You’ve booked your flights. Your itinerary is perfect. Then you hit the official Indian e-Visa website — and it looks like a 1998 Geocities page. The form asks for your grandmother’s maiden name, your passport’s issue city, and a photo that must be exactly 2 inches by 2 inches. One wrong pixel and your application gets rejected.
I’ve helped dozens of travelers navigate this process. Here’s the exact path to a successful e-Visa — and the traps that catch most people.
What the India e-Visa Actually Is (and Isn’t)
The India e-Visa is not a visa stamped in your passport. It’s an electronic travel authorization linked to your passport number. When you land, immigration officers scan your passport and see the approval on their screen. You don’t need to print anything, though carrying a copy is smart.
Three Types You Need to Know
The Government of India offers three main e-Visa categories:
- e-Tourist Visa: For tourism, visiting friends/family, or short-term yoga retreats. Valid for 30 days, 1 year, or 5 years. The 30-day version allows double entry. The 1-year and 5-year versions allow multiple entries, but each stay is capped at 90 days.
- e-Business Visa: For meetings, conferences, or setting up business operations. Valid for 1 year with multiple entries. Each stay maxes out at 180 days. You’ll need a business card, invitation letter, or company registration proof.
- e-Medical Visa: For medical treatment at recognized Indian hospitals. Valid for 60 days with triple entry. Requires a letter from the hospital and a doctor’s referral.
Most travelers need the 30-day e-Tourist Visa. It’s the cheapest ($25 USD), fastest to process (usually 24-72 hours), and covers the vast majority of tourist activities. Don’t pay for the 1-year version unless you actually plan multiple trips.
What the e-Visa Does NOT Cover
The e-Visa is not valid for:
- Employment or paid work (you need a regular Employment Visa from an Indian embassy)
- Journalism or documentary filming (requires a special Media Visa)
- Studying at a university (requires a Student Visa)
- Entering through land borders (only 28 designated airports and 5 seaports accept e-Visa holders)
If your purpose falls into any of these categories, skip the e-Visa and contact the nearest Indian embassy directly.
Step-by-Step Application Process
The entire application happens on the official website: indianvisaonline.gov.in. That’s the only site you should use. Scam sites charge $100+ for the same $25 visa.
What You Need Before Starting
Gather these items first. Starting the form and then hunting for documents is a recipe for timeout errors.
- Passport: Valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date in India. Must have at least two blank pages.
- Digital photo: 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), white background, no glasses, ears visible. JPEG format, under 1 MB. The system is picky about dimensions — use a passport photo app to crop it exactly.
- Passport scan: The page with your photo and signature. PDF or JPEG, under 300 KB. Some travelers report success with a clear phone photo, but a proper scan is safer.
- Travel details: Flight numbers, arrival airport, hotel address (even a placeholder is fine — you can change it later).
- Credit or debit card: For the fee. Visa, Mastercard, and Amex work.
The Actual Application
Step 1: Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in. Click “e-Visa Application” → “Apply Here”.
Step 2: Fill in Part 1 — personal details. Name must match your passport exactly. Middle name? Leave it blank if your passport doesn’t have one. Do not add it.
Step 3: Fill in Part 2 — travel details. You can list a general itinerary. The system only checks that you have a valid reason to enter.
Step 4: Upload photo and passport scan. If the system rejects your photo, it usually tells you why (wrong size, shadows, etc.). Fix and re-upload.
Step 5: Review everything. Once submitted, you cannot edit the form. You must start over with a new application and pay again.
Step 6: Pay the fee. For US citizens, the 30-day e-Tourist Visa costs $25. Processing takes 24-72 hours in most cases. You’ll receive an email with a reference number. Check status at the same website using your application ID and passport number.
5 Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
Most rejections happen for preventable reasons. Here’s what goes wrong most often:
| Mistake | Why It Fails | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Photo doesn’t meet specs | Wrong size, shadows, glasses glare, non-white background | Use a dedicated passport photo app. Measure the 2×2 inches exactly. |
| Name mismatch with passport | Added middle name that isn’t on passport, or left out a surname | Copy your name exactly as printed on your passport. No extra spaces. |
| Passport expires too soon | Less than 6 months valid on arrival date | Renew your passport before applying. No exceptions. |
| Wrong visa category selected | Applied for e-Business when you only needed e-Tourist | Read the descriptions carefully. If unsure, choose e-Tourist. |
| Applying too early or too late | More than 120 days before travel, or less than 4 days before | Apply 2-4 weeks before departure. That’s the sweet spot. |
One more trap: The e-Visa is valid from the date of approval, not your arrival date. If you apply 2 months early, your visa starts immediately and expires 30 days later — before your trip even begins. Apply within 30-45 days of travel.
What to Do If Your Application Gets Rejected
Rejection happens. Maybe 5-10% of applications get denied. The system doesn’t always tell you why, which is frustrating. Here’s your recovery plan:
File a Fresh Application
You can reapply immediately. The system doesn’t block repeat applications. But fix whatever caused the rejection first. Common fixes:
- Re-crop your photo using a stricter tool
- Double-check your passport number and expiration date
- Ensure your name has zero extra characters
If you get rejected twice, do not file a third time. Something deeper is wrong — maybe a name mismatch with your passport’s machine-readable zone, or a security flag. Contact the Indian embassy or consulate in your country. They can check your passport data and tell you what’s blocking the visa.
Alternative: Regular Visa from an Embassy
If the e-Visa keeps failing, go the traditional route. Apply for a paper visa at the Indian embassy in your country. It takes longer (5-15 business days) and costs more ($50-150 depending on nationality), but it works for cases the e-Visa system can’t handle.
You’ll need to mail your passport, fill out a longer form, and possibly attend an interview. It’s a hassle, but it’s the backup plan that always works.
When NOT to Use the e-Visa
The e-Visa is convenient, but it’s not always the right choice. Here’s when to skip it:
You’re entering by land. The e-Visa is only valid at 28 airports and 5 seaports. If you’re crossing from Nepal by bus or from Pakistan by train, you need a regular visa from an embassy. No exceptions.
You need to stay longer than 90 days. The e-Tourist Visa caps each stay at 90 days (180 for e-Business). If you’re planning a 4-month volunteering trip or a 6-month meditation retreat, you need a different visa category — likely a Student Visa or a regular Tourist Visa with extended validity.
You have a criminal record. The e-Visa application asks about criminal history. If you answer “yes” to any of those questions, the system will likely reject you. In that case, apply through the embassy where you can explain your situation and provide supporting documents.
Your passport is from a restricted country. Citizens of Afghanistan, China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and a few other countries cannot use the e-Visa system. They must apply for a regular visa at the embassy. Check the official list before you start.
For everyone else — tourists, business travelers, medical visitors — the e-Visa is the fastest, cheapest, and simplest way to get into India. Just follow the steps, avoid the traps, and you’ll be sipping chai in Delhi within a week of applying.