India’s e-Visa System Now Covers 172 Countries, Offering 13 Categories for Hassle-Free Travel
New Delhi, August 6: India’s visa regime has undergone significant liberalization and digital transformation in recent years, with the e-Visa facility now extended to nationals of 172 countries, according to a written reply by Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha.
Introduced in November 2014 for 43 countries, the e-Visa system with Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) has expanded both in reach and functionality. It currently facilitates entry through 32 designated international airports and 6 major seaports, offering foreign nationals a streamlined, fully digital visa process.
13 Sub-Categories Under e-Visa Regime
The e-Visa platform now supports 13 categories:
- e-Tourist Visa
- e-Business Visa
- e-Medical Visa and e-Medical Attendant Visa
- e-Conference Visa
- e-Ayush Visa and e-Ayush Attendant Visa
- e-Student Visa and e-Student X Visa
- e-Transit Visa
- e-Mountaineering Visa
- e-Film Visa
- e-Entry (X-1) Visa
This wide array of visa types allows for greater flexibility for tourists, professionals, students, filmmakers, and medical travelers seeking to enter India.
User-Friendly, Fully Online Process
The entire e-visa application and approval process is online, allowing applicants to apply from anywhere in the world. This has significantly improved ease of access and reduced waiting times, especially for short-term visits for tourism, business, or healthcare.
Affordable and Seasonal Incentives
To boost inbound tourism:
- A 30-day e-Tourist Visa with double entry and a fee of US $25 was launched in 2019.
- During the lean season (April–June), the visa fee is further reduced to US $10, encouraging off-season travel.
Continuous Improvement Based on Security and Reciprocity
Visa liberalization is an ongoing process, the minister added, and changes – including visa fee waivers or special categories – are made after carefully weighing security considerations, bilateral relations, tourism and investment needs, and reciprocity principles.
The expansion of the e-Visa facility highlights India’s commitment to facilitating legitimate travel, improving the visitor experience, and supporting sectors such as tourism, business, education, and healthcare – all while maintaining national security, the ministry said.
