What it means in practice
Apply well before the trip: visa processing for India depends on the embassy or consulate handling your application. The length of stay is the one printed on your visa.
How India counts your stay: Stay is limited by the visa type shown on your ETA or visa. e-Business holders staying over 180 days must register with the FRRO/FRO within 14 days after the 180 days end.
Before you go
Official details are shown in English.
- Regular Indian visa — Cost: Depends on visa type and mission; Processing: Varies by mission; Validity: Depends on visa type; Stay: Depends on visa type. Apply on the official site
- Indian e-Arrival Card — Within 72 hours before arrival; Free. Replaces the paper disembarkation card for foreigners and OCI cardholders. Submit on indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or in the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app. It is arrival information only, not a visa. Official site
- Regular visa from an Indian mission — Well before travel; Set by the Indian mission. Nationals not eligible for the e-Visa, and purposes not covered by it, need a regular visa via the online application on indianvisaonline.gov.in and the Indian embassy or consulate. Official site
At the border
Official details are shown in English.
- Passport valid at least 6 months, with at least two blank pages
- Printed e-Visa (ETA) or visa
- e-Arrival Card submitted before landing
- e-Visa holders: enter only through a designated airport, seaport or land checkpost
How to avoid overstaying
- Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
- Extend before you run out. e-Visas cannot be extended or converted. To stay longer, leave and apply for a new visa; regular visa matters are handled online via the e-FRRO service.
- Penalties. Our data does not list the overstay penalty for India. Ask the immigration authority before you risk it: fines, deportation and entry bans are common elsewhere.
Good to know
Official details are shown in English.
- Use only indianvisaonline.gov.in for the e-Visa and e-Arrival Card; other sites charge extra and are not government services.
Staying longer
Visa-free days are for visits. For months or years in India, these are the long-stay routes in Bordr's guide (checked against official sources):
Official details are shown in English.
- Student visa — for the length of the course, up to 5 years
- Employment visa — for the contract term, up to 5 years
Costs, income thresholds and how to apply are in the Bordr guide.
Questions
Do Hong Kong SAR passport holders need a visa for India?
Hong Kong SAR passport holders need a visa for India, arranged before the trip.
Can I extend my stay in India?
e-Visas cannot be extended or converted. To stay longer, leave and apply for a new visa; regular visa matters are handled online via the e-FRRO service.
What do I need at the border in India?
Passport valid at least 6 months, with at least two blank pages; Printed e-Visa (ETA) or visa; e-Arrival Card submitted before landing.
When was this checked?
Bordr last checked the entry rules for India against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.
Sources and last check
Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.
- Government of India — e-Visa portal: eligibility, types, ports, FAQ
- Government of India — e-Arrival Card
- Embassy of India, Lima — e-Arrival Card notice
This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.
Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.
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