This guide is your step-by-step walkthrough for applying for the India Tourist e-Visa — complete with helpful tips, common pitfalls to avoid, and extra tricks to make the process smooth.

The instructions below are designed for U.S. passport holders. If you hold a passport from another country, please check your India e-Visa eligibility before starting your application, as requirements and fees may differ.

Go to the official Indian government site

Ensure your passport

Is valid at least 6 months from your intended arrival date.

Has at least 2 blank pages for stamps.

Tourist e-Visa is valid for

30-day, 1-year, or 5-year validity (multiple entry).

For weddings, the 1-year option is the sweet spot — more flexibility if guests visit again.

Earliest you can apply

120 days before arrival.

Latest you should apply

No later than 7 days before departure (I recommend at least 3–4 weeks before travel to avoid stress).

For February 9, 2026 arrivals → earliest apply date:

October 12, 2025.

You will need:

Passport scan

First (bio-data) page only

PDF, under 300 KB

Recent color photo

Square, plain white background,

JPG format, 350x350 pixels, 10 KB–1 MB

Travel details

Flight itinerary, entry/exit airports

Visa fee payment method

Credit/Debit card

Hotel Name/Address

or Noida Wedding Venue/Hotel

On the e-Visa site, select Apply Here for e-Visa → e-Tourist Visa.

Provide:

Personal info exactly as in your passport (middle names included).

Marital status — yes, they ask.

Parents’ names — both required, even if deceased.

Occupation — must be specific (e.g., “Marketing Manager” not just “Manager”).

Reference in India — name, phone, and address.

**Details Coming soon**

Reference in home country — emergency contact info.

Photo

Plain white background, no glasses, no shadows.

Passport page

Must be perfectly clear — blurry uploads = rejection.

Pay the Visa Fee

Fees vary. Pricing is around $80.

Pay online by card. Keep the receipt number.

Most approvals come within 72 hours. Some are same-day.

You’ll get an email saying “Visa Granted” — download the PDF Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and print it.

Bring:

Printed Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

The same passport used for the application

On arrival in India, go to the e-Visa counter for biometric capture (photo + fingerprints).

Immigration will stamp your passport with your entry date.

For Feb 2026 events, best window to apply: Mid-October 2025 to Mid-January 2026.

Always triple-check passport name spelling — even a missing middle name can cause denial.

Have paper and digital copies of the ETA when traveling.

If guests are also visiting Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Maldives, they can re-enter India easily with the 1-year or 5-year e-Visa.

Using the wrong website — there are many fake agencies.

Only use https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/

Uploading a selfie instead of a compliant photo

Applying with a passport close to expiry

Entering different arrival airports than you actually use — must match application for first entry

Forgetting to print your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)