India visa and entry requirements: what to know before you apply
How the e-Visa system works, who's eligible, and the one vaccination certificate that can actually stop you at the border.
5 min read
Almost every first-time visitor's first practical question is "do I need a visa, and how do I get one." This page covers how India's e-Visa system is structured so you know what to expect — it isn't a substitute for the official government portal, which is the only source that can give you a definitive answer for your specific passport.
Most travellers use the e-Tourist Visa
Citizens of 180+ countries and territories — including the US, UK, most of the EU, Canada, and Australia — are eligible for India's e-Tourist Visa, applied for entirely online before you travel.
It comes in three durations — 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years — all allowing multiple entries, with each individual stay capped at a set number of days depending on the visa type. It covers sightseeing, visiting friends or family, short yoga programmes, and short-term medical treatment — not work, study, journalism or business, which need a different visa category.
Timing the application
Apply online at the official government e-Visa portal — not a third-party site — a minimum of 4 days before you land, and up to 120 days in advance. Processing is typically 3–4 business days, but border and airport IT issues do happen, so applying a few weeks ahead rather than the week before is the safer habit.
Print a copy of your approved e-Visa to carry with you; some airlines and immigration desks still ask to see it on paper, not just on your phone.
The one vaccination certificate that can actually block entry
India doesn't require any vaccination for most travellers. The exception: if you're arriving from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk in the 6 days before landing in India, you must carry an original, WHO-format Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. It only becomes valid 10 days after the shot, so this needs sorting well before departure — not at the airport. Arriving without one when it's required can mean quarantine on arrival.
This only applies to travellers connecting through yellow-fever-risk countries (parts of Africa and South America) — if your route doesn't pass through one, it doesn't apply to you.
Where to get the definitive answer
Visa rules, fees and eligible-country lists change and vary by nationality — always confirm your specific requirements directly on India's official e-Visa government portal or through your nearest Indian embassy/consulate before booking flights, rather than relying on this page or any third-party blog for exact figures.
Ready to find your destination?
Answer four quick questions and get ranked matches from the same verified data.
Try the Trip Planner →