An electronic India visa for British citizens (e-Visa) allows them to travel to the country. Citizens of the United Kingdom can apply for an e-Visa for tourism, business, conferences, or medical purposes.
Unfortunately, travelers from Britain are not eligible to apply for a visa on arrival. They can apply for a regular embassy India visa online or an e-Visa. In this guide, learn everything about the e-Visa offered by India to British travelers.
British nationals coming to India can apply for an e-Visa if their trip is for:
Leisure, tourism, or informal visits to see friends and relatives
Short educational courses like yoga that do not lead to a formal qualification or exceed six months
Volunteer work
Medical treatment
Attending conferences without monetary compensation
The following types of Indian e-Visas are available for British passport holders:
There are three types of tourist e-Visas available for UK citizens are as follows:
30-day e-Visa for tourism: A double-entry electronic visa valid for a month.
1-year Tourist e-Visa: Multiple entry tourist e-Visa valid for 365 days.
5-year e-Visa for tourism: Multiple entry electronic visa valid for 60 months.
There are two types of electronic visas:
e-Medical visas: It's a triple entry visa valid for 60 days from the date of entry
e-Medical Attendant visas: It is also a triple entry visa valid from the entry date
Visitors from the UK are also eligible for:
e-Conference visa: It is a single-entry electronic visa valid for 30 days. British applicants will also upload additional details and documentation on conference.mha.gov.in.
e-Business Visa: A multiple-entry electronic visa for business travelers valid for 365 days. However, the continuous stay should be at most 180 days.
Travelers who wish to stay more than 180 days must register with the Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO/FRO) within two weeks from the expiry date of 180 days.
To apply for an Indian e-Visa, British citizens must meet the following criteria:
Be a UK passport holder. British visitors must possess a return ticket or an onward journey ticket. Additionally, they must have adequate funds for their stay in India.
Individuals with Pakistani nationality or origin should apply for a regular visa at an Indian Mission. Holders of International travel documents (residing in Britain) other than a passport are not eligible for the e-Visa.
Diplomatic or Official passport holders and Laissez-passer travel document holders are not eligible for the e-Visa.
The e-Visa is not available to those listed on a parent's or spouse's passport. Therefore, each person must have their own passport.
While filling out the Indian e-Visa application, it is mandatory to include details of previous visas.
If the British applicant does not remember their previous visa number or details, they should indicate this with 'NA,' 'Not Available,' 'Not Applicable,' etc.
British applicants applying for an e-Visa to India need to understand the importance of a visible mark. A 'Visible Identification Mark' is a permanent mark that Indian Immigration Authorities can verify if needed. This mark can be a mole, birthmark, scar, or any easily seen mark.
India e-Visa for British citizens is available online. The Indian Government has introduced an e-Visa initiative for individuals from over 170 countries, including the United Kingdom. They can do this through the official e-Visa portal of the Indian government.
British applicants can:
Apply online by uploading a photo and passport page
Pay e-Visa fees to visit India by using a credit/debit/payment wallet
Receive ETA online via email
Fly to India. Visitors must print the ETA and present it to the Immigration Check Post, where the e-Visa will be stamped on their passport
When using a new passport, travelers from Britain must consider the following things:
e-Visa Linked to a Previous Passport
If a British national has an Indian e-Visa linked to an old passport, they can still travel to India. The e-Visa remains valid even when their current passport is different from the one mentioned in their Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Conditions for Entry with a New Passport
British travelers must bring their old passport containing the ETA along with their new passport when traveling to India. This will ensure they are permitted to enter the country without any issues regarding the e-Visa.
British travelers can arrive at 30 designated airports and 5 designated seaports. Departure can be from any Indian Immigration Check Post. Entry via land borders is not permitted on an e-Visa.
Ahmedabad | Amritsar | Bagdogra |
Bengaluru | Bhubaneswar | Calicut |
Chandigarh | Chennai | Cochin |
Coimbatore | Delhi | Gaya |
Goa | Guwahati | Hyderabad |
Jaipur | Kannur | Kolkata |
Lucknow | Madurai | Mangalore |
Mumbai | Nagpur | Port Blair |
Pune |
Chennai | Cochin | Goa |
Mumbai | New Mangalore |
Those holding an e-Visa can enter India via cruise ship through the designated seaports:
Chennai
Cochin
Goa
Mangalore
Mumbai
The processing fee for an India e-Visa application is country-specific. As of today, for an e-tourist visa, the fee ranges from 10 USD to 80 USD, depending on the month and duration of the visa.
The processing fees for e-Business, e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant, and e-Conference visas range from 80 USD to 100 USD.
There is no fee other than the processing fee for e-Visa application, which is non-refundable.
For the e-Visa application, British applicants must answer questions about their employment status and financial background for their stay in India. The applicants will be required to:
Answer a few simple background questions to determine their eligibility to enter India.
Upload their face photograph and passport bio page picture.
For business and technical meeting visas, include an email signature or business card with the other documents.
For medical visas, provide a letter from the hospital.
Photos can be taken from a phone and uploaded.
The link to upload documents will be provided via email after successful payment.
If unable to upload documents online, email them to the designated email address on the official website.
The e-Visa system has made it easier and safer for British citizens to apply for visas when traveling to India. With an e-Visa, British nationals can apply for visas online and receive them directly in their inbox, eliminating the need to visit an Indian embassy or consulate.
This easy-to-use system lets British citizens enter India without problems for tourism, business, or medical reasons.
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.