India Visa for UK Citizens 2026 — Online Application & Fees

UK citizens can apply for the eTourist Visa in three durations: 30 days (double entry), 1 year (multiple entry), and 5 years (multiple entry). The eBusiness Visa and eMedical Visa are also available. The 5-year eTourist Visa is extremely popular among British travelers, especially those with family connections in India who visit annually. Each visit on the 1-year or 5-year visa permits a stay of up to 180 continuous days, making it suitable for extended winter stays.

The India eVisa fee for UK citizens in 2026 is approximately GBP 20 to GBP 25 for the 30-day option, GBP 35 to GBP 50 for the 1-year visa, and GBP 65 to GBP 80 for the 5-year visa, depending on the exchange rate at the time of payment. Fees are charged in USD on the government portal and converted by your bank. A payment processing surcharge of approximately 2.5% applies. All fees are non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application.

British citizens holding a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) issued by the Home Office should apply using their British passport, not the BRP. The eVisa is linked to the passport number only. Holders of British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) passports, British Overseas Citizens (BOC) passports, and British National (Overseas) passports may have different eligibility criteria and should verify their status on the official portal before applying. Full British citizens with standard passports face no restrictions.

London Heathrow (LHR) is the primary UK hub for India flights. Air India operates daily nonstop service from Heathrow to Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), and Ahmedabad (AMD). British Airways flies nonstop from Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. Virgin Atlantic offers nonstop London to Delhi service. From Manchester (MAN), Air India and Virgin Atlantic operate direct flights to Delhi. All of these airports accept eVisa arrivals.

Standard processing for UK applicants in 2026 takes 72 to 96 hours. London operates on GMT or BST, which is 4.5 to 5.5 hours behind India Standard Time. Applications submitted during UK business hours are typically processed during the Indian afternoon or following business morning. Applying early in the week gives the best turnaround. During the October half-term, Christmas, and Easter school holidays, processing may take longer due to high volumes from British families booking India trips.

A significant number of UK travelers to India are British citizens of Indian origin who may hold Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. OCI holders do not need an eVisa and can enter India freely with their OCI card and British passport. If your OCI card has expired or was never obtained, you will need to apply for the eVisa as a standard British citizen. The eVisa is the correct option for British citizens who do not have Indian ancestry or OCI status.