India Visa Guide 2026: Types, Fees, Documents and How to Apply Without an Agent

The India visa application process for 2026 is fully online for most travellers, and you do not need an agent to do it. You apply on the official Government of India portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa, upload your passport page and a photo, pay the fee by card, and the approval comes to your email. The government runs the e-Visa as a complete online service, so no agent or middleman is needed, and paying a high agent fee is a waste.

There are five main e-Visa types. The e-Tourist Visa comes in three lengths, 30 days, 1 year and 5 years. The other four are the e-Business, e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant and e-Conference visas. Pick the one that matches your real reason to visit, because using the wrong type can get you refused at the airport. The e-Visa scheme now covers nationals of more than 165 countries, with entry through 33 designated airports and a growing list of seaports.

On fees, the e-Tourist Visa is cheaper than people expect. The 30-day visa costs US$25 from July to March, and it drops to just US$10 from April to June. The 1-year visa is US$40 and the 5-year visa is US$80. A small bank charge of about 2.5 percent is added when you pay. These are the official rates, but the exact fee can change by country, so check your own amount on the portal before you pay.

Your document checklist is short. You need a passport valid for at least six months with two blank pages, a clear scan of the passport bio page, and a recent front-facing photo with a plain white background. Business and medical applicants also need an invitation or hospital letter, in English. Fill in the form honestly, because wrong details are a top reason for rejection.

On timing, apply at least 4 days before you travel. You can apply up to 120 days ahead for the 1-year and 5-year visas, but only 30 days ahead for the 30-day visa. Approval usually comes within a few working days, often 3 to 5, so applying about a week early is safer. One last warning, use only the official .gov.in portal. Many lookalike sites charge extra and are not run by the government. This is general information, check the official portal before you apply.

Apply yourself on indianvisaonline.gov.in, a week ahead, with a passport scan and a white-background photo, and skip the agent fee.