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FAQ India – Frequently Asked Questions about Indian Visa

The electronic visa can be applied for no earlier than 120 days before the planned trip and should be requested at least 2 to 4 days in advance. Note that processing for a traditional visa takes 7-10 business days. The ETA is officially issued within 4 days. From experience, it is often completed much faster, within 1 to 2 days. However, we cannot guarantee the faster issuance of the ETA.
Standard processing takes 7 to 10 business days. The e-visa for India is officially issued within 96 hours (4 days). From experience, it is often much faster (about 1 to 2 days).

With an Indian Tourist e-Visa, UK citizens can usually stay up to 30 days per visit. Longer visas, such as a 1-year or 5-year multiple-entry visa, allow stays of up to 90 days per visit (tourism) or 180 days for business travel. The conditions may vary depending on the visa category,

  • For e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years), the validity would be 365 days / 05 years from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and Maximum stay in India during one Calender Year should not exceed 180 days.
  • For e-Tourist Visa (30 days), the validity would be 30 days from the date of your first arrival in India. Double entries will be granted within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport. Your first arrival must be between the date of issue and expiry of ETA.
  • For e-Business Visa, the validity would be 365 days from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and continuous stay during each visit which shall not exceed 180 days and no registration would be required if stay is for a period of less than 180 days. However, if the intention is to stay for more than 180 days, then the foreigner shall get himself/herself registered with the FRRO/FRO concerned within two weeks after the expiry of 180 days of his/her arrival in India.
  • For e-Conference Visa, the validity would be 30 days from the date of arrival in India with Single entry.
  • For e-Medical Visa, the validity would be 60 days from the date of first arrival in India and triple entry will be allowed within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport.
  • For e-Medical Attendant Visa, the validity would be 60 days from the date of first arrival in India and triple entry will be allowed within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport.

Applicants can get assistance directly from the official Indian e-Visa website, at the Indian Visa Application Centres in the UK operated by VFS Global, or through professional visa agencies that provide personalised support with form completion, documents, and urgent processing

In addition, professional visa agencies can also assist. These agencies do not only provide general support but also offer personalized services tailored to your individual situation – for example, for complex travel plans, urgent departures, or specific visa categories.

1a Visas offers an individually customized service: we check your documents, advise you on the most suitable visa category, prepare and complete your application, and ensure timely submission. Upon request, we can also arrange express processing. This means you receive a personal, stress-free service and can be confident that your application will be complete and accurate.

Most UK travellers use the India e-Visa, which is issued online and electronically linked to your passport. You receive a PDF confirmation that should be printed and carried with you. However, if you are travelling for employment, study, research, journalism, or other long-term purposes, you may need to apply for a paper visa at the Indian Visa Application Centre in the UK.

However, if you are travelling for employment, study, research, journalism, or other long-term purposes, you will need to apply for a paper visa. These applications must be submitted through the Visa Application Centre in the UK (VFS Global), under the guidance of the High Commission of India in London.

Paper visas can be more complex, as they often require additional supporting documents, physical submission, and in-person appointments. A professional visa agency such as 1a Visas can provide personalized support: we review your documents, advise on the correct visa type, prepare your application file, arrange appointments, and ensure timely submission. This tailored assistance is especially valuable for urgent travel plans or when navigating more complex visa categories.

Most UK travellers apply for the Indian Tourist Visa (also known as India travel visa), which is available as an e-Visa for short visits. If you are visiting for business meetings, conferences, medical treatment, or long-term stays, you may need a Business Visa, Medical Visa, or another category. The visa type depends on the purpose of your trip, check for more details on the Embassy of India in London website.
The visa fee depends on the type of visa and its validity period. Below is an overview of the most common Indian visa fees for UK applicants (approximate government fees, excluding service charges):

  • Tourist e-Visa 30 days (double entry) £25 – £35
  • Tourist e-Visa 1 year (multiple entry) £40 – £45
  • Tourist e-Visa 5 years (multiple entry) £60 – £70
  • Business e-Visa 1 year (multiple entry) £60 – £70
  • Medical e-Visa Up to 60 days £25 – £35

Fees may change depending on government policy, and additional service charges may apply if you apply through a visa agency or at a visa application centre. As a first-class professional visa agency, 1a Visas is dedicated to serving clients from the UK, Germany, and Austria, providing hassle-free support for all types of Indian visas. You can also check our India service page for details of our agency charges.

If desired, we can transfer your information to the English-language online form of the Indian embassy. If you want this, please use our German application form and check the corresponding box on our order form. For this additional service, we charge £48 plus VAT.

You can apply for the Indian visa through our visa service. We will handle all the steps for you.

Please send the documents to our Berlin branch:

1a Visa Consulting Limited
Sprengelstr. 18
13353 Berlin

We have branches in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main, where we will gladly accept your Indian visa application. In Berlin, you also have the option to go to the Indian embassy, and in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich, there is an Indian consulate.
Many reasons speak for the electronic ETA visa. It is cheaper and otherwise matches the conditions regarding the length of stay, validity, and number of entries with the traditional Indian visa. There are no restrictions in terms of travel purpose. However, entry with an Indian ETA must be via one of the specified airports or seaports. Read more on our information page about the e-visa India.
It is important that both shoulders are visible in the photo for your Indian visa, and it is a biometric photo. The required format for the traditional visa is 5x5 cm. Please choose a pure white background. For the electronic visa, a normal, colored passport photo (about 3.5x4.5 cm) is sufficient, as long as it is biometric and has a solid light background.

To apply for a traditional Indian visa, it is first necessary to fill out the English-language visa application on the Indian government's website. We will gladly take this step for you. Please send us our German form accordingly and check the appropriate box on our order form so that we can transfer your information.

If you want to apply for an ETA, please fill out our Indian online form:

Apply Here for Your India Electronic Visa (ETA) Online

For each visa, you need the completed and signed visa application, two colored, biometric passport photos showing both shoulders, in the format 5x5 cm, and the original passport.

For a tourist visa (if you are taking a cruise) additionally:

  • A booking confirmation with names and exact cruise itinerary

For a business visa additionally:

  • An English dispatch letter from the German company
  • An English invitation letter from the Indian company
  • A commercial register extract of the Indian company

For all other categories, please refer to the respective overview of the Indian visa types.

You can apply for an India e-Visa online by completing the secure application form, uploading your documents, and paying the fee electronically on the Government of India e-Visa portal. For certain visa types (such as work, study, or research), a paper visa is required, which must be submitted through the Indian Visa Application Centre in the UK (VFS Global).

If you require for personalized assistance with the entire process, including document checking, application form completion, submission handling, and urgent processing upon required, then visa agencies would be a great choice. Many visa agencies in the UK and Europe also provide support services, but the type of service, fee structure, and level of expertise can vary. Commonly used providers include 1a Visas, iVisa, and CIBT Visas. We recommend comparing different agencies and choosing the one that best matches your needs.

1aVisas Express, Please fill out our ETA online form to apply for the electronic Indian visa.

Apply Here for Your India Electronic Visa (ETA) Online

For the application of your Indian ETA, we need a scan of the main page (data page) of your passport and a colored, biometric passport photo. The photo should be taken against a light background. If you are planning a business trip, please also send us a scan of your business card (preferably in English). If you are flying to India for medical treatment, please send us a confirmation letter from the treating Indian clinic on their letterhead.

The Indian ETA includes your name, your photo, and your passport number, the visa type, the number of entries, and other important details. Additionally, you will find information on the period and locations where you can enter. We will gladly send you a sample upon request.

Request Indian ETA Sample

According to official information, you must print out the electronic visa before the trip and carry it with you at all times during your stay. A black-and-white print is sufficient. It is recommended to print the ETA twice and keep one copy, for example, in your suitcase. Many airlines also require the printout at check-in as proof that you have a valid entry permit.
No, there is no option to get a visa upon arrival at the airport in India. Sometimes the ETA is referred to as a visa on arrival because it is converted into a visa at the airport. The e-visa is just a printout; the visa is then stamped into the passport.
No, there is an absolute visa requirement for EU citizens (and most other countries) to enter India. Without a valid entry permit or visa, you will usually not be allowed to board the plane.
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Applicants can get assistance directly from the official Indian e-Visa website, at the Indian Visa Application Centres in the UK operated by VFS Global, or through professional visa agencies that provide personalised support with form completion, documents, and urgent processing.

In addition, professional visa agencies can also assist. These agencies do not only provide general support but also offer personalized services tailored to your individual situation – for example, for complex travel plans, urgent departures, or specific visa categories.

1a Visas offers an individually customized service: we check your documents, advise you on the most suitable visa category, prepare and complete your application, and ensure timely submission. Upon request, we can also arrange express processing. This means you receive a personal, stress-free service and can be confident that your application will be complete and accurate.