India - Immigration

India Immigration Procedure for Yacht Crew

Do I need a Visa?

All visitors entering India are required to possess:

• a valid passport at least six months validity from the date of arrival in India with at least two blank pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer - passports must be machine-readable;
• a valid visa obtained in advance.

It can be very expensive if it is necessary to make an emergency stop here and you arrive without a visa. You may be immediately escorted to the airport and deported.

Types of Visa

E-Visa:

To obtain a visa online via the e-visa application system, see the Government of India website: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/.

The Indian Government site advises against using an intermediary or agent who promises to 'fast track' your application and then charges extra money for it. Also to only use the official site (above) for any kind of service or clarification.

• For a list of all countries eligible for an e-visa see here.
• It is possible to get a 30-day or 1-year e-visa.
• E-visa applications may take 72 hours or more to process.
• There may be a 2.5% fee for paying by credit card.
• For Paypal, a 3.5% of the applicable e-visa fee.
• Persons holding an e-visa will be allowed to enter into India only through the designated international airports and the following five designated seaports: Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai, New Mangalore. Therefore an e-visa for the Andamans is not possible.

e-Tourist Visa (30 days)
May apply online a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival. Such application can be made 30 days in advance from the proposed date of travel. The validity would be 30 days from the date of first arrival in India. Double entries will be granted within the e-Visa validity period stamped on your Passport. Your first arrival must be between the date of issue and the expiry of ETA.

e-Tourist Visa (01 year / 05 years)
May apply online a minimum of 4 days in advance of the date of arrival. Such an application can be made 120 days in advance from the proposed date of travel. The validity would be 365 days / 05 years from the date of grant of ETA with Multiple entries and continuous stay during each visit which shall not exceed 90 days except for nationals of USA, UK, Canada, and Japan. In case of nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days.

Other Visas:

A very limited number of countries can obtain a visa on arrival.

Visa Extensions

For information on how to extend your visa, visit the webpage of India's Bureau of Immigration.

Do not exceed visa dates. Overstaying can yield significant fines or detention.

Notes

• On arrival, yachtsmen are free to travel to most areas of India. A special permit, obtainable from either Indian embassies abroad or the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, is necessary to visit certain areas, such as Sikkim, or the North-East frontier states. The area near Tibet is out of bounds for foreign nationals. For more information, see the Entry to Restricted or Protected Areas section of India's Bureau of Immigration website.
• When clearing out of a port with the intention of visiting another Indian port DO NOT get an exit stamp in your passport. You only need to visit Immigration when you finally clear out of India. If you get an exit stamp, you will need to clear in again. If you have no multi-entry visa, you may be forced to reapply for a new visa.
• The ban on re-entering India for two months after leaving no longer applies, except for nationals of Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Sudan, foreigners of Pakistan origin, and Stateless persons.
• Foreign nationals arriving in India on long-term multiple entry visas must register with the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer within 14 days of arrival.

Last updated:  February 2024