India visa: e-visa, timing, passport and arrival card for US and UK citizens

Yes, US and UK citizens need a visa to visit India. For a tourist trip, the simplest option is the e-visa (e-Tourist), applied for online on the official Indian visa site, indianvisaonline.gov.in: 30 days, 1 year or 5 years depending on the type. Without a valid visa (or an OCI card) you can be refused entry. Foreign nationals must also complete an online e-Arrival Card before reaching immigration, up to 72 hours before arrival.

This India visa guide uses the entry requirements published by the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), by the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 7 October 2026) and by the official Indian e-visa site (indianvisaonline.gov.in, eVisa page and FAQ), all read on 12 November 2026. It covers the e-visa types, application timing, passport validity, the arrival card, restricted areas and mistakes to avoid. Rules change often: check the official site just before you leave.

Do US and UK citizens need a visa for India?

US citizens

According to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), US citizens need a valid US passport and either a valid Indian visa or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card to enter and exit; India may deny entry to travellers without valid documents. For short tourist stays of less than 60 days, you can apply for an Indian Bureau of Immigration eVisa at least 4 days before arriving; eVisas are not valid for land border crossings. For tourist stays longer than 60 days and other purposes, apply for a visa at an Indian embassy or consulate (the State Department mentions VFS Global as the government-appointed visa service provider in the US). It advises using official government websites only, because there are many fake web pages.

UK citizens

According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 7 October 2026), you must have a visa to visit India unless you are an OCI cardholder. India has several visa categories (tourist, business, work, journalist, medical): you could be refused entry, deported or banned in future for having the wrong visa. Depending on your needs you may be able to apply for a regular (paper) visa or an e-visa (check the website’s FAQs for restrictions on airports, land borders and seaports of entry). Allow plenty of time for processing. If you are of Pakistani origin or hold a NICOP card, the FCDO says processing will take substantially longer.

Where the sources differ

The two governments agree that a visa is required. The US page ties the e-visa to short tourist stays of under 60 days, while the official e-visa site lists 30-day, 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist visas; the US page also dates from August 2025. If you plan a stay of more than a month, check the exact category and limits on the official site or with the Indian embassy or High Commission.

e-visa	Validity	Entries and stay	When to apply
e-Tourist 30 days	30 days	Multiple entry, non-extendable and non-convertible	At least 4 days before arrival
e-Tourist 1 year	1 year (365 days) from the date the ETA is granted	Multiple; stay in a calendar year must not exceed 180 days	At least 4 days before arrival
e-Tourist 5 years	5 years from the date the ETA is granted	Multiple; stay in a calendar year must not exceed 180 days	At least 4 days before arrival
e-Business 1 year	1 year (365 days) from the date the ETA is granted	Multiple; each visit must not exceed 180 days	At least 4 days before arrival

The fee is country-specific and is shown on indianvisaonline.gov.in when you apply. We could not find the US and UK tariff on the pages we read, so we do not quote it. The official site says bank transaction charges of 3% are added to card payments, the fee is non-refundable whether or not the visa is granted, and the Government of India makes no provision for emergency or express e-visa fees. The e-visa is not valid for land border crossings and can only be used through the designated airports and seaports listed on the e-visa website; cruise ship entry is allowed through 5 designated seaports (Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Goa and Mangalore).

How to apply for the Indian e-visa, step by step

1. Check your passport: at least 6 months of validity after your arrival date and 2 blank pages (UK FCDO).
2. Go to the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in, and choose the category (e-Tourist 30 days, 1 year or 5 years).
3. Fill in the application, upload your photo and passport page, then pay the fee online by credit or debit card or payment wallet.
4. Receive the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email. The official site says to print it and present it at the immigration checkpost, where the e-visa is stamped in your passport.
5. Check the details on the ETA (name, nationality, passport number, date of birth): you are responsible for any discrepancy.
6. Make sure the border officer stamps your passport on arrival: the UK FCDO says you will need the stamp when you leave, to show you have not overstayed.

Beware of unofficial sites. The US State Department warns that many fake web pages seek to gather your personal information, and the Indian site itself lists the only government address. Check the address before entering your passport or card details: the official site for the Indian e-visa is indianvisaonline.gov.in.

e-Arrival Card: the electronic arrival card

The UK FCDO says foreign nationals arriving in India must complete an e-arrival card online before reaching immigration, up to 72 hours before arrival, to avoid delays at the airport. The official Indian visa site says it can be completed at boi.gov.in or indianvisaonline.gov.in or in the official “Indian Visa Su-Swagatam” mobile app, and that it is for arrival information, not a visa: you still need a separate valid visa or OCI card.

Registration, restricted areas and rules on arrival

• Protected and restricted areas: the UK FCDO says special permits are required to visit certain parts of India designated as restricted or protected areas, that regulations can change at any time, and that you should apply 3 months before your arrival, in the UK through the High Commission of India in London or another Indian consulate, or in India through the state liaison office or the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
• Staying more than 180 days: the UK FCDO and the US State Department say you must register with the FRRO within 14 days of arrival (the FCDO exempts OCI cardholders).
• Accommodation: hotels and other accommodation must register foreign guests with the FRRO using the online C-form; you need your passport with a valid visa to get accommodation (UK FCDO).
• Overstaying: it is illegal; the US State Department says overstayers may need clearance to leave, can be fined or jailed, and may wait a long time for an exit permit; the UK FCDO says an exit permit can take 5 to 15 working days for straightforward cases.
• Satellite phones and GPS devices: illegal without a licence (UK FCDO and US State Department).
• Cash: declare any amount above 5,000 US dollars in notes, or 10,000 US dollars in notes and travellers cheques combined (UK FCDO).

Planning the rest of your trip

The climate varies a lot by region: our guide to when to go to India compares the monsoon and dry seasons, and the Goa page details the west coast. Time differences are explained on time difference with India. For health, check TravelHealthPro and the CDC before you go (the UK FCDO notes yellow fever and polio certificate rules for travellers from affected countries) and take out travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Government of India, Indian Visa Online, eVisa page and FAQ (indianvisaonline.gov.in), read on 12 November 2026.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “India travel advice: entry requirements” (GOV.UK, updated 7 October 2026), read on 12 November 2026.
• U.S. Department of State, “India: Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements” (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), read on 12 November 2026.
• Our methodology

Updated November 2026.