India Visa Policy

India’s visa policy outlines the requirements, rules, and regulations for foreign nationals traveling to the South Asian country.

The vast majority of visitors from abroad require a visa for India. There are different types of visa available, depending on the nationality of the traveler, the length of time they plan to stay in the country, and the purpose of the visit.

The electronic visa or e-Visa for India is available for the majority of nationalities. It can be obtained by completing a simple online application form. The India e-Visa is processed quickly and delivered to the applicant by email.

Three types of e-Visa for India exist: the India Tourist e-Visa, the India Medical e-Visa, and the India Business e-Visa. Each of these permits foreign nationals to stay in India for a short period of time for the specified purpose.

Citizens of a number of countries are not able to apply online and must obtain a visa from an Indian embassy instead.

Indian embassy visas and permits are also available for foreign nationals who wish to relocate to India, work or study in the country, or stay for longer periods than the e-Visas permit.

According to the visa policy of India, nationals of a select few sovereign states may enter the country visa-free and stay indefinitely. They also have the right to live and work in India without requiring any visas or permits.

Citizens of one country, the Maldives, may enter India visa-free for up to 90 days.

See below an in-depth list of regulations for traveling to India for travelers of different nationalities, as per Indian visa policy.

Foreign nationals visiting India for tourism must obtain an Indian tourist visa, with the exception of the small number of visa-exempt nationalities.

There are 2 types of tourist visa for India: the electronic visa and the consular visa.

Visitors from most countries are eligible to apply online for the India e-Visa. There are several types of e-Visa for India, depending on the purpose of the visit. One of these is the India Tourist e-Visa. This permits the holder to visit the country for up to 90 consecutive days for the purpose of tourism.

Citizens of around 70 countries must instead apply for a tourist visa for India at an overseas diplomatic mission like an embassy or consulate.

All foreign nationals who intend to stay in India for more than 90 days as a tourist must obtain the relevant Indian visa from an embassy.

Visitors from a select few countries do not require a visa to visit India as a tourist, although one of these has a limit of 90 days (for longer stays, an embassy visa is required).

Regardless of which Indian tourist visa is needed, international travelers must provide supporting documents and meet the necessary requirements when completing their application.

Further tourist information for each nationality can be found below.

The e-Visa for India is an electronic visa that can be acquired via an online application form.

Citizens of around 170 different countries are eligible to apply for an India e-Visa.

Indian e-Visas are granted for visiting the country for the purposes of tourism, business, and medical treatment. The terms of each of these types of e-Visas vary.

The India Tourist e-Visa permits international visitors to enter India multiple times and remain in the country for a maximum of 90 days per visit. It is valid for a full year (365 days) from the date of issue.

The Business e-Visa for India only permits the visitor to spend up to 180 days in the country. The validity of the India Business e-Visa is also 365 days from the date of approval and, like the Tourist e-Visa, it grants multiple entries.

The India Medical e-Visa is valid for 120 days and allows a foreign national to enter India up to 3 times to receive medical treatment. After the first entry, the following visits should be made within the next 60 days.

The maximum length of time a foreign national can stay in India with a Medical e-Visa is 60 days.

Up to 2 companions may also apply for an India Medical e-Visa in order to accompany the patient (these must be adults; children may only travel with a Medical e-Visa if they are the patient).

Check which nationalities are eligible to apply for an eVisa for India in the list below.

According to the visa policy of India, citizens of around 70 nations must visit an Indian embassy to apply for a consular visa in order to travel to the country.

These nationalities require an embassy visa for India in order to visit for any reason, including tourism, business, and medical treatment, and for any length of time, including short stays.

Travelers of all nationalities must obtain the relevant long-term visa and/or permits from an embassy if they plan to move to India or remain in the country for over 90 consecutive days (over 180 days for business visitors).

This may include an India Residence Permit, which allows a foreign national to live in India.

If the foreign national intends to work in the country, they will need an Employment Visa for India, according to Indian immigration policy.

An India Student Visa is required if the individual intends to study at an Indian university or other educational institution.

In order to obtain an embassy visa of any type, the foreign national must submit a completed Indian visa application form in person and provide supporting documentation, including a valid passport.

Find all the nationalities that require a consular visa for India for all purposes of visit below.

In line with Indian visa policy, there are a small number of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to enter India.

Nationals of Bhutan and Nepal, which both share borders with India, enjoy freedom of movement, as per the 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship and the 1949 Treaty between India and Bhutan.

Bhutanese and Nepalese travelers may enter India without a passport or visa unless they arrive from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, the Maldives or Pakistan.

Citizens of these countries have the right to stay in India indefinitely, as well as to work there. Likewise, Indian nationals may travel freely to Nepal and Bhutan.

Visitors from the Maldives may enter India visa-free for a maximum of 90 days (except if they arrive from mainland China). However, for longer stays or to live and work in India, Maldivians do require a visa.

See more information on the nationalities that do not require a visa to visit India below.