Do you need a visa for India?

In most cases, yes. India’s official entry rules generally require foreign nationals to hold a valid passport and either a regular visa, an eVisa, or another recognised entry document such as an OCI card. There are limited exemptions and special arrangements, so the correct answer depends primarily on the passport you will use and the purpose of your trip.

An India eVisa is a visa route available only to travellers who meet the official nationality and travel-purpose conditions. It is not a general visa exemption, and it is not available for every passport or every reason for travel.

Do not assume that a tourist trip automatically means an eVisa is available. Your nationality, passport type, travel purpose and any relevant personal circumstances can change the formality required.

Which India entry formality may apply?

  • Eligible foreign passport holders: an India eVisa may be available when the passport and purpose of travel meet the applicable conditions.
  • Travellers whose passport or purpose is not eligible for an eVisa: a regular visa obtained through an Indian mission or post may be required. This can be relevant for purposes such as work, journalism, long-term study, or any visit that does not fit the applicable eVisa conditions.
  • Japanese and South Korean passport holders: a limited Visa on Arrival facility may be available at designated Indian airports for eligible short visits.
  • UAE passport holders: Visa on Arrival may be available only in the specific circumstances set by India, including a prior Indian eVisa or regular visa. First-time visitors should not assume that Visa on Arrival applies.
  • OCI or eOCI card holders: a valid OCI/eOCI card can be an alternative recognised entry document; an eVisa is not normally the route to rely on when travelling under that status.
  • Nepali or Bhutanese citizens: visa and travel-document exemptions can apply in defined circumstances. The conditions differ according to the route of travel and, for travel from places other than Nepal or Bhutan, the passport held.

Examples: identifying the likely route

  • US passport, short holiday in India: a traveller may be able to use an India eVisa if their passport is on the current eligibility list and the planned tourism visit meets the applicable conditions.
  • British, Canadian or Australian passport, business meetings: an eVisa may be the relevant option when the passport and business purpose meet India’s official eVisa rules. A different purpose or ineligible situation can require a regular visa instead.
  • Japanese passport, short business or tourism trip: the traveller may have a choice between an eligible eVisa route and the limited Visa on Arrival arrangement, subject to the official conditions and designated arrival airports.
  • Traveller going to take up employment in India: a tourist eVisa should not be treated as the answer. A regular visa category appropriate to the planned activity is likely to be necessary.
  • Traveller with a Pakistani passport or Pakistani origin: India’s eVisa rules do not apply. The traveller should check the regular-visa requirements with the appropriate Indian mission before making travel plans.

India eVisa or regular visa: the key distinction

The main question is not simply whether you need “a visa.” It is whether your passport and trip fit an India eVisa category or whether you need a regular visa arranged through an Indian mission or post.

An eVisa can be relevant for eligible nationalities and limited travel purposes. A regular visa may be needed when the eVisa is unavailable for your nationality, passport type, personal circumstances or planned activity. For example, eVisa access is not available to diplomatic or official passport holders, and it is not available to holders of laissez-passer or other international travel documents in place of a passport.

If an eVisa appears relevant, see the dedicated India eVisa guide for the separate questions of application, documents, processing, cost and validity.

Do children need their own India entry formality?

Children who require a visa should have the entry permission appropriate to their own nationality and travel situation. For the eVisa route, India requires each traveller to hold a separate passport; a person endorsed on a parent’s or spouse’s passport is not eligible for an eVisa.

What about transit through India?

Transit through India may require a separate assessment depending on your passport and itinerary. An e-Transit visa category exists for eligible travellers, but the applicable requirements should be checked for the specific journey.

e-Arrival Card: separate from your visa

India’s official portal also instructs foreign nationals and OCI/eOCI card holders to submit e-Arrival information within 72 hours before arrival. This is arrival information, not a visa. It does not replace a visa, eVisa, OCI/eOCI card or another entry document that applies to your trip.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing an eVisa with visa-free travel: an eVisa is still an immigration formality that must be granted before travel when it applies.
  • Choosing the route based only on destination: the same trip to India can require a different formality depending on the passport, passport type and reason for travel.
  • Relying on Visa on Arrival without checking eligibility: this facility is limited to Japanese, South Korean and certain UAE nationals, and is not a general option for eVisa-eligible travellers.
  • Overlooking a different travel purpose: employment, journalism, longer study and other activities may require a regular visa rather than an eVisa intended for short-term eligible visits.

Check the formality for your own trip

These are common routes, not a substitute for checking an individual journey. The answer can change with the passport used, nationality, purpose, arrival point, transit plans, previous travel history and special status such as OCI.

Use Go2entry to check the entry formalities that may apply to the passport and travel details you will actually use for India.