India e-Visa 2025: Peak Season Processing Times & When to Apply

The highest India travel volumes — and therefore longest e-Visa processing times — occur during: (1) October–November (Diwali season, Indian festival tourism), (2) December 15 – January 10 (Christmas and New Year holidays), (3) March–April (Holi festival), and (4) April–May (summer holidays for UK/EU school terms). During these periods, standard processing of 72 hours can extend to 4–6 business days.

As a general rule: always apply 7–10 days before travel during standard periods, and 14 days before travel during peak seasons. The 30-day e-Tourist Visa must be applied for no more than 30 days before your arrival date. So for a December 20 flight, apply between November 20 and December 6 for maximum safety buffer.

During peak travel periods, our Urgent Processing service becomes even more valuable. We prioritize your application in our queue, verify all documents immediately, and flag your submission for priority review. Many urgent applications during peak season are still processed within 24–48 hours, though this cannot be guaranteed as the final decision rests with the Indian government.

Indian government offices may process fewer applications during national public holidays. Key dates in 2025: Republic Day (January 26), Holi (March 14), Good Friday (April 18), Labour Day (May 1), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Diwali (October 20–24), Christmas (December 25). Plan ahead if your travel falls near these dates.