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The extension of e-Tourist Visa closely aligns with India’s ambition to welcome 15 million international visitors by the end of 2026, up from the estimated 11 million in 2025.
The standard e-Tourist visa allows dual entry and a stay of up to 30 days, making it suitable for short holidays, cultural trips and brief visits.
A spontaneous trip to Agra, a last-minute business meeting in Mumbai, or a booked medical consultation in Delhi once became a hurdle for international travelers – paperwork, long waits and consular appointments.
India has expanded its e-tourist visa program to cover citizens of 166 countries by January 25, 2026, in one of the most significant changes to its digital travel framework in recent years. The update isn’t just about numbers. What this really means is faster approvals, fewer barriers and easier entry into one of the world’s most complex and compelling travel destinations.
What has changed in India’s e-tourist visa system?
India’s Ministry of Tourism has extended the e-Tourist Visa to include travelers from nine additional countries, increasing the total from 157 to 166. New entrants include Kenya, Algeria, Fiji, Uruguay, Armenia and North Macedonia. For travelers from areas with limited access to Indian embassies or consulates, this change removes a long-standing logistical hurdle.
The application process remains completely online. Applicants upload passport details, submit documents digitally, pay fees electronically, and receive electronic travel authorization, often within 72 hours. There are no physical meetings, no paperwork and no waiting for weeks for approval.
By January 2026, citizens of 166 eligible countries can apply online for an e-Tourist Visa for India. The standard e-Tourist visa allows dual entry and a stay of up to 30 days, making it suitable for short holidays, cultural trips and brief visits.
For those traveling for professional reasons, the e-Business and e-Medical visa subcategories will remain in place. These offer long validity of up to 90 days, serving business travelers, short-term workers and medical patients seeking treatment in India without the delays of traditional visa routes.
Why does the 72-hour approval window make travel easier?
For many travelers, time is the real luxury. Visa processed within 72 hours changes the way you plan travel. This allows ease, flexibility and confidence, especially for professionals attending meetings, technicians traveling for after-sales support, or tourists booking short-notice trips.
This is especially important for travelers from developing regions where access to Indian consulates has traditionally been limited. What once required international travel to a visa center can now be accomplished with a laptop or smartphone.
What benefits does this give to international tourists?
The expanded e-Visa system provides greater benefits to holidaymakers. Event organisers, multinational companies and conference attendees will benefit from simplified entry processes. For example, the e-Conference Visa subcategory enables participants to attend approved programs in India with faster processing, provided the program is listed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Trade shows, academic conferences and international seminars can now attract a wider global audience without visa delays. For businesses seeking short-term expertise from emerging markets, the streamlined system supports quick deployment and less administrative friction.
The extension of e-Tourist Visa closely aligns with India’s broader ambition to welcome 15 million international visitors by the end of 2026, up from an estimated 11 million in 2025. It is part of the government’s broader Visit India 2026 campaign, which aims to boost tourism-driven economic growth.
India has also invested in improving arrival experiences. At 13 international airports, the biometric fast-track immigration system allows pre-enroled passengers to clear immigration through automated e-gates in less than 30 seconds. For frequent travellers, this significantly reduces the time taken at entry points.
Security measures adopted in fully digital visa system
Convenience has not come at the cost of security. India’s e-Tourist Visa platform now integrates AI-powered fraud detection, advanced document verification and cross-referencing with Interpol’s lost and stolen passport database. Applications with low-quality or improperly cropped passport images are automatically rejected, ensuring high data integrity.
These measures bring India’s system in line with international standards and keep it in line with global digital travel initiatives such as the EU’s upcoming ETIAS framework.
By removing bureaucratic hurdles while strengthening security, India is signaling its readiness for the next phase of global travel.
January 28, 2026, 17:11 IST
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