The India tourist e-visa is an electronic travel permit that every foreign traveler needs to obtain before traveling to India. The Government of India launched the electronic visa system in November 2014. Under the new system, travelers from more than 169 countries can apply for a Tourist visa online to enter India. There are several different types of e visas facilitated by the Indian Foreign Ministry. Here all about the tourist evisa India.

What is the Indian Tourist e-Visa Validity Period:

The Tourist e-Visa India is available for different validity periods, including 30 Days, 1 year and 5 years. According to the validity period, travelers can obtain double and multiple entry visas.

There are several validity options for tourist e-visa, which are as follows:

• Indian 30 Days Tourist e-Visa With Double Entry.
• Indian 1 Year Tourist e-Visa With Multiple Entries.
• Indian 5 Years Tourist e-Visa With Multiple Entries.

The validity period for each of the above-mentioned tourist visa categories is determined according to the expected travel date the applicant has mentioned in the Indian visa application form.30 days, 1 year and 5 years tourist e visas holders can stay in India for no more than 90 days at a single trip. However, certain nationalities, including the UK, USA, Japan, and Canada can stay for up to 180 days if they have 1-year or five-year validity tourist e visa. The double entry tourist e visa grants the traveler stay authorization for up to 90 days starting from the date of first entry. Nationals of Japan, the UK, Canada, and the USA can stay in India for up to 180 days from the date of first entry. It is worth noting that an eligible traveler can apply for a maximum of 2 tourist eVisas within a year. Furthermore, holders of tourist e-visas can arrive in India only through one of the 28 designated airports and 5 seaports. However, they can depart from any of the Immigration Check Posts (ICPS) in India.

India Tourist Visa Requirements

Only eligible travelers from 169 designated countries are qualified to apply for a tourist eVisa to India. There are specific eligibility criteria that every traveler has to fulfill to qualify for a tourist visa. The criteria include:

Having a valid passport with 6 months left in its expiry from the expected date of travel to India and two blank pages.

This India visa documents checklist is mandatory for every traveler to fulfill at the time of applying for the India visa. Upon their arrival at any of the designated border entry points in India, they will have to show a print version of the approved tourist e visa. They must carry their passport, which they used to apply for the visa, and the printed copy of the approved electronic visa when traveling to India.

Do I need a visa for India?

Every foreign traveler needs to apply for India visa. The most comfortable and flexible method of applying for a tourist visa is through the e-Visa system. The traveler will receive the electronic visa and the self-declaration form through email after which they can easily travel within India. The purpose behind initiating an E Visa system is to simplify the process of applying and obtaining a visa without going through the hassle of visiting the local Indian embassy or consulate.

With a Tourist E Visa, the traveler can visit India only for touristic purposes, such as engage in tourism, attend a yoga retreat, spend holidays, or visit family and friends. The Tourist E Visa is a double and multiple-entry travel authorization. Eligible travelers can travel to India and stay for up to 90 days per visit. Travelers on a cruise ship or in transit can also apply for a tourist eVisa.

Urgent Application:

Typically, travelers need to apply at least 3-5 days prior to their expected date of travel to India. The tourist e visa is approved within 3-5 business days. However, if you need the tourist visa urgently, it is possible to obtain the visa within 24 hours by opting for the Super Rush payment method. Provided that you already have all the required documents in hand, you can quickly get a visa by merely completing the online visa form and paying the Indian urgent visa fees. The visa will be sent directly to your email address within a few hours.

India Tourist e Visa Processing Time:

To prevent undesired delays in the processing of your tourist eVisa, it is suggested that you apply at least 3-5 days or a week before your intended date of arrival. However, we facilitate urgent visa requests as well and accordingly offer different visa processing times. The cost of tourist e visa India varies according to the applicant’s nationality and the visa validity, which for a tourist visa is between one month and five years. We offer three visa processing packages to cater to the varying demands of travelers worldwide.

• Standard Processing: Visa is approved within 3-5 days.
• Rush Processing: Visa is approved within 1-3 days.
• Super Rush Processing: Visa is approved within 24 hours.

What Can You Do with a Tourist e-Visa?

Visitors entering India on an online tourist visa are entitled to sightseeing, recreation, and casual meetings with their relatives or friends. The tourist E-Visa is an electronic travel permit designed for foreign travelers wishing to arrive in India for tourism purposes.

With this visa, visitors can perform all touristic activities such as visiting landmarks, exploring the country’s scenic beauty, learn about its culture, and visit family/friends. Many foreigners obtain a tourist visa to participate in the famous Indian yoga retreats. But, they cannot indulge in activities like Tabligh (preaching), perform volunteer jobs, seek employment or enrol in an educational institution in India.

If a traveler indulges in Tablighi work, it will be considered a violation of visa terms, and the traveler may receive an entry ban or fine. Though tourists aren’t barred from attending religious sites or participating in regular religious activities, as per the India visa guidelines, preaching, distributing pamphlets, and addressing crowds or delivering speeches in sacred areas is prohibited.

How to Obtain an India Tourist e-Visa?

Obtaining a tourist e-visa is a straightforward process. Eligible candidates need to complete a Indian visa application form, which is available online. The form is the only document that they need to fill in online. In this form, they will be required to enter essential personal and travel-related details, including full name, age, date of birth, place of birth, home address, occupation, email address, and contact information. In the passport section, the applicant will enter details such as passport number, issue date, and expiry date.

Moreover, applicants will need to answer a few basic security questions, their travel itinerary, and expected traveling dates. After filling out the visa form, the applicant will proceed to the next step of paying the Indian visa fees.

Depending upon their nationality and type/duration of tourist visa, the visa fee will be determined at the time of payment. Once the payment is received, the visa processing will automatically start. The visa document, along with the Self-Declaration form, is sent to the applicant’s email address after it is approved.

Why Visit India for Tourism?

India is regarded as the spiritual haven of the world. There are many sacred sites, including the Taj Mahal, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Ajanta Caves, and the Ellora, which you can visit while staying in India with a Indian tourist e-visa. Moreover, India happens to be the birthplace of Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, which is from where Yoga started. Yoga experience in India is entirely different from the west. In the west, yoga is focused more on sequences, and physical postures called the Asana. But, in India, specifically in traditional Indian Ashrams, asana is just a part of the wholesome yoga experience. It involves a lot more such as meditation, cleansing, and breathing techniques, mantra chanting, community service or Karma Yoga, and spiritual enlightenment.

e-Visa Important Guidelines:

• Visitors can only apply twice for an e-Visa in a calendar year- January to December.
• The traveler’s passport should be valid for six months at least starting from their date of arrival in India. The passport must have two blank pages.
• If the traveler does not need to leave the airport premises and is only entering India to reach another country, they do not need to apply for a tourist visa.
• If you are from Yellow Fever affected country, it is compulsory to carry a yellow fever vaccination card when traveling to India. If you don’t show the proof of vaccination to the border officials, you will be quarantined for at least six days soon after you arrive in India.