India Visa Application: What You Need to Know Before You Go
When you’re planning a trip to India, the India visa application, the official process to gain legal entry into India as a foreign visitor. Also known as an Indian tourist visa, it’s not just a form you fill out—it’s the first real step in your journey. Unlike some countries where visas are automatic, India requires you to get this right. Skip the guesswork. Get it wrong, and you could be stuck at the airport with no way out.
The India tourist visa, a digital or sticker visa issued to foreign nationals for short-term visits is what most travelers need. It’s valid for up to 10 years, lets you stay for 180 days per visit, and covers everything from the Golden Triangle to the beaches of Goa. You don’t need an agent. You don’t need to wait weeks. The whole thing can be done online in under 20 minutes—if you know where to click and what documents to upload. But here’s the catch: if your passport expires in less than six months, or if your photo doesn’t match the government’s strict size rules, your application gets rejected. No warning. No second chance.
Then there’s the visa requirements India, the set of documents and conditions needed to qualify for an India visa. You need a blank page in your passport. You need a recent photo with a white background. You need to show proof of return travel. And you need to pay the fee—$160 for most nationalities, but sometimes less if you apply during a promotion. The website says it’s simple. But thousands get tripped up by tiny details: a blurry photo, a mismatched name spelling, or forgetting to declare a past visa denial. It’s not complicated. It’s just precise.
And don’t assume your visa covers everything. If you’re planning to volunteer, work, or study—even for a few weeks—you need a different type of visa. The tourist visa won’t cut it. The India travel visa, the general term for any visa issued to foreign visitors entering India for tourism or short stays is only for sightseeing, family visits, or medical trips. Cross that line, and you risk fines, deportation, or being banned from re-entering.
Timing matters too. Apply at least two weeks before your flight. Even though the government says processing takes 72 hours, delays happen. Holidays in India, system updates, or a sudden spike in applications can push things back. And if you’re flying into a smaller airport—like Varanasi or Cochin—not every gate has a visa-on-arrival option. You must have your visa ready before you board.
Once you’re approved, you’ll get an email with an e-Visa PDF. Print two copies. Keep one with your passport. Save one on your phone. Border agents don’t always have working internet, and they won’t let you in without proof. And yes, they check. Not just your visa. They check your hotel bookings, your return ticket, even your bank balance if they feel like it. It’s not paranoia. It’s procedure.
What you’ll find below are real stories from people who got it right—and those who didn’t. You’ll see exactly how much a visa costs in different currencies, which documents actually get rejected most often, and how to fix mistakes before you even hit submit. There’s no fluff. No marketing. Just what you need to walk through immigration without a second glance.
