Is the government fee really $25?

For the 30-day tier in the main season, yes — it drops to about $10 in the April–June low season, and rises to $40 (1 year) or $80 (5 years). A bank surcharge of up to ~3% is added at checkout. Third-party sites charge far more for the identical government visa.

Can I stay the whole year on the 1-year visa?

No. The one-year and five-year visas are multiple-entry but cap you at 180 days per calendar year. Only the 30-day tier is a single continuous stay.

🇮🇳 India

🇮🇳 India · e-Tourist Visa (e-TV)

India e-Tourist Visa — $25, $40 or $80, straight from the government

India's official e-Tourist Visa is applied for at indianvisaonline.gov.in and costs USD 25 for the 30-day tier (about USD 10 in the April–June low season), USD 40 for a one-year visa, or USD 80 for five years, plus a small bank surcharge at checkout. All three tiers are multiple-entry; the one- and five-year visas cap you at 180 days per calendar year. Apply at least 4 days before you travel.

who needs it	Nationals of the 150+ countries eligible for the e-TV scheme — the exact fee varies slightly by nationality on the official fee table. Visa-exempt neighbours (e.g. Nepal, Bhutan) don't need it.
government fee	USD 25 — 30-day tier; USD 40 for 1 year, USD 80 for 5 years; about USD 10 in the Apr–Jun season; plus up to ~3% bank surchargesource: India e-Visa — official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in) · verified 2026-07
processing	apply at least 4 days before arrival; the portal opens up to 120 days aheadIndia publishes a minimum lead time rather than a fixed processing SLA — apply with a buffer, not at the last minute · source: India e-Visa official portal · verified 2026-07
length of stay	30-day tier: 30 days from arrival, non-extendable. One-year and five-year tiers: multiple entry, up to 180 days per calendar year.

documents you will need

Passport valid at least 6 months from arrival, with two blank pages
A clear scan of the passport bio-data page
A recent square passport-style photograph to the portal's spec
A working email address and an accepted payment card
Return or onward ticket and evidence of sufficient funds (standard e-TV checklist)

how the process runs

01Apply only at the official portal indianvisaonline.gov.in — copycat sites resell the same visa at a markup
02Upload your passport bio page and photograph to the portal's exact specs
03Choose your tier (30-day / 1-year / 5-year) and pay the government fee directly — it is non-refundable if refused
04Wait for the emailed ETA (apply 4+ days ahead), then print it to show on arrival

why applications get refused

Personal details that don't match the passport exactly
A photograph or passport scan that fails the portal's quality spec
Applying too close to travel (inside the 4-day minimum)
Payment failure or an unverifiable payment method

questions we actually get

Is the government fee really $25?: For the 30-day tier in the main season, yes — it drops to about $10 in the April–June low season, and rises to $40 (1 year) or $80 (5 years). A bank surcharge of up to ~3% is added at checkout. Third-party sites charge far more for the identical government visa.
Can I stay the whole year on the 1-year visa?: No. The one-year and five-year visas are multiple-entry but cap you at 180 days per calendar year. Only the 30-day tier is a single continuous stay.

rules change. we verify before we act.

This guide reflects the official sources as of 2026-07 (matrix 2026.Q3). For a decision about your own case, that is not enough — talk to a licensed advisor.

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