IndiaStudy visa

India student e-Visa in India

India's electronic student visa is an e-Visa category for foreign nationals who have been admitted to an Indian educational institution. It is arranged online, without a visit to a consulate. The visa is not extended and does not pass into another category — for a long course of study an ordinary student visa is required, obtained from a consulate or a visa centre.

Source: India's official online visa portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in)

Who can obtain the e-Student Visa

Standard admission

Admission to an accredited Indian educational institution
A letter of admission stating the duration of the course
A letter of support from a parent or guardian with a bank guarantee, or a bank account statement for 6 months

Medical and paramedical programmes

A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is additionally required

Documents to gather

All documents, letters included, are accepted in English only — otherwise the application will be rejected.

A scan of the passport page bearing the photograph and personal details
A letter of admission from an accredited Indian educational institution stating the duration of the course
A letter of support from a parent or guardian with a bank guarantee, or a bank account statement for the last 6 months
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — for those entering medical and paramedical programmes

How the process runs

The whole procedure takes place online on the official portal indianvisaonline.gov.in.

1
Obtaining admission to an institution
The Indian educational institution issues a letter of admission stating the duration of the course — this document is mandatory for the e-Student Visa application.
2
Completing the form and uploading the documents
10–15 minutes
The online form on indianvisaonline.gov.in is completed and paid for in 10–15 minutes. Documents, letters included, are accepted in English only.
3
Paying the fee
The fee must be paid at least 4 days before the trip, otherwise the application will not be processed. The bank adds 3% for card payments and 4% through PayPal. The money is not refunded even if the visa is refused.
4
Receiving the decision and the electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
The decision — Granted or Rejected — is sent to the email address given in the form; the status can be checked on the portal under Check your Visa Status. A copy of the ETA must be taken on the trip.

Timelines and rights

Work

Work is not allowed. The electronic visa is not issued for employment.

Who you can bring with you

The student's spouse and children enter on a separate visa category, not on the e-Student Visa.

Spouse and children (dependants) of the student

They obtain an e-Family Visa for the e-Student Dependent purpose. Only a scan of the passport page bearing the photograph is mandatory. Validity — 365 days from the date the ETA is issued, with multiple entry.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The visa confers no resident status. Those staying longer than 180 days register with the FRRO or FRO — two weeks are allowed after the 180 days expire.

The electronic student visa is not extended and is not converted into another visa category — this is the general rule for all nine sub-categories of India's e-Visa. To study for longer than the e-Visa is valid, an ordinary (non-electronic) student visa must be obtained through a consulate or a visa centre.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The electronic visa is not extended and not converted into another category. There is no route to permanent residence through it: for a long stay you obtain an ordinary visa of the required type.

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation is governed by the Citizenship Act 1955: 11 years of residence in India are required. For Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan the period is reduced to 5 years.

Frequently asked questions about India student e-Visa

Who can obtain the e-Student Visa?

A foreign national who has been admitted to an accredited Indian educational institution. A letter of admission stating the duration of the course and proof of financial support from a parent or guardian — a letter with a bank guarantee or an account statement for 6 months — are attached to the application.

How long is the e-Student Visa valid and how many times may it be used to enter India?

365 days (one year) from the date the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is issued, with multiple entry.

Can the student e-Visa be extended or changed to another category?

No. India's electronic visa is not extended and is not converted into another visa category — the rule applies to every sub-category of the e-Visa, the student one included.

How does the student's family enter India?

The spouse and children enter on a separate electronic visa — the e-Family Visa for the e-Student Dependent purpose. It requires only a scan of the passport page bearing the photograph; it is valid for 365 days from the date the ETA is issued, with multiple entry.

Which additional documents do students of medical subjects need?

Those entering medical and paramedical programmes need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — without it the application will not be accepted.

How much does the e-Student Visa cost?

The fee depends on the applicant's citizenship — the portal has a separate table of rates by country for the e-Visa. The bank charges a further 3% for card payments and 4% through PayPal. The fee is not refunded even if the visa is refused, and it must be paid at least 4 days before the trip.

Can a short course be attended on an ordinary tourist e-Visa instead of the e-Student Visa?

Yes, if the course is informal, shorter than 6 months and leads to no diploma or certificate — language courses, cookery, music or yoga, for example. Such trips are covered by the e-Tourist Visa. For full admission to an educational institution, the e-Student Visa is required.

Other ways to move to India

Every route in one list — migration programmes: India.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.