US citizens · e-Visa guide
India e-Visa: A Complete Guide for US Travelers
In brief
US citizens can get an e-Visa for India online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, the only official website. The e-Tourist visa costs $25 for 30 days ($10 in April–June), $40 for one year or $160 for five years, plus a 3% bank charge. Apply at least 4 days before you arrive.
Checked 30 Oct 2026Source: Government of India e-Visa portalReport a change
Independent reference, not a government website. We don't issue visas or sell visa services.
ContentsQuick answer
- Quick answer
- India e-Visa types
- India e-Visa fees for US citizens
- Indian e-Visa application
- Processing time
- Airports, seaports and land borders for e-Visa…
- e-Arrival card
- What the India e-Visa does not allow
- Avoid unofficial India e-Visa websites
- Official website
- India e-Visa fee history
- Warnings about other sites
- FAQ: India e-Visa
- Sources
- About this page
Quick answer: India e-Visa for US citizens
- e-Visa India: US citizen eligibility. Yes, US citizens can use it. The United States is on the official list of eligible nationalities.
- Is there a visa on arrival? Not for US citizens. India gives visa on arrival only to nationals of Japan, South Korea and the UAE, and UAE nationals only under conditions. You need an approved e-Visa or a regular visa before you fly.
- Where to apply: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. The Government of India says this is the only official website and that you do not need an intermediary.
- When to apply: at least 4 days and no more than 120 days before you travel.
- What you receive: an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email. The visa itself is stamped in your passport when you arrive in India.
- Cost: $10 to $160 for tourist visas, plus a 3% bank charge. Fees are non-refundable.
India e-Visa types: e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical and more
India's e-Visa covers tourism, business, medical treatment, study and a few special purposes. These are the types listed on the official portal on 30 October 2026.
| e-Visa type | Valid for | Entries | Stay rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| e-Tourist, 30 days | 30 days from your first arrival | More than one (see note) | Cannot be extended or converted |
| e-Tourist, 1 year | 365 days from the date the ETA is granted | Multiple | US citizens: up to 180 days per visit and 180 days per calendar year |
| e-Tourist, 5 years | 5 years from the date the ETA is granted | Multiple | US citizens: up to 180 days per visit and 180 days per calendar year |
| e-Business | 1 year from the date the ETA is granted | Multiple | Up to 180 days per visit; a longer stay needs registration with the FRRO/FRO |
| e-Business for conferences (formerly e-Conference) | 30 days from arrival | Single, per the Bureau of Immigration; the e-Visa portal says multiple | The organiser must upload the event on conference.mha.gov.in |
| e-Medical (including AYUSH treatment) | 60 days from first entry, per the Bureau of Immigration and the portal FAQ; the e-Visa portal visa-type box says 1 year | Triple, per the Bureau of Immigration; the portal box says multiple | Letter from the hospital in India required |
| e-Medical Attendant | Same as the patient's e-Medical visa | As the patient's visa | Up to two attendants per e-Medical visa |
| e-Student | 1 year from the date the ETA is granted | Multiple | — |
| e-Student dependant (e-Family) | 1 year from the date the ETA is granted | Multiple | — |
| e-Transit | 30 days from your first arrival | Multiple | — |
| e-Miscellaneous (e-Entry) | 3 months from your first entry | Multiple | — |
Where official pages disagree, this guide follows the Bureau of Immigration's visa terms, the most specific rules for each visa type, and names the other page.
The Indian e-Tourist visa comes in three lengths: 30 days, 1 year and 5 years. On the 30-day visa, the e-Visa portal says multiple entry, while the Bureau of Immigration says double entry; plan for no more than two entries. For the 30-day e-Tourist visa, your first arrival must fall between the issue date and the expiry date shown on the ETA. The e-Tourist visa also covers short courses (with a letter from the institution) and short unpaid voluntary work of up to one month.
Which e-Tourist visa India offers suits you? For one trip of under a month, the 30-day e-Tourist visa is the cheapest. If you may come back within a year, the 1-year visa at $40 costs less than two 30-day visas at the $25 rate. The 5-year visa suits frequent visitors. On both long e-Tourist visas, US citizens may stay up to 180 days per visit, and no more than 180 days in total per calendar year. Other nationalities are limited to 90 days per visit.
India e-Visa fees for US citizens
Fees depend on your nationality. These are the amounts for the Indian e-Visa for US citizens in the official fee tables.
| e-Visa type | Fee for US citizens |
|---|---|
| e-Tourist, 30 days (April to June) | $10 |
| e-Tourist, 30 days (July to March) | $25 |
| e-Tourist, 1 year | $40 |
| e-Tourist, 5 years | $160 |
| e-Business | $140 |
| e-Medical | $100 |
| e-Medical Attendant | $100 |
What else to know about the fee:
- Bank charge. A bank transaction charge of 3% is added to every e-Visa fee. The SBIePay payment gateway lists 3% for cards and 4% for PayPal. Example: a 1-year e-Tourist visa paid by card costs $40 + $1.20 = $41.20.
- Non-refundable. You do not get the fee back if the ETA is rejected.
- No express fee. The government charges no emergency or express fee. There is no official fast-track e-Visa.
- Nothing to pay at the airport. The official portal warns against anyone who asks for more money on arrival.
- The seasonal rate. The fee table shows $10 for April to June and $25 for July to March. It does not say whether the season depends on the date you apply or the date you arrive.
- Newer types. The published tables do not list fees for e-Student, e-Transit, e-Family or e-Miscellaneous visas.
Indian e-Visa application: step by step
The e-Visa India application is entirely online. You do not visit an embassy or a visa centre.
- Check that you can use the e-Visa. Your US passport must be valid for at least six months and have at least two blank pages for the immigration stamp. You must not belong to a group that has to apply for a regular visa (see What the India e-Visa does not allow).
- Open the official site. Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa and start a new application.
- Upload your photo and passport page. The photo rules are below. The passport bio page must be a PDF of 10 KB to 300 KB.
- Upload the documents for your visa type. All documents must be in English, or the application may be rejected.
- Pay the fee online by card or PayPal; the payment page may offer other wallets. Pay at least 4 days before your travel date, or the application will not be processed.
- Track the application on the status enquiry page. You can confirm your payment on the payment verification page.
- Receive the ETA by email. Before you fly, check that the status says GRANTED. Print a copy and carry it.
- Arrive in India. Show the ETA at the immigration counter. Officers take your biometrics and stamp the e-Visa in your passport.
Photo requirements
- Format JPEG, file size 10 KB to 1 MB.
- Square: the height equals the width.
- Full face, front view, eyes open, no glasses.
- The whole head shown, from the top of the hair to the chin.
- Plain white or light-coloured background, no shadows on the face or background, no borders.
The portal does not give pixel dimensions, so follow the list above exactly.
Documents by e-Visa type
| e-Visa type | Upload in addition to photo and passport page |
|---|---|
| e-Tourist | Nothing else, except a letter for a short course or voluntary work |
| e-Business | Business card; an invitation letter is optional |
| e-Business for conferences | Invitation from the organiser, political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs and event clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs |
| e-Medical | Letter from the hospital in India on its letterhead, with the date or tentative date of admission |
You should also be able to show a return or onward ticket and enough money for your stay.
Processing time: how long the India e-Visa takes
The official e-Visa page does not give a standard processing time. It says only that the result, Granted or Rejected, is sent by email. If a document has to be uploaded again, the request normally arrives within 24 hours.
What this means in practice:
- The minimum is fixed: the fee must be paid at least 4 days before you travel.
- You can apply up to 120 days ahead, so apply as soon as your dates are firm.
- No official service makes the e-Visa faster. Paying a third party does not change the government's queue.
Airports, seaports and land borders for e-Visa holders
You must enter India through a designated immigration check post. You can use any designated port, even if you named a different one in your application. You may leave through any authorised immigration check post.
Airports (37). Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhogapuram, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa (Dabolim), Goa (Mopa), Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Port Blair, Pune, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Trichy, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam.
The portal's FAQ still mentions 33 airports. The newer list of 37 adds Navi Mumbai, Bhopal, Tirupati and Bhogapuram.
Seaports. The check-post list on the e-Visa portal and the Bureau of Immigration's list of e-Visa entry points both name 38 seaports, including Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai, New Mangalore and Port Blair. The portal's older FAQ still says 19 seaports, and that cruise passengers enter through five: Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Goa and Mangalore. We follow the Bureau's list.
Land borders. The Bureau of Immigration's list of e-Visa entry points and the portal's check-post list now include 12 land ports, such as Attari, Raxaul and Dawki. The portal's older FAQ still says entry is only through designated airports and seaports. We follow the Bureau's list; if you plan to cross by land, you can also ask the e-Visa helpdesk.
e-Arrival card
Since 1 October 2025, India uses a digital arrival card. The Bureau of Immigration says foreign nationals must complete the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before arrival. Use indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app.
- It is free.
- It records your arrival details. It is not a visa and does not replace the ETA.
- Fill it in after you have your ETA, within the 72 hours before you land.
The Bureau of Immigration also says all arriving passengers must complete the Air Suvidha self-declaration form, a health form, at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in before they reach the immigration counters. It is separate from the e-Visa and the e-Arrival card.
What the India e-Visa does not allow
- No extension or conversion. You cannot extend the e-Visa or change it into another visa type in India.
- No protected, restricted or cantonment areas without prior permission. A Restricted or Protected Area Permit is needed for all of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and for parts of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. From abroad, apply through an Indian mission at least 30 days ahead.
- No employment, NGO work or journalism. For these you need a regular visa. Short unpaid voluntary work of up to one month is allowed on the e-Tourist visa.
- Some applicants must apply for a regular visa: people with a defence, military, security or police background, serving or retired; holders of official or diplomatic passports; and people of Pakistani origin, including those whose parents or grandparents were born or permanently lived in Pakistan.
If you renewed your passport
If you got a new passport after your ETA was issued, you can travel on the new passport, but carry the old one too. The portal also offers an ETA transfer to a new passport.
Avoid unofficial India e-Visa websites
Some private websites offer to file the India e-Visa for you and add their own fee. The Government of India says indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa is the only official website. It warns against "unscrupulous elements who claim speedy/express grant of e-Visa and charge money for it". The Bureau of Immigration adds that no agent or intermediary is authorised to charge a fee for an express e-Visa. The Embassy of India in Washington names e-touristvisaindia.com, indianvisaonline.org.in, e-visaindia.com and indiavisa.org.in as examples of websites that mimic Government of India pages.
To get an Indian e-Visa online without paying extra, check the website first:
- The official address ends in .gov.in. Apply for your e-Visa India online only there.
- The official fee is in the table above. A "service fee" on top is not a government charge.
- The government sells no express e-Visa. An "urgent" or "priority" option is a sign of an intermediary.
- Official support is available by email at indian-evisa@gov.in and by phone on +91 827808 7808 or +91 11 24300666.
Official website and app
indianvisaonline.gov.in: where to apply
Q3. Is there any other website apart from the government website to apply for the e-Visa application? ... Ans- No, https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ is only the official website to apply for the e-Visa Services.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedindianvisaonline.gov.in: where to check your application
Ans- Yes, you may check the status of your e-Visa application by visiting our website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ and clicking on 'Check your Visa Status' Tab provided on the website.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedboi.gov.in: official information
Those travelling to India are also advised to go through instructions available on the website of Bureau of Immigration at https://boi.gov.in.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedconference.mha.gov.in: official information
e-Business Visa (e-B5 V) ... Organizers to upload all details & documentation on the MHA website (conference.mha.gov.in)
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedIndian Visa Su-Swagatam app · App Store · Google Play
Foreigners and OCI Card holders can complete and submit the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before their arrival in India at boi.gov.in or indianvisaonline.gov.in or via official 'Indian Visa Su-Swagatam' Mobile App. This is for arrival information, not a visa.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked
India e-Visa fee history
Each amount with the act or notice that set it, newest first.
- For US citizens the e-Tourist fee table dated 23 December 2025 lists USD 10 (30 days, April to June), USD 25 (30 days, July to March), USD 40 (1 year) and USD 160 (5 years), plus a 3% bank charge. Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table dated 23-December-2025. Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 23 Dec 2025
- As of For US citizens the e-Tourist fee table dated 6 August 2025 lists USD 10 (30 days, April to June), USD 25 (30 days, July to March), USD 40 (1 year) and USD 80 (5 years). Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table dated 06-August-2025. Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 12 Nov 2025
- As of The e-Tourist fee document archived on 4 November 2021 says the 30-day single-entry e-Tourist visa is presently free of any visa fee for the listed countries, which include the UAE and the United States of America. Set by: e-Visa portal notice: 30 Days (single entry) e-tourist visa on gratis basis. Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 4 Nov 2021
- As of For US citizens the e-Tourist fee table archived on 21 September 2019 lists USD 10 (30 days, April to June), USD 25 (30 days, July to March), USD 40 (1 year) and USD 80 (5 years). Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table (undated, archived 2019-09-21). Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 21 Sep 2019
- For UK nationals the e-Tourist fee table dated 23 December 2025, in the version archived on 24 December 2025, lists USD 10 (30 days, April to June), USD 25 (30 days, July to March), USD 40 (1 year) and USD 484 (5 years). Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table dated 23-December-2025 (version archived 2025-12-24). Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 24 Dec 2025
- For UK nationals the first version of the e-Tourist fee table dated 23 December 2025, archived on 23 December 2025, lists USD 448 for the 5-year e-Tourist visa; the version with the same date archived a day later lists USD 484. Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table dated 23-December-2025 (version archived 2025-12-23). Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 23 Dec 2025
- As of For UK nationals the e-Tourist fee table dated 6 August 2025 lists USD 10 (30 days, April to June), USD 25 (30 days, July to March), USD 40 (1 year) and USD 80 (5 years). Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table dated 06-August-2025. Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 12 Nov 2025
- For nationals of Canada and the United Arab Emirates the e-Tourist fee table dated 23 December 2025 lists USD 10 (30 days, April to June), USD 25 (30 days, July to March), USD 40 (1 year) and USD 200 (5 years). Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table dated 23-December-2025. Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 23 Dec 2025
- As of For nationals of Canada and the United Arab Emirates the e-Tourist fee table dated 6 August 2025 lists USD 10 (30 days, April to June), USD 25 (30 days, July to March), USD 40 (1 year) and USD 80 (5 years). Set by: Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $), e-Visa portal fee table dated 06-August-2025. Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked · read from an archived copy of 12 Nov 2025
Official warnings about other sites
Only what governments, regulators and courts have published, quoted word for word. We don't label any website ourselves.
On 21 May 2019 the High Commission of India in Wellington warned that fake or unauthorised websites with names similar to the authorised website misguide e-Visa applicants and sometimes charge two to three times the actual fee, named seven such websites, and said https://indianvisaonline.gov.in is the only authorised website for Indian e-Visas.
BEWARE OF FAKE / UNAUTHORIZED WEBSITES OFFERING E-VISA OF INDIA Despite our regular efforts to increase awareness, applicants for Indian E-Visa still keep falling prey to fake / unauthorized websites. Such websites operate in the guise of names which appear similar to the authorized website. They misguide visa applicants and sometimes dupe them of their money by charging two-three times the actual E-Visa Fee. Some such fake websites are: https://www.evisatoindia.org.in https://www.evisaindia.com https://www.indianevisaservice.org https://www.indiaimmigration.org https://www.evisaindia.org.in https://www.indianonlineevisas.org.in https://www.indiaevisa.org Though continuous efforts are being made to curb this practice, some of these websites operate from outside India and are thus outside the judicial purview of Government of India. All e-visa applicants are once again advised that https://indianvisaonline.gov.in is the only authorized website for grant of E- Visas for India. ... 21 May 2019
Published High Commission of India, Wellington · checkedThe Embassy of India in Washington DC says fake visa websites claiming to provide e-Tourist visa services, some mimicking Government of India websites, operate online, names e-touristvisaindia.com, indianvisaonline.org.in, e-visaindia.com and indiavisa.org.in as prominent examples, and says the correct website is indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Important Advisory on Fake Indian Visa website ... It has been brought to our notice that a number of fake visa websites are operating on the internet , claiming to provide e-Tourist visas services to visa applicants. In order to mislead applicants, some of these websites have created images and home page templates mimicking the GoI websites for e-Tourist visa applicants. A few such prominent websites are listed below: e-touristvisaindia.com indianvisaonline.org.in iii. e-visaindia.com indiavisa.org.in It is advised that the correct website is indianvisaonline.gov.in. Applicants are requested not to rely on any other website for e-Tourist visa services.
Embassy of India, Washington DC · checked · read from an archived copy of 17 Apr 2025The Embassy of India in Moscow relays a Government of India notice that fake visa websites claiming to provide e-Tourist Visa services operate online and have led to complaints of fraud, names e-touristvisaindia.com, indianvisaonline.org.in and e-visaindia.com as prominent ones, and says the correct website is indianvisaonline.gov.in.
"It has been brought to the notice of the Government of India that a number of fake visa websites are operating on the internet, claiming to provide e-Tourist Visa services to visa applicants desiring to travel to India. In recent months, there has been an increasing number of complaints relating to frauds perpetrated by these websites. In order to mislead applicants, some of these websites have created images and home page templates mimicking the Government of India websites for e-Tourist Visa applicants. A few prominent ones out of these are listed below : i. e-touristvisaindia.com ii. indianvisaonline.org.in iii. e-visaindia.com All the visa applicants are hereby informed that the correct website is indianvisaonline.gov.in. It is further advised not to deal with other websites that do not belong to the Government of India and therefore should not be relied on for e-Tourist Visa services.
Embassy of India, Moscow · checked · read from an archived copy of 8 Feb 2026On 20 May 2019 the High Commission of India in Malta warned that fake websites claiming to provide e-Visa services operate online and said e-Visas are offered only through the Ministry of Home Affairs website www.indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Advisory on Fake online e-Visa websites Posted on: May 20, 2019 ... ADVISORY REGARDING FAKE VISA WEBSITES It has come to our notice that a number of fake websites, claiming to provide e-Visa services to visa applicants desiring to travel to India, are operating on the internet. It may be noted that services for e-Visa to India are offered only through Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) website www.indianvisaonline.gov.in. Applicants, desirous of applying for e-Visa, should apply only through the official website www.indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Published High Commission of India, Malta · checkedThe e-Visa portal says https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ is the only official website for e-Visa services, that no intermediary or travel agent is needed, and warns against people who claim speedy or express e-Visas for money and against sharing personal data with unauthorised websites.
Note - Services of e-Visa are completely online and no facilitation is required by any intermediary / travel agents etc. It is advised not to believe or fall in trap of any such unscrupulous elements who claim speedy/express grant of e-Visa and charge money for it. Do not share your personal information with any unauthorized website as it may lead to leakage of your personal data. Only visit the official website https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ for e-Visa service.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedThe e-Visa portal says the Government of India makes no provision for emergency or additional fees for an emergency or express e-Visa.
Advisory Government of India makes no provision of charging of any emergency fees or additional fees for grant of any emergency / express e-visa.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checked
Show 4 more official warnings
The e-Visa portal says nothing more is payable at the airport and advises applicants to beware of unscrupulous elements, travel agents and intermediaries demanding extra payment.
Q14. Do I have to pay anything else at the airport for e-Visa (other than the processing fee paid by me online)? ... Ans- No. You have already paid the required processing fee online. The applicants are advised to beware of unscrupulous elements/ travel agents/ intermediaries demanding extra payment.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedThe Indian Visa Online portal says the Government of India does not authorise any agent or intermediary to charge fees for emergency or express visas, e-Visas or the e-Arrival card.
Advisory: ... The Government of India does not authorize any agent or intermediaries to charge fees for emergency, express visa, eVisas and eArrival card.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedThe Bureau of Immigration says the Government of India has not authorised any agent or intermediary to charge a fee for arranging an emergency or express visa or an e-Visa.
Advisory/Guidelines ... Government of India has not authorized any Agents/Intermediary to charge any fee for facilitation of emergency/expressVisa/eVisa.
Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India · checkedThe High Commission of India in Malta warns that fake e-Visa websites, some mimicking Government of India websites, operate online, links a list of prominent fake websites, and says the correct website is indianvisaonline.gov.in.
It has been brought to our notice that a number of fake E-visa websites are operating on the internet, claiming to provide E-visas services to visa applicants. In order to mislead applicants, some of these websites have created images and home page templates mimicking the Govt. of India's websites for E-visa application. A list of prominent fake websites is may be seen here. It is advised that the correct website for E-visa is indianvisaonline.gov.in. Applicants are requested not to apply on any other website for E-visa services.
High Commission of India, Malta · checked
FAQ: India e-Visa
How much is the India e-Visa fee for US citizens?
The e-Tourist visa costs $25 for 30 days ($10 in the April to June rate period), $40 for one year and $160 for five years. The e-Business visa costs $140, and the e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant visas cost $100 each. A 3% bank charge is added.
How do I check my Indian e-Visa status?
Use the status enquiry page on the official site: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/StatusEnquiry. The decision itself arrives by email. The Indian Embassy and consulates in the US cannot see e-Visa applications: the Bureau of Immigration in New Delhi processes them. For questions, contact the e-Visa helpdesk.
How do I download my India e-Visa?
The approval comes as an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email. Print it and carry it. The visa is stamped in your passport when you arrive, so there is nothing else to download.
Can US citizens get a visa on arrival in India?
No. India's visa on arrival is only for nationals of Japan, South Korea and the UAE. US citizens need a granted e-Visa or a regular visa before they travel.
How long can I stay in India on an e-Tourist visa?
On the 30-day e-Tourist visa, 30 days from your first arrival. On the 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist visas, US citizens may stay up to 180 days per visit, and no more than 180 days in total per calendar year. You do not need to register with the authorities.
Regular visa or e-Visa? Indian visa options for US citizens
Most US visitors on tourism, business or medical trips can use the e-Visa. You need a regular visa from an Indian mission for employment, journalism or NGO work, or if you belong to a group that cannot use the e-Visa, such as people with a military or police background.
How early can I apply for the India e-Visa?
Up to 120 days before your travel date. The latest is 4 days before arrival, and the fee must be paid by then.
Is the India e-Visa single or multiple entry?
The 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist visas allow multiple entries. For the 30-day visa, the e-Visa portal says multiple entry and the Bureau of Immigration says double entry. Until they agree, plan for no more than two entries.
Sources
Official sources only. Each was checked on the date shown.
- Government of India e-Visa portal: instructions, FAQ, eligible countries, ports
- Government of India: e-Tourist visa fee table (PDF)
- Government of India: e-Business, e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant fee table (PDF)
- Government of India: e-Visa application status enquiry
- Government of India: e-Visa payment verification
- Government of India: ETA transfer to a new passport
- Government of India: e-Arrival card
- Bureau of Immigration: terms and conditions of your visa
- Bureau of Immigration: general guidelines (e-Arrival card)
- Bureau of Immigration: country-specific guidelines (USA)
- Bureau of Immigration: restricted and protected areas
- Bureau of Immigration: how to apply (Air Suvidha self-declaration)
- Embassy of India, Washington DC: e-Arrival card notice
- Embassy of India, Washington DC: warning about fake visa websites
- Embassy of India, Washington DC: e-Visa queries
About this page
By the Visa Almanac editorial team. We research and fact-check every rule against the official sources linked on this page. Editorial policy · Change log Last checked: 30 Oct 2026 · Updated: 31 Oct 2026 · Report a change
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