India eVisa 2026 — Complete Guide, Fees & How to Apply Online

The India eVisa is an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) that allows foreign nationals to enter India without a traditional sticker visa. As of 2026, citizens of over 165 countries are eligible to apply, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and most EU and Gulf states. Nationals of Pakistan, Iran, and a small number of other countries must still apply through an Indian embassy. The eVisa is linked electronically to your passport number and must be printed for presentation at immigration on arrival.

India offers five main eVisa categories in 2026: eTourist Visa (30 days, 1 year, or 5 years), eBusiness Visa (1 year), eMedical Visa (60 days with triple entry), eMedical Attendant Visa (60 days), and eConference Visa (30 days). The eTourist Visa is by far the most popular, accounting for over 80% of all eVisa applications. Each category has specific entry limits, maximum stay durations, and eligibility criteria that are outlined on the official government portal.

India eVisa fees in 2026 vary by nationality and visa duration. For most countries the 30-day eTourist Visa costs approximately USD 25, while the 1-year and 5-year options range from USD 40 to USD 80. US citizens pay a higher reciprocity fee of approximately USD 75 for the 30-day visa and up to USD 100 for longer durations. All fees are paid online during the application, and an additional bank processing surcharge of approximately 2.5% may apply depending on your payment method. Fees are non-refundable regardless of the application outcome.

Standard processing for the India eVisa in 2026 takes 72 to 96 hours from submission. Applicants should complete the online form at the official portal, upload a passport-specification photograph and a scan of the bio-data page, pay the visa fee, and then wait for the ETA to arrive via email. The photograph must be a square JPEG between 10 KB and 1 MB with a white background. The passport scan should clearly show the Machine Readable Zone. Applying at least 7 days before travel is strongly recommended to account for any delays.

In 2026, eVisa holders can enter India through 31 designated airports and 5 seaports. Major airports include Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA), Kolkata (CCU), Hyderabad (HYD), Kochi (COK), Goa (GOI), Jaipur (JAI), and Ahmedabad (AMD). The five designated seaports are Mumbai, Goa (Mormugao), Mangalore, Cochin, and Chennai. Travelers cannot enter India on an eVisa through land border crossings; a traditional visa is required for overland entry from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, or Myanmar.

In 2026, India has streamlined the online payment gateway to reduce transaction failures that previously caused application abandonments. The photo upload system now provides real-time validation feedback, rejecting non-compliant images before submission. Indian immigration has also expanded biometric collection at additional airports, which may add a few minutes to the arrival process but speeds up subsequent visits. Travelers with an approved eVisa should still carry a printed copy, although many airports now accept digital presentation on a mobile device as a secondary option.