India expands e-Visa eligibility and adjusts fee bands
Overview
The Bureau of Immigration extended e-Visa eligibility to additional nationalities and categories, and began biometric enrolment for arriving foreign nationals at major international airports.
Who is affected by the latest change
- Foreign nationals applying for an Indian e-Visa
- Travellers applying for an e-Tourist Visa
- Business travellers using the e-Business Visa
- People travelling to India for medical treatment or as medical attendants
- People travelling for eligible conferences
- Applicants whose nationality has a different fee from the standard rate
What changed in the latest version
Before
India used an existing e-Visa system for eligible foreign nationals. Visa fees changed based on nationality, visa type, and length. People applying had to check the fee for their nationality. They could not rely on one standard price. The e-Visa system already covered travel for tourism, business, medical reasons, medical attendants, and conferences.
After
The Government of India has added more countries whose citizens can get an e-Visa. Now, 174 countries or regions are eligible. India has also added new e-Visa types. These include e-Student Visa, e-Film Visa, e-Entry Visa, and e-Production Investment Visa. Key changes to existing e-Visas are: e-Tourist Visa (e-T1 V): You can get this visa for 30 days (multiple entry), one year (multiple entry), and five years (multiple entry). For the one-year and five-year e-Tourist Visas, you cannot stay in India for more than 180 days in one calendar year. e-Business Visa (e-B1 V): This visa is valid for one year (365 days) from when your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is granted. An ETA is official permission to travel to India without a physical visa stamp in your passport. It allows multiple entries. You cannot stay for more than 180 days during each visit. If you plan to stay longer than 180 days, you must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Office (FRO). e-Medical Visa (e-M1 V and e-M3 V): This visa is valid for one year (365 days) from your arrival date. e-M1 V allows multiple entries. e-M3 V allows three entries. e-Medical Attendant Visa (e-M2 V and e-M4 V): This visa is valid for sixty days from arrival. It allows multiple entries. Only two e-Medical Attendant Visas are given for each e-Medical Visa. e-Transit Visa (e-TR V): This visa is valid for 30 days from your first arrival in India. It allows multiple entries. e-Miscellaneous Visa (e-X1 V): This visa is valid for three months from your first entry. It allows multiple entries.
These updates greatly increase the number of people who can apply for an e-Visa to India. This makes the application process easier for citizens from more countries. New e-Visa types, such as the e-Student Visa and e-Production Investment Visa, have been added. Changes to existing types mean more travellers can use online visa applications. This includes students, business visitors who want to stay longer, and investors. For example, people needing longer stays for tourism or business now have five-year e-Tourist Visas and one-year e-Business Visas. These visas have clear rules about how long you can stay at one time. This makes planning longer stays in India simpler. The update also matters because your eligibility and the fee you pay depend on your nationality and the type of visa. For example, the current fee table shows that citizens of many eligible countries pay: US$10 for a 30-day e-Tourist Visa if they travel from April to June; US$25 for a 30-day e-Tourist Visa if they travel from July to March; US$40 for a one-year e-Tourist Visa; US$200 for a five-year e-Tourist Visa. These are not the same fees for everyone. Some nationalities have different rates or do not have to pay any fees.
Version history
- v1Effective 9 Jul 2026AnnouncementLow impactIndia expands e-Visa eligibility and adjusts fee bands
India has made more nationalities eligible for e-Visas. It has also changed the fees for different e-Visa lengths.