India e-Arrival Card — apply online

Key details

Entry type

Double entry (1-year multiple entry available, +$40)

Passport validity

At least 6 months from entry

Blank pages

2 required

Biometric data

Required

Printed eVisa

Recommended — carry a printed copy

Israeli stamp

Accepted

Travel insurance

Not required

Yellow fever certificate

Not required

Photo specifications

Your applicant photo must meet these specifications, or the application may be rejected.

Dimensions

51 × 51 mm (630 × 810 px minimum)

Background

Plain white

File format

JPEG, max 500 KB

Face size

Face fills 80–85% of the frame

Recency

Taken within the last 6 months

Tips & warnings

• Apply about a week before travel — processing usually takes 3–5 business days, so leave a buffer for any follow-up.
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond entry, with 2 blank pages.
• The India eVisa is not valid for transit — if you're only connecting through, you may need a separate Grounded Transit Visa instead.

Practical notes

Country information

Capital

New Delhi

Currency

Indian rupee (INR)

Calling code

+91

Time zone

GMT+5:30 (India Standard Time)

Population

≈1.43 billion

Language

Hindi & English

Best time to visit

Most of India is cool and dry Oct–Mar — ideal for Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala and Agra. Avoid the Jun–Sep monsoon (though Kerala is lush then). For the Himalayas, May–Jun and Sep–Oct are best.

Related destinations

How to apply

1. 1

   Complete the application form

   Fill in the guided form with accurate personal and passport details, and choose the correct category for your trip (30-day, 1-year, or 5-year e-Tourist, or e-Business). Apply at least 4 days before arrival and within the applicable 30-day or 120-day window. Each traveller needs their own application and a separate passport.

2. 2

   Upload your photo and documents

   Upload a recent front-facing photo on a plain white background (JPEG, equal height and width, 10 KB–1 MB), a scan of your passport bio page (PDF, 10 KB–300 KB), and any category-specific document (PDF, 10 KB–300 KB). Make sure everything is clear — applications can be rejected if photos or documents are unclear or not as specified.

3. 3

   Pay the fee

   Pay online by credit or debit card. The government fee and our service fee are itemised before you confirm, with no hidden charges. Pay at least 4 days before your expected date of travel.

4. 4

   Receive your authorisation by email

   We review your application and email you if any document needs re-uploading (usually within about 24 hours). Once approved, your Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is emailed within the processing time for your chosen speed.

5. 5

   Check it is GRANTED and print it

   Confirm your status shows as GRANTED, then print a copy of the ETA to carry with you, along with the same passport you used in the application.

6. 6

   Travel and get your e-Visa stamped on arrival

   Enter India through a designated airport or seaport (e-Visa entry is not permitted at land borders). Present your printed ETA, have your biometrics captured at Immigration, and get the e-Visa stamped into your passport.

After you apply & on arrival

• Apply at least 4 days before your expected date of arrival; you can apply as early as 120 days before travel.
• Immediately after you submit your e-Visa application and pay, you receive a confirmation of submission at the email address you provided.
• After submission your application is scrutinised, and if any document or image is not appropriate you may be advised by email to re-upload it.
• You should normally receive any re-upload request email within 24 hours of applying.
• You are then informed of your visa status (Granted or Rejected) by email at the address given in the application.
• A 'Granted' status means your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has been approved and you may travel.
• A 'Rejected' status means your application was not approved; the processing fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
• A query / re-upload notification means your application is on hold pending a corrected document or image that you must re-submit as instructed in the email.
• You can check your status at any time on the official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa) using the 'Check your Visa Status' tab.
• Before you start your journey, confirm on the website that your ETA status is shown as 'GRANTED'.
• Print a copy of your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and carry it with you when you travel.
• Foreigners (and OCI card holders) must also complete the online e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival, submitted via the official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in or boi.gov.in) or the official 'Indian Visa Su-Swagatam' mobile app, to give immigration advance arrival information; this is separate from the visa itself.
• On arrival you present your printed ETA and your passport at the Immigration Check Post, where the e-Visa is stamped onto your passport.
• Your biometric details (fingerprints and photograph) are mandatorily captured at Immigration on arrival in India.
• The Immigration Officer makes the final decision on admissibility, and entry can be denied (with deportation to the port of embarkation) if information was suppressed or you are found ineligible.
• You must enter India only through the designated e-Visa entry points, which are the authorised international airports and seaports (and the notified land borders of Raxaul, Rupaidiha, Darranga and Jogbani), not just any port.
• You may depart from any of the authorised Indian Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) when leaving the country.

Before you apply

What everyone needs

• Apply online in advance; the e-Visa is an electronic travel authorisation that must be obtained before you arrive in India.
• Apply a minimum of 4 days before your date of arrival — an application made fewer than 4 days before arrival may not be processed in time.
• For the 30-day e-Tourist visa, apply within a 30-day window before your proposed arrival date.
• For the 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist visas and the e-Business visa, you may apply up to 120 days before your proposed arrival date.
• A valid passport with at least six months of validity from your date of arrival and at least two blank pages for stamping.
• A scanned copy of your passport bio/data page, uploaded as a PDF between 10 KB and 300 KB, clearly showing your photograph and personal details.
• A recent passport-style photograph in JPEG format, between 10 KB and 1 MB, with equal height and width.
• The photo must show a full face, front view, with eyes open and without spectacles, and the head fully visible.
• The photo must have a plain light-coloured or white background, with no shadows on the face or background and no borders.
• Any category-specific supporting document, uploaded as a PDF between 10 KB and 300 KB.
• All documents, including business cards and invitation letters, must be in English, or the application is liable to be rejected.
• A payment method (credit or debit card) — the government fee and our service fee are itemised before you pay.
• A valid email address, since your authorisation and any requests to re-upload documents are sent by email.

Detailed information

Frequently asked questions