India tourist visa

Recreation, sightseeing, casual visits to friends or relatives, short yoga programmes, short courses in local languages, music, dance, arts, crafts or cooking (informal and under six months, without a qualifying certificate), and short voluntary work without payment. Formal studies, employment and business require other visas.

Besides the form, photos, passport and proof of residence, missions ask for documents such as a hotel booking confirmation, return flight details and your latest bank statement. If you visit someone in India, add their invitation letter with their ID and contact details. Employees bring a leave letter from the employer, business owners a letter on their company's letterhead, retirees their retirement documents, students a school letter and ID, and sponsored applicants a notarised support letter. Minors travelling with one parent need the other parent's consent.

The fee depends on your nationality and on the Indian mission where you apply, which also sets how it is paid. Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused, and the mission decides the type and duration of the visa regardless of the fee paid.

Foreigners complete the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before arrival on boi.gov.in, indianvisaonline.gov.in or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app. Holders of student, employment, medical or missionary work visas valid for more than 180 days must register with the jurisdictional FRRO or FRO within 14 days of arrival; holders of other visas, including business visas, must register if they stay more than 180 days continuously or within a calendar year. Children under 12 are exempt. Extensions and conversions are requested on indianfrro.gov.in while you are in India and before your visa expires.