Foreign nationals keen to visit India for sightseeing or recreation, casual visits to meet friends and family or short term Yoga programme are eligible to apply for a 5 year India e-Tourist Visa.
Indian Immigration Authority has overhauled their e-Tourist Visa policies from September 2019. In order to realise the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of doubling the number of tourists coming to India, both domestic and foreign in 5 years, tourism minister Prahlad Singh Patel announced a spate of changes to Indian Online Visa. The minister stressed that we need to change the perception of foreign tourists coming to India and work together for that.
So with effect from September 2019, a long-term 5 year Indian Tourist Visa (India e-Visa) is now available to foreign tourists who desire to visit India multiple times in a span of 5 years.
e-Tourist Visa 30 days: Double entry visa valid for 30 days from date of entry in India.
e-Tourist Visa for 1 Year (or 365 days): Multiple entry visa valid for 365 days from date of grant of e-Visa.
e-Tourist Visa for 5 Years (or 60 months): Multiple entry visa valid for valid for 5 years from date of grant of e-Visa.
All visas mentioned above are non-extendable and non-convertible. If you have applied and paid for a 1 year Tourist Visa, then you cannot convert or upgrade that to a 5 year Visa.
A: The 5 Year Indian Tourist Visa permits eligible foreign nationals a maximum and continuous stay of 90 days per visit. However, citizens from the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan, holding this visa, can stay up to 180 days per visit to India.
A: Yes, overstaying in India may result in a substantial fine imposed by the government.
A: The visa's validity starts from the date it is granted, not from the day the applicant enters India.
5 year e-Tourist Visa is usually issued with 96 hours. However it is advisable to apply 7 days in advance of your flight.
A: The 5 Year Indian Visa application typically takes around 10-15 minutes to complete before making an online payment. The process is straightforward, requiring a valid passport, access to a device with a reliable internet connection, and an active email address.
A: For assistance with the online application, you can contact the Help Desk and Customer Support team through the Contact Us link on the website.
A: Yes, you can apply for the 5-year Indian Tourist Visa online. The e-tourist visa facility allows foreign nationals to apply for a visa without visiting an Embassy.
India e-tourist visa is granted to those who intend to travel to India for 1 or more of following reasons:
Read more about Tourist e-Visa for India
Click here to learn about Indian e-Visa Documents Requirements.