Visa

Who needs an Indian visa, the visa types and fees, Visa on Arrival eligibility, and the PIO/OCI questions, all in one FAQ.

Who needs an Indian VISA?

Foreigners coming to India need a valid passport from their country of origin and a valid Indian VISA.

Can we get a VISA on arrival?

For almost all tourists, no. You need to arrange your VISA before you travel. Apply online, well in advance. It covers 160+ countries. Here is the official Indian government e-Visa portal. There are enough fakes who are looking at your wallet. Double check!

There is Visa on arrival for a handful of countries. For the current list, again refer to the government portal above. This facility is only at the main international airports, namely Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

People from Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives do not need a Visa. Again refer to the link above for number of days restrictions.

Is there a fee charged upon arrival at the immigration facilities?

If you already have an e-Visa (for which you already paid), No. If you are looking at Visa on arrival, there is a fee to be paid.

Who is authorized to issue an Indian VISA?

e-Visas are issued by the home ministry. Ministry of Home Affairs, to be precise. But you do not need to know this since the application process is online. If you need a paper visa (because you are a journalist, researcher etc...), then the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for this. Find out the details of the Indian consulate in your country and contact them.

I am a citizen of country X. Where should I go for an Indian VISA?

Again your best bet is the e-Visa portal. If for special reasons you need a paper Visa, here is the list of Indian missions abroad. If your country has none, you will need to apply to the nearest one.

What documents do I need to apply for an Indian VISA?

The e-Visa portal has a detailed list of everything you need. Refer to the instructions there.

I am a Non Resident Indian (NRI). Do I need a VISA?

No. You hold an Indian Passport and are therefore an Indian citizen.

I am a person of Indian Origin with an OCI card. Do I need a Visa?

No. That is the idea of the OCI card!

I am a person of Indian Origin without an OCI card. Do I need a Visa?

Yes. In the eyes of the government of India, you are a foreigner. Get an e-Visa like everyone else. Or better, if you visit India often, get yourself an OCI card instead and never apply for a visa again.

I am a person of Indian Origin. How do I get an OCI card?

The single point portal for all OCI needs is this site. If you held an Indian passport, you will have to surrender it.

Footnote: e-Visa turnaround is officially 72 hours. I won't risk it. Give it a week or two. Payment gateways used to be flaky; now way better. Still, make sure you don't pay twice.