Do UK citizens need a visa for India?
Yes. You need a visa before travel unless you hold an OCI card. British citizens normally apply for an e-Tourist visa on the Indian government website. A third-party site is not the Indian government.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa needed? | Yes. An e-Tourist visa, or another visa that matches the trip. An OCI card is the exception and is not a visa. |
| Maximum stay | 30-day e-Tourist visa: 30 days from first arrival, multiple entry, not extendable. One-year and five-year e-Tourist visas: multiple entry, and no more than 180 days in India in a calendar year. |
| Cost | US dollars, from the e-Tourist fee table linked on indianvisaonline.gov.in, for the United Kingdom: 30 days USD 10 from April to June or USD 25 from July to March; 1 year USD 40; 5 years USD 484. The site adds a 3% bank charge. The fee is non-refundable. |
| How to apply | On indianvisaonline.gov.in, at least 4 days and no more than 120 days before arrival. Pay on that site. The Government of India says it does not authorise agents to charge emergency or express fees for an e-Visa or the e-Arrival card. |
| Passport validity | GOV.UK says the passport must expire at least 6 months after you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages. The Indian e-Visa site also says a passport used for a child must be valid for at least 6 months from arrival. |
| Other documents | A recent photo and a scan of the passport photo page. You must also complete the e-Arrival card within 72 hours before arrival. That card is not a visa. |
| Official link | Use the authority’s own website. Entry Visa Guide does not take applications. · Indian government e-Visa website (opens in a new tab) |
Apply only on the government website linked above. This site does not issue the authorisation and does not take the application. Other websites charge their own service fee on top of any government charge.
How to apply
- Check you are eligible for an e-Visa. The Indian site says serving or retired defence, military, security, or police personnel, and holders of official or diplomatic passports, are not eligible and must use a regular visa.
- Apply on indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa (opens in a new tab) between 4 and 120 days before arrival. The fee has to be paid at least 4 days before travel or the application is not processed.
- Wait until the status says granted, and carry a copy of the electronic travel authorisation with your passport. Biometrics are taken on arrival.
- Complete the e-Arrival card (opens in a new tab) within 72 hours before you arrive. The Indian visa site says this is arrival information, not a visa. The homepage also points passengers to the Air Suvidha self-declaration form.
Which e-Tourist visa
The 30-day e-Tourist visa runs for 30 days from your first arrival. It allows more than one entry inside that period and cannot be extended or converted. The one-year visa is valid for 365 days from the grant, and the five-year visa for five years from the grant. For both, the Indian site says time in India must not exceed 180 days in a calendar year.
Your first arrival must fall between the issue date and the expiry of the electronic authorisation. Travel on the same passport you used in the application. If the passport is replaced, the Indian site says you may still enter if you carry both the old passport that holds the authorisation and the new one.
OCI card holders do not need a visa. GOV.UK says an electronic OCI was launched in June 2026 and that holders need not carry the physical card. Some activities, including research, journalism, and missionary work, still need permission.
Recent changes
- Checked against GOV.UK India entry requirements, the Indian e-Visa portal, and the e-Tourist fee table linked from that portal. · source (opens in a new tab)
FAQ
Can I get a visa on arrival?
No. The Indian visa site says visa on arrival is for citizens of Japan, South Korea, and some UAE nationals. British citizens need a visa or an OCI card before travel.
Can I apply the day before I fly?
No. The e-Visa site says you must apply at least 4 days before arrival, and the fee must be paid at least 4 days before travel. You can apply up to 120 days before the trip.
Is the e-Arrival card a visa?
No. The Indian government says it is arrival information. You still need a granted e-Visa or an OCI card. Complete the card within 72 hours before arrival at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/.
What does the five-year visa cost?
The e-Tourist fee table linked from the official site lists USD 484 for a United Kingdom five-year e-Tourist visa, before the 3% bank charge. The one-year fee on that table is USD 40. The figure charged is the one shown when you pay on that site.
Sources
- GOV.UK: India entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Indian government: e-Visa portal (opens in a new tab)
- Indian government: e-Tourist visa fee table (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Indian government: e-Arrival card (opens in a new tab)
- Indian government: authorised visa portal, including the warning about agents (opens in a new tab)
Related reading
Independent guide, not legal advice. Entry Visa Guide is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by any government or public authority. Always check official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Report an error.