**Summary:**
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced on August 5, 2025, an update on India's Electronic Visa (eVisa) system. Introduced in November 2014, the eVisa facility, with Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), initially for 43 countries, has expanded to include nationals of 172 countries, allowing entry through 32 designated international airports and 6 major seaports. The eVisa program aims to streamline and simplify the visa regime to facilitate legitimate foreign travelers while enhancing internal security.
Currently, the eVisa is available under 13 subcategories: eTourist Visa, eBusiness Visa, eMedical Visa, eMedical Attendant Visa, eConference Visa, eAyush Visa, eAyush Attendant Visa, eStudent Visa, eStudent X Visa, eTransit Visa, eMountaineering Visa, eFilm Visa, and eEntry X1 Visa. The entire eVisa processing is conducted online, enabling applicants to apply from anywhere.
The introduction of the eVisa has facilitated hassle-free entry for foreigners visiting India for tourism, business, and medical purposes. In 2019, a 30-day double-entry eTourist Visa was launched with a fee of US$25. To encourage off-season tourism between April and June, the visa fee was reduced to US$10 during this period.
The liberalization and simplification of the eVisa regime, including visa fee waivers and special visa categories for specific tourist groups, is an ongoing process. Adjustments are made considering security concerns, inbound tourism and investments, bilateral relations, and reciprocity. This information was provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Home Affairs: The Indian government ministry responsible for internal security and visa regulations.
EVISA SYSTEM: The electronic visa system implemented by the Indian government to facilitate online visa applications.
Delhi, India: The location where the press release was issued.
Electronic Travel Authorization ETA: A component of the eVisa facility, simplifying entry requirements for eligible travelers.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where a question regarding the eVisa system was addressed.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs who provided information about the eVisa system.
eTourist Visa: A subcategory of the eVisa, specifically for tourism purposes.
eBusiness Visa: A subcategory of the eVisa, specifically for business travel purposes.
Ministry of Home Affairs
E-VISA SYSTEM
Posted On: 05 AUG 2025 3:35PM by PIB Delhi
India has a robust visa regime in place to enable lawful inward movement of foreigners including foreign
tourists, professionals and skilled workforce, business persons, students etc. Government has taken a
number of initiatives over the last few years to liberalize, streamline and simplify visa regime with a view to
facilitate the legitimate foreign travelers while simultaneously ramping up the technological infrastructure to
enhance internal security.
One significant step taken to liberalize and simplify the Indian Visa regime, especially the tourist visa
regime, is the introduction of the e-Visa facility. This facility, with Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA),
which was introduced in November, 2014 for nationals of 43 countries, is presently available to nationals of
172 countries for entry through 32 designated international airports and 06 major seaports. E-Visa is
presently available under 13 sub-categories i.e. e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical
Attendant Visa, e-Conference Visa, e-Ayush Visa, e-Ayush Attendant Visa, e-Student Visa, e-Student X
Visa, e-Transit Visa, e-Mountaineering Visa, e-Film Visa and e-Entry (X-1) Visa.
Processing of e-visa is totally on the online platform. A foreigner can apply for e-visa from anywhere.
Introduction of e-visa has helped in providing hassle-free entry to foreigners into India for legitimate
purposes like tourism, business and medical purposes etc.
A 30 days with double entry e-tourist Visa with visa fee of US $25 was launched in 2019. To encourage off-
season (April - June) tourists, visa fee of US $25 was reduced to US $10 during this lean period.
Liberalization and simplification of the e-visa regime, including the visa fee waivers or special visa
categories for any specific tourist groups, is an ongoing process which is done after taking into
consideration the issues of security, inbound tourism and investments, bi-lateral relations, on reciprocity-
basis etc.’
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a
written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
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RK/VV/RR/HS/PS/PR
(Release ID: 2152493)