With the launch of electronic visa (e-visa) facility on 27/11/2014, tourists from 43 countries can apply for Indian visa in four simple steps. Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) presently known as e-Tourist Visa service is enabled through electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme.

The scheme was extended to the citizens of Guyana and Sri Lanka in January, 2015 and April, 2015 respectively. The e-Tourist Visa facility was further extended to the nationals of 31 countries in June, 2015

Under the e-Tourist Visa (eTV) scheme, a foreign tourist can apply for a visa by uploading his or her passport and photograph and paying visa fees online. Authorities process the application and send an electronic travel authorisation, or e-visa, through email within 72 hours.

This visa will allow entry of the tourists into India within 30 days from the date of approval of ETA and will be valid for 30 days stay in India from the date of arrival in India.

The tourists will be allowed to enter and depart from the following international airports: Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Amritsar, Gaya, Lucknow, Trichy, Varanasi and Ahmedabad.

Tourists availing this facility would be able to go for usual sightseeing and recreational activities. The tourism ministry has included facilities like short duration medical visit and casual business visit with e-visa.

Eligibility Criteria
• International Travellers whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation , sight seeing , casual visit to meet friends or relatives, short duration medical treatment or casual business visit.

• Passport should have at least six months validity.

• International Travellers should have return ticket or onward journey ticket,with sufficient money to spend during his/her stay in India.

• International Travellers having Pakistani Passport or Pakistani origin should apply for regular Visa at Indian Mission.

• Not available to Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders.

Required Documents
• Passport copy with validity of minimum 6 months. First page of passport PDF format (Max: 300kb)

• One Photograph white background without borders. The height and width of the Photo must be equal (JPEG Max: 1Mb)

• Copy of hotel booking

• Return Ticket

Visa Fees: $60 (The fee must be paid online 4 days before the expected date of travel)

Steps to Follow:
1. Apply online, upload photo and Passport Page. You will get 12 Characters application ID (Registered Number). Apply online minimum 4 days in advance. Click here to complete partially filled form.

2. Pay visa fee online using Credit/Debit Card

3. Receive ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) through your e-mail

4. Fly to India (Print ETA, Carry it at the time of travel)

Visa Status Enquiry: Click here

Reprint Visa Application Form: Click here

Validity of Visa: 30 days from the date of arrival in India. Non-extendable.  Maximum of two visits in a Calendar year.

Entry Ports: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is valid for entry through 9 designated Airports: Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.

Help Line: 24x7 Visa Support Call Center at +91-11-24300666 or send email to indiatvoa@gov.in

The TVoA enabled with ETA Scheme will facilitate nationals of 43 countries including:
Australia
Brazil
Cambodia
Cook Islands
Djibouti
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
Germany
Indonesia
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kingdom of Tongo
Laos
Luxembourg
Mauritius
Mexico
Myanmar
New Zealand
Niue Island
Norway
Oman
Palestine
Papua & New Guinea
Philippines
Republic of Kiribati
Republic of Korea (i.e. South Korea)
Republic of Marshall Islands
Republic of Nauru
Republic of Palau
Russia
Samoa
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Thailand
Tuvalu
UAE
Ukraine
USA
Vietnam
Vanuatu

OTHER POINTS TO NOTE
• The applicant should be of assured financial standing (the production of return ticket and availability of sufficient money to spend during his stay in India).

• The applicant is not a persona-non-grata to the Government of India.

• The citizens from the above named countries who want to come to India for longer duration will be granted visa by the Indian missions concerned.

• The facility shall not be available to citizens of above countries (Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore) if either of his/her parents or grand parents (paternal or maternal) was born in and was permanently resident in Pakistan. Such persons can visit India after obtaining appropriate visas from the Indian missions concerned.

• The tourist visa on arrival can neither be extended not converted to any other kind of visa during applicant's stay in India except in the following circumstances with the prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs:-

• The tourist visa on arrival may be converted to X (entry) visa if a foreigner who has come to India married an Indian national during the validity of his/her tourist visa on arrival. Proper documents including a copy of registered marriage certificate will be required for this.

• Tourist visa on arrival of foreigners who fall ill after their entry into India and require specialized medical treatment may be converted to medical visa. In such cases, tourist visa on arrival of the attendant may also be converted into medical attendant (MEDX) after submission of medical certificate from government/government recognized hospitals.

• This facility will not be applicable to holders of Diplomatic/official passports.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS RELATING TO INDIAN TOURIST VISA

1. As per the extant instructions of the Government of India, a Tourist Visa can only be granted to a foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives etc. No other activity is permissible on a Tourist Visa. The Tourist Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible.

(a) In respect of foreign nationals holding Tourist Visas with multiple entry facility, there should be a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to the country on such a Tourist Visa.

(b) If any foreign national is required to visit the country again within a period of 2 months of his last departure, such foreign national should obtain special permission from the Mission/Post concerned. The Mission/Post may consider such requests on merits of each case.

(c) In all such cases, the foreign national should register himself with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival. An endorsement to this effect will be made on the visa sticker.

(d) If a foreign national applies for Tourist Visa frequently i.e within one month of expiry of the previous Tourist Visa, the Indian Missions/Posts abroad would refer such cases to MHA (Foreigners Division) for clearance before grant of fresh Tourist visa.

Q.1: Whether the gap of two months between two visits would apply to all Tourist Visa holders ?
Ans.: The gap of two months between two visits would apply to all Tourist Visa holders.

Q.2: Whether the gap of two months between two visits would apply irrespective of the duration of stay in India during the previous visit ?
Ans.: The intention behind the stipulation of a gap of two months between two visits on a Tourist Visa is to curb the abuse/misuse of the Tourist Visa. With a view to ensure that the genuine tourists are not affected by the recent guidelines, the following clarifications are furnished:

(I) Foreigners holding Tourist Visas, who after initial entry into India plan to visit another country largely on account of neighbourhood tourism related travel and re-enter India before finally exiting, may be permitted two or three entries, as the case may be (need based), by the Indian Missions/Posts subject to their submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting documentation (ticket bookings). If they are already outside of their country of origin, they can also get such an endorsement from the nearest Indian Mission/Post.

(II) The Immigration authorities in all the Immigration Check Posts may also allow such foreign nationals on Tourist Visas arriving in India without the specific authorization from the Indian Missions/Posts to make two or three entries into the country (need based) subject to production of an itinerary and supporting documentation (ticket bookings).

(III) The total period of stay in the country counted from the date of first entry into the country shall not exceed the stay stipulation period of 180 days or 90 days, as the case may be.

(IV) Once such a foreign national finally exits the country after availing the facility of two or three entries (within the stay stipulation period of 180 days or 90 days as the case may be), there should be a gap of at least 2 months before he/she can come again to the country.

(V) If any foreign national falling in the category as mentioned in sub-para (IV) above is required to visit India again within a period of 2 months after his/her last departure, such foreign national should obtain special permission from the Mission/Post. Such re-entry within the stipulated gap of two months may be permitted only in emergent situations like death/serious illness in the family, non-availability of connecting flights to return to his/her country of origin or travel to another country or any other exigent situation which can be duly justified with proper documentation to the satisfaction of the Mission/ Post granting the permission. The Mission/Post will have to examine each case on merits before grant of requisite permission subject to the following conditions:-

(a) The applicant should furnish an undertaking on the following lines:-
(i) That the purpose of his/her visit is because of emergency situation.
(ii) That he is not engaged in Business activities, nor in Employment or pursuing studies/research etc.
(b) In all such cases i.e. those covered by sub-para V above, the foreign national should register himself with the FRRO/FRO concerned within 14 days of arrival. This registration may be
done with the FRRO/FRO concerned preferably at the first place of entry. An endorsement to this effect will be made on the visa sticker.

(VI) If a foreign national applies for Tourist Visa frequently i.e. within one month of expiry of the previous Tourist Visa, the Indian Missions/Posts abroad should scrutinise the application thoroughly and refer such cases to MHA (Foreigners Division) for clearance before grant of fresh Tourist visa.

Q.3: Whether the permission for the second visit within the period of 2 months in respect of foreign nationals falling in the category mentioned in sub para (V) in reply to Question (2) can be granted by the Posts?
Ans.: Yes.

Q.4: Whether the Mission/Post in any country can grant permission for the second visit within the period of 2 months in respect of foreign nationals falling in the category mentioned in sub para (V) in reply to Question (2) or whether this can be granted only by the Mission/Post in the country of origin of the applicant.
Ans.: The requisite permission can be granted by the Mission/Post in any country on merits of each case and subject to the conditions mentioned in sub-para (V) in reply to Question (2) above. Intimation about the grant of permission may be furnished to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) and to the Mission/Post from where the original Visa was issued.

Q.5: Whether the requirement of reference to the Ministry of Home Affairs in respect of those foreign nationals who apply for Tourist Visa within one month of expiry of the previous Tourist Visa would apply in respect of nationals of all countries?
Ans.: Yes.

Q.6: Are there any standard guidelines for the Indian Missions/Posts to decide the requests for re-entry within the stipulated gap of two months?
Ans.: The re-entry within the stipulated gap of two months, as mentioned in sub para (V) in reply to Question (2), may be permitted only in emergent situations like death/serious illness in the family, non-availability of connecting flights to return to his/her country of origin or travel to another country or any other exigent situation which can be duly justified with proper documentation to the satisfaction of the Mission/Post granting the permission. The Mission/Post will have to examine each case on merits before grant of requisite permission.

Q.7: In cases mentioned in sub para (V) in reply to Question 2, where will the foreigner register himself?
Ans.: The registration should be done with the FRRO/FRO concerned preferably at the first place of visit on re-entry.

Q.8: If a tourist’s passport is not stamped to indicate no re-entry within two months, can the tourist assume that he will be allowed to re-enter India within two months?
Ans.: No. Even if the tourist’s passport is not stamped, the restrictions as laid down will be applicable.

Q.9: Whether the restriction of two months gap for re-entering India is applicable to PIO/OCI card holders and foreigners holding business, employment, student and other categories of visa?
Ans.: No. The two months gap is applicable only to Tourist Visa holders.

Q.10: Whether any fee is required to be charged for making the requisite endorsement on the Passport.
Ans.: Miscellaneous Consular Service fee may be charged for making an endorsement.

Q.11: How will medical tourists who return regularly to India for onward treatment be handled?
Ans.: For persons coming for medical treatment, there is a separate category of Medical Visa. Foreign nationals coming for medical treatment will have to come only on Medical Visa and not on Tourist Visa.

Q.12: How will the family members of diplomatic households who do not qualify for diplomatic visas (e.g. older children or domestic partners) be handled?
Ans.: The family members of diplomatic households who do not qualify for diplomatic visas may have to come on an ‘Entry(X)’ Visa if eligible. If they come on Tourist Visa, the restrictions as laid down will be applicable.

Q.13: How will individuals who come to India to volunteer for various charity organizations be treated? Many of them travel around the region while volunteering in India for extended periods on tourist visas.
Ans.: Tourist Visa is not the appropriate visa in such cases. A person coming for voluntary work can apply for ‘Entry (X)’ Visa.
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