Indian Visa Cost: What You Really Pay to Enter India

When you plan a trip to India, the Indian visa cost, the fee you pay to legally enter India as a tourist, business visitor, or pilgrim. Also known as India travel visa, it’s not just a number on a form—it’s the first real step in your journey, and getting it wrong can delay or even cancel your plans. Unlike some countries that offer free or automatic entry, India requires most foreigners to apply ahead, and the price varies depending on your nationality, how long you want to stay, and whether you apply online or at an embassy.

The tourist visa India, the most common type for travelers visiting for leisure, sightseeing, or short-term stays, usually runs between $50 and $160 USD. Americans pay $160 for a 10-year visa, while citizens of the UK, Canada, and Australia pay less—around $80 to $100. If you’re from a country with a reciprocal agreement, you might even get a discount. But here’s the catch: the visa fee doesn’t include the service charge for applying online through the Indian government portal, which adds another $10 to $20. And if you use a third-party agent to handle it for you, expect to pay even more. There’s also the visa requirements India, the set of documents and conditions you must meet before your visa is approved—a valid passport, a recent photo, proof of return flight, and sometimes bank statements. Skip any of these, and your application gets rejected, and you lose the fee.

Don’t assume the cheapest option is always the best. A 30-day e-tourist visa might cost less upfront, but if you plan to travel across multiple states or want to extend your stay, you’ll end up paying more in the long run. The 1-year or 5-year multiple-entry visas are better for frequent travelers or those planning long trips through Rajasthan, Kerala, or the Himalayas. And if you’re visiting for pilgrimage—say, to Varanasi or Amritsar—you might qualify for a special religious visa with different pricing. The India visa fees, the official charges set by the Government of India for different visa types are transparent online, but many travelers get tripped up by hidden costs: expedited processing, courier fees, or last-minute appointments at visa centers.

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just price lists—they’re real stories from travelers who’ve been there. You’ll see how someone saved $120 by applying on the right day, why a family got denied because they missed a passport photo rule, and how a solo traveler in Goa ended up with a 10-year visa after asking the right question at the embassy. These aren’t theoretical guides. They’re practical, tested, and sometimes surprising. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what actually happens when you try to get into India—and how to make sure you’re ready when you get there.