We help international travelers visit Rajasthan every week. The number one question we get? "How do I get the visa?" The Indian e-Visa system is actually straightforward, but the official website is confusing, the photo requirements are strict, and small mistakes can cause rejections. This guide walks you through every step, with the practical tips the official site doesn't tell you.
In This Guide
- Do You Need a Visa?
- Which Visa Type to Choose
- Fees by Country
- What to Prepare Before Applying
- Step-by-Step Application Process
- Photo & Document Requirements
- Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection
- After You Get Approved
- What Happens at Indian Immigration
- Country-Specific Notes
- Alternatives to the e-Visa
- Visa FAQ
1. Do You Need a Visa?
Almost certainly yes. India requires a visa for citizens of nearly every country. Only a handful of nationalities (Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives) are exempt.
The good news: India offers an e-Visa (electronic visa) for citizens of over 160 countries. You apply online, pay online, and receive approval via email. No embassy visit required.
2. Which Visa Type to Choose
For visiting Rajasthan as a tourist, you want the e-Tourist Visa. There are three durations:
| Visa Type | Validity | Entries | Max Stay per Visit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-Day e-Tourist | 30 days from arrival | Double entry | 30 days | Single trip to Rajasthan |
| 1-Year e-Tourist | 1 year from issue | Multiple entry | 90 days per visit | Planning a return trip |
| 5-Year e-Tourist | 5 years from issue | Multiple entry | 90 days per visit | Frequent visitors |
3. Visa Fees by Country
Fees vary significantly by nationality. Here are the most common:
| Country | 30-Day Visa | 1-Year Visa | 5-Year Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | $25 | $40 | $80 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $25 | $40 | $80 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $25 | $40 | $80 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $25 | $40 | $80 |
| 🇺🇸 United States | $25 | $40 | $80 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $25 | $40 | $80 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | $25 | $40 | $80 |
Note: An additional 2.5% bank/processing surcharge is added at payment. The Indian government updates fees periodically — check the official site for the latest amounts. All payments are in USD regardless of your country.
4. What to Prepare Before Applying
Gather everything before you start the form. The application times out after 15 minutes of inactivity и there's no "save and continue" option.
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months from your planned arrival date, with at least 2 blank pages
- Digital photo of yourself — recent passport-style photo, white background, JPEG format, 10 KB to 1 MB, minimum 350×350 pixels (see detailed specs below)
- Scanned passport bio page — the page with your photo and personal details, PDF format, 10 KB to 300 KB
- Credit/debit card or PayPal — for payment (Visa, MasterCard, Amex accepted)
- Travel details — approximate arrival date, port of entry (airport), hotel name or address in India
- Your email address — the e-Visa will be sent here, so use one you check regularly
5. Step-by-Step Application Process
1 Go to the Official Website
Navigate to indianvisaonline.gov.in and click "e-Visa Application."
2 Select Visa Type & Nationality
Choose "eTourist Visa" from the dropdown. Select your nationality and port of arrival. For Rajasthan trips, choose either:
- Jaipur (JAI) — if flying directly to Rajasthan
- Delhi (DEL) — if arriving via Delhi (most common for European flights)
Enter your date of birth and email address, then complete the CAPTCHA.
3 Fill Personal Details
Enter your full name exactly as it appears in your passport (this is critical — even small differences can cause problems at immigration). Fill in your nationality, religion (you can select "Others" if you prefer not to share), occupation, and address.
4 Enter Passport Details
Enter your passport number, place of issue, date of issue, and date of expiry. Double-check every character — typos in the passport number are the #1 cause of problems at immigration.
5 Provide Travel Details
Enter your:
- Expected arrival date (approximate is fine)
- Hotel/address in India — enter the name and address of your first hotel. If you haven't booked yet, use any hotel in your destination city. They don't verify this, and you can stay wherever you want.
- Reference in India — if you don't know anyone, enter your hotel's name and address again
6 Upload Photo & Passport Scan
Upload your passport-style photo and passport bio page scan. This is where most applications get stuck — see the detailed requirements in the next section. The uploader can be finicky; if it fails, try a different browser (Chrome works best).
7 Review & Pay
Review all details carefully. Once submitted, you cannot edit the application. Pay the fee using credit card, debit card, or PayPal. You'll receive a confirmation email with your Application ID. Save this — you'll need it to check your visa status.
8 Wait for Approval
Processing typically takes 2–5 business days, though some applications are approved within 24 hours. You'll receive the approved e-Visa PDF via email. The status can also be checked at indianvisaonline.gov.in → "Check Visa Status."
6. Photo & Document Requirements
This is where the process gets tricky. The Indian e-Visa system is very strict about photo specs. More applications are rejected for photo issues than any other reason.
Passport Photo Requirements
- Format: JPEG only
- Size: 10 KB – 1 MB
- Dimensions: Minimum 350×350 pixels (square aspect ratio preferred)
- Background: Plain white or very light grey — no patterns, no shadows
- Face: Face must occupy 50–70% of the frame, both ears visible
- Expression: Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and looking at camera
- Glasses: No glasses (even clear prescription glasses must be removed)
- Head covering: Not allowed unless for religious purposes
- Recency: Taken within the last 6 months
Passport Bio Page Scan
- Format: PDF only (not JPEG)
- Size: 10 KB – 300 KB
- Content: Full bio page showing your photo, name, date of birth, passport number, expiry date
- Quality: Clearly legible, no glare, all four corners visible
7. Common Mistakes That Cause Rejection
We've helped hundreds of travelers with visa issues. These are the mistakes that trip people up:
If your passport says "Jean-Pierre MARTIN" and you enter "Jean Pierre Martin" (no hyphen, different capitalization), it can cause issues at immigration. Copy your name exactly as printed in your passport.
Wrong background colour, glasses in photo, face too small in frame, photo too dark, or wearing a hat. The system auto-rejects some of these; others are caught by a human reviewer. Use the free tools mentioned above.
The system requires the passport bio page as PDF, not a photo. If you upload a JPEG, it will be rejected. Use a scanner app to convert to PDF.
The e-Visa requires a minimum of 4 days advance application. We recommend 2–3 weeks before travel. If there's a delay or rejection, you need time to reapply.
Googling "India visa" brings up many third-party sites that look official but charge $80–150 for what costs $25 on the real site. Some are outright scams. The ONLY official site is indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date in India, not from your application date. If your passport expires in 5 months: renew it first, then apply for the visa.
8. After You Get Approved
- Print your e-Visa — a colour printout is recommended, but black-and-white is accepted. Immigration officers at Indian airports sometimes ask for a physical copy even though it's electronic.
- Save a digital copy — keep the PDF on your phone and email it to yourself. Also save it to cloud storage you can access offline.
- Verify the details — check that your name, passport number, and validity dates are correct. If anything is wrong, you'll need to apply again (with a new fee).
- Note the validity window — the 30-day visa starts counting from your date of arrival, not the issue date. However, you must enter India within the visa's validity period.
9. What Happens at Indian Immigration
Arriving in India for the first time can feel overwhelming. Here's what to expect at the airport:
1 Landing & Arrival Hall
Follow signs for "Immigration" or "Passport Control." There are usually separate queues for Indian citizens and foreign nationals. Join the "Foreign Nationals" or "e-Visa" queue.
2 At the Counter
Present your passport and printed e-Visa. The officer will scan your passport, verify the e-Visa in their system, take your fingerprints (both index fingers), and take a photograph. This is standard biometric processing since 2019.
3 Questions
The officer may ask basic questions: "Purpose of visit?" (Tourism), "How long are you staying?" (your plan), "Where are you staying?" (your hotel name). Keep answers simple and confident. They're routine checks, not interrogations.
4 Stamp & Entry
You'll receive an entry stamp in your passport. Verify the number of days written next to the stamp matches your visa type. Proceed to baggage claim and customs. For customs, if you're carrying nothing unusual, walk through the "Green Channel" (nothing to declare).
10. Country-Specific Notes
🇫🇷 France
Direct flights: Paris CDG → Delhi (8h) or Jaipur via connection. Processing: Typically 2–3 days. Tip: Apply online — the Indian Embassy in Paris is for regular visas only, not e-Visas.
🇩🇪 Germany
Direct flights: Frankfurt → Delhi (7h30), Munich → Delhi (7h45). Processing: Typically 2–3 days. Tip: German passports rarely face delays — one of the fastest approval rates.
🇪🇸 Spain
Flights: Madrid → Delhi via Dubai/Doha (10–12h). No direct flights. Processing: 2–4 days. Tip: The e-Visa application form is in English only — use our site translator if needed.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Direct flights: London Heathrow → Delhi (8h30), Manchester → Delhi (8h). Processing: 2–3 days. Tip: UK passport holders have one of the smoothest e-Visa experiences.
🇺🇸 United States
Flights: NYC → Delhi (15h direct on Air India), or via Dubai/London. Processing: 2–5 days. Tip: US citizens can also get a 10-year regular tourist visa at the Indian consulate if they plan multiple trips.
🇨🇦 Canada
Flights: Toronto → Delhi (14h direct on Air India). Processing: 2–4 days. Tip: Dual citizens should apply using the passport they plan to travel with (the one they'll show at Indian immigration).
11. Alternatives to the e-Visa
Regular (Sticker) Tourist Visa
Applied for at your nearest Indian embassy or consulate. Takes 5–15 business days. Some nationalities (notably USA and UK) can get a 10-year multiple-entry visa this way, which isn't available as an e-Visa. Costs more ($100–200) and requires an in-person visit or mailing your passport.
Visa on Arrival
Available only for citizens of Japan, South Korea, and UAE. Not available for European, US, UK, Canadian, or Australian passport holders. Don't show up at the airport without an e-Visa or regular visa — you won't be allowed to board your flight.
Visa Agents / Third-Party Services
Companies like iVisa, Visa HQ, and others will fill out the application for you. They charge $50–100 on top of the government fee for what is a 20-minute process. We don't recommend them — you're giving your passport details to a third party, and the official process is simple enough to do yourself with this guide.
12. Visa FAQ
How early should I apply?
2–3 weeks before your flight. Minimum is 4 days, maximum is 120 days before arrival. Don't leave it to the last minute — if your application is rejected (usually for photo issues), you need time to reapply.
Can I extend my e-Visa once I'm in India?
No. The e-Tourist Visa cannot be extended or converted to another visa type while in India. If you need more time, you must leave India and apply for a new visa. Plan your trip duration accordingly.
My e-Visa was rejected. What do I do?
The most common reason is a photo or document issue. You can apply again immediately with a new application and corrected documents. There's no penalty for a previous rejection. You'll need to pay the fee again.
Do I need a return ticket to enter India?
Technically yes. Airlines may check for a return or onward ticket before boarding. Immigration rarely asks, but it's best to have a confirmed return or onward flight booked.
Can I enter India through any airport with an e-Visa?
Yes, through designated airports. 28 Indian airports accept e-Visas, including Jaipur (JAI), Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), and all other major airports. You can also enter via 5 designated seaports. But you can exit from any authorized immigration checkpoint.
I have a dual citizenship. Which passport do I use?
Apply with the passport you'll physically carry and present at Indian immigration. The name and passport number on your e-Visa must match the passport you travel with. India doesn't officially recognize dual citizenship with India specifically, but dual citizenship between two foreign countries is fine.
Is there a COVID-19 requirement for India?
As of 2026, India has no COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements for entering the country. All pandemic-era restrictions have been lifted. This can change — check the latest on the Indian government's health ministry website before travel.
We've helped hundreds of international travelers plan their perfect Rajasthan experience. From airport pickup to heritage hotel stays and guided explorations of places tourists never find. Ask us anything or browse our curated itineraries.