Great Indian e-Visa news – electronic visas (e-Visas) for UK nationals are being reintroduced!
This means that for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, British citizens can once again apply online for an Indian visa instead of attending in-person appointments.
This makes the process of obtaining an Indian visa much easier and much faster!
Dates for the Indian e-Visa for British citizens will be released shortly.
What is the India e-Visa?
In simple terms, the India e-Visa is a document you can obtain online allowing you to visit India for a set amount of time.
The India eVisa has three subcategories:
Tourist – i.e. recreation, visiting friends/family, attending a short yoga programme
Business
Medical
For more on India eVisa subcategories, read: Travelling to India for tourism or business reasons? Here’s your visa application guide
How long before arriving in India do I need to apply for a visa as a British citizen?
You can apply for visas for India from the UK within four business days before you arrive in India so that your visa will be ready (if all the information you provided is accurate of course).
However, in some instances, it’s possible to make minor errors while applying online, in which case, it can take up to seven business days for your visa to be ready.
Therefore, in case of any errors, it’s better to apply earlier than later!
Who can apply for this visa?
The eVisa for India for UK nationals means that if you or your parents are born in the UK, it’s most likely that you are considered a British citizen and you are eligible to apply for an Indian e-Visa.
Or alternatively, you may have obtained UK citizenship after living in the UK for five years, which now means you can also apply for an India e-Visa for UK nationals.
How can I get my Indian e-Visa?
Requirements for all eligible countries wanting to obtain an India e-Visa are similar.
You can apply online and the process to obtain an Indian e-Visa for UK citizens is:
Apply online
Make payment
Receive your e-Visa through email
As a UK citizen, do I have to go to the Indian embassy if I apply online for an Indian Visa?
The India e-Visa for UK nationals means there’s no need for British citizens to go to the Indian embassy if you apply online!
The Government of India has your e-visa stored in the central computer system, so once you enter India the Immigration Officers can simply access your passport. It’s that simple!
Nonetheless, you should make sure that you can show the Immigration Officers in India that you have your visa accessible through email and you should also have a printed copy of your visa with you.
What do the dates on my visa mean?
When you receive your visa you will see the following dates:
Date of issue
The date of issue is the date that the Indian Government granted you an e-visa
Date of expiry
This can either be the date you need to leave India or the date you need to enter India by.
Does my Indian e-Visa have an expiry date for staying in India?
The answer is – it depends.
If you have a 30-day Tourist Indian visa, you don’t have an expiry date for when you need to leave India, instead, the date is counted from the date that you enter India noted as the ‘date of expiry of ETA’ on your visa.
Whereas if you have a one-year, five-year, or business visa, the last day you can stay in India is on the visa, and you cannot stay past this date. The last day you can stay is noted as the ‘date of expiry of ETA’ in this case too on the visa.
This can be confusing because for the ‘30-day Tourist Indian visa’ the expiry date is not the ‘date of expiry of ETA.’
So simply remember:
30-day visa – no expiry date on visa, just ensure you enter India before the ‘date of expiry of ETA’
One year/five years/business visa – ensure you leave India by the ‘date of expiry of ETA’
Do I need proof of COVID-19 vaccine or a negative test?
At present, having the COVID-19 vaccine or providing a negative test when you travel to India is not mandatory.
There are also no quarantine requirements once you arrive in India.
However, make sure to check updates when you are traveling as changes may occur.
Who can help me get my India e-Visa?
You can apply for the Indian e-Visa on your own, however, applying for your visa can often be a stressful process or even time-consuming if you are trying to pack your bag and say your goodbyes.
Another thing that can happen is errors or typos while applying online, which may increase the amount of time it takes to process your visa.
To save time and minimize errors that can take place while completing the e-visa application, the visa experts at Visa First are here to take matters into their hands and ensure you have a smooth process in obtaining your visa.
Why apply with Visa First?
It’s a fast and easy service – who doesn’t love a quick process!
Our customer satisfaction rate is at 96%
We will ensure your application is prepared correctly
Yearly we organise over 10,000 visas globally
We can help you apply for the Indian e-Visa that is either for tourist purposes or business purposes.
You can start by checking your eligibility.
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