Visa Categories

India offers 9 e-Visa sub-categories for online applications, plus a set of regular (paper) visas for purposes the e-Visa doesn’t cover. Picking the right one matters — the wrong category can mean a rejected application or trouble at immigration.

NOTE

General information only, not legal advice. Confirm your eligibility and the current rules for your nationality at indianvisaonline.gov.in. See our full disclaimer on the hub page.

9e-Visa sub-types

175+Countries eligible

6+Regular visa types

Not allNationalities eligible for e-Visa

The e-Visa: 9 sub-categories

Fully online, no embassy visit needed. Available to eligible nationalities only — check the official list before assuming you qualify.

TypeValidityWhat it’s for

e-Tourist (30-day)30 days, double entryHolidays, sightseeing, visiting friends/family, short yoga courses

e-Tourist (1-year)365 days, multiple entrySame as above, for frequent/longer visits; each stay capped (90 or 180 days depending on nationality)

e-Tourist (5-year)5 years, multiple entrySame purpose, longest validity option, available to a smaller set of nationalities

e-Business365 days, multiple entryMeetings, trade fairs, setting up a venture — not a work permit

e-Medical60 days, triple entryMedical treatment in India, including Indian systems of medicine

e-Medical AttendantSame as linked e-Medical visaUp to two companions per patient

e-Conference30 days, single entryDelegates at conferences approved/sponsored by an Indian government body

e-Transit30 days, two entriesPassing through India en route to a third country (added 2025)

e-Mountaineering, e-Film, e-EntryVariesExpeditions, film crews, and Indian-origin/spouse/dependent entry (all added 2025)

Validity and entry rules shift periodically — the numbers above reflect mid-2026 policy. Always confirm the specifics for your exact category and nationality on the official portal before applying.

When you need a regular (paper) visa instead

Some purposes simply aren’t covered by e-Visa. These require applying through an Indian embassy, consulate, or its authorized visa application centre (commonly VFS Global) in your country.

Common regular-visa categories

Student Visa — enrolment in a recognised Indian institution
Employment Visa — being paid by an Indian entity
Journalist Visa — media work for a foreign organisation
Missionary Visa — religious/missionary activity
Research Visa — formal research affiliations

Why this distinction matters

Engaging in activities outside what your visa category permits — e.g. working on a Business Visa, or studying long-term on a Tourist Visa — can lead to fines, deportation, or a future entry ban. If your plans change after arrival, the correct move is to exit India and apply for the right visa from outside the country, not to “make do” with what you have.

GOOD TO KNOW

Not every nationality can use the e-Visa route. Pakistani nationals, and travellers whose parents or grandparents were born in or permanently resident in Pakistan, are generally required to apply for a regular visa through an Indian Mission instead. Diplomatic/official passport holders and holders of international travel documents (e.g. UN laissez-passer) are also excluded from e-Visa. These are official policy positions, not something we can change — check your specific situation with the nearest Indian mission if this applies to you.

Rules that cut across every category

Passport requirements

Valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date, with at least 2 blank pages for immigration stamps.

e-Visas aren’t extendable

Tourist and Business e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. Need more time? You generally have to exit India and apply for a fresh visa — see Long-Term Stay.

Restricted areas need extra permits

A valid visa alone doesn’t cover parts of Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Andamans — see Restricted & Protected Areas.

Minors need their own visa

Every child travelling to India needs their own passport and visa application, regardless of age — there’s no exemption for infants or toddlers.

Official sources

indianvisaonline.gov.in

The only official e-Visa application portal.

boi.gov.in

Bureau of Immigration — policy and entry rules.