Frequent questions about the visa
People travelling to India usually have questions about visas. Who can apply for an e-visa? How do you apply for it? How long is it valid? On this page you will find the answers to these questions and many more.
Is the visa mandatory?
Yes, it is. All British travellers must apply for a visa to India. You will not be able to travel to India until your visa application has been processed and approved. The visa requirement also applies to children and infants.
Should I apply for an e-visa of for a sticker visa?
There are different types of visas that allow you to travel to India. There are electronic visas which can be applied for online. There are also physical visas (also known as sticker visas) which are affixed to the traveller's passport and cannot be applied for online.
If you meet the e-visa requirements, it is advisable to apply for an Indian e-visa. Electronic visas are cheaper, easier to apply for and are approved more quickly than sticker visas.
How can I apply for a visa?
You can apply for the electronic visa online through this website by filling in the online application form, paying the visa fee and uploading a number of documents. The visa will be sent by e-mail once it has been approved.
What is the cost of the visa?
The e-visa costs £59,95 per person. It is possible to add travellers to a single application. The price will be the same. Urgent applications have an additional cost of £ 17,50. Prices include consular fees, transaction costs and TVA. You can pay with credit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, Trustly or PayPal. You will find more information about the price of the visa here.
How can I apply for a sticker visa?
If you do not meet the requirements for the electronic India visa, you can apply for a sticker visa. This is necessary if you are planning to stay for more than 90 days (or 180 days if you are travelling to India for business), or if you are travelling on behalf of a company based in India. You cannot apply for the sticker visa online. You will need to make an appointment at a Visa Application Centre. There are several Visa Application Centres in the UK where you can apply for a visa for India. You can in some cases send your passport by post to the Visa Application Centre. It is advisable to contact the Visa Application Centre or the High Commission of India in London before doing so.
How long can I stay in India?
If you travel to India with an electronic visa, you can stay for up to 30 or 90 days for tourism, or up to 180 days for business. As electronic visas for India are typically issued as double-entry or multiple-entry visas, you have the option to leave and re-enter the country during your stay.
For how long is the visa valid?
When applying for the visa, you must provide your expected arrival date. Applications for a visa with a validity period of 30 days will only be processed up to 21 days before the expected arrival date, ensuring that the visa does not expire before your trip. If the traveller arrives in India within 30 days of the visa issue date, they will be allowed to stay for up to 30 days. Travellers are allowed to enter and exit the country once within these 30 days. However, the final departure date must be within these 30 days. The one-year electronic visa permits travellers to enter India multiple times within the year following visa approval. For tourists, each stay can last up to 90 days, with a total of 90 days allowed in India during the year. Business travellers can stay for a maximum of 180 days per year, either as 180 consecutive days or spread across several visits. However, business travellers who register with the Foreigners Registration Office can stay longer than 180 days.
Can I apply for an online visa if I travel on a cruise?
Only if your ship docks in Chennai, Cochin, Mormugao (near Goa), New Mangalore (near Mangalore), Port Blair or Mumbai will you be able to enter India with an electronic visa. If you arrive in India by boat at another location, you will need to apply for a sticker visa at the Indian embassy.
Are all applications approved?
If the traveller fulfills all the visa requirements, it is unlikely that the application will be refused. Applications can be refused if the customs officer suspects that the traveller might pose a risk to India's national security. Nevertheless, it can sometimes take more than a few days to process applications for the India visa. On average, the visa is processed within 7 days, and in the case of urgent applications within 24 hours on average. However, the Indian immigration department cannot guarantee a maximum delivery time. You are therefore advised to always apply for a visa for India well in advance.
Can I modify or cancel my visa application?
Once you have paid for your visa, you cannot cancel your application, even if you realise that you have made a mistake on the application form. If you really need to change something, you will have to apply for a new visa. The visa that you have applied for is non-refundable. Please note that if you find an error on visa, you you should not try to travel. If the immigration authorities notice the mistake, you will be refused entry to India and will have to return to your country immediately at your own expense.
Do I have to print my visa?
Yes. You must print the visa that you receive via e-mail and take it with you during your trip to India.
Is this the official website to apply for a visa?
This website has been developed to assist travellers with the official visa application process. All visa applications for India are processed by the Government of India. This website is in no way part of that process and acts as an intermediary visa office. Some of the advantages of applying through this website are that you can find additional information about the process and you can pay for your visa using secure payment methods. In addition, all applications processed through this website are manually checked before being sent to the Indian immigration authorities. This often prevents visa applications from being submitted incorrectly and therefore rejected or invalidated. You can always submit your application directly to the Indian Immigration authorities. However, please note that you may have to pay transaction fees and you will not be able to benefit from the additional assistance provided by our Help Desk.
