India, a land of diversity and cultural richness, beckons adventure seekers with its vibrant traditions and landscapes. Annually, over a million American citizens vacation in India, drawn to its allure. The country offers regular visas and e-visas to US citizens. Unfortunately, a visa-on-arrival is not available for US passport holders.
The electronic India visa for Americans (e-Visa) grants them the right to travel to the country for tourism, business, medical, and conference purposes. It is a convenient and easy-to-obtain visa that can be applied for online. Read on to learn more about the types of Indian e-Visas offered to American travelers.
Americans are eligible to apply for an electronic visa to enter India. The application process for the e-Visa is straightforward and user-friendly. Visitors must ensure that they have the required documents readily available before commencing the application.
Please note diplomatic and official passport holders cannot apply for the India e-Visa.
The citizens of the United States can apply for the Indian e-Visa for the following reasons:
sightseeing
visit friends and family
short-term yoga programs
attending cultural events
seeking medical treatment, including treatments under traditional Indian medical practices
accompanying a patient as an attendant holding an e-Medical visa
conducting business affairs
attending conferences, seminars, or workshops organized by various Indian governmental entities, state governments, or Union Territory administrations and their affiliated institutions
The following types of Indian e-Visas for tourism are available for American travelers:
The 30-day Indian tourist e-visa enables US citizens to remain in India for one month from the date of entry.
Entry type: Double entry within the visa's validity.
Processing time: 2-7 business days, maybe longer during peak periods.
Application period: Apply 4 to 30 days before the intended entry date.
Validity: 30 days from the first entry; extendable up to 60 days for an e-tourist visa.
Fees: Seasonal rates apply—10 USD (April to June), 25 USD (July to March)- excluding bank charges. Natvisa processing fee applies.
Stay duration: Up to 30 days per visit.
Entry requirements: Must enter India within 30 days of e-Visa approval.
Travel limits and restrictions: No access with the e-Visa to protected/restricted areas. Pakistani-origin US citizens need a regular visa. It is not permitted to engage in employment or journalism or pursue degree/diploma programs on Indian e-Visas.
Required documents: Must carry an electronic travel authorization copy while traveling.
Permitted activities: Americans can do volunteer work for up to one month.
Indian 30-day e-Visas cause some confusion related to the date of expiry. American tourists must keep the following conditions in mind:
Clarification on the expiration date: The expiry date listed on the Indian 30-day e-Visa indicates the last day by which entry into India must occur. It is not the departure date.
Determining the exit Date: The permitted date of exit is calculated based on the actual date of entry and will be 30 days after that date.
The validity period for 1 Year e-Visa is 365 days from the date of issuance.
Entry allowance: Multiple entries are permitted.
Application window: Submission is possible 120 days before intended arrival in India.
Visa validity: One year (365 days) from the date of issuance.
Visa cost: 40 USD.
Maximum stay: Up to 180 days per entry within the one-year validity.
The validity period of 5-year e-Visa to India is 60 months. The citizens of the United States of America must abide by the following conditions:
Entry specification: Allows for multiple entries into India
Application advice: Apply at least 7 days before the planned travel
Visa duration: Valid for 5 years from the date of issuance
Visa cost: 80 USD
Extended stay for selected nationalities: Citizens of the USA can stay up to 180 days per visit. It is 90 days for other nationalities except a few others who can stay for 180 days.
Terms and conditions: The 5-year e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible. It cannot be upgraded from a 1-year to a 5-year visa after issuance.
Standard issuance: Visa is typically issued within 96 hours.
Proof of funds: Travelers may be required to show evidence of adequate funds to cover their expenses during their stay in India.
Note: The 5-year India e-Visa is an electronic visa valid for 5 years, while the 10-year India visa is a regular paper visa valid for 10 years. Both visas are available to American citizens.
US citizens intending to engage in business activities can apply for an Indian business e-Visa. The range of business activities includes:
purchasing or selling goods or services in India
attending business meetings, such as sales discussions or technical sessions
establishing industrial or business ventures
conducting tours
hiring staff
giving lectures
participating in trade fairs or business exhibitions
serving as an expert on commercial projects
Validity: The business visa grants a stay of up to 180 days per visit. It remains valid for 365 days from the date of issue.
Entry Type: Multiple Entry
American business professionals must furnish the following:
information on the Indian company or event being attended
name and address of an Indian reference
the company website of the organization that has to be visited in India
invitation letter from the hosting Indian company
business card or email signature of the traveler
website address of the visiting individual's organization
An Indian e-medical visa is available for US citizens seeking medical treatment. It caters to patients and is obtainable through an online application process.
Validity: This e-visa is valid for a short duration of 60 days from the date of entry into India and is not suitable for those wishing to stay beyond this period.
Entry Type: It is a triple-entry visa, allowing the visa holder to enter India three times within its validity. Notably, patients can apply for this type of visa up to three times within one calendar year.
The following information will be required from the medical e-visa holder:
Patient's name
Visa number or application ID
Passport number
Date of birth
Apart from the standard visa requirements, American applicants must provide:
Letter from the hospital: A letter from the Indian hospital where treatment is sought.
Correspondence proof: Responses to any inquiries regarding the Indian hospital that will be visited.
It is granted to family members/caregivers/and nurses accompanying a patient with a medical e-visa to India.
Validity: Valid for 60 days from the entry date, available three times a year.
Restrictions: Only two medical attendant visas are issued per medical e-visa holder.
To obtain an e-Visa for Medical attendants, American applicants must provide the following information about the patient they will be attending:
Name of the patient (holder of the Indian Medical e-Visa)
Visa number of the patient's Medical electronic visa
Passport number of the medical e-Visa holder
Date of birth of the patient holding the eMedical Visa
Nationality of the Medical e-Visa holder
The eConference visa to India is intended for individuals attending a conference, seminar, or workshop in India.
Americans conference attendees can obtain an e-Visa if the events are organized by the following entities:
Government of India ministries or departments
State Governments or Union Territory Administrations
Subordinate/attached organizations and PSUs
Private companies/organizations
Tourism: Holders can engage in tourism activities permitted under the e-tourist visa.
Validity: American delegate is granted a single-entry stay of up to 30 days.
Note: Any extension of stay may incur a financial penalty of at least USD 300.
G20 Events: India was issuing G20 eConference visas for participants of G20 meetings.
e-Emergency X Misc Visa: Not available to Americans; exclusive to Afghan nationals.
Planning to go to India? American travelers will just need to take a few minutes to complete the India visa application on our website. After this, you can rest while Natvisa takes over the processing. Our team will meticulously review your application and attached documents for any discrepancies. Should any issues arise, our support team will contact you via email before advancing your application.
Upon approval of your India e-Visa, you'll receive it via email. It's advisable to print out a copy of your e-Visa as you will have to present it to the immigration officer on arrival.
The electronic India visa (e-Visa) is a straightforward online application process that allows American citizens to obtain a visa for tourism, business, medical, or conference purposes.
Get your entry into India quickly with Natvisa's expedited processing time of 2 business days today
The content on this page has undergone a thorough review by Gunjan Shukla, ensuring its accuracy, relevance, and quality. It’s important to always check with relevant authorities as entry policies can change.
See Natvisa content review process.