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How to get an Indian Visa

Since November 27, 2014 there have been two different visas that entitle you to stay in India, the "classic" visa with validity from six months to five years. It is stuck into the passport and allows entry on all available routes (flight, ship, land). There is also the electronic tourist visa called eTV for short.

Both methods are described below.

The "classic" visa

In most countries, the Indian embassies have outsourced the visa application process to their consulates. Official, privately operating agencies are now tasked with receiving the applications and handing them over again. Of course, the visa is still issued by the embassies or consulates.

To take part in a “Wheel of India” trip, you need a tourist visa with a validity of 6 months or an eTV (see below). The visa is valid from the day of issue. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after the end of the trip. The photos for the application must be in color, biometric and 5 x 5 cm in front of a light, preferably white background. In addition to the head, the shoulders must also be visible in the picture. Some of the agencies provide a photo service in-house, others even offer to fill out the form for a fee.

Our recommendation: The "e-Tourist Visa" (eTV)

You have to pay attention to this:

  • The eTV must be requested on the website no later than four, but better 14 to 30 days before the start of the trip to India.
    indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
  • A passport photo (details see below) and a copy (scan) of the first page of the passport must be uploaded.
  • Validity
    There are four different types of eVisa with different prices:
    • 30 days from April to June: US $ 10, valid from entry, entry within 28 days of approval
    • 30 days from July to March: US $ 25, valid from entry, entry within 28 days of approval
    • 365 days: US $ 40, valid from approval
    • Five years: US $ 80, valid from approval
    Applying for a visa is very easy. If you still don't want to do it yourself, hire a Visa agency to do it. However, this increases the costs considerably.
  • Fees that have been paid once will not be reimbursed even if the visa is not approved.
  • The eTV can neither be extended nor changed and is not valid for “protected / restricted” areas and “cantonment areas”.
  • The eTV is not valid for entry by land.
  • The traveler should have a copy of the eTV with them.
  • Upon entry, the traveller's biometric data is recorded (photo, fingerprints).
  • The eTV is accepted at most Indian airports.
    The airports Delhi, Mumbai and Trivandrum are relevant for our trips.
  • The application process can be followed online using the “visa status” function.

Required Documents

  1. A scan of the first page of the passport with data such as name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date etc. in pdf format. The file size must be between 10 and 300 KB. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of the trip.
  2. A square passport photo in jpg format, file size between 10 KB and 1 MB. It must show the applicant's entire face from the front with open eyes, from the top of the hair to the lower end of the chin. The background must be light, preferably white. Shadows are not allowed on the face or on the background. A frame is not allowed. If the photo does not meet the required guidelines, the visa will be refused.

Since everything is in a state of flux, including the Indian visa regulations, please inform yourself in good time before you start your journey on the respective websites of the Indian embassy in your country what may have changed.