awe inspiring country.
Thankfully, technology has made it much easier to get the India E-Tourist Visa. It’s now linked electronically to your passport so you can apply conveniently from the comfort of your home prior to your trip and leave the spare time to planning and packing. No need to hover over your mailbox for weeks on end, simply apply at least 72 hours before your arrival to India and print the PDF document that will arrive via email.
Your India E-Tourist Visa is valid for a one entry and has duration of 30 days. Make sure that your itinerary is planned accordingly because this is not a visa that can be renewed or extended once you are in the country.
There are essentially two types of Indian Visas for tourists:
To apply for a six-month (or longer) tourist Visa, you need to apply at an Indian mission (see links above for examples of Consulate Generals and High Commissions). You have to apply online, print the form and bring it to your local consulate. There will be many very specific rules, such as the exact dimensions of the photos you need to bring. If you don’t follow the guidelines precisely, and to the letter, they will not accept your application. Likewise if there are any mistakes, such as a name misspelled.
To get detailed information about the e-Visa, read this page.
To apply for the new e-Visa facility, you can apply online on this page: Indian Visa Online. See below for more details.
