India’s eVisa system provides a streamlined, fully online pathway for tourists from over 160 countries to experience the nation’s rich heritage, bustling markets, and serene hill stations in 2026, eliminating the need for embassy visits or paper applications. This comprehensive guide explores every aspect of the process in detail, from selecting the right visa type to navigating potential rejection triggers, ensuring you submit a flawless application that maximizes approval chances on the first attempt.
India’s e-Tourist Visa comes in three distinct categories, each crafted to suit different travel durations and frequencies while adhering to strict entry and stay regulations. The 30-Day e-Tourist Visa activates from your date of arrival and permits two entries within a continuous 30-day period, making it perfect for brief vacations like a quick trip to Agra or Goa. In contrast, the 1-Year e-Tourist Visa remains valid for 365 days from issuance, allowing multiple entries with no single stay exceeding 90 continuous days, ideal for travelers planning several short visits throughout the year.
To qualify, your passport must stay valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure from India and include at least two blank pages for stamps. Entry and exit occur exclusively through 27 designated airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, or Bengaluru, or five specific seaports. Certain nationalities face higher fees, and individuals with Pakistani origin or recent Pakistani visas must pursue traditional visa routes instead.
| Type | Validity Period | Entries Allowed | Max Stay per Visit | Typical Fee Range (USD) | Ideal Travel Scenario |
| 30-Day Tourist | From date of arrival | Double entry | 30 days continuous | 10-25 | Short cultural trips |
| 1-Year Tourist | 365 days from grant | Multiple | 90 days continuous | 40-80 | Repeat vacations |
| 5-Year Tourist | 5 years or passport expiry | Multiple | 90 days continuous | 80-150 | Frequent long-term visits |
5 Easy Step-by-Step Application Guide for e-visa
- Prepare Your Documents Thoroughly: Begin by scanning the biographical data page of your passport as a PDF file sized between 10-300KB, ensuring the entire page including edges is clearly legible with no blurriness or glare. Take a recent front-facing color photograph against a plain white or light background, where your head and upper shoulders occupy about 80% of the frame; save it as a JPEG file between 10KB-1MB, at least 350×350 pixels, without glasses, hats, shadows, or filters to meet automated validation standards.
- Access the Application Portal and Enter Basic Details: Navigate to the eVisa section, select your nationality, passport type (ordinary), and choose “e-Tourist Visa” as the category. Input your expected date of arrival (at least 4 days from submission), date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format, and email address where notifications will arrive; also note the generated 9-digit Application ID immediately, as it allows saving progress and tracking later.
- Fill Personal and Passport Information Precisely: Enter your full name exactly as printed on the passport (including middles names, no abbreviations), gender, city/country of birth, national ID (or NA), religion, visible marks (moles/scars), educational qualification, and how you acquired citizenship (birth or naturalization). Provide passport number, place/date of issue/expiry, and details of any other passports held; for address, list current street/village/city, state, postal code, phone, and mobile numbers accurately.youtube+1
- Complete Family, Occupation, and Travel History Sections: Add parents’ names, nationalities, birth places/countries, your marital status, occupation (e.g., Employed/Self-Employed from dropdown), employer details if applicable, and reference contacts in India (hotel or friend) and home country. Disclose all prior India visits, SAARC travels in last 10 years (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, etc., excluding home), countries visited recently, and booked accommodations/tour operators; select exact arrival port (e.g., Delhi Airport) and exit port from dropdowns.
- Upload Documents, Review, and Pay Fees: Drag and drop your photo (align head in frame) and passport scan, then verify all entered data matches your documents exactly. Generate the application PDF for records, proceed to payment via credit/debit card (fees US$10-150 based on type/nationality), and submit; expect ETA email in 72 hours—track status with Application ID and passport number, then print the approval for immigration.
Top 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Name or Passport Detail Mismatches: Entering variations like “Jon” instead of “John” or incorrect issue dates leads to instant rejection, as the system cross-checks against uploads. Always copy verbatim from the passport’s machine-readable zone at the bottom and proofread twice before proceeding.
- Incorrect Photo or Scan Formats: Uploading blurry images, wrong file types/sizes, colored backgrounds, or off-center faces fails auto-validation in 40% of cases. Use natural light for photos, free resizing tools for specs, and test scans for full clarity on desktop before submission.
- Incomplete Travel History or Vague Plans: Hiding past India/SAARC visits or listing generic itineraries (e.g., “India tour”) raises overstay suspicions. Provide exact dates, places from old passports, real flight/hotel bookings, and a day-by-day schedule to demonstrate strong return intent.
- Using Unofficial Sites or Late Applications: Third-party agents deliver fake ETAs or scams, while submitting under 4 days before travel gets denied. Apply 30-60 days early through verified channels only, avoiding WhatsApp/email solicitors.
- Missing Financial Ties or Proof: Lacking bank statements ($50/day minimum), job letters, or home ties prompts doubts. Attach 3-month statements ($2000+ for 2 weeks), employer NOC, and property/family proofs to strengthen credibility.
Mastering these numbered steps and pitfalls positions you for 95%+ approval rates, paving the way for an uninterrupted Indian adventure in 2026.Strengthen your application with supporting documents like salary slips or an employer’s no-objection letter, detailed itineraries covering accommodations and activities, and proof of ties to your home country (property deeds, family details). If rejected, analyze the email explanation, correct issues, and reapply within 10 days using the same Application ID no extra fee required. At entry points, carry multiple ETA printouts, your passport, and return tickets, as digital versions alone may cause delays or fines.
Ready to secure your India e-Visa for 2026 without delays? Connect now with our experts at Future Fly Services for personalized application support and fast approvals!