Guide to the e-Tourist Visa for India: Requirements and Tips
Are you currently in the process of planning a trip to India? But do you want to avoid waiting hours at the Indian Embassy? Well, then you need to apply for an Indian tourist visa online. This process demands you to go through a few simple steps, completing which lets you have a travel permit. However, sometimes it can be a little tough to understand these steps if you are doing it for the first time.
So, it is better for you to start the process well prepared. This way you can get your permit without facing any issues or even decline.
Decoding the Indian e-Tourist Visa
Well, are you someone who has always applied for a visa through the embassy? Then making this switch to the online method can seem a little tricky. It is expected for most people to feel a little overwhelmed when they start the process.
However, understanding the core of the process really makes things simple for you. This is why we will focus on telling you the basics before we move into the process of e tourist visa India application.
What is the Indian e-Tourist Visa?
Every place demands an entry permit. This is something that proves your eligibility to access the place. Well, the same works visiting a country and an e-tourist visa is that permit. This is a document that helps you freely explore the country. Though the validity of this might vary depending on the type you choose, its use remains the same. Everyone must undertake the process of the Indian tourist visa application to gain entry into the country.
Previously, one could only get this visa with the help of an embassy. However, now this can also be applied for through the Immigration website of the Government or any other reputed site. With the help of this permit, you can easily travel freely to different parts of the country. Plus, this can also be used for visiting a relative, family member, or even a friend.
This comes with multiple types of validity periods and entry specifications. Pick the one that matches your travel plans the best. Most important of all, you should remember one thing: the fee for an e-tourist visa India application will fluctuate based on the type that you pick. So, don’t feel that there is something wrong if you see that there is a change in the fee amount.
Why pick the e-tourist Visa for India over the traditional one?
Are you still a little confused about why you should pick this process over the traditional one? Well, it is true that the other method has been in the industry for a long time at this point. However, the amount of perks that this one brings in is hard to miss.
e-Tourist Visa
Convenience: Applying for an Indian tourist visa online lets you stay in the comfort of your home throughout the whole process.
Speed: The online approval process just takes around a few hours to 3 days and that is more than enough.
Transparency: This method gives you the chance to track the visa status, thus offering a level of hard-to-match transparency.
Less Paperwork: This method is carried out completely with the help of the internet and everything is attached mostly in PDF format.
Cost-effective: Applying for an Indian tourist visa online requires you to just pay the application fee and there are no other expenses.
Traditional Visa
Convenience: Getting a visa of this kind requires you to travel to the embassy and wait in line for hours which can cause a lot of inconvenience.
Speed: The embassy usually takes days, sometimes even weeks to accept your visa application.
Transparency: It is not possible to check the status of the approval process, so you are left confused.
Less Paperwork: You are required to carry original copies of your necessary documents and spend a long time filling out the form.
Cost-effective: This application method requires you to visit the embassy so it automatically generates transportation and other costs.
Eligibility Criteria for the Indian e-Tourist Visa
Well, you should be aware of a few criteria before you start the Indian tourist visa application method online. These are important parts of the process so should be met by everyone.
Eligibility based on nationality
All nationalities cannot get this visa. Rather, there are a few who will have to carry out the traditional method if they want a visa to explore India.
There is an entire list of countries like Australia, the UK, the USA, Germany, and others where you can get a visa by just filling out the online application form. On the other hand, citizens from Pakistan and Afghanistan do not even qualify for an online visa. Rather, they have to visit the embassy to get the permit. However, even then there still remains a big chance of decline.
Purpose Restrictions
One can only apply for an Indian tourist visa online or through the embassy for tourism purposes. This means you can use it to visit India and explore the different cities for sightseeing, experiencing the art and culture, and even meeting a loved one. Anything other than that does not qualify as a valid purpose. Moreover, it can also lead to a direct rejection.
For instance, you cannot get this if you are visiting India to attend a business conference, or even for engaging in an employment activity. Moreover, this visa won't work if you are visiting India for a medical procedure. In that case, you will have to get another type of visa.
Steps to Apply for an Indian Tourist Visa Online
The online application for an Indian tourist visa only has a few simple steps. These steps are kept in place to simplify the entire thing for you. Some of the steps of this process are:
Go to the portal
The entire e-tourist visa India application starts with you visiting our portal. Next, find the application form meant for this process.
Fill out the entire form
Our application form comes with a few different sections. While some of these ask you for your basic details, others require you to provide specific ones. So, make sure you fill up the whole form without missing out on any, especially the mandatory ones. Moreover, try to avoid making any mistakes if you do not want to get the application rejected.
Attach all your documents
The Immigration Department of India demands you share some necessary documents. So, make sure you have scanned copies of everything that is required. This includes your recent photograph, scanned copy of your valid passport, bank statements, and others.
Pay your application fee
The fee for an Indian tourist visa application can be paid through any preferred payment method. So, you can pay with your debit or credit card. Just make sure you do not use any suspicious app for the payment as that can lead to you getting scammed.
You can submit your form after you are done with all these and expect to get the approval letter within 3 days. Just remember that the letter will be mailed to the email that you have provided on the form, so keep on checking it. Once you receive the letter, you will just have to get a printed copy of it and bring it with you to the airport.
What to Do If Your Application is Denied
The chances of an e-tourist visa India application getting rejected are pretty slim. However, it is never zero. If you ever encounter a similar situation then you should first identify the mistakes you made. Spelling errors or writing incorrect ID numbers are a big reason behind this. So, make sure you check for that.
The next thing that you should do after recognizing the issue is start the application process again. This time check minutely if you are missing something or putting any wrong detail and then complete the steps of the application process.
Excited to visit India with an Indian tourist visa?
Well, getting an e-tourist visa for India is simple. You just have to carry out the e-tourist visa India application process with your entire concentration. This way you can ensure there is no room for a possible mistake, leading to rejection. Thus, guaranteeing you can swiftly visit the country to experience its rich beauty.
That being said, if you still face some difficulty then you can just contact the Helpdesk for the best assistance.
Ensure you have checked your eligibility for Indian e-Visa. Citizens of most countries including Argentine citizens, Bulgarian citizens, Indonesian citizens, Jamaican citizens and Azerbaijani citizens are eligible for Indian e-Visa.