India e-Visa and e-Arrival card: free guide
What travellers from Italy, Germany and France need before flying to India: a tourist e-Visa and, since 1 October 2025, the free e-Arrival card.
Two different things
- e-Visa (paid): your visa, applied for on the official e-Visa website.
- e-Arrival card (free): arrival information, not a visa. All foreigners must fill it in within the 72 hours before arrival.
Tourist e-Visa types
| Type | Validity | Entries |
|---|---|---|
| e-Tourist 30 days | 30 days from your first entry; cannot be extended or converted | Multiple |
| e-Tourist 1 year | 365 days from the date the e-Visa is granted; max 180 days in India per calendar year | Multiple |
| e-Tourist 5 years | 5 years from the date the e-Visa is granted; max 180 days in India per calendar year | Multiple |
Allowed purposes include tourism, visiting friends or family, short yoga programmes, short non-formal courses and short unpaid volunteering (max 1 month). The e-Visa is not for work, journalism or protected areas. Every traveller, children included, needs their own passport and their own application.
Government fees (checked 31 Oct 2026)
From the official fee table dated 8 September 2026, for citizens of Italy, Germany and France:
| e-Visa | Official fee |
|---|---|
| 30 days | US$ 25 (July–March) / US$ 10 (April–June) |
| 1 year | US$ 40 |
| 5 years | US$ 200 |
A bank charge of 3% is added (the official FAQ mentions 4% with PayPal). Fees for other nationalities are different: check the official table. The fee is not refunded, even if the e-Visa is refused. There is no official express or urgent fee.
When to apply
Officially between 120 days and 4 days before arrival, and the fee must be paid at least 4 days before travel. The official site gives no processing time: the result (Granted or Rejected) arrives by email. To be safe, apply at least 7–10 days before you fly.
Photo specifications
- JPEG only, between 10 KB and 1 MB.
- Square (height = width), at least 350 × 350 pixels.
- Full face, front view, eyes open, no glasses; head centred from hair to chin.
- Plain white or light background, no shadows, no border.
- A recent photo: do not crop the photo from your passport page.
Passport scan
- The page with your photo and personal data, as a PDF between 10 KB and 300 KB.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months, with at least 2 blank pages. It must be the passport written in the application.
- All documents must be in English.
e-Arrival card (free)
Mandatory for all foreign travellers since 1 October 2025, also with an e-Visa. Fill it in within the 72 hours before arrival on the official e-Arrival page or in the official "Indian Visa Su-Swagatam" app. It is free of charge. Families and groups can be added with "Add Member".
Common reasons for rejection or problems
- Photo or documents not clear or not as specified (for example a photo cropped from the passport, glasses, shadows, grey background, PDF over 300 KB).
- Name or data different from the passport; titles like MR or DR in the name are not allowed.
- Passport valid for less than 6 months.
- Arrival date outside the allowed window, or fee paid less than 4 days before travel.
- Wrong visa type for your purpose, or false answers to the security questions.
- Mistakes found after payment cannot be corrected: you must apply and pay again.
Before you fly
Carry a printout of your e-Visa (ETA) and check that the status is "GRANTED". Photo and fingerprints are taken on arrival. You can enter only through the authorised airports and seaports listed on the official website.
Do it yourself, or with help
You can do everything yourself on the official website. If you prefer a person to check your photo, passport scan and data before the fee is paid, see our optional India assistance service.
This guide is written by ArrivalCardHelp, a private company not affiliated with any government. Always check the official website before you apply.