India entry requirements for U.S. citizens

Do you need a visa for India?

Yes, unless you hold an OCI card. For a tourist trip, the rule is: Electronic visa (e-Visa) required¹. India's official e-Visa portal is indianvisaonline.gov.in²; the Indian Embassy names it as the only government portal. Type the address yourself instead of clicking ads or links on other sites.

The Indian e-Visa application must be made at least 4 days before arrival in India.³

Indian e-Visas are not valid for entering India through land border crossings.⁶ If you plan to arrive overland, check the official source before you book.

How long you can stay

The e-Tourist Visa comes in more than one length. With the longer ones, your total time in India in a calendar year may not exceed 180 days⁷. The shorter e-Tourist Visa has its own limit, which the official site shows.

Rules change, and India's government decides how long you can stay. Check the dates on your e-Visa and the official site before you book.

Passport rules

For an Indian e-Visa, the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in India.⁸ The passport must have at least two blank pages for the immigration officer's stamps on arrival.⁹

Rules change and India's government decides, so confirm these rules on the official site before you travel. If your passport will not meet them, get a new one before you apply for the e-Visa. Renewing by mail takes 4–6 weeks¹⁰ plus mailing time: see Renew your passport by mail. Short on time? If you travel internationally soon, you can book an appointment at a passport agency or center once you are within 14 calendar days of your trip, or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa.¹¹ Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Travel advisory

The U.S. Department of State's travel advisory for India is Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution⁵. The level can change at any time, and the full advisory can say more about specific areas. Read it before you book and again before you go; the link is under "Sources and verification" at the end of this guide.

Other rules to know

Having a satellite phone or GPS device in India is illegal and can lead to fines, detention or arrest.¹² Leave satellite phones and GPS devices at home.

Step by step

Checklist

Before you fly to India

Print checklist

• U.S. passport that meets the validity rule
• Blank pages for the arrival stamps
• e-Visa approved, not just submitted
• Copy of the approved e-Visa, digital or printed
• Flight into India (the e-Visa does not cover land borders)
• No satellite phone or GPS device in your luggage
• Latest U.S. travel advisory read
• Official site checked again in the week before you fly

Do and don't

Do

• Apply only on the official portal and keep the confirmation.
• Count the days of your stay so you leave within what your e-Visa allows.
• Ask for a larger book with more visa pages when you renew, if you travel often: no fee¹³.

Don't

• Don't apply too late: the portal needs time before your arrival.
• Don't plan to cross into India by land on an e-Visa.
• Don't pay a website that only looks official for the same e-Visa.

Fees

This is a government fee. It is paid to the government of India, not to Passmere.

The amount varies by season and by type of e-Visa, and a bank charge is added. Fees can change. The official portal shows the current government fee before you pay.

Frequently asked questions