An interval of at least 2-months is mandatory between any two visits to India on a tourist visa unless the travel is part of the same itinerary, which the traveler must carry along and show to the Immigration Officer on demand. In case, an international traveler requires visiting India within 2 months of his/ her last visit, a permit to re-enter India must be applied for with the concerned Indian Mission.

Visa on Arrival Scheme in India

In addition to the regular visa, Indian Government offers "Visa to India on arrival" to citizens of select 180 countries. The citizens of these countries can avail the facility of electronic Tourist Visa (eTV) as late as just 04 days in advance from the anticipated date of arrival in India.

The eTV application process is super easy. The process is all of four steps. Apply for Indian visa online; pay the visa fee online using credit/debit card; get an electronic tourist visa on email in next 03 consecutive working days, and carry a print of the eTV while traveling to India.

eTV enjoys a 30-days window from the date of arrival in India. In other words, eTV should be applied only when the intention is to visit India purely for recreation, sightseeing, meeting friends/ relatives, short-term medical treatment or a casual business-related visit that is not to last for more than 30 days.

eTV is electronic travel authorization that allows an international traveler to get an entry in India through either of its 16 designated international airports, including Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Cochin, Goa, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trivandrum, Tiruchirapalli and Varanasi. Upon arrival in India, the traveler needs to obtain Visa on Arrival (VoA).

eTV facility is NOT available to the international travelers holding an official/ diplomatic passport, international travel documents or those traveling on the passport of parent or spouse. eTV cannot be availed more than twice in a calendar year. It authorizes single entry only and does not include permission to visit restricted/ protected/ cantonment areas.

The pre-requisites to carry for obtaining Visa on Arrival (VoA) include a passport with at least two blank pages for stamping and validity of at least 6 months from the date of arrival in India; 2 passport size photographs against white background without shadows or blur; proof of enough funds to afford stay in India after arrival; and a return ticket or ticket for onward journey.

Note: - The 180 countries that can avail this e-TV facility do not include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, and Sudan. Check for more details indianvisaonline.gov.in