Visa Fees India 2025: What You Actually Pay to Enter

When planning a trip to India, the first thing most travelers ask is: visa fees India 2025, the cost and rules for entering India as a foreign tourist. Also known as India tourist visa cost, it’s not just about the price—it’s about knowing if you even need one, how long it lasts, and what documents you’ll actually need to show at the airport. The good news? Most visitors don’t need to wait weeks or pay hundreds of dollars. India’s e-Visa system has made it simple, fast, and affordable for travelers from over 150 countries.

For example, a standard tourist e-Visa costs $10 for most nationalities, with a processing time under 72 hours. That’s it. No embassy visits. No forms in triplicate. Just a photo, your passport, and a credit card. But here’s what most people miss: India entry requirements, the official rules for foreign visitors entering India. These include having a passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date and a blank page for the stamp. Also, if you’re flying into certain airports or seaports, you might need to show proof of a return ticket or hotel booking. These aren’t optional—they’re checked before you even leave your home country. And while the e-Visa covers tourism, business, and medical visits, it won’t let you work or study. If you plan to stay longer than 180 days, you’ll need to apply for a different type of visa through an Indian consulate—no online shortcut here.

Some travelers think they don’t need a visa at all. That’s only true for a few countries like Bhutan and Nepal, where citizens can enter India without one. For everyone else, including Americans, Canadians, Australians, and most Europeans, a visa is mandatory. Even if you’re just transiting through Delhi for 24 hours, you still need an e-Visa unless you’re staying airside. And don’t assume your old visa from 2023 still works—India changed its visa rules in 2024, and the old paper visas are no longer accepted.

There’s also the tourist visa India, the most common visa type for travelers visiting India for leisure. It comes in two versions: single-entry and multiple-entry. The single-entry version lets you come in once and stay up to 60 days. The multiple-entry version costs $20 and lets you come and go as you please over a year. If you’re planning to visit Nepal or Sri Lanka and come back to India, the multiple-entry visa saves you time and money. You’ll also see ads for visa agents charging $50 or more to help you apply. Don’t fall for it. The official India e-Visa portal is easy to use, available in English, and has no hidden fees. The only thing you pay is the government fee—no service charges, no rush fees, no surprises.

What you won’t find on the official site? Any mention of visa on arrival at land borders. That’s a myth. You must apply online before you fly or sail to India. And if you’re coming from a country with high travel risk, you might be asked for extra documents like a yellow fever certificate. It’s rare, but it happens.

Below, you’ll find real traveler stories and updated advice on how to avoid common visa mistakes, what to do if your application gets rejected, and which airports process e-Visas fastest. No fluff. No filler. Just what you need to know before you book your flight.