Visas For India
Indian Visas
India is a country offering vastly different experiences, from the mesmerising City Palace in Jaipur to bustling Mumbai or laid-back Goa. While nothing can prepare you for your first taste of India, at least you can arrive with your visa sorted.
If you’re an Australian citizen, you’ll require a tourist visa for India. Visas must be arranged prior to arrival because you won’t be able to get a visa at the airport if you turn up without one.
Types Of Tourist Visa For India
Australians planning to visit for a holiday require an Indian e-visa. This visa is for tourism, business and/or medical-related travel for up to 60 days. Be aware that you will need to have received your Indian e-visa at least four days before you arrive in India and that the visa is valid from that point for a window of 120 days. An Indian e-visa can be used up to three times within a calendar year.
Note also that the Indian e-visa is valid for entry through 28 designated airports and 5 designated seaports. If you plan on entering the country through another location, you’ll need to arrange for an Indian visa prior to arrival. You can do this through an Indian High Commission, Consulate or Embassy.
Airports through which you can enter India with an e-visa:
- Ahmedabad
- Amritsar
- Bagdogra
- Bengaluru
- Bhubaneshwar
- Calicut
- Chennai
- Chandigarh
- Cochin
- Coimbatore
- Delhi
- Gaya
- Goa
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Jaipur
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Madurai
- Mangalore
- Mumbai
- Nagpur
- Portblair
- Pune
- Tiruchirapalli
- Trivandrum
- Varanasi
- Vishakhapatnam
Seaports through which you can enter India with an e-visa:
- Cochin
- Goa
- Mangalore
- Mumbai
- Chennai
Make sure you apply for your Indian e-visa through the official website of the Government of India. As is the case with many countries, unscrupulous websites claiming to fast-track the process abound, and will not only take your money, but fail to produce the visa. Refer to the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website for the most current information.
How To Apply For An Indian Visa
To get yourself an e-visa for India, you will need to apply through the Government of India’s e-visa website. Links to the site are found on the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website. The Indian e-visa site details the instructions for application and you’ll need a recent passport-style photograph, as well as an image of the photo page of your passport, ready to upload. Cost for the Indian e-visa is US$80 and once granted, you should carry a copy of your Indian e-visa (also referred to as an Electronic Travel Authorisation or ETA) with you when you travel.
While many travellers fall in love with India, make sure you don’t overstay your visa. Heavy penalties exist for visa overstays and this can include jail sentences.
Please note: Visas are the individual responsibility of travellers. The information above is to be used as a guide only. Conditions can change suddenly so we recommend checking the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website for the latest updates.
If you have any questions regarding Indian visas, call 133 133 and talk to a Flight Centre Travel Expert for advice.