Visa Types & Fees
| Visa | Validity | Entries | Govt fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e-Tourist Visa (30 days) | 30 days | Double | $25 USD* | Contact us for current processing times |
| e-Tourist Visa (1 year) | 1 year | Multiple | $40 USD | Contact us for current processing times |
| e-Tourist Visa (5 years) | 5 years | Multiple | $160 USD | Contact us for current processing times |
| e-Business Visa (1 year) | 1 year | Multiple | $140 USD | Contact us for current processing times |
| e-Medical Visa (60 days) | 60 days | Triple | $100 USD | Contact us for current processing times |
* Seasonal: US$10 if applying April–June, US$25 July–March. A ~3% bank charge applies to all government fees.
Tourist vs Business vs Medical e-Visa: Which One Do You Need?
India's e-visa categories are defined by the purpose of your trip, not your nationality — choosing the right one matters because each category permits different activities.
| Category | Best for | Not permitted |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist e-visa | Sightseeing, visiting friends or family, short yoga/wellness retreats, casual travel | Any paid work or business activity in India |
| Business e-visa | Attending meetings, conferences, trade fairs, or exploring business/industrial ventures | Taking up employment or long-term paid work |
| Medical e-visa | Receiving medical treatment at a recognized Indian hospital, with supporting documentation from the hospital | Treatment not arranged through a recognized medical institution |
If you're unsure which category fits your trip, a mismatched purpose is one of the more common reasons an application gets flagged for manual review — when in doubt, choose the category that matches the majority purpose of your visit.
Documents Checklist
Gather these before you start — having everything ready in the right format is the single biggest factor in avoiding delays.
- ✓ Passport bio page scan — Valid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with 2 blank pages.
- ✓ Recent passport-style photo — Plain white background, meeting government specs.
- ✓ Return or onward travel details — Where applicable for the visa type.
- ✓ Proof of onward or return travel — required for some visa types; check what applies to your chosen category.
- ✓ A working email address you check regularly — your e-visa and any follow-up requests arrive by email.
Step-by-Step: How American Citizens Apply
- Confirm your visa type. Most travelers choose a tourist e-visa for sightseeing or visiting family, a business e-visa for meetings and conferences, or a medical e-visa for treatment (see the comparison below). Applying under the wrong category is one of the most common causes of delay.
- Gather your documents. You'll need your passport bio page, a recent passport-style digital photo, and your travel dates. Some visa types also ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
- Complete the online application. Enter your passport and personal details exactly as they appear on your passport — even small mismatches (a missing middle name, a different date format) can trigger manual review or rejection.
- Upload your documents. Your photo and passport scan must meet the government's format and size specifications; blurry, cropped, or non-compliant uploads are a leading cause of rejection.
- Review everything before you submit. Most e-visa problems come from data-entry mistakes, not eligibility issues — a careful second pass catches most of them.
- Pay the government fee. This is paid directly on the official portal and is separate from any service fee charged by a filing assistant.
- Receive your e-visa by email. Check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive. Carry both a printed copy and a digital copy when you travel.
Common Rejection Reasons — And How to Avoid Them
Most Indian e-visa rejections are avoidable. The most frequent causes we see are:
- Photo doesn’t meet specifications. Wrong background color, incorrect size, low resolution, or a photo that’s more than a few months old.
- Details don’t exactly match your passport. Names, date of birth, and passport number must be entered exactly as printed — including spelling and formatting.
- Wrong nationality or citizenship option selected. Some application forms list multiple similarly-worded options for the same country — choosing the wrong one can cause an automatic mismatch.
- Passport renewed after the e-visa was linked. An e-visa is tied to the exact passport number used at the time of application. If you renew your passport afterward, the e-visa may no longer be valid for that new passport — check before you travel.
- Blurry, cropped, or non-compliant document scans. Scans must be clear, uncropped, and show the full page. Poor-quality uploads are a common, avoidable rejection reason.
- Applying outside the eligible window. e-Visas have both a minimum lead time and a maximum advance-application window. Applying too early or too close to travel can both cause problems.
A tip worth repeating: avoid booking non-refundable flights or hotels until your e-visa is actually approved — approval is never guaranteed in advance, and the application fee itself is non-refundable whether or not the visa is granted.
Travel Notes for American Travelers
Popular flight routes
- JFK/EWR (New York) → DEL direct, ~14h
- SFO → BLR/DEL
- ORD (Chicago) → DEL
Currency & fees: Prices on EasyIVisa are shown in USD. Government fees are paid in USD on the official portal.
Payment: US credit/debit cards and PayPal accepted for our service fee.
Indian mission: Embassy of India / VFS Global centers nationwide (Washington, D.C.) — official site ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Do American citizens need a visa to visit India?
Yes. All US passport holders require a visa to enter India — there is no visa-free arrangement for American citizens, even for short tourist trips. Most travelers apply for the e-Visa online rather than visiting a consulate in person, since it covers tourism, business, and medical purposes and is processed without submitting a physical passport.
How far in advance should American citizens apply for an Indian e-Visa?
The Indian government recommends applying at least 4-7 days before travel to allow for processing, though it's worth applying earlier if your trip dates are firm, since processing times can vary with application volume. Applying at the very last minute risks missing your departure if additional document review is needed.
Can Americans extend their stay once in India on an e-Visa?
e-Visa extensions are limited and handled through India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), not through the original online application. Most tourist e-Visa holders instead plan their stay within the visa's permitted duration rather than relying on an in-country extension.
What happens if a US citizen's e-Visa application is rejected?
Rejections are usually due to passport photo issues, mismatched personal details, or an ineligible visa category for the traveler's purpose. The government fee is typically non-refundable on rejection, which is why reviewing documents carefully (or having them checked) before submission matters more for this visa than for many others.
Can I apply for an Indian e-visa if my US passport is about to expire?
Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining beyond your planned arrival date in India, and at least two blank pages. If your passport is close to that threshold, renew it before applying — an e-visa linked to a passport that later expires or gets renewed is not automatically transferred to the new passport.
Does a name mismatch between my passport and payment card cause e-visa problems?
The e-visa application itself only checks your details against your passport, not your payment method, so a differently-named card used to pay the government fee typically isn't an issue on its own. What does matter is that your name, date of birth, and passport number are entered exactly as they appear on your passport — small mismatches there are a common cause of delay.
Can I use the same e-visa for multiple trips to India?
It depends on the visa type you choose. Some Indian e-visa categories allow multiple entries within their validity period, while others are limited to a set number of visits — check the entries permitted for your chosen visa type before assuming you can reuse it for a second trip.
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