The Government of India has rolled out electronic travel authorization or eTA for India that permits citizens of 180 countries to fly to India, a system that will replace passport stamps. In this Visa online process, foreign visitors will be allowed to visit India for practically five main purposes: tourism/short-term courses/recreation, conferences or medical visits. You will find that there are a number of sub-categories further under each type of visa. If you’re a foreign traveler, you will be required to hold an India Visa through online application process or a physical Visa to enter into the country, consistent with the orders passed by the Indian Government Immigration Authorities.

Travelers to India from 180 countries, which are eligible to apply for an India Visa, need not visit the Indian High Commission or Indian Embassy in order to get a Visa. Individuals from eligible countries can apply for an India Visa online. Upon getting an e-format of the Visa or eVisa to India, you need to carry either a soft copy of it on your mobile phone, or a copy of its printed format. Visa will be checked for validity for the concerned person and passport at the border by the Immigration Officer.

Indian Visa online method of obtaining eVisa is the trusted and most secured and preferred method of entry to the country. Not that conventional or paper India visa is not trusted by the Government of India, but there are certain benefits to travelers like they don’t have to visit the Indian High Commission or local Indian Embassy/Consulate to obtain India Visa as it

Four different types of Visa:

There are four different types of travel Visas that apply to every country, though the needs (or lack thereof) can differ widely, particularly depending on your nationality:

Type 1: Tourist visa for (the purpose of) pleasure travel visas

Type 2: Immigration & naturalization visas (including by marriage)

Type 3: Student visas (for study abroad)

Type 4: Work or Business visas (for working abroad, further classified into immigrant and non-immigrant types)

What is Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Indians means?

There are as many as 30 countries as of now that offer Indians Visa on Arrival (VOA). This means that travelers of India do not have to apply for Visa before starting on the trip, therefore no hassle and no going through elaborate procedures. Travelers can get their Visa upon arriving at the destination country. This process totally eliminates the last minute hassle of applying for a Visa for travelling to selected countries that offer Visa for Indian travelers on arrival. The only issue involving VOA is that travelers upon arriving at the destination country need to stand in a queue to get their Visa.

It is to be noted that not all countries offer Visa on Arrival, therefore it is important to know about the countries that offer the same. Simply check the website of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for complete details.