How to Apply for Indian e-Visa: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (Updated 2026)

Planning a trip to India? Getting your e-visa is now faster and easier than ever. In just 10 simple steps, you can have your visa approved within 24-72 hours—no embassy visit required.

This guide walks you through the exact process used by 140,000+ travelers who've successfully gotten their Indian e-visa approved.

What You'll Need Before Starting (10 minutes to gather)

Required Documents:

• Valid passport (must be valid for 6+ months from travel date)
• Scanned passport bio-page (color, 300 DPI, JPG/PNG)
• Digital photo (4x4cm, white background, JPG/PNG)
• Email address (you'll receive your visa here!)
• Valid payment method (credit card, debit card, or net banking)

Step 1: Prepare Your Passport Scan (5 minutes)

How to Do It:

1. Place your passport bio-page flat on scanner
2. Scan in COLOR at 300+ DPI resolution
3. Save as JPG or PNG file
4. Keep file size under 300KB
5. Verify: Can you read all the text clearly?

Step 2: Take Your Visa Photo (10 minutes)

Photo Requirements:

• Size: 4cm x 4cm (1.5 x 1.5 inches)
• Background: Plain white (no colors, patterns, or shadows)
• Face: 70-80% of image (head and shoulders)
• Expression: Neutral (natural, not smiling)
• Eyes: Looking directly at camera
• Quality: Clear, high resolution (300 DPI minimum)
• Format: JPG or PNG

How to Take the Perfect Photo:

1. Lighting:

• Take in natural daylight (indoors near window or outdoors)
• Avoid harsh shadows and backlighting
• Face should be evenly lit

2. Background:

• Use a plain white sheet or wall
• No colors, patterns, or distractions
• No shadows on background

3. Framing:

• Head and shoulders only
• Face is 70-80% of photo
• Include neck and top of shoulders
• Centered in frame

4. Appearance:

• No glasses (even clear frames)
• No head coverings (unless for religious reasons)
• No excessive makeup
• Hair should not cover face
• Natural expression (not smiling, not frowning)
• Eyes looking directly at camera

Step 3: Gather Your Information (5 minutes)

Have These Details Ready (from your passport):

• Full name (exactly as in passport)
• Middle name (if you have one)
• Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY format)
• Passport number
• Passport expiry date
• Place of birth
• Citizenship/Nationality

Contact Information:

• Email address (TRIPLE-CHECK THIS!)
• Phone number (international format)
• Current address

Travel Information:

• Intended arrival date in India
• Intended departure date
• Port of arrival (which airport/city?)
• Purpose of visit (tourism, business, medical, etc.)
• Names of cities you'll visit

Step 4: Visit the Application Website (2 minutes)

Official Government Portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in

You'll see a simple, clean interface with a link to start a new application.

Step 5: Fill Your Personal Information (10 minutes)

Form Section 1: Basic Information

1. Full Name: Exactly as shown in passport

2. Date of Birth: DD/MM/YYYY format (Example: 15/06/1985)

3. Gender: Select male/female/other

4. Marital Status: Single/Married/Divorced/Widowed

5. Nationality: Select from dropdown (must match passport)

6. Place of Birth: City/town where you were born

Pro Tip: Copy all information directly from your passport. Don't type manually—this causes spelling mismatches.

Step 6: Upload Documents (5 minutes)

Passport Scan Upload:

1. Click "Upload Passport Scan"
2. Select your color passport scan (JPG/PNG)
3. Verify file uploaded successfully
4. System shows "✓ Passport approved"

Photo Upload:

1. Click "Upload Photo"
2. Select your 4x4cm photo (JPG/PNG)
3. System previews your photo
4. Verify quality looks good
5. System shows "✓ Photo approved"

Step 7: Enter Travel Details (5 minutes)

Visa Type Selection:

• Tourist e-Visa (30 days, single entry) ← Most common
• Tourist e-Visa (1 year, multiple entries) ← Better value
• Business e-Visa
• Medical e-Visa

Travel Dates:

• Intended arrival date: Pick realistic date
• Intended departure date: Your last day in India
• Important: Ensure 6-month passport validity from departure date

Port of Entry:

• Delhi (most popular)
• Mumbai
• Bangalore
• Hyderabad
• Chennai
• Or specify your intended airport

Step 8: Review Your Application (10 minutes)

CRITICAL STEP: Review Everything Before Submitting

Personal Information Checklist:

• Name spelled correctly
• Date of birth correct
• Passport number exact
• Nationality correct

Contact Information Checklist:

• Email address correct (CHECK 3 TIMES!)
• Phone number valid
• Address complete

Travel Details Checklist:

• Arrival date realistic
• Departure date after arrival
• Port of entry selected
• Purpose clearly stated

Important: Once you submit, you can't edit anything. Review is your last chance to catch errors.

Step 9: Make Payment (5 minutes)

Choose Your Processing Speed:

Standard Processing (72 hours):

• Cost: ₹1,000 (~$12 USD)
• Processing time: 2-3 business days
• Best for: Not-urgent travel

Express Processing (24 hours):

• Cost: ₹2,000 (~$24 USD)
• Processing time: 24 hours
• Best for: Urgent travel (within 72 hours)

Payment Methods Accepted:

• Credit card (VISA, Mastercard)
• Debit card
• Net banking (Indian bank transfers)
• International credit cards

Step 10: Receive Your Approval (24-72 hours)

What Happens Next:

• You'll receive email from Indian visa portal
• Subject: "Your e-Visa has been approved"
• Email contains: Download link for your visa PDF

Download Your Visa:

1. Click link in email (or login to portal)
2. Download visa PDF to your computer
3. IMPORTANT: Save 2-3 copies in different locations
4. Print one copy to bring with you
5. Keep digital copy on your phone too

What to Do With Your Visa:

• ✓ Keep original PDF file backed up (email to yourself!)
• ✓ Print one copy for your passport
• ✓ Keep digital copy on phone (screenshot it too)
• ✓ Don't fold, crease, or damage printed copy
• ✓ Show e-visa to airline at check-in
• ✓ Show at Indian airport immigration

Complete Application Timeline

Here's what happens step-by-step:

• Day 1, 10:00 AM: You submit application
• Day 1, 2:00 PM: System receives and begins processing
• Day 2, 9:00 AM: Human review begins (if needed)
• Day 2, 2:00 PM: Final approval decision
• Day 2, 5:00 PM: Approval email sent
• Day 3: You download and print visa

Total process: 24-72 hours ✓

Pro Tips for Success

• ✅ Gather everything before starting. Don't stop halfway through.
• ✅ Apply 2-3 weeks before travel (not last minute). Peak seasons get backed up.
• ✅ Take screenshots of every confirmation page.
• ✅ Check your email spam folder if you don't receive visa approval email.
• ✅ Keep digital backup (email PDF to yourself).
• ✅ Use express processing if traveling within 72 hours.
• ✅ Double-check email address 3 times before submitting!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if my application gets rejected?

A: You'll receive rejection email with reason code. Most rejections are due to photo quality issues, passport scan problems, or data mismatches. See our guide: "10 Reasons e-Visas Get Rejected"

Q: Can I change my travel dates after approval?

A: Yes! Your e-visa is valid for 1 year (tourist) or 5 years (business). Travel anytime within validity.

Q: Do I need to print my e-visa?

A: Recommended but not strictly required. Print one copy for your passport + screenshot for your phone.

Q: Can I apply from anywhere in the world?

A: Yes! The online portal works from any country. You don't need to be in your home country.

Related Guides

• Complete Visa Requirements Guide
• 10 Common Rejection Reasons
• Visa Photo Specifications