For a tourist or business trip to India, most travellers, including those from the UK and Ireland, require a visa. This visa has to be applied for before departure. Often, an online e-visa is sufficient. Travellers with the nationality of a limited number of countries can apply for a visa on arrival.

Visa requirement for India

Most travellers to India must comply with the Indian visa requirement. European travellers, including those from the UK and Ireland, can usually use an India e-visa for a holiday or business trip. This visa can easily be applied for online. Only travellers with Indian nationality and travellers with a valid OCI- of PIO-kaart do not require a visa. In most cases, travellers with Nepalese or Bhutanese nationality do not require an India visa.

Visa on Arrival: Japanese, South Koreans and Emiratis

Travellers from a limited number of countries do not have to apply for the visa before departure but can obtain one after arrival in India. These include travellers with a valid standard passport from Japan, South Korea or the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They are eligible for the Indian Visa on Arrival. Despite the fact that outdated official information can be found online that states something else, for travellers with another nationality, it is no longer possible to apply for the Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) after arrival in India. Previously, this was still possible for travellers with the nationality of another limited number of countries, such as Indonesia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Luxembourg and Finland.

Application for Visa on Arrival not possible everywhere in India

Travellers who are eligible for the Indian Visa on Arrival cannot apply for this visa everywhere in India. They can only do so at a select number of Indian airports. These include the airports of Delhi, Mumbai (or Bombay), Chennai, Kolkata (or Calcutta), Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Hyderabad. Previously, the TVOA visa could also be applied for at some other airports.

Travellers with the nationality of the United Arab Emirates can only apply for a Visa on Arrival if they have travelled to India in the past on a visa that had to be applied for before departure. This can be either a physical paper visa or one of the available e-visas.

E-visa provides security

Travellers who have doubts or questions about the requirements for the Indian Visa on Arrival are advised to contact the Indian Embassy. Travellers who may be eligible for a Visa on Arrivalcan also opt for the security and convenience of an online visa application instead. By applying for an India e-visa online, you already know whether you will receive a visa before departure.

The e-visa can easily be obtained online via e-Visa.co.uk. Applications from travellers that meet all the requirements and have been submitted correctly are almost never rejected. If you are not sure whether you are eligible for the India e-visa based on your nationality, you can easily check this online. Keep in mind that you also have to meet all the other requirements of this visa. You should check these before starting the application.

Apply before departure for India

Do you have a nationality that does not qualify you for a Visa on Arrival, but does qualify you for one of the India e-visas? Or are you eligible for the Visa on Arrival, but do you arrive at an airport at which you cannot apply for this visa? Or do you arrive by land or sea? Applying for an e-visa is an accessible way to obtain the required travel authorisation within a short space of time..

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.