India is a beautiful country with a rich culture and history. Millions of tourists visit India every year to experience its diverse traditions, cuisines, and scenic landscapes. To ensure hassle-free travel for tourists, the Indian government introduced the E-tourist visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in 2014. It is an online visa application system that enables foreign nationals to apply for a visa to visit India for tourism, recreation, and sightseeing purposes. In this article, we will discuss the E-tourist visa India in detail.
What are the benefits of E-tourist visa India?
The E-tourist visa India offers several benefits to foreign travelers. Here are some of them:
- Easy and convenient application process: The application process for an E-tourist visa India is entirely online, and tourists can apply for it from the comfort of their homes.
- Fast processing time: The processing time for an E-tourist visa India is usually between 3 to 5 business days, making it a convenient option for travelers who need to make last-minute plans.
- Multiple entries: E-tourist visa India allows multiple entries into the country within its validity period of one year, making it an ideal option for travelers who want to visit India more than once.
- Cost-effective: The cost of an E-tourist visa India is significantly lower than that of a traditional visa, making it an affordable option for budget travelers.
Who is eligible for E-tourist visa India?
E-tourist visa India is available to citizens of over 160 countries. Here are some of the eligibility criteria for E-tourist visa India:
- The applicant must be a foreign national whose sole objective of visiting India is for tourism, recreation, or sightseeing.
- The applicant’s passport must have a validity of at least six months from the date of arrival in India.
- The applicant must have a return ticket or an onward journey ticket and sufficient funds to support their stay in India.
- The applicant must not have a residence or occupation in India.
- The applicant must not have a visa or entry permit to India issued under any other category.
How to apply for E-tourist visa India?
Applying for E-tourist visa India is a straightforward process. Here are the steps to follow:
- Visit the official website of the Indian government’s E-visa services.
- Select the type of visa you want to apply for, in this case, E-tourist visa.
- Fill in the online application form with the required details such as personal information, passport details, travel itinerary, and contact information.
- Upload a scanned copy of your passport’s first page and a recent passport-sized photograph.
- Pay the visa fee online using a debit/credit card or net banking.
- Submit the application form and wait for the visa approval.
- Once the E-tourist visa India application is approved, the applicant will receive the visa via email.
What are the documents required for E-tourist visa India?
The following are the necessary documents for E-tourist visa India:
- A valid passport with a minimum of six months validity from the date of arrival in India.
- A recent passport-sized photograph with a white background.
- The scanned copy of the passport’s first page.
- Proof of return/onward journey tickets and sufficient funds to support the stay in India.
What is the validity of E-tourist visa India?
The validity of E-tourist visa India is one year from the date of issue. It allows multiple entries into the country during its validity period, and each stay can last up to 90 days.
What is the visa fee for E-tourist visa India?
The visa fee for E-tourist visa India varies depending on the applicant’s nationality and the duration of the visa. Here are some examples of visa fee for E-tourist visa India:
- For US citizens, the fee is $25 for a 30-day visa, $40 for a 1-year visa, and $80 for a 5-year visa.
- For UK citizens, the fee is £10 for a 30-day visa, £40 for a 1-year visa, and £150 for a 5-year visa.
- For Australian citizens, the fee is AUD 20 for a 30-day visa, AUD 50 for a 1-year visa, and AUD 125 for a 5-year visa.
What are the restrictions of E-tourist visa India?
Here are some of the restrictions of E-tourist visa India:
- E-tourist visa India is not applicable for visiting protected or restricted areas in India.
- The visa holder cannot engage in any business or employment activities in India.
- The visa holder cannot extend the stay beyond the visa’s validity period.
- The visa holder must not have any criminal convictions or be involved in any criminal activities in India.
Conclusion
E-tourist visa India is an excellent initiative by the Indian government to boost tourism and promote hassle-free travel for foreign tourists. It offers several benefits such as easy application process, fast processing time, and cost-effectiveness. However, it is essential to follow the eligibility criteria and visa restrictions to avoid any legal issues during the visit. We hope this article has provided you with valuable information on E-tourist visa India.
