How to apply for a visa for India from UK: full guide

The India tourism industry is one of the largest in the world, and it’s no surprise: it has many World Heritage sites designated by UNESCO, the Taj Mahal (one of the Seven Wonders of the World) and a cuisine loved around the world. 

If you’re planning to visit soon, then you may need an India visa. But good news: you are eligible to apply for a visa to India India from UK! Learn everything about the topic here.

Do you need to apply for a visa for India from UK?

Yes, everyone needs to apply for a tourist visa to India from UK. It’s possible to apply for the India visa online on specialized sites such as visagov.com, where you will find the application form in your own language and simplified to maximize acceptance rates. It’s very easy! 

Depending on the kind of visa you need, you may need to apply in person at an embassy or consulate. However, the most common Indian visas for tourists are all available online. 

What are the types of India visa for UK citizens?

The visa for India from UK can be divided in four different kinds:

• 30-day tourist visa: it’s valid for 30 days and allows double entry to India. This visa is not extendable nor convertible.
• 1-year tourist visa: it has a validity of 1 year starting from the day of the approval of the eVisa for India. It allows for multiple entries.
• 5-year tourist visa: it’s valid for 5 years starting from the day of the approval of the eVisa for India. It allows for multiple entries. Each entry to India has to be for 90 days or less. However, citizens of the UK, as well as citizens of the USA, Canada and Japan, can stay for 180 days instead of 90.
• Business visa: it’s valid for a year starting on the day of the granting of the visa and, just like all the rest, it allows for multiple entries. The maximum continuous stay has to be of 180 days or less. To extend your stay, contact the Regional Office for the Registration of Foreigners for permission.
• Medical eVisa: it's a triple entry visa (it allows for three entries and exits out of the country). It has 60-day validity.
• Medical Attendant eVisa: it's a triple entry visa, and it has a 60-day validity.
• Conference eVisa: it's a single entry visa with 30-day validity.

Depending on the reasons for your trip to India, you may need a visa that is not on this list. Visagov prepared a guide on how to get a tourist visa to India that explains all the types available.

Remember that you can’t modify your visa for India from UK once the process has started, so double check everything before sending your application. If you made a mistake or you need to change something, you will have to cancel the visa you applied for and start the process again at your own expense. 

Requirements to apply for a visa to India from UK

To apply for an India visa, citizens of the UK need:

• A passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the start of the trip. Make sure that your passport is in the best possible conditions before travelling to India, as it may cause issues with customs officials and you may even be rejected from entering the country. If your passport has less than 6 months of validity or is not in the best shape, you will have to get a new one.
• A personal photograph on a white background. It has to be taken from the front and you can’t wear sunglasses, necklaces or any type of clothing that can interfere in the identification of the person in the photo. 
• Fill the application form with your personal information. You can do this very easily on our website. 

To learn more about this, visit our article about the India travel requirements.

When do you start the application process for a visa for India from UK?

Since the visas for India have to be used within 30 days of issue, you shouldn’t start your process that far in advance.

Your approval will not be sent until 20 or 25 days before traveling to India and the process takes about a week. To be safe, you should send in your application about 15 days before your trip or even a few days earlier. 

What entry points can I use with my visa for India from UK?

The eVisa for India allows you to enter the country only by air or by sea. However, when you leave, you can do it by every authorized point available (not only by air or sea). 

Flying to India

You can enter the country from these airports: Delhi, Mumbai Chennai, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Goa, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gaya, Jaipur, Lucknow, Trichy Varanasi, Calicut, Mangalore, Pune, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Bagdogra, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Madurai, Bhubaneswar and Port Blair.

Travelling by sea

The main seaports of India allow travellers to enter with an eVisa for India, and they are: Mumbai, Cochin, Mormugao, Chennai and New Mangalore. 

Tips for travelling to India

• Pack modest clothing for your trip as Indian culture is pretty conservative. You should try to blend in as much as possible to avoid inconveniences. Try to keep your shoulders, arms and legs covered, especially if you’re entering a place of worship. 
• Our India travel tips have all the information you need about traveling around the country.
• Bring multiple adapters with you because in India there are electrical plugs type C (the European one), D and M.
• Having travel insurance isn’t mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. 
• Some parts of India have prohibited the consumption and sale of alcohol, and you can even risk being imprisoned if you’re caught. This applies to states like Bihar, Gujarat, Lakshadweep or parts of Manipur.
• There are no mandatory vaccines for travel to India unless you’re coming for a country endemic of yellow fever, in which case you will need to provide proof of vaccination. However, when possible, it’s recommended to get the vaccines for Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, Typhoid, Rabies, Influenza, Malaria and Dengue.
• You can bring as much foreign currency to India as you wish but, if it’s more than $5000 dollars, you will have to declare it. However, you won’t be able to get rupees in the UK as it’s a non-convertible currency, which means it can’t be taken out of India.
• Remember to only drink bottled water! The sanitary conditions of India are poor and you risk contracting a disease by drinking tap water.