The Government of India has launched electronic visa (e-visa) facilities for 43 countries on the 27th of Nov, 2014. The move is aimed towards providing the tourism sector a shot in the arm. Tourists who wish to visit India can now easily apply for a visa online and receive the visa within 96 hours.
India has issued about 22,000 E-Visas in the first month itself, when compared to 24,963 E-Visas issued between January and November of 2014.
The electronic travel authorization (ETA) will have a validity of 30 days. The facility will be available to foreigners whose only objective of visiting India is recreation, leisure, sightseeing, short duration medical treatment, visit friends and relatives or casual business meet.
The e-visa facility will not be valid for any other purpose or activities. A tourist can avail an e-visa to visit India twice a year.
The facility is ideal for travellers who want to travel for short-term duration to India or take via routes while travelling to other countries or bring along family members while on business visits to India.
The e-visa facility offers several advantages for the international tourists. The significant advantages are mentioned below:
Any tourist travelling to India with an e-visa will be allowed to enter and depart from nine international airports in nine cities. These nine airports include the ones at
The processing fee for e-visa has been fixed at USD 60.
The government has decided to extend the e-visa facilities to almost all other countries of the world in a phased manner within the next 2 years. Apart from eight countries, namely, Pakistan, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Somalia, all 180 countries which host India’s diplomatic mission will be covered under the e-visa list in phases.
The Government of India has approved the names of 43 countries in its first phase for providing e-visa facilities. These countries are:
Australia | Brazil | Cambodia |
Cook Islands | Djibouti | Federated States of Micronesia |
Fiji | Finland | Germany |
Indonesia | Israel | Japan |
Jordan | Kenya | Kingdom of Tongo |
Laos | Luxembourg | Mauritius |
Mexico | Myanmar | New Zealand |
Niue | Norway | Oman |
Palestine | Papua & New Guinea | Philippines |
Republic of Kiribati | Republic of Korea (i.e. South Korea) | Republic of Marshall Islands |
Republic of Nauru | Republic of Palau | Russia |
Samoa | Singapore | Solomon Islands |
Thailand | Tuvalu | UAE |
Ukraine | USA | Vietnam |
Vanuatu |
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