India restores e-Tourist visa with 5-year multiple-entry option for nomads

How the e-Tourist visa works today

India's e-Tourist visa comes in three formats: 30-day, one-year and five-year, with the longer two granting multiple entries, according to the India Visa Online portal. Holders can stay up to 180 days per calendar year on the one- and five-year versions.

The visa covers recreation, sightseeing and casual visits to friends or relatives. It can't be extended or converted to another category, the portal states. Authorized entry is limited to designated airports and seaports listed by the government.

The Embassy of India in Washington restored the suspended e-Tourist categories for nationals of 156 countries with immediate effect after the March 2020 freeze, ending the 30-day gratis tourist scheme on April 1, 2022.

Who benefits and who's excluded

Tourists are the primary group covered. Frequent visitors and digital nomads gain from the five-year multiple-entry option for repeat trips, though the visa bars employment and continuous long-term stays beyond the 180-day annual cap.

Anyone planning to live or work in India needs a different visa category. The e-Tourist route isn't a path to residency or work authorization.

Pakistani nationals and people of Pakistani origin aren't eligible and must apply through the regular visa process, per the official portal.

Applying and what it costs

Applications run entirely online through the official e-Visa portal. The portal recommends applying at least four days before travel and one- and five-year applications can be filed up to 120 days ahead of the proposed travel date. Processing typically takes a minimum of three working days.

Applicants need:

• A passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages
• A return or onward ticket
• Sufficient funds for the stay

Fees vary by nationality and are non-refundable, with a bank charge of up to 3% plus taxes added at checkout. The Embassy of India in Washington lists the five-year e-Tourist fee for U.S. nationals at $80, though travelers should confirm the rate for their own passport on the official fee schedule.

After approval, the Electronic Travel Authorization arrives by email and must be printed and presented at immigration on arrival.

Read our full India guide for the complete picture and check our nomad news feed for more policy changes.