India Passport & Visa Information

Passports

British visitors to India must travel on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport and ensure that the passport has at least six months validity from the date you intend to depart from India. Your passport must also have at least two blank pages. Please ensure your passport complies with the above well in advance of travel. If you do not have a British passport, please contact the India High Commission for advice:www.hcilondon.gov.in/.

All travellers will need to secure a visa in advance of travel to India. Please see detailed guidance on this process below.

E-Tourist Visa

You will need to secure a visa in advance of travel to India. The easiest way to do this is via the Indian Government’s official online e-Visa system, which can be accessed from the following website:
indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.

Please note there are several websites offering Indian visa services, but this is the official link to use, so please ignore any others.

The e-Visa system can be used for entry at all major airports, and the validity of an e-Tourist Visa is 30-days from the date of your arrival in India. The 30-day e-Tourist Visa should be applied for 4 weeks before arrival and is valid for a maximum of two entries within the 30-day duration. If you are making more than two entries into India, or you are entering overland, or arriving at a minor airport, then it may be best to apply for a 1 or 5 year e-Tourist Visa which allows multiple entries.

The e-Tourist Visa process is straight forward: you will need to fill out the website form and complete payment online, which can be paid by debit or credit card. You will also need to upload and attach a digital passport photo; this should be head and shoulders only, taken against a plain, white background, and note that the maximum file size of the photo is 1MB. Your application will then be processed within a maximum of 3 days, and your visa acceptance notification will be sent via email. You will then need to return to the application portal, enter your reference number and print out the e-Tourist Visa PDF. A printout of the confirmation email will be sufficient to present to the immigration official on arrival in India, but it is best to print out the PDF to ensure a smooth entry into the country.

E-Arrival Card

It is a requirement for all foreign nationals arriving in India to complete an e-Arrival card online before reaching immigration. As the paper version is no longer in use, this information must be submitted online in advance, which can be done up to 72 hours prior to arrival. The online e-Arrival card is straightforward and free to complete: 
indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/.The e-Arrival card does not replace a valid visa.

How to book
See our selection of holidays to India, plus when to visit and suggested tours. To discuss your travel needs, complete an enquiry form or call our Asia experts on 020 7720 9285.