India Tourist Visa for Australian Citizens: Requirements, Fees & Application

The Indian Tourist Visa allows Australians to enter India for sightseeing, visiting friends and family, yoga retreats, and recreational activities. This visa category offers 30-day (double entry), 1-year (multiple entry), and 5-year (multiple entry) with double entry for 30-day; multiple entry for 1-year and 5-year privileges. Australian passport holders are eligible to apply online through India's e-Visa portal, eliminating the need to visit the High Commission of India in Canberra. The 30-day tourist visa is non-extendable. The 1-year and 5-year variants allow multiple entries but each stay must not exceed the continuous stay limit.

Australian citizens must prepare the following documents before starting their application: 1. Valid passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages) 2. Recent passport-sized photo (white background, 2x2 inches) 3. Return flight itinerary 4. Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host invitation) 5. Proof of sufficient funds All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified English translations. Australian passport holders should ensure their passport has at least six months of validity from the intended date of arrival in India. Digital scans should be clear, with passport pages showing all four corners and text fully legible.

The standard e-Visa fee for Australian citizens is approximately $120 (AUD). This covers the government processing fee for the Tourist Visa category. The fee is charged in AUD. Australian-issued cards process smoothly. Consider a travel card like Wise for better exchange rates once in India. Additional service charges may apply depending on the processing speed selected. Fee structures are set by the Indian government and are subject to periodic revision. It is advisable to check the official portal for the most current fee at the time of application. Fees are non-refundable once the application is submitted, regardless of whether the visa is approved or denied.

The Tourist Visa application for Australians follows these steps: 1. Visit the official Indian e-Visa portal and select "Tourist Visa" as the visa category. 2. Fill in personal details, passport information, and travel itinerary. 3. Upload your passport scan and photograph meeting Indian specifications. 4. Review all information carefully for accuracy. 5. Submit payment of $120 via credit or debit card. 6. Receive confirmation and tracking number via email. 7. Download your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) once approved. Standard processing takes 72 to 96 hours (standard processing). Apply at least 4-7 business days before your planned departure from Australia to account for any delays. The ETA is electronically linked to your passport number — carry a printed copy for reference at immigration.

Australian citizens holding an Indian Tourist Visa are permitted to stay for a maximum of 90 days per visit during each visit. The standard stay limit is 90 days per visit. Note that citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan receive an extended 180-day stay allowance, but this does not currently apply to Australian passport holders. Overstaying your visa is a serious immigration violation that can result in fines, detention, and future visa denials. This is a single-entry visa — once you exit India, the visa is consumed regardless of remaining validity.

India is within a few hours of Australia time, with IST (UTC+5:30) being close to UTC+8 to UTC+11. This means Indian business hours largely overlap with Australian business hours, making real-time communication with Indian visa support straightforward. Direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Delhi and Mumbai are available via Qantas and Air India. Flight time is roughly 12-14 hours. Connecting options through Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are also popular. Upon arrival in India, Australians should proceed to the e-Visa immigration counter (separate from regular visa lines) at the airport. Have your printed ETA, passport, and return ticket ready. Immigration processing typically takes 15-30 minutes. India uses the metric system, drives on the left side of the road, and the local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR).

Australian applicants occasionally enter their Medicare number in the national ID field. This field should be left blank if you do not have a separate national identification document distinct from your passport. Other frequent errors that affect Australian applicants include: applying too close to the travel date (allow at least 4-7 days), uploading compressed or cropped passport scans that obscure the machine-readable zone, and providing inconsistent information between the application form and passport. For tourist visa applicants, ensure your stated purpose of visit aligns with tourism activities — mentioning business meetings or work will cause the application to be flagged. Double-check every field before submission — corrections after submission are not possible.

Depending on your travel purpose, Australians may also consider other Indian e-Visa categories: [Business Visa](/guide/india-business-visa-for-australian-citizens), [Medical Visa](/guide/india-medical-visa-for-australian-citizens), [Conference Visa](/guide/india-conference-visa-for-australian-citizens), [eMedical Attendant Visa](/guide/india-medical-attendant-visa-for-australian-citizens). Each visa type has specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and stay limits. Australian travelers frequently visit India for cricket tours during the Indian Premier League season, spiritual retreats in Kerala, and adventure trekking in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Choosing the correct visa category is essential — applying under the wrong category leads to rejection and loss of the non-refundable application fee.