Travellers to India have to apply for a visa before departure. To apply for an e-visa online, the applicantʼs passport must meet certain requirements, among other things. Not all passports can be used to apply for an India e-visa More information about passport requirements and applying for an India e-visa can be found here.
Permitted travel purposes with an India e-visa
In the digital application form for the India e-visa on this website, you have to indicate what the purpose of your trip to India is. The e-visa that can be applied for through e-Visa.co.uk is suitable for tourist travel to India, for example, a holiday or visiting family or friends or business relations. Do you have another travel purpose, for example, because you want to study in India, work, or do volunteer work in the country? In that case, you need a different visa type. Contact the India High Commission for more information about applying for the correct visa type for your trip.
Requirements specific to your nationality and travel document
To apply for an India visa online, you have to hold a valid standard passport that was issued by a country that is part of the European Union, such as Ireland or Switzerland. Furthermore, the India e-visa can be applied for with a German childʼs passport (Kinderreisepass) and since 5 December 2022, citizens from the United Kingdom can apply for an India e-visa again. In the period following the COVID-19 pandemic, travellers to India from the United Kingdom were required to apply for a physical visa at the Indian High Commission. Travelers of other nationalities can check online to see if they are eligible to apply for an India e-visa.
Other requirements for your travel document
It is required that you carry the passport you used when applying for your e-visa with you during your trip to India. Have you started using a new passport after applying for your visa? According to the Indian authorities, your visa will remain valid, but in this case, you do have to travel with both your old and new passport. In this case, check with your airline well before departure whether they will let you check in if the visa was applied for with the old passport details. Do you no longer have the passport you used when applying for the visa? In that case, you have to apply for a new visa with your new passport.
Furthermore, keep in mind that the passport you use for your trip has to remain valid for at least six months upon arrival in India. Moreover, this passport needs to contain two empty visa pages (next to each other). It is important to know that children need to have their own passport and visa in order to be allowed to travel to India. Do you not have a standard passport but only a different identity document, such as an emergency passport, alien document, diplomat passport, or laissez-passer document? You cannot apply for an e-visa with those types of documents. In this case, you will have to apply for a physical visa at the India High Commission for your trip to India.
Additional document required for certain regions
For travel to most areas in India, a visa combined with a valid passport is sufficient. However, there are a few regions that do require additional permission. For travel to Gangtok, Rumtek, Phodang and Remayangtse in the Sikkim region, travellers, for example, require a Restricted Area Permit (RAP). This permit can be applied for at the Indian High Commission in your home country, but it can also be applied for at several offices and police stations in India. For travel to other parts of the Sikkim region, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand require a Protected Area Permit (PAP). Since 2011, travel to Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland does not require a special permit. Visitors to these regions must report to a Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) within 24 hours of their arrival.
It is permitted to travel to these regions for tourism, but it is recommended that you prepare well for a visit to these regions. Furthermore, keep in mind that it can be difficult for individual travellers to get the proper permits. For that reason, it is deemed wise to travel with a travel organisation for a visit to these regions. In that case, the travel organisation needs to ensure all permits are in order.
Please note: this news article about the visa for India is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the visa for India.