Passmere is a private company, not a government agency. This guide is free information, not legal advice. Each fact links to the official source and shows the date we checked it.
Entry requirements
India entry requirements for U.S. citizens
What a U.S. tourist needs to enter India: the e-Visa, when to apply, the government fee, how long you can stay and the passport rules, with official sources.
Do you need a visa for India?
Yes, unless you hold an OCI card. For a tourist trip, the rule is: under review — see the official source1. India's official e-Visa portal is under review — see the official source2; the Indian Embassy names it as the only government portal. Type the address yourself instead of clicking ads or links on other sites.
under review — see the official source3under review — see the official source6 If you plan to arrive overland, check the official source before you book.
How long you can stay
The e-Tourist Visa comes in more than one length. With the longer ones, your total time in India in a calendar year may not exceed under review — see the official source7. The shorter e-Tourist Visa has its own limit, which the official site shows.
Rules change, and India's government decides how long you can stay. Check the dates on your e-Visa and the official site before you book.
Passport rules
under review — see the official source8 under review — see the official source9Rules change and India's government decides, so confirm these rules on the official site before you travel. If your passport will not meet them, get a new one before you apply for the e-Visa. Renewing by mail takes under review — see the official source10 plus mailing time: see Renew your passport by mail. Short on time? under review — see the official source11 Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.
Travel advisory
The U.S. Department of State's travel advisory for India is under review — see the official source5. The level can change at any time, and the full advisory can say more about specific areas. Read it before you book and again before you go; the link is under "Sources and verification" at the end of this guide.
Other rules to know
under review — see the official source12 Leave satellite phones and GPS devices at home.
Step by step
- Check that your U.S. passport meets the validity and blank-page rules above.
- Choose the e-Tourist Visa that fits your trip on the official portal, typing the address yourself.
- Fill in the application with your details exactly as they appear in your passport, and provide what the portal asks for.
- Pay the government fee as the official portal instructs.
- Submit in time. under review — see the official source3
- Wait for the approval and keep a copy, digital or printed, with your passport.
- Book a flight into India, not an overland route, and travel with the passport you used on the application.
- Check the official site again in the week before you fly.
Checklist
Before you fly to India
- U.S. passport that meets the validity rule
- Blank pages for the arrival stamps
- e-Visa approved, not just submitted
- Copy of the approved e-Visa, digital or printed
- Flight into India (the e-Visa does not cover land borders)
- No satellite phone or GPS device in your luggage
- Latest U.S. travel advisory read
- Official site checked again in the week before you fly
Do and don't
Do
- Apply only on the official portal and keep the confirmation.
- Count the days of your stay so you leave within what your e-Visa allows.
- Ask for a larger book with more visa pages when you renew, if you travel often: under review — see the official source13.
Don't
- Don't apply too late: the portal needs time before your arrival.
- Don't plan to cross into India by land on an e-Visa.
- Don't pay a website that only looks official for the same e-Visa.
Fees
This is a government fee. It is paid to the government of India, not to Passmere.
| What | Paid to | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Short-stay e-Tourist Visa | Government of India (official e-Visa portal) | under review — see the official source4 |
The amount varies by season and by type of e-Visa, and a bank charge is added. Fees can change. The official portal shows the current government fee before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I apply for the Indian e-Visa?
under review — see the official source3 Applying earlier gives you time to fix any problem.
Can I enter India by land with an e-Visa?
How long can I stay in India as a tourist?
It depends on the e-Tourist Visa you get. With the longer ones, your total time may not exceed under review — see the official source7 in a calendar year. Check your e-Visa and the official site for the exact limit.
Can I take my GPS device or satellite phone?
Does Passmere apply for the e-Visa for me?
No. Passmere is a private company that prepares U.S. passport paperwork; it does not process visas. You apply yourself on the official portal, under review — see the official source2.
Sources and verification
- Entry document for tourism — U.S. Department of State: India International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
- Official e-Visa application site — Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.: e-Visa. under review — see the official source
- e-Visa application lead time — U.S. Department of State: India International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
- Government e-Tourist Visa fee — Government of India - Indian Visa Online (e-Visa portal): Country/Territory Wise e-Tourist Visa Fee (in US $). under review — see the official source
- U.S. Travel Advisory level — U.S. Department of State: India Travel Advisory. under review — see the official source
- e-Visa not valid at land borders — U.S. Department of State: India International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
- Maximum tourist stay — Government of India - Indian Visa Online (e-Visa portal): e-Visa - Indian Visa Online. under review — see the official source
- Passport validity rule — Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.: e-Visa. under review — see the official source
- Blank passport pages required — Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.: e-Visa. under review — see the official source
- Routine processing time — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Processing Time. under review — see the official source
- Urgent travel: passport agency appointment — U.S. Department of State: Get Your Passport Fast. under review — see the official source
- Satellite phones and GPS devices banned — U.S. Department of State: India International Travel Information. under review — see the official source
- Extra cost for the large passport book — U.S. Department of State: Renew Your Passport by Mail. under review — see the official source