FAQ
India Visa FAQ
Yes. UK citizens must hold a valid visa to enter India. The India eVisa is the most straightforward route for tourism, covering arrivals at designated airports and seaports.
Yes — provided you hold a standard British Citizen passport. BN(O) holders, British Overseas Citizens, British Subjects, British Protected Persons, and British Dependent Territories Citizens are not eligible for the eVisa and must apply through the Indian High Commission.
- 30-Day Tourist eVisa — single use, for a fixed trip of up to 30 days.
- 1-Year Tourist eVisa — multiple entry, each stay up to 180 days.
- 5-Year Tourist eVisa — multiple entry for frequent travellers, each stay up to 180 days.
- Valid British Citizen passport (at least 6 months' validity from arrival, at least two blank pages)
- Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months)
- Scan of the passport biographical data page
- Valid email address
- Intended travel dates and point of arrival
- Credit or debit card for payment
The official portal states that applications are typically processed within 72 hours. Applying at least a week before travel is advisable to allow time for any additional checks.
Not as a standard option for UK citizens. The eVisa must be obtained before travel through the official online portal. Visa on arrival is available only to nationals of Japan, South Korea, and UAE under specific conditions.
You may still enter, provided you clear immigration before 23:59 on that date. However, any flight delay could leave you unable to enter. If your arrival date and ETA expiry date coincide, it is worth either applying for a fresh 30-day eVisa closer to travel or switching to the 1-year option.
This is one of the most common errors UK applicants make - particularly those who enter their UK departure date rather than their India arrival date. The ETA is issued based on the date submitted, and the system does not flag the discrepancy. If the resulting ETA expires before you land, your options are limited: you cannot apply for a second 30-day eVisa while the first remains valid. The 1-year eVisa is typically the fastest remedy.
Only if your new arrival date falls before the ETA expiry. If the delay pushes your arrival past that date, the ETA is no longer valid and you will need to reapply. This is why application timing for the 30-day eVisa matters - and why we build buffer into every application we manage.
Not while the existing ETA is still valid. The system will reject a second application. If your current ETA is no longer suitable - wrong dates, expired before travel - the 1-year eVisa is the most reliable alternative.
- Standard: up to 10 working days
- Expedited: 5–8 working days
- Express: 2–4 working days
- 30-Day Tourist: US$10 or US$25 (seasonally adjusted)
- 1-Year Tourist: US$40
- 5-Year Tourist: US$484
Service fees start from £69. Expedited and Express processing options are available at checkout. Optional add-ons include Data Archiving and Rejection Protection.
No. The Government of India eVisa fee is non-refundable whether the application is approved, refused, or cancelled by the applicant.
If your application is refused despite submitting a complete, truthful, and accurately prepared set of documents, we will refund our full service fee. It does not cover cases where information provided was inaccurate or incomplete.
The official India eVisa portal is known for slow page loading, photo upload failures, and confusing form language. Unofficial third-party sites also closely mimic the official portal and charge significantly higher fees without adding value. Our team reviews and submits applications with 18 years of specialist experience, reducing the risk of the errors that lead to refusal.
No. India eVisas are non-extendable and non-convertible. You must arrange the correct visa before departure.
The 1-year or 5-year tourist eVisa. The 30-day eVisa cannot cover a stay of this length. The official portal states that total time in India must not exceed 180 days per calendar year on tourist eVisas, so a 90-day stay is within the permitted limit.
Pakistani passport holders or individuals of Pakistani origin are generally not eligible for the India eVisa. High Commission processing for these applications typically takes a minimum of 7–9 weeks. Please contact our team before submitting.
No. OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) cardholders can travel to India without a separate visa, using their OCI card alongside a valid UK passport.
The eVisa is valid at 33 designated airports, 19 seaports, and 4 land crossing points: Raxaul, Rupaidiha, Darranga, and Jogbani. Verify your specific point of entry is eVisa-eligible before departing.
Yes. Since October 2025 all travellers entering India — including OCI cardholders — must complete the mandatory e-Arrival Card via the Bureau of Immigration portal (boi.gov.in) within 72 hours before arrival.
No. The India eVisa is restricted to tourism, business, and certain medical categories. Journalists and NGO workers must apply for the appropriate standard visa category through the High Commission. Contact our team if you are unsure whether your circumstances affect your eligibility.
For eVisa, apply within the official window before travel; for traditional visa, allow standard processing lead time.
Total cost depends on visa category and processing speed, including consular fees and service fees.
Typically passport, compliant photo, completed application, and purpose-specific supporting documents.