Streamlined electronic visa policy introduced by the government
In a recent review of India's e-Visa policies, it has been observed that the changes made primarily clarify and reaffirm existing policies rather than introduce entirely new ones in 2025.
The e-Visa for Tourist and Business purposes continues to be valid for up to 60 days per visit and allows double entries per visa. The application window was extended to allow travelers to apply up to 120 days before travel, a policy that was introduced back in 2017.
Key details of the current Indian e-Visa regime include:
- Validity up to 60 days from the date of arrival for e-Tourist and e-Business Visas. - Double-entry permission for both e-Tourist and e-Business Visa holders. - Eligibility includes tourism, casual travel to meet friends/relatives, business activities like attending conferences or workshops organized by Indian government bodies, and medical treatment. - Passport validity must be at least 6 months from the date of arrival and have two blank pages. - Holders must have return/onward tickets. - Pakistani nationals or those of Pakistani origin must apply for a regular visa through Indian missions and are not eligible for e-Visa.
While no specific changes or relaxations specific to 2025 in India's e-Tourist or e-Business Visa rules were reported, there have been some amendments to the e-visa regime to make it more tourist-friendly.
For instance, the e-Visa is now valid for entry through 28 designated Airports, including Bhubaneswar and Port Blair. Additionally, the maximum continuous stay during each visit for e-Tourist Visa holders has been extended to 90 days for nationals of all countries except USA, UK, Canada, and Japan, where the limit remains at 180 days.
However, no new information regarding the maximum duration of stay for e-Tourist and e-Business Visas, changes to the e-Business Visa, the restriction of allowing foreigners for a maximum of three times, or the stay duration for USA, UK, Canada, and Japan on e-Tourist Visa has been provided.
In summary, India’s e-Tourist and e-Business Visa regime remains largely as it was established post-2016 reforms: 60-day validity, double entry, and an advance application window of up to 120 days, with some recent amendments to make it more tourist-friendly.
The e-Visa enhancements made in the Indian e-Visa regime have been aimed at creating a more conducive lifestyle for tourists, enabling the entry at 28 designated airports and offering extended maximum continuous stay for some, such as 90 days for nationals of all countries except USA, UK, Canada, and Japan. In the realm of business, the e-Business Visa continues to facilitate participation in conferences or workshops organized by Indian government bodies.
