India is a subcontinent that is full of history, spirituality, and amazing food and it should be planned very carefully and the main aspect that a traveler should take before travelling is to get the entry permission. In the case of citizens of most countries, the India e-Tourist Visa has also provided an alternative to the complicated trips to the embassy, yet this comes with a new option; how long should you make?
The Indian government proposes three key e-Tourist Visa models, namely; the 30-day single entry, the 1-year multi-entry and the 5-year multi-entry visa. Making the wrong decision will result in you spending extra money or worse still shortening your traveling plans.
This is a detailed book that divides the features, restrictions, and best application of each type of visa, so you can make a wise decision on your trip to the subcontinent.
The Groundwork: The India e-Visa, Explained
It is essential prior to delving into the details to identify the point of convergence between all three types of e-Tourist Visa:
Purpose: They are purely touristic or visiting friends or relatives, short-term medical care or informal visits to business. They are not employment or long-term studyable.
Entry Points: There is limited entry into 29 approved International Airports and 5 seaports. The departure may be at any of the checkpoints of the immigration.
Non-Extendable/Non-Convertible: After getting issued, then e-Visa cannot be extended or converted to any other type of visa in India. You have to leave the country when your authorized time of stay elapses or even earlier.
1. The Short & Sweet Trip: The 30-Day e-Tourist Visa
This is the standard choice for casual visitors and those with firm, short-term itineraries for Indian 30 Days Tourist eVisa :
Key Features
Validity Period: The visa is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. Crucially, it is often a shorter window of validity than the traditional paper visa.
Duration of Stay: Allows a maximum stay of 30 days in India from the date of your first arrival.
Entry Type: This visa typically allows for Double Entry. This means you can enter India, leave for a neighboring country (like Nepal or Sri Lanka), and re-enter once more, as long as both entries and departures occur within the 30-day validity window.
Cost: Generally the least expensive option.
Who Should Choose the 30-Day Visa?
First-Time Visitors: Those testing the waters or unsure if they will return soon.
Conference/Event Attendees: Travelers coming for a specific, short event or business trip that lasts less than four weeks.
Tight Budgets: Travelers seeking the lowest possible visa cost for a quick holiday.
2. The Balanced Option: The 1-Year e-Tourist Visa
The Indian 1 Year e-Tourist Visa offers the perfect balance of flexibility and cost-effectiveness for moderate travel frequency.
Key Features
Validity Period: The visa is valid for 365 days (one full year) from the date of issuance.
Duration of Stay (Per Visit): This is a Multiple-Entry visa. The maximum continuous period of stay allowed during any single visit is capped:
180 days for citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan.
90 days for citizens of most other eligible countries.
Entry Type: Multiple Entry. You can enter and exit India as many times as needed within the one-year validity period, provided you adhere to the maximum stay limit per visit.
Cost: Moderately priced, offering high value for money if you plan more than one trip.
Who Should Choose the 1-Year Visa?
Regional Explorers: Those planning to use India as a hub for exploring South Asia (e.g., flying into Delhi, traveling to Thailand, and returning to India later).
Seasonal Visitors: Travelers who spend several months in India annually (e.g., attending yoga retreats, volunteering, or visiting family).
Frequent Business Travelers: Those who need to make multiple short trips (under 90 days each) for casual business meetings over a 12-month period.
3. The Frequent Flyer’s Choice: The 5-Year e-Tourist Visa
The Indian 5 Years e-Tourist Visa is designed for maximal long-term convenience and is best suited for seasoned, dedicated travelers to India.
Key Features
Validity Period: The visa is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.
Duration of Stay (Per Visit): Like the 1-Year visa, this is a Multiple-Entry visa with caps on single stays:
180 days for citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, and Japan.
90 days for citizens of most other eligible countries.
Annual Stay Limit: While the visa is valid for five years, there is a total maximum cumulative stay limit of 180 days within any given calendar year (January 1st to December 31st). This is a critical rule often overlooked.
Entry Type: Multiple Entry.
Cost: The highest initial cost, but the most economical in the long run if used frequently.
Who Should Choose the 5-Year Visa?
Committed Indophiles: Travelers who plan to make regular, multi-visit trips to India over the next half-decade.
Family/Spousal Visits: Non-resident citizens visiting family frequently for extended periods.
Retirees/Digital Nomads: Individuals who wish to spend a significant portion of their year in India (up to the 180-day annual limit), leveraging the convenience of not reapplying annually.
Quick Comparison Table
Pro Tip: Calculating Your Entry Strategy
The most important concept to master with the 1-Year and 5-Year visas is the difference between Visa Validity and Permitted Stay.
Visa Validity: This is the window (1 year or 5 years) during which you are allowed to enter India.
Permitted Stay: This is the maximum number of consecutive days you can remain in India after each entry (90 or 180 days, depending on your passport).
For the 5-Year visa, always keep the 180-day annual maximum in mind. If you arrive in December and stay for 90 days, those days straddle two calendar years, but the total time you spend in the country must not exceed 180 days in the year you started and 180 days in the year you finished. Track your travel days carefully to avoid overstaying the annual cap.
Final Decision-Making Checklist:
In case you are a first-time visitor, and you are going to stay only two weeks in India: Select the 30-Day e-Visa.
In case you intend to make a four-month spiritual retreat and you have a US passport: Select the 1-Year e-Visa (allows you to spend 180 days in the country).
In case you will visit the family members or do business every year over the following five years: Select the 5-Year e-Visa.
The e-Visa system has provided the most flexible way of visiting India. When choosing the time period that fits your frequency of travel and length of stay, you may have to worry less about border crossings, and more about the marvels of Indian life.
