India e-Visa 2026: How to Apply Online Step by Step

The first time I helped a friend apply for an Indian e-Visa, we did it at her kitchen table on a Sunday night, a laptop between us and a cold cup of teh on the side. We were done in about forty minutes, and then we spent the next three days refreshing her inbox because I had told her it would take about that long. It did not arrive on day three. It arrived on day four, an hour after she had decided the whole thing was a disaster. That small drama taught me more about the India e-Visa than any official page: the process itself is simple, but it is full of little moments where people panic, mistype or apply too late. So this guide is the version I wish we had read that Sunday night.

Everything below is written for travellers applying from Singapore and the wider region in 2026, though the steps are the same wherever you live. I will walk you through who can use the e-Visa, which of the three tourist options to pick, how the online form really flows, what to upload, where people stumble, and what to organise for the trip itself once the approval lands. I will also be straight with you about what I cannot promise. Visa rules change, they depend on your passport, and the only final word is the official government portal. Treat this as the friendly experienced voice next to you, not the rulebook.

What the India e-Visa actually is

India runs an electronic travel authorisation for tourism, business, medical stays and conferences, issued online so you do not have to post your passport anywhere or queue at a consulate. For a holiday you will almost certainly want the e-Tourist Visa. You fill in a form on the official government portal, upload a passport scan and a photo, pay the fee by card, and wait for an emailed approval. You print that approval or keep it on your phone, and you show it, together with your passport, at the immigration counter when you land at one of the designated airports.

The key thing to understand early is that the e-Visa is an authorisation to travel and present yourself at the border. It is not a guarantee of entry, and the officer at the counter still decides. In practice, if your paperwork is tidy and your plans sound normal, that moment takes a couple of minutes and a few routine questions about where you are staying and how long. I have never seen a prepared traveller have trouble, but I have watched people with half-filled-in printouts get sent to the side to fix things, and that is a bad way to start a holiday.

The portal covers citizens of a long list of countries, often described as more than 180 nationalities. Whether yours is on it, and whether any extra conditions apply to you, is something you must confirm on the official site before you spend a cent. If you are unsure, our visa requirements checker lets you pick your passport and see the current picture, and our visa team re-confirms the details at the time of your application.

Which tourist e-Visa should you choose

The e-Tourist Visa comes in three flavours, and this is the first decision that trips people up. The names sound similar, the fees differ, and it is easy to tick the wrong box on a sleepy evening. Based on the facts our team has verified, the options differ mainly by how long the visa stays valid and how many entries you get.

• 30-day e-Tourist Visa. Valid for 30 days from your first entry, with double entry. This is the cheapest and suits a single holiday, like a week around Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
• 1-year e-Tourist Visa. Valid for a year from the date it is granted, multiple entry. Good if you expect to return within twelve months, or if you want a bit of flexibility on dates.
• 5-year e-Tourist Visa. Valid for five years from grant, multiple entry. Best for people who travel to India often, or who have family there and will keep coming back.

On stay length, the longer options have generally allowed up to 90 days per visit, while the 30-day option is exactly what it says. Fees are charged in US dollars and have varied by option and by season, with a lower fee in the quieter months. Our internal records show amounts such as USD 25, USD 40 and USD 80 depending on which option you pick, but fees are exactly the sort of thing the government adjusts, so always read the number on the final payment screen rather than trusting any blog, including this one.

My own rule of thumb is simple. If this is your first visit and you are not sure you will be back, take the 30-day option. If you already know you are going twice in the next year, the one-year option usually works out better than paying twice. And if India is going to be a regular part of your life, the five-year visa saves you from repeating this whole process every time. One more point: the validity clock on the longer visas starts at grant, not at your first trip, so do not apply a year early on a whim.

Before you start: the checklist I give everyone

Ten minutes of preparation saves hours of regret. Before you open the application page, line up the following, because the form can time out and you do not want to hunt for a document while the session counts down.

• Your passport. It should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date and have at least two blank pages. This is the single most common reason people have to start again.
• A digital photo. Plain light background, face fully visible, no glasses glare, no hat. Passport-style, front-facing, and taken recently.
• A clean scan of your passport bio page. The whole page, flat, in focus, with all four corners visible and nothing cut off.
• Your travel details. Planned arrival date, the airport you will land at, and an address for your first night in India.
• An email address you check daily. The approval comes there, and so do any questions from the authorities.
• A card that works online. Some banks block overseas payments by default, so it is worth checking before you reach the payment page.

Notice what is not on the list: a bank statement, an employment letter or a hotel confirmation. For the standard tourist e-Visa you generally do not upload those. But you should still be able to show the practical things at the airport, such as an onward or return ticket and an idea of where you will sleep, because the immigration officer can ask. I come back to that in the arrival section below.

How to apply, step by step

Here is the flow as I walk people through it. Screens get redesigned from time to time, so the labels may differ slightly, but the order and the logic stay the same.

Step 1: Open the official portal and start a new application

Go to the Indian government's e-Visa portal. Make sure it is the real one, because lookalike sites that charge extra fees do exist and appear high in search results. The official site is run by the government and the application fee goes straight to it. Choose the e-Visa application, select e-Tourist Visa, and begin a new application. If you have to come back later, the portal gives you a temporary application ID. Write it down the moment you see it.

Step 2: Fill in your personal and passport details

Type everything exactly as it appears in your passport: full name, date of birth, place of birth, nationality and passport number. If your passport lists a single name or a long string of names, copy it faithfully. Do not shorten, do not anglicise, and do not add a middle name you use informally. Mismatches between the form and the passport are the number one cause of delays. You will also be asked about your parents' names, your marital status and your occupation, plus whether you have ever been refused a visa or have a criminal record. Answer honestly. The questions are routine, and hiding something causes far more trouble than disclosing it.

Step 3: Enter your travel plans

Select the visa duration you decided on earlier, your expected date of arrival and the port of arrival. Be thoughtful about the airport, since the e-Visa lets you enter through designated airports and seaports, and the one you choose is where you should present yourself. If you plan to land in Delhi and leave from Mumbai, that is fine, but check that your entry point is allowed. Give a reference in your home country and one in India if asked. A hotel or a friend's address is enough.

Step 4: Upload your photo and passport scan

The portal has strict size and format limits for both files, and it will reject anything outside them. If you are applying from a phone, take the photo against a white wall in daylight, then crop it to a square. For the passport scan, use a scanner app rather than a casual photo, and save as the format and size the portal asks for. I recommend you view the uploaded file at full size once it appears, to check that nothing has been clipped.

Step 5: Pay the fee

Pay by credit or debit card on the secure payment page. Keep the confirmation. If the payment fails or the page hangs, do not immediately pay again. Go back into the application using your ID and check whether the first attempt went through, because double payments are a headache to sort out afterwards.

Step 6: Wait for the approval email

Typical processing is around three to five business days, and the official guidance is to apply at least four days before you fly. When approved, you receive an email with your authorisation attached. Download it, print at least two copies, and save a copy to your phone. Check that every detail, including the name and passport number, matches your passport character for character. If something is off, contact the authorities straight away rather than hoping nobody notices.

Photos and documents: where most applications wobble

If I had to name one area that causes the most rework, it is the uploads. The rules are unglamorous but strict, and an application with a poor file can sit in limbo or come back with a request to resubmit. Let me list what I see go wrong again and again.

With photos, the usual problems are a shadowed background, a smile so broad it changes your face shape, glasses with reflections, and files that are far too large or too small. Some people send a photo taken from the side, or a selfie with a visible hand. Use a plain background and a neutral expression, and do not edit the photo with beauty filters. With passport scans, the problems are cropped edges, a thumb in the corner, a glare spot across the machine-readable lines at the bottom, and low resolution that turns your passport number into mush.

A small side note on your passport. Beyond the six months of validity, make sure the passport is in good physical condition. Water damage, a torn page or a loose cover can raise questions at the airport. If yours looks tired, renewing before you apply is cheaper than renegotiating at the counter.

Flight reservations and the paperwork people forget

This section is one I get asked about constantly, so let me be careful with it. The standard tourist e-Visa application does not normally ask you to upload flight tickets or hotel bookings. But at the airport, and sometimes when airlines check you in, you can be asked to show an onward or return ticket. Airlines do not want to carry someone who might be refused entry with no way to leave, so they check.

If you are not ready to buy a fully paid flight before you know your approval has arrived, some travellers use a flight reservation as supporting paperwork for visa applications. We offer exactly that on our flight reservation page. I want to be precise about what it is. It is a manual reservation service, handled by a person, produced as supporting documentation. It is not an issued ticket, and it does not promise that any embassy, airline or immigration officer will accept it. Think of it as a tidy piece of paper to show your intentions, not as a replacement for a real booking once your plans are firm. If an airline or border officer wants a ticket that is actually issued, you will need to buy one.

Whichever way you handle it, keep a small folder, digital and on paper, with these items: the e-Visa approval, the passport photo page, your return or onward flight details, the address of your first hotel, and your travel insurance policy number. If your phone dies on arrival, the paper folder is a lifesaver.

Common mistakes, delays and rejection reasons

From looking after India visa applications, I can tell you the problems fall into a short list. Almost none of them are dramatic. They are small slips that cost days.

• Applying too late. The official minimum is four days, but a delay of even one day on a bank holiday can eat your whole margin. Apply at least two weeks before departure when you can.
• Mismatched names or numbers. One wrong digit in the passport number means the approval is tied to a document you do not have.
• Choosing the wrong visa type. A tourist visa will not cover a business meeting or a paid assignment. If your trip mixes purposes, check which category fits.
• Unclear photos or scans. Blurred, cropped or oversized files lead to requests for resubmission.
• Passport validity. Less than six months left, or no blank pages, is a very common reason for trouble.
• Non-matching nationality or residency information. If you hold a passport from one country but live in another, answer each question exactly and honestly.
• Prior overstays or refusals not declared. Declare them. Being upfront looks much better than being caught out.
• Using unofficial lookalike websites. They charge extra, collect your data and sometimes never submit anything. Start from the official government site.

If your application is delayed beyond the usual window, resist the urge to submit a second one straight away. Duplicate applications can slow things down or create conflicts. Check the status on the portal using your application ID first, and only reapply once you know the first one has been closed or refused.

Should you do it yourself or ask for help

Most people can complete the e-Visa on their own, and I would never tell you otherwise. The portal is in English, the questions are logical, and the whole thing costs only the government fee if you are careful. Where help makes sense is when your time is tight, when your passport or residency situation is not straightforward, when you have a group or family application with several people, or simply when you do not want to risk a mistake with a trip already booked.

Our visa team handles this regularly. We charge a flat S$50 assistance fee per applicant, on top of the official government fee, which stays the government's. We check your eligibility, send a personalised document checklist, complete the forms with you and follow the application until there is an outcome. We cannot approve a visa, because only the Indian authorities do that, and we will never tell you otherwise. If you would like help, start from our India visa requirements page and the booking flow there shows the current fee for your situation before you commit.

Once your approval arrives: arrival day in India

Your e-Visa email is not the end of the story. Landing in India for the first time can be a sensory flood: the heat, the noise, the crowds, the sudden presence of a hundred friendly voices offering taxis. A little preparation turns it into an adventure instead of an ordeal.

At the immigration hall, join the queue for foreign visitors on e-Visa. Have your passport, your printed approval and your arrival card details ready. The officer will check your documents, take fingerprints and a photo, and may ask where you are staying and how long. Answer calmly and briefly. Then collect your bags and head out. If you plan to buy a local SIM at the airport, be ready for paperwork and a wait. A far simpler route is to set up an eSIM at home before you fly, so your phone works the second you land and you can book a ride or message your hotel without hunting for Wi-Fi.

We list a few good options. A 14-day plan with 15GB of high-speed data (followed by slower unlimited use) works well for a two-week loop. If you prefer a more basic plan, you can browse a travel eSIM that covers all Indian cities or a data-focused tourist SIM card plan with daily data allowances. To compare the longer plan, see the 14-day 15GB India traveller eSIM. Whichever you choose, check that your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked before you leave, and install the profile while you still have home Wi-Fi.

Getting around and airport comforts

India is huge, and transfers between cities can be long. Domestic flights, trains and car hire all have their place. Many travellers connect through the major hubs, so it is worth knowing about airport lounges. They are not a luxury only for business travellers. After a red-eye flight or a long connection, a quiet seat, a hot meal and a charging point make a real difference, and they cost less than most people expect.

Several lounges are bookable in advance. In Delhi, you can look at the Encalm lounge at Terminal 3 arrivals, which is handy if you land in the early hours and need to freshen up before a hotel check-in. In Bangalore, the 080 Domestic Lounge at Kempegowda International Airport is one of several choices there. In Goa, the Encalm domestic lounge at Manohar International Airport is a pleasant place to wait before the flight home after a beach week. In Chennai, the Travel Club Lounge at Chennai International Airport is another option for connections.

Prices shown are indicative starting prices at the time of writing and can change with the date and the option you pick, so always read the final price on the product page. One practical tip: lounge access rules, like opening hours, differ from lounge to lounge, so read the details before you go.

A sample first-time route to plan around your visa

A lot of people ask how long their visa should cover. Here is a route I recommend for a first visit, because it is manageable, varied and well connected. It also shows how the 30-day option comfortably covers a two-week trip with room to spare.

The weather matters as much as the route. October to March is the cooler, drier window across most of the country and is when most visitors go. Summers, especially in the north and centre, can be brutally hot, and the monsoon from roughly June to September brings heavy rain to many regions. If you apply for the e-Visa months in advance, remember that the longer options start their clock on the grant date, so build your timing around the season you really want.

Food deserves a mention here, because it is half the reason to go. In the capital, a guided walk is the best way to eat well without worrying about where to start. Our India activities and tickets page lists food walks and other tours you can add once your dates are fixed. Remember the local customs: remove your shoes before entering temples and homes, dress modestly at religious sites, and use your right hand for eating and greetings.

Money, health and safety basics

Carry a mix of payment methods. Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants, while small shops, autorickshaws and street stalls often prefer cash. Withdraw rupees from a bank ATM inside a branch or airport rather than a standalone machine on a dark street, and tell your bank about your travel dates so your card does not get frozen when it sees a foreign transaction.

On health, bring any prescription medicine in its original packaging with a doctor's note, and pack a basic kit: rehydration salts, plasters, antiseptic cream and something for an upset stomach. Drink bottled or filtered water, and be cautious with ice and raw salads in the first few days while your stomach adjusts. Travel insurance with medical cover is strongly recommended, and I would not leave home without it.

For personal safety, use reputable ride-hailing apps instead of unmarked taxis at night, keep digital copies of your passport and e-Visa in your email, and share your itinerary with someone back home. Be aware of common tourist scams, such as being told your hotel is closed or an attraction is shut, and politely ignore touts. The general emergency number is 112, which is worth saving in your phone before you land.

A simple timeline to follow

To pull this together, here is the timeline I give friends. Work backwards from your departure date, and you will rarely be caught out.

• Eight weeks before: check your passport validity and renew if needed. Decide which visa option you want.
• Four to six weeks before: submit your e-Visa application, ideally well inside the allowed window for your chosen option.
• Three weeks before: approval should be in your inbox. Check every detail, print two copies, and save one to your phone.
• Two weeks before: book airport transfers, lounges you might want, and set up your travel eSIM.
• One week before: prepare your document folder, tell your bank, pack, and check the weather.
• Day of travel: carry the paper approval in your hand luggage, not in a checked bag.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I apply for the India e-Visa?

The official advice is to apply at least four days before you travel, and processing is typically three to five business days. I would apply two to four weeks ahead to leave room for corrections, public holidays and the occasional slow week.

Do I need to print my approval?

Yes, I strongly recommend carrying at least one printed copy, and keeping a digital one on your phone as backup. Airline staff and immigration officers may ask to see it, and phone batteries die at the worst moments.

Can I extend an e-Visa once I am in India?

In general, e-Visas are not meant to be extended inside the country, so plan your stay to fit within the validity and permitted days of the option you choose. If your plans change, check the official guidance for your situation.

What if my application is refused?

Read the reason given, fix the issue and, if allowed, reapply. Do not submit repeated applications with the same mistakes. If you are unsure, our visa team can look at your case, though we cannot overturn a decision made by the Indian authorities.

Do I need a return ticket to apply?

The standard tourist form does not normally require flight uploads, but airlines and immigration can ask for onward or return travel. A flight reservation can serve as supporting documentation for some visa applications, but it is not an issued ticket and acceptance is never guaranteed.

Which airport should I enter through?

Use one of the designated airports or seaports listed on the portal for e-Visa holders, and enter the same one on your form. If your plans change, check that your new entry point is allowed before you fly.

Is the HolidaySG assistance fee on top of the government fee?

Yes. The government fee is paid to the government and our flat S$50 assistance fee per applicant covers the checking, forms and tracking. The booking flow shows the current figures before you pay anything.

Is my e-Visa enough, or do I need other documents too?

The e-Visa authorises travel, but you should also carry your passport, a return or onward ticket, accommodation details for your first nights and insurance information. Officers can ask for them, and having them to hand keeps the queue short.

Before you go, one last piece of advice. Visa rules change, and they depend on your passport, where you live and why you are travelling. Please confirm everything on the official government portal before you book anything non-refundable, and treat our visa checker as a friendly starting point. Our facts were verified against official sources in recent weeks, and our visa team re-confirms the current requirements when you apply.

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