India Tourist Visa Requirements 2026: The Complete Checklist

The Indian tourist visa allows short-term visits for tourism, leisure, sightseeing, and visiting friends or relatives. In 2026 the standard categories are a 30-day single-entry visa, a 30-day or 1-year multiple-entry visa, and a 5-year multiple-entry visa for eligible nationalities. Processing through the official online portal (Indian e-Visa or embassy application) typically takes 3–7 business days once a complete, correct file is submitted.

Most tourist visa rejections are not caused by the applicant — they are caused by the file. This guide lists exactly what the mission checks, in the order it checks them.

Choosing the right tourist visa: 30-day, 1-year or 5-year

In 2026 the tourist e-Visa comes in three main options, per the Government of India's e-Visa portal: a 30-day single-entry visa, a 1-year multiple-entry visa, and a 5-year multiple-entry visa for eligible nationalities. The 1-year and 5-year options both allow multiple entries, so a single visa can cover several shorter trips over its validity period. A common first-time mistake is applying for the shortest option, then discovering that the itinerary — or a change of plans — needs more.

Choose the category before you start the form, not after. If your plan includes more than one trip within a year, the 1-year multiple-entry option is usually the better fit; frequent travelers with an ongoing connection to India are the typical 5-year cases. Whichever option you choose, a complete and correct file typically processes in 3–7 business days — the category itself does not slow the review.

Passport: the rule that ends most files

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended date of departure from India, and it must have at least 2 blank visa pages. A passport expiring in 5 months will be refused even if your travel dates fit comfortably inside the validity period. If your passport expires soon, renew it before applying — re-applying after a passport change means a new application and new fees.

Also check the passport photo page: faded pages, water damage, or a torn page can trigger a refusal. If any page is damaged, renew the passport first.

Photograph specifications

Indian missions require a recent passport-sized photograph: white background, frontal face, no glasses, neutral expression, head covering only for religious reasons (face fully visible). The digital upload must be a JPEG under 1 MB at 350×350 to 1000×1000 pixels. Photos with filters, selfies, or group photos are one of the top three rejection reasons we see.

Travel dates and itinerary

Your visa validity must cover your full intended stay. If you book flights that exit India on day 95 but apply for a 30-day single-entry visa, the file is internally inconsistent — a fast track to refusal or a visa granted for the wrong period. Align: passport validity > visa validity > flight dates, in that order.

A confirmed itinerary is strongly recommended. You do not need paid, non-refundable tickets — flight reservation confirmations are enough. Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings or a host letter for friend/relative visits) should match your travel dates exactly.

Bank statements and financial proof

Most missions ask for bank statements for the last 3 months. The statement should show a stable, positive balance and regular income flow. Sudden large transfers with no source explanation can raise questions. If you are visiting family, a sponsor letter from your host in India stating they will support your stay is a strong addition.

Submitting online: what the portal checks first

Most tourist applications are filed online through the official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in). The form captures your personal details, travel dates, and the address of your stay in India, and it asks for a digital photograph at the point of upload, not at final submission. That is why the photo specification is a hard gate: the upload must be a JPEG under 1 MB at 350×350 to 1000×1000 pixels on a white background, and an out-of-spec photo is rejected before a reviewer ever reads the rest of the file.

After you pay the government fee, the file moves into review and you can track the application status on the portal. You will usually receive the decision — and, if approved, the visa itself — by email within the 3–7 business day window for a complete file. If the mission requests anything, the email states what is missing, and at that point the review clock effectively restarts. That is why the pre-submission checklist matters more than the submission itself: the goal is for the clock to start only once.

The four mistakes that cause most rejections

1. Wrong visa category — applying for a tourist visa when the real purpose is business, medical treatment, or work. Indian missions cross-check the stated purpose against your itinerary; inconsistencies are flagged.

2. Passport validity under 6 months — instant rejection, no discretion.

3. Inconsistent travel dates across forms — the application form, flight itinerary, and accommodation proof must all tell the same story.

4. Photos not meeting embassy specs — the most common "fixable" rejection cause.

Every one of these is checkable before you pay the government fee. A 30-minute pre-submission review of your file eliminates the vast majority of tourist visa rejections — which is exactly what our $199 kickoff service covers for the tourist visa.

How we help with the tourist visa

Every tourist case is handled by one dedicated consultant from kickoff to approval — no handoffs, no re-explaining. The service runs on a fixed, transparent price: a $199 kickoff fee plus a $99 success fee that is due only after your application is successfully processed, with government visa fees separate and paid directly to the Indian government. While you prepare your documents, WhatsApp support at +63 949 649 1061 is available for quick checks on your file before you pay the government fee.

Before you apply, two related guides are worth reading: how long each India visa category takes in 2026 so you can plan your travel dates against a realistic timeline, and the seven most common India visa rejection reasons so you can rule out the usual causes on your first pass.