Frequently asked questions for UK travellers
Answers organised by topic, written specifically for British citizens applying for India's electronic visa from the United Kingdom.
The questions on this page are the ones we are asked most often by readers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They cover the entire journey: from confirming whether you are eligible as a British passport holder, through preparing the form and paying in GBP, to landing in India and dealing with the e-Arrival Card. If your question is not covered here, please write to info@onlinevisa.uk or use the contact form.
Eligibility
Yes. British citizens holding a full UK passport are on the list of nationalities eligible for India's electronic visa scheme. The scheme covers tourism, short business trips, medical treatment and attendance at conferences. UK applicants complete the entire process online and do not need to visit the Indian High Commission in London or any other Indian mission in Britain.
Dual nationals must choose one passport for the application and use the same passport to board the flight and enter India. If you wish to travel on your British passport, the eVisa must be submitted with your UK passport details. Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are not eligible for the eVisa and should consult the OCI scheme separately.
No. The India eVisa requires a full national passport from one of the eligible countries. UK-issued refugee Convention Travel Documents (the blue document) and stateless person's documents are not accepted. Holders of these documents must approach the Indian High Commission in London for a conventional sticker visa instead.
Every traveller, including infants and children, must have their own individual eVisa linked to their own UK passport. There is no family or combined application. Parents and guardians complete a separate application for each child, uploading the child's own digital photo and passport bio page scan.
Eligibility is determined by passport nationality, not by UK residency. If you hold a passport from another eVisa-eligible country, you can apply using that passport even while residing in Britain. If your passport is not on the eligible list, you will need to approach the Indian High Commission for a conventional visa.
Application process
Most UK applicants finish the form in around 15 to 20 minutes, provided they have their passport, digital photo, address and travel dates to hand. The form auto-saves as you go, so you can pause and return if you need to look up a flight number or accommodation address. There is no penalty for taking longer.
The photograph must be a recent square colour image, taken against a plain white background, with your full face clearly visible and no shadows. Glasses, head coverings (except for religious reasons) and filters are not permitted. Save it as a JPEG under 1 MB. Most modern smartphones with a portrait setting can produce an acceptable photo against a white wall.
Yes. The application is entirely online, so it does not matter whether you are in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast or the Outer Hebrides. All you need is an internet connection, your documents and a UK debit or credit card. There is no requirement to attend any office in person at any stage.
Yes. Although the service is tailored for UK residents, British citizens can submit the application from any country with an internet connection. Make sure your card issuer allows the international payment and that you provide a correct UK home address and contact, as these are still required on the form.
Each traveller requires a unique application, but families and tour groups frequently submit them back-to-back from the same device using a single payment card. Keep each person's documents organised in separate folders to avoid mixing photos or passport scans between applicants.
Processing & approval
Standard processing typically takes between three and five UK working days from submission, although many British applicants receive approval within 48 to 72 hours. We recommend applying at least a week before your intended departure from a UK airport, and longer if you are travelling during bank holidays or peak summer.
Yes. Expedited processing options are offered for travellers with tighter timelines, and there is also a same-business-day option for genuine emergencies. The current options and turnaround times are listed during checkout. Please note that no service can guarantee processing time, as the final decision rests with the Indian authorities.
The approved ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is delivered as a PDF to the email address you provided on the application. You will also receive in-progress updates by email during the review. Check your spam or junk folder if you have not seen anything after the expected window - particularly with strict UK corporate email filters.
If the Indian authorities decline your eVisa, you will be notified by email. The reason is rarely disclosed in detail. Common causes include passport validity issues, name mismatches with previous Indian visas, or unresolved immigration history. UK travellers in this position usually apply for a conventional visa through the Indian High Commission instead.
You may submit a fresh application, but only if you can correct the underlying problem - for example renewing a near-expiry UK passport or fixing data entry errors. Re-applying with the same details that led to a previous refusal is unlikely to succeed and is not recommended.
Travel & entry
We recommend printing a colour copy of the ETA PDF and carrying it in your hand luggage alongside your UK passport, as well as keeping a digital copy on your phone. UK airline check-in agents and Indian immigration officers both occasionally request the printed version, and printed back-ups are invaluable if your phone runs out of battery after a long-haul flight.
Direct and connecting flights from the UK on an eVisa can land at all of India's major international gateways including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Goa, Cochin and Ahmedabad. Departures from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh are all covered. A list of designated airports and seaports is published by Indian authorities.
Yes, it is a completely separate online declaration that replaces the paper arrival form once filled in by hand on the plane. UK travellers must complete the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of their flight to India. It is free and quick, and it speeds up clearance at the Indian immigration desk.
Yes. Although your authorisation is electronic, the Indian immigration officer will examine your UK passport, the printed ETA and your e-Arrival Card, and physically stamp two pages of your passport on entry and on exit. This is why we insist on two blank visa pages being available.
Overstaying the period granted on your India eVisa is a serious matter and can result in fines payable on departure, deportation, and in serious cases a ban from re-entering India. Always plan return flights to the UK well within your authorised stay and apply for an extension only through the official Indian channels if your circumstances change.
Fees & refunds
The latest fees are published on the application page so they are always up to date with current exchange rates and visa charges. View current India eVisa fees here. We do not publish prices on this editorial site to avoid quoting figures that may be out of date.
The visa fee is set by the Indian authorities and goes to the Indian authorities issuing the eVisa. The service fee covers application review, document checking, customer support in British English and secure GBP payment processing. Both elements are shown transparently at checkout before you confirm payment.
The non-refundable portion of the fee is not refundable in any circumstance, including denial. The service portion may be refundable depending on the stage of your application. Full details, eligibility windows and the request process are set out in our refund policy.
UK applicants pay in pounds sterling (GBP) using a UK-issued debit or credit card or PayPal account. There are no foreign exchange surprises and no overseas transaction surcharges from your bank. The price displayed at checkout in GBP is the amount that appears on your UK card statement.
No. Once your eVisa is approved and paid for from the UK, there are no further visa fees to pay at the Indian airport on arrival. The e-Arrival Card is also free. Be wary of anyone at an Indian airport asking for cash payments to "process" your visa - your authorisation is already complete.