🇮🇳 India travel guide
Planning a trip to India? Most U.S. passport holders need a valid passport and an Indian visa, eVisa, or valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card before travel.
If you are using an eVisa, do not leave for the airport until your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) shows GRANTED and the details match the passport you will carry.
If you live in the United States but travel on another country’s passport, India’s rules are based mainly on the nationality shown in that passport—not on U.S. residence or green card status.
*Private service disclosure: My E Visa is a private visa assistance service and is not affiliated with the Government of India. You may apply directly through the official Indian government eVisa portal without using our service. Government fees and My E Visa service fees are separate. Indian authorities make all visa and entry decisions.
ENTRY CHECKLIST
Use this checklist before you travel. The exact documents you need depend on your passport, visa category, route, and reason for visiting.
A current passport that meets India’s validity and blank-page requirements
A valid Indian visa, approved eVisa with a GRANTED ETA, or valid OCI card
An India e-Arrival Card submitted within the official filing window
A return or onward ticket and enough funds for your planned stay
Your first address in India and basic trip details
Supporting documents for your stated purpose of travel, when relevant
An original yellow fever vaccination certificate, if your recent route triggers the requirement
A plan to declare currency, goods, or restricted items when required
TRAVEL DOCUMENT CHECKS
It is important when you apply by yourself. Compare the passport with your visa or ETA line by line. Your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and other identity details should match.
Indian documents commonly display dates as day, month, year, so read numeric dates carefully. Do not assume an airline agent or immigration officer can correct an error at the airport.
If your eVisa was issued against an old passport, according to the official eVisa guidance, you may travel with the new passport only when you also carry the old passport linked to the ETA.
Bring the physical old passport, not just a photo or photocopy. If it was lost, surrendered, damaged, or is no longer available, confirm the correct solution before travel; a new eVisa application may be necessary.
AIRLINE CHECK-IN
You need to show your complete ETA document with a GRANTED status when you check in for your flight.
As soon as your eVisa is granted, verify that all details on the document are correct. Download the complete ETA document before you travel and keep a clear offline copy on your phone as a backup. We also recommend carrying a printed copy.
An application receipt, payment confirmation, or email confirming receipt of your application is not permission to travel. If your status is still pending, do not assume it will be granted before your flight.
Your airline is responsible for checking your documents before boarding. Indian immigration authorities make the final decision on entry when you arrive.
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Foreign travelers entering India, including OCI cardholders, must complete India’s electronic arrival card before arrival.
The e-Arrival Card collects your passport, travel, contact, and local address details. Submit it within 72 hours before arrival. It is an arrival declaration—not a visa—and does not by itself grant permission to enter India.
You can submit the India e-Arrival Card free of charge through the official government website. The Indian government does not charge a fee for the card.
You may add our optional e-Arrival Card service when applying for your India visa. We will prepare and submit it within the required window, so you do not need to complete a separate form or calculate the submission time. Any service fee covers our assistance.
FAMILY TRAVEL
Prepare separate travel documents for every child, including infants, and carry additional family records when your itinerary may require them.
Every child needs an individual passport and the appropriate Indian visa or eVisa. A child cannot use a parent’s eVisa or travel merely because the child’s name appears in a parent’s passport. Check each traveler’s passport and approval document separately.
If a child travels with one parent, a guardian, or under a different last name, the airline or border authorities may request proof of the family relationship and permission to travel. Consider carrying a birth certificate copy, custody documents, or a signed consent letter when relevant.
EVISA ENTRY POINTS
Use only an immigration checkpoint currently designated for eVisa entry. The approved airport, seaport, and land-port list can change, so confirm your route before booking.
Review the current designated eVisa entry points on the official Indian eVisa website.
Your first Indian entry point is where you first pass through immigration—not necessarily your final destination. If you land internationally in Delhi, clear immigration, and continue domestically to Jaipur, Delhi is your entry point.
You may need to enter India if you must collect and recheck baggage, change airports, leave the international transit area, or continue on a domestic flight. Ask the operating airline whether you will remain airside and whether your bags are checked through.
Do not assume an eVisa works at every land border or seaport. For private vessels, cruises, overland crossings, or remote borders, confirm both the checkpoint and visa type with official sources before travel.
Visa validity is not always the same as the time allowed after each arrival. Review the conditions for your category and your entry record. India eVisas are generally nonextendable and nonconvertible, and separate permits may be required for protected or restricted areas.
If your plans change to work, study, conduct research, perform journalism, or undertake another activity outside your approved category, obtain the correct authorization before proceeding.
ARRIVAL PROCESS
Procedures vary by airport and time of day, but most travelers follow the same five-step process.
Your airline checks your passport and travel authorization before departure.
After landing, go to the appropriate immigration or eVisa counter.
Show your passport, ETA, visa or OCI card, and requested arrival documents.
Complete document inspection and biometric capture when applicable.
Review your entry record, collect baggage, and use the correct customs channel.
Keep your passport, ETA, onward ticket, Indian address, and supporting documents with you. Be ready to explain the purpose and length of your visit consistently with your visa category.
An approved ETA permits travel to a designated entry point but does not guarantee admission. Airline boarding also does not guarantee entry. Indian immigration determines admission and records the permitted length and conditions of your stay.
EXTRA REVIEW
Standard eVisa guidance may not cover every circumstance. Check the official rules or get personalized guidance before making nonrefundable travel plans if any of these situations applies to you.
You use a diplomatic, official, refugee, emergency, or other special travel document.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Your complete travel route—not only the country where your trip began—determines whether India may require a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
You may need a certificate if you recently visited or transited through a country India classifies as a yellow fever risk area. Review the current criteria before departure, including any transit stops.
When required, bring the original valid International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Keep it with your passport and other travel documents so it is ready for inspection.
Failure to meet India’s current certificate rules may result in quarantine under applicable health regulations.
CUSTOMS ON ARRIVAL
After immigration and baggage claim, choose the correct customs channel based on what you are carrying.
GREEN CHANNEL
Use this channel only when you are not carrying dutiable goods, restricted items, or amounts that require a declaration.
RED CHANNEL
Use this channel when a declaration is required. If you are uncertain, declare the item and ask a customs officer.
Allowances and reporting thresholds can change, and some items require advance permission. India’s CBIC traveler guidance and ATITHI service provide current customs information and declaration options.
BEFORE YOU FLY
Most travel-day problems begin with a missing document, an unchecked status, or a misunderstanding about where immigration takes place. Review these points before leaving for the airport.
Resolve photo specifications, PDF size, payment errors, and processing questions before completing this travel-day review.
India eVisa application guide•Requirements checklist•India eVisa FAQ
Do U.S. citizens need a visa to enter India?
Yes. Most U.S. citizens need a valid Indian visa or approved eVisa before travel unless they hold a valid OCI card or qualify for a specific exemption.
Can a U.S. citizen get a visa on arrival in India?
U.S. passport holders should not rely on visa on arrival. India limits that facility to specified nationalities and conditions, and U.S. citizens generally need authorization before departure.
Is the eVisa approval email the same as the ETA?
Not always. An application or payment email does not prove approval. Check the official status page for GRANTED, download the complete ETA, and verify the details before travel.
Do I need to print my India ETA?
India’s official guidance says travelers should carry a copy of the ETA. A clear paper copy is the most dependable option, with an offline phone copy as backup.
Do I need to visit an Indian embassy after my eVisa is approved?
Normally, no. An eVisa is completed online and the traveler presents the granted ETA with the linked passport at a designated entry point. A regular paper visa follows a different process.
Can I fly while my India eVisa is still processing?
You should not travel on a pending application. Airlines normally need evidence of valid travel authorization before boarding, and an application receipt or payment confirmation is not an approval.
Can I use my India eVisa after renewing my passport?
Official guidance permits travel with the new passport when you also carry the physical old passport linked to the granted ETA. If the old passport is unavailable or your personal details changed, confirm the correct procedure before departure.
Do I need an India visa for a connecting flight?
It depends on whether you pass through Indian immigration. If you collect baggage, recheck it, change airports, leave the international transit zone, or connect to a domestic flight, you may need to enter India. Confirm the exact process with the airline.
Can I enter India by land with an eVisa?
Only at a land checkpoint currently designated for eVisa entry. Because the approved list can change, verify the specific border crossing on the government eVisa website before travel.
Does every child need a separate India eVisa?
Yes. Each child, including an infant, needs an individual passport and the appropriate visa or eVisa. Check every family member’s approval separately.
Is the India e-Arrival Card the same as an eVisa?
No. The e-Arrival Card is a free arrival declaration. It does not replace a visa, eVisa, ETA, or OCI card and does not grant permission to travel.
Does a U.S. green card make me eligible for an India eVisa?
Not by itself. Eligibility is generally based on the passport and nationality you use for travel. U.S. residents holding another passport should check the rules for that nationality.
Do travelers from the United States need a yellow fever certificate?
A direct trip from the United States normally does not trigger the requirement. It may apply when your recent itinerary includes a country India classifies as a yellow fever risk area. Check the full route and carry the original certificate when required.
How long can a U.S. citizen stay in India with an eVisa?
The answer depends on the eVisa category and validity shown on your ETA. Current tourist eVisa options have different validity periods and entry conditions, and U.S. nationals may be subject to an annual stay limit. Your ETA and entry record control the permitted stay, so do not treat visa validity as permission to remain for the entire period.
Does an approved India eVisa guarantee entry?
No. A granted ETA authorizes travel to a designated entry point, but Indian immigration authorities make the final admission decision and may ask for additional documents or explanations.
PERSONAL SUPPORT
Get practical help understanding eligibility, preparing your information, and identifying document issues before departure.
Understand which visa route may fit your passport and travel plans.
Organize the information and documents needed for a clearer submission.
Ask questions and receive a response reviewed by our visa support team.
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We cannot guarantee approval or entry or influence a government decision. We provide application assistance based on the information you give us.
Last reviewed September 9, 2026. Entry, health, and customs rules can change with limited notice. Recheck official information before departure if your route or passport details change.
India eVisa portalIndia Visa Onlinee-Arrival CardConsulate advisoryU.S. State DepartmentYellow fever guidanceIndia Customs
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