India Visa Requirements for American Citizens (2026)
Yes — but the whole process is online: American passport holders apply for a India e-Visa. Maximum stay: 30 days. Cost: US$25. Every number on this page carries the date we last verified it.
Required documents
- A valid national passport together with a valid visa, eVisa or OCI/eOCI card is required for entry into India, except for travellers exempted under bilateral arrangements. [1]
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival, with at least 2 blank pages.
- Scanned bio-data page of the passport as a PDF between 10KB and 300KB, with all four corners visible.
- Recent passport-size photograph as a JPEG between 10KB and 1MB, 51x51mm, white background, front view, eyes open, no glasses.
- Travel itinerary including flight details.
- Printed or digital copy of the e-Visa approval letter to show at immigration.
- Return or onward ticket from India.
Fees & processing
| Visa fee | US$25 — e-Visa |
|---|
From official-portal extracts (captured ):
- •The eVisa costs USD 25.
- •Pay only through the official government portal: the Government of India does not authorise any agent or intermediary to charge fees for emergency or express visas, eVisas or the eArrival card. [1]
How to apply
- Apply for the eVisa yourself on the official Government of India portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html.
- Fill in the online application form on the Indian government visa website and pay the eVisa fee there. [1]
- Alternatively, apply for a regular paper visa through an Indian Mission or Post if the eVisa does not suit your trip. [2]
- Within 72 hours before arrival, complete and submit the eArrival Card online or through the official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app. [5]
- Before reaching the arrival immigration counters, fill in the Self-Declaration Form at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in. [1]
Before you fly
- •Foreign nationals and OCI/eOCI cardholders must complete and submit the eArrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival in India. [5]
- •The eArrival Card is arrival information only, not a visa. [5]
- •All passengers must fill in the Self-Declaration Form at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in before reaching the arrival immigration counters. [1]
- •Entry requires a valid passport plus a regular visa, eVisa or OCI/eOCI card, unless you are exempt under a bilateral arrangement. [1]
Full India entry guide — customs, health, long stays — on the destination page.
Watch out for
American citizens of Pakistani heritage are not eligible for an eVisa nor are they eligible for a ten-year, multiple-entry tourist visa, and must apply for a regular visa.
Do not use agents or intermediaries: the Government of India does not authorise anyone to charge fees for emergency or express visas, eVisas or the eArrival card. [1]
Visa on arrival is not available to US citizens; it is limited to nationals of Japan, South Korea and certain UAE nationals at selected airports, so arrange your visa before flying. [2]
Recent changes
- · confirmedKuwait
- · confirmedBahrain
- · confirmedreplaced emergency e-Visa with six categories of electronic visas for nationals of Afghanistan
- · confirmedresumed Qatar
- · confirmedresumed China (including Hong Kong and Macau), only for business e-Visa
- · confirmedBritish citizens of Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey, and British Overseas Territories citizens of Gibraltar
- · confirmedresumed Canada
- · confirmedsuspended Canada
- · confirmedresumed Saudi Arabia
- · confirmedresumed Canada
- · confirmedSaudi Arabia
- · confirmedQatar
Policy updates affecting this route
- · confirmedPaper arrival/departure (disembarkation) card completed on arrival → Foreigners and OCI holders must submit the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before arrival at boi.gov.in — India replaces paper arrival card with a mandatory online e-Arrival
Frequently asked
How long can American citizens stay in India?
Up to 30 days.
How much does the India visa cost for American passport holders?
US$25 — e-Visa.
What documents are required?
A valid national passport together with a valid visa, eVisa or OCI/eOCI card is required for entry into India, except for travellers exempted under bilateral arrangements.; Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival, with at least 2 blank pages.; Scanned bio-data page of the passport as a PDF between 10KB and 300KB, with all four corners visible.; Recent passport-size photograph as a JPEG between 10KB and 1MB, 51x51mm, white background, front view, eyes open, no glasses.; Travel itinerary including flight details..
Where do American passport holders apply?
Only on the official government portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
Do American passport holders need to visit an embassy for India?
No — this route is applied for online. The official portal is indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Do US citizens need a visa for India?
Yes. An eVisa is available for limited categories, costs USD 25 and allows a maximum stay of 30 days.
Can I get a visa on arrival in India?
No. Visa on arrival is only for nationals of Japan, South Korea and certain UAE nationals at selected airports.
Where must I apply for the eVisa?
On the official government portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html, or via an Indian Mission or Post for a regular visa.
Sources & last verified
Primary source: official government portal — indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Fact data cross-checked against English Wikipedia “Visa requirements for United States citizens” and “Visa policy of India”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 — attribution, not copied text.
Official-source extracts captured : [1] boi.gov.in [2] indianvisaonline.gov.in [3] mea.gov.in [4] boi.gov.in [5] boi.gov.in [6] boi.gov.in [7] boi.gov.in. Attribution to the publishing agencies; every bracketed number above points to its row here.
Last verified: . Entries, fees and rules change — confirm on the official portal before you travel.
This is general travel information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change and enforcement varies at the border — always confirm on the official portal before you travel.