Indian e-Visa for Cruise Ship Travelers to India

Government of India allows entry to India via water and air. Cruise Ship passengers can travel to India. We cover all details here in this complete guide for Cruise Ship visitors.

Coming to India By Cruise Ship

Traveling by cruise ship has got a charm to it that nothing else could possibly replace. An ocean or sea voyage truly encapsulates the idea of the journey being more important than the destination. Cruise ships offer you the chance to relax while traveling, enjoy the ship’s amenities, and also have a novel adventure visiting different ports along the way. Seeing India from a cruise ship would offer the traveler a wholly unique experience and the India that you would get to witness would probably be very different from the one you’d get to witness on land.

You can easily travel to India on a cruise ship by Applying for an Online Visa to India for Cruise Ship Passengers. Indian Tourist e-Visa allows you to enter India. There are three type of Indian Tourist Visa (e-Visa India Online):

30 Days Indian e-Visa for Tourists, which allows entry twice for Cruise Ship passengers
1 Year Indian e-Visa for Tourists, Cruise Ship travellers can enter multiple times. If you are planning to enter India for 3 or more times, then you should apply for this Indian Tourist Visa
5 Year Indian e-Visa for Tourists, which allows entry twice for Cruise Ship passengers

There are just a few India Visa Requirements including Indian Visa Photo Requirements for Cruise Ship Passengers that you need to be aware of and you’ll find them all below. Once you know all these requirements you can easily apply for the Indian e-Visa for Cruise Ship online without having to visit the local Indian Embassy in your country in order to procure the Indian e-Visa.

When can you apply for the Visa to India for Cruise Ship Passengers?

You can apply for the Visa to India for Cruise Ship Passengers if you meet the eligibility conditions the Government of India has mandated for it. Firstly, you need to meet the eligibility conditions of the Indian Visa in general and be a citizen of the countries eligible for the Indian Visa. Then you also need to meet the eligibility condition specific to the Indian e-Visa for Cruise Ship Passengers, which is mainly just that the cruise ship you will be traveling on can only leave from and make stops at certain authorized seaports. These are:

Mumbai
Chennai
Cochin
Mormugao (aka Gao)
New Mangalore (aka Mangalore)

As long as you know the itinerary of your cruise tour and the ship would stop at and leave from only the authorized airports then you can apply for the Indian e-Visa. Otherwise you may have to apply for the traditional or paper Indian Visa, for which you would have to submit documents by mail and have an interview before the Visa is given, that can be a time consuming process.

Which e-Visa to apply for when applying for the Visa to India for Cruise Ship Passengers?

You need to apply for the Tourist e-Visa for India which is meant for travelers who are visiting India for the purposes of sightseeing and recreation.

Which Ports is Indian eVisa allowed?

Deendayal (Kandla), Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore (Kamarajar), Tuticorin (V O Chidambaranar), Visakhapatnam, Paradip, and Kolkata (including Haldia) are the thirteen major ports in India, in addition to Jawaharlal Nehru Port. eVisa is allowed on five ports. Refer to the latest list on Indian Airports and Seaports for eVisa.

Exploring Tourist e-Visa Options for Cruises to India

Facilitating a seamless and compliant entry into India is crucial. If your cruise itinerary involves either one or two stops in India, it is advisable to opt for the 30-Day Tourist e-Visa.

This visa allows you to stay in the country for 30 days from your entry date and permits double entry within its validity period.
It's important to note that the Date of Expiry on the 30-Day Tourist e-Visa indicates the deadline for entering the country, not the departure date.
The exit date is solely determined by your entry date and will be 30 days after that specific entry date.

Secondly, if your cruise itinerary includes more than two stops in India, applying for the 1 Year Tourist e-Visa is recommended.

This visa remains valid for 365 days from its issue date. Unlike the 30-Day Tourist Visa, the validity of the 1 Year Tourist Visa is based on its issue date, not the visitor's entry date.
It remains valid for a year from the date of issue.
Additionally, the 1 Year Tourist Visa is a Multiple Entry Visa, allowing multiple entries within its one-year validity period.

India Visa Requirements for Cruise Ship Passengers

If you are going to be traveling to India on a cruise ship and want to apply for the Indian Visa for the same then you need to meet certain India Visa Requirements for Cruise Ship Passengers by submitting certain documents and sharing some information. Following are the documents and information you will have to share:

An electronic or scanned copy of the first (biographical) page of the visitor’s passport, which must be the standard Passport, and which must remain valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into India, otherwise you would need to renew your passport.
A copy of the visitor’s recent passport-style colour photo (only of the face, and it can be taken with a phone), a working email address, and a debit card or a credit card for the payment of the application fees.
A return or onward ticket out of the country, and details about the trip within and from India.

Before 2020 cruise ship passengers, like all other travelers to India, were required to share their biometric data with India upon entering India. But since the process took too long for cruise ship passengers and was not the most efficient it has been stopped for the meanwhile till a more efficient method is thought of and is no longer one of the India Visa Requirements for Cruise Ship Passengers.

What is an e-Visa for an Indian cruise?

For travel, business, or medical reasons, foreign nationals can visit India using an electronic visa, or e-Visa.

Can a guest on a cruise ship apply for an e-Visa?

Yes, if a cruise ship is arriving in India through one of the approved seaports, the passenger may apply for an e-Visa.

When travelling by ship, how long does it take to obtain an e-Visa?

Four days is the usual processing period for an e-Visa application. To prevent any last-minute delays, it is advised to apply well in advance.

Q: For what duration is the eVisa valid?

After the date of arrival in India, the 30-day e-Visa can be used for up to 30 days of travel. Depending on your country, an eVisa valid for a year can be obtained for either 90 or 180 days.

Q: Can my Cruise e-Visa be extended?

e-Visas cannot be renewed, sorry. You will have to exit India and reapply for an e-Visa if you need to remain longer.

Q: I have an e-Visa; may I enter India by any seaport?

No, e-Visas may only be used to enter India through one of the country's five authorised seaports: Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Mormugao, or New Mangalore. Goa.

Q: Do my kids require their own e-Visas if they are travelling by cruise ship?

Indeed, each passenger—including minors—needs to obtain their own eVisa.

Q: Is a hardcopy of my maritime cruise or e-Visa required?

Yes, in order to produce your e-Visa at the port of entry, you must have a printout with you at all times.

Note that even Indian Business Visa holders and Indian Medical Visa holders can come to Indian by Cruise ship, although it is not a common scenario.

Which category of Cruise eVisa should I apply for in India?

Observe carefully, as the subsequent information is critical. You will be applying for either a thirty day or one year or a five year Indian Tourist eVisa. In the event that the cruise itinerary exceeds two visits to India, the thirty-day (double entry) visa will be invalid. Applicants should then submit an application for a one-year (multiple entry) visa. It is important to note that all locations must qualify as authorised ports of entry in the context of an e-Visa.

Please be apprised of the locations of arrival for the upcoming voyage. Regarding information on stays in India, please contact the cruise line or your travel agent. By applying for the appropriate visa and being aware of all the necessary stops, the traveller can avoid any complications while enjoying a much-needed vacation.

If you meet all eligibility conditions and requirements for the Visa to India for Cruise Ship Passengers, and are applying at least 4-7 days in advance of your entry into the country, then you should be able to quite easily apply for the Indian Visa whose Indian e-Visa Application Form is quite simple and straightforward.

There are over 171 nationalities eligible for Indian e-Visa Online. Citizens from United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Albania amongst other nationalities are eligible to apply for Online Indian Visa.