IndiaElectronic visa

India e-Visa in India

India's electronic visa is an entry permit obtained entirely online, without a visit to a consulate. It suits tourists, business travellers, patients of Indian clinics and those accompanying them, students and their family members — each purpose of travel has its own sub-category of visa.

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

Who may apply and what sub-categories exist

The single e-Visa system is divided into sub-categories by purpose of travel; the application is filed on the indianvisaonline.gov.in portal.

Tourism and personal travel

e-Tourist Visa: leisure, sightseeing, visits to friends and relatives
Short courses in language, music, dance, cookery and medicine — up to 6 months, without a degree
Unpaid volunteer work — one month at most

Business

e-Business Visa: business meetings and negotiations
Participation in conferences and seminars, including private ones
Sporting events and lectures under the GIAN programme — with a separate set of documents

Medical

e-Medical Visa: treatment at an Indian hospital on the clinic's letter of invitation
e-Medical Attendant Visa: a person accompanying the patient — no more than two visas per e-Medical Visa

Study, family and transit

e-Student Visa: study on an admission letter
e-Family Visa: for a family member of an e-Student Visa holder
e-Transit Visa: short transit through India
e-Miscellaneous Visa: other purposes, including entry by persons of Indian origin

What it costs

30-day e-Tourist Visa for Russian nationals	0 USD
1-year e-Tourist Visa for Russian nationals	40 USD
5-year e-Tourist Visa for Russian nationals	120 USD

Documents to gather

The basic set is the same for all sub-categories; for particular purposes of travel the portal requires additional papers.

Scan of the passport page with the photograph and personal details; the passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the date of application
Recent full-face photograph on a light background: JPEG, from 10 KB to 1 MB, strictly square frame
Return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds for the trip
For short courses (up to 6 months, without a degree) — a letter from the educational institution on its official letterhead
For volunteer work (up to one month, unpaid) — a letter from the host organisation on its letterhead

How the process runs

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

1
File the application online
no later than 4 days and no earlier than 120 days before arrival
Complete the form at indianvisaonline.gov.in and upload the scan of the passport and the photograph.
2
Pay the fee
Payment through SBIePay: by Visa or Mastercard — the bank charges an additional 3% of the fee, through PayPal — 4%. The fee is not refunded even if the visa is refused.
3
Receive the ETA by email
The Electronic Travel Authorization arrives at the email address given in the form; the status can be checked in the Check your Visa Status section of the portal.
4
Fly to India and pass border control
On entry you must present the printed ETA — immigration officers stamp the e-Visa in the passport and record biometric data.

Timelines and rights

Work

Not intended for employment.

Who you can bring with you

Separate sub-categories cover those accompanying a patient and family members of a student.

Person accompanying a patient (e-Medical Attendant Visa)

No more than two attendant visas per e-Medical Visa; valid for 60 days from the date of arrival, multiple entry.

Family member of an e-Student Visa holder (e-Family Visa)

Valid for 365 days from the date the ETA is issued, multiple entry; a scan of the passport page with the photograph is enough to apply.

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 visa is not extended and not converted into another category. Anyone planning to stay in India beyond the permitted period or to change the purpose of travel obtains an ordinary visa through a consulate or 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 e-Visa

Who may apply for India's electronic visa?

Applications are accepted from nationals of the countries and territories on the list published on the indianvisaonline.gov.in portal. The visa is not available to holders of Pakistani passports and persons of Pakistani origin, to holders of diplomatic and official passports, or to those endorsed on a parent's or spouse's passport without a passport of their own.

How much does the e-Tourist Visa cost for Russian nationals?

The thirty-day e-Tourist Visa is free for Russian nationals, the one-year visa costs USD 40 and the five-year visa USD 120. When paying by card the bank charges an additional 3% of the fee.

How many days before travel must the application be filed?

The application is filed at least 4 days before the date of arrival. It may be filed no earlier than 120 days before the trip.

Can the electronic visa be extended or its category changed?

No, India's electronic visa is not extended and not converted into another category.

How many attendants may accompany a patient on an e-Medical Visa?

No more than two e-Medical Attendant Visas are issued per e-Medical Visa.

Can any part of India be visited on an electronic visa?

No. The electronic visa is not valid for visiting protected, restricted and cantonment areas — those require separate permission from the civil administration.

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.