Short answer: British citizens need a visa to visit India, unless they hold an OCI card. For holidays, family visits, business trips and medical treatment, most British travellers apply for an India e-Visa online on the official Indian government website. The e-Tourist visa comes in 30-day, 1-year and 5-year versions. You must apply at least four days before arrival, your passport needs six months’ validity and two blank pages, and all foreign visitors must now complete an online e-Arrival card before landing.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Do UK citizens need a visa? | Yes, unless you hold an OCI card |
| Best option for short trips | India e-Visa, applied for online |
| e-Tourist options | 30 days, 1 year or 5 years |
| Official website | indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa |
| When to apply | At least 4 days and up to 120 days before arrival |
| Passport | 6 months’ validity and 2 blank pages |
| On arrival | Complete the online e-Arrival card first |
Table of Contents
What is the India e-Visa for UK citizens?
The India e-Visa is an electronic visa that you apply for online. Instead of visiting a visa centre, you fill in a form, upload a photo and a passport scan, pay the fee and receive an approval by email. When you land in India, the immigration officer checks the approval against your passport and stamps you in.
British citizens can use the India e-Visa for several purposes:
- e-Tourist: holidays, visiting family and friends, short yoga courses
- e-Business: meetings, sales, conferences and setting up business
- e-Medical: medical treatment, with an e-Medical Attendant visa for companions
- e-Conference: attending conferences organised by approved bodies
The e-Visa is valid for entry through designated airports, seaports and some land checkpoints. Check the official list before you book a route that enters by land.
Do all British citizens need an India e-Visa?
Most do. The main exception is people who hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. OCI cardholders can enter India with their British passport and OCI card, without a visa.
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| British citizen, holiday or family visit | India e-Visa (e-Tourist) or a regular visa |
| British citizen, business trip | India e-Visa (e-Business) or a business visa |
| British citizen with an OCI card | No visa, travel with passport and OCI card |
| British citizen of Pakistani origin | A regular visa, with much longer processing |
| Staying more than 180 days | A regular visa and registration in India |
UK government advice says applicants of Pakistani origin, including British-Pakistani dual nationals, face much longer processing times, and dual nationals must apply using their Pakistani passport. If this applies to you, apply many weeks before travel.
How much does the India e-Visa cost for UK citizens?
Fees depend on your nationality and the type of visa. For British passports, current guidance shows a 30-day e-Tourist India e-Visa costing USD 25 for most of the year, with a reduced fee of USD 10 for arrivals between April and June. The 1-year e-Tourist visa is shown at USD 40. The 5-year e-Tourist, e-Business and e-Medical visas cost more.
A bank charge of around 3% is added when you pay by card. Fees are not refunded if your application is refused.
Fees change, so always check the fee shown on the official website before you pay. Be careful with websites that look official but charge two or three times the real fee.
How long can you stay on an India e-Visa?
The rules depend on which India e-Visa you choose:
| e-Visa type | Validity | Entries |
|---|---|---|
| e-Tourist 30 days | 30 days from first arrival | Double entry |
| e-Tourist 1 year | 1 year from grant | Multiple entries |
| e-Tourist 5 years | 5 years from grant | Multiple entries |
| e-Business | 1 year from grant | Multiple entries |
| e-Medical | 60 days from first arrival | Up to three entries |
On the 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist visas, the total time you can spend in India is limited, and the conditions are printed on your approval. If you plan to stay for more than 180 days, you need a regular visa and must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office within 14 days of arrival.
What documents do you need for an India e-Visa?
The online form asks for:
- A scan of your passport’s photo page
- A recent digital photo with a white background
- Your UK address and contact details
- Your parents’ names and nationalities
- Your job details
- An address or hotel in India and a reference contact
- For e-Business: a business card or invitation letter
- For e-Medical: a letter from the hospital in India
Your photo is the most common reason for delays. Use a plain white background, face the camera, and do not wear glasses. Our guide to digital photos for visas shows what works. Our India e-Visa documents guide covers each file in more detail.
How to apply: the 7 easy steps
These steps follow the same simple flow that Alif Visa uses when we prepare an India e-Visa for a client.
- Check your route on Alif Visa. Enter your nationality and destination on our visa checker to confirm that the India e-Visa suits your trip.
- Choose the right type. Pick e-Tourist, e-Business or e-Medical, and choose 30 days, 1 year or 5 years for tourism.
- Check your passport. It needs six months’ validity from arrival and two blank pages.
- Prepare your photo and scan. Use a clear passport scan and a photo with a white background.
- Complete the official form. Use only indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. Check every spelling against your passport.
- Pay the fee. Pay at least four days before arrival, or the application will not be processed.
- Print your approval and complete the e-Arrival card. Carry the approval, and fill in the online e-Arrival card up to 72 hours before landing.
If you would like a specialist to prepare the India e-Visa for you, Alif Visa can check your photo, documents and answers before submission.
What is the India e-Arrival card?
India now asks all foreign nationals to complete an e-Arrival card online before reaching immigration. You can fill it in up to 72 hours before you arrive. It asks for your passport details, flight, address in India and recent travel.
The e-Arrival card is not a visa. You still need your India e-Visa, a regular visa or an OCI card. Completing it in advance makes immigration faster when you land.
How long does an India e-Visa take?
Many applications are decided within two to four working days, but the official website does not promise a fixed time. Treat four days before arrival as the absolute minimum, not a target. Apply two to four weeks ahead if you can, especially before Diwali, Christmas and the winter wedding season, when demand is high.
If your application is held, you may receive an email asking for a better photo or another document. Reply quickly to avoid missing your flight.
An example: a wedding trip with an OCI card in the family
Here is a typical example. Rahul, a British citizen in Leicester, was travelling to Delhi for his cousin’s wedding with his wife and daughter. Rahul had an OCI card. His wife and daughter, both British citizens born in the UK, did not.
Rahul did not need a visa. His wife and daughter applied for a 1-year e-Tourist India e-Visa each, because the family planned another trip within the year. The daughter’s first application was held because her photo had a grey background. She uploaded a new photo with a white background, and both visas were approved within three days.
Before landing, all three completed the online e-Arrival card. At Delhi airport, Rahul showed his passport and OCI card, while his wife and daughter showed their passports and printed e-Visa approvals.
Which mistakes should you avoid?
Most India e-Visa problems are easy to prevent:
- Using unofficial websites. Only indianvisaonline.gov.in is official.
- Poor photos. Use a white background and no glasses.
- Paying too late. Payment must be made at least four days before travel.
- Choosing the wrong type. Do not use an e-Tourist visa for paid work or business deals.
- A passport with too few blank pages. You need two.
- Forgetting the entry stamp. Make sure the officer stamps your passport on arrival.
- Overstaying. Leave before your visa expires.
Can you extend an India e-Visa?
In most cases, e-Tourist visas cannot be extended or converted into another visa type once you are in India. The exceptions are limited, such as medical emergencies, and are handled online through the e-FRRO system of the Bureau of Immigration.
For that reason, choose the right India e-Visa before you travel. If there is any chance you will stay longer, the 1-year or 5-year e-Tourist visa gives you more room than the 30-day version. If your plans change completely, for example you are offered a job, you will normally need to leave India and apply for the correct visa from the UK.
Can you work or do business on an India e-Visa?
The e-Tourist visa is for tourism only. Business meetings, sales visits and conferences need the e-Business visa, which has different conditions. Paid employment in India needs an Employment visa, applied for through the regular visa process.
Volunteering, journalism and missionary activities also have their own visa types. If you are unsure, check before you apply, because using the wrong India e-Visa can lead to refusal at the airport or a future ban.
Key takeaways
- British citizens need a visa for India unless they hold an OCI card.
- The India e-Visa is applied for online at indianvisaonline.gov.in.
- e-Tourist visas come in 30-day, 1-year and 5-year versions.
- Apply at least four days and up to 120 days before arrival.
- Your passport needs six months’ validity and two blank pages.
- Complete the online e-Arrival card before you land.
- Applicants of Pakistani origin face longer processing and may need a regular visa.
How can Alif Visa help with an India e-Visa?
Alif Visa is a UK-registered visa assistance company helping travellers worldwide. We prepare India e-Visa applications, check photos and documents, and help with business, medical and family trips. We also help family members on other passports who need a regular Indian visa.
You can check your route, start an application or talk to our team. Our service fee is always shown separately from the official Indian government fee.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for India?
Yes, unless they hold an OCI card. Most use the India e-Visa.
How much is the India e-Visa for UK citizens?
Current guidance shows USD 25 for the 30-day e-Tourist visa for most of the year and USD 40 for the 1-year visa, plus a bank charge. Check the official site before paying.
How early should I apply for an India e-Visa?
At least four days before arrival and no more than 120 days before.
What is the official India e-Visa website?
indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa is the only official website.
How much passport validity do I need for India?
At least six months from arrival and two blank pages.
What is the India e-Arrival card?
An online form all foreign visitors complete up to 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa.
Can British citizens of Pakistani origin use the India e-Visa?
They often need a regular visa and face much longer processing. Dual nationals must apply on their Pakistani passport.
Can I work in India on an e-Tourist visa?
No. Business trips need the e-Business visa, and employment needs an Employment visa.
