India Visa Guide for UK Citizens: Fees, Documents and Trip Planning
Planning an India holiday from the UK? First check your entry permission, then match your arrival and departure dates to your itinerary. This guide separates government requirements from the practical trip details you can ask Sanoli India Tours to organise.
Do UK citizens need a visa for India?
British citizens normally need a visa before travelling; a valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is an exception. Passport type and personal circumstances can affect eligibility. Check the UK government’s India entry requirements, especially if you have Pakistani heritage or a non-standard British passport.
How much is an India tourist visa from the UK?
Use the fee shown for your nationality and visa category on the Government of India e-Visa portal. A dollar amount is not the same amount in pounds: your card’s exchange rate and charges affect the final sterling payment. We have removed the earlier fixed GBP estimates because they should not be treated as current official prices.
Before paying, record the government fee, its currency and any separately disclosed payment or agency charges. Compare the total, rather than comparing an agency’s all-inclusive price with an application fee alone. Save your receipt and application reference. Sanoli’s tour quotation does not include a visa application or visa fee unless a written quotation explicitly says otherwise.
Which visa duration fits your holiday?
The official portal describes 30-day, one-year and five-year e-Tourist options. Validity, permitted entries and the allowed stay are different conditions: read the category instructions and your granted authorisation. A longer validity period does not mean you can remain in India continuously for that whole period.
Write down your first arrival, final departure and any planned exit and re-entry. A single India holiday, a return visit later in the year and an India–Nepal–India journey are different planning cases. Do not buy a longer visa simply because a tour company recommends it; choose the permission that matches your circumstances using the official rules.
Application and arrival checklist
- Check eligibility and the current application window on the official portal before making your travel commitments.
- Prepare the photograph and passport-page upload to the specifications shown in the application. Enter your details carefully and retain the application reference.
- Check the application status and your email. An application or payment receipt is not proof that a visa has been granted.
- Read the granted ETA and print it for arrival, as the government portal instructs.
- Confirm that your arrival checkpoint is authorised for your permission. The official list includes designated airports and seaports; do not rely on an old fixed airport count.
Your passport should have at least six months’ validity on arrival and two blank pages. Check current health and customs requirements for your particular journey through the FCDO entry checklist; requirements can depend on countries you have visited.
Is the e-Arrival card the same as a visa?
No. The official portal describes an e-Arrival card for arrival information, separate from a visa, which foreigners and OCI card holders can submit within 72 hours before arrival. Follow the current instructions linked from the government portal.
How long does approval take?
We do not promise approval within three or four business days. Follow the current application timing instructions and allow room in your plans for requests for additional documents. Check the official status service rather than relying on a tour booking or an agency’s estimate. Do not assume an advertised express service guarantees faster government approval.
If approval is still pending, tell your airline and accommodation or tour provider before the relevant cancellation deadlines. Keep your application reference private; you do not need to post your passport or visa documents publicly to obtain travel-planning advice.
Official application or independent visa agency?
The linked government portal is the direct official route. An independent agency may charge for assistance; an agency fee alone does not prove fraud. Check who operates the service, what assistance is included and whether its charges are clearly separated from government fees. Never assume a third party can guarantee an immigration decision.
Turn your travel dates into an India itinerary
Once you understand your permission, compare an itinerary with the dates you actually have available. These existing tours provide concrete starting points:
- Seven-day Golden Triangle route: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur — compare the overnight stops with your international flight times.
- Nine-day Rajasthan heritage route: Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur and Udaipur — request a quote for your chosen dates and hotel preferences.
- Six-day Kerala temple and cultural route — review the Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam and Kanyakumari itinerary before arranging flights.
For your quotation, send your dates, number of travellers, arrival and departure cities, preferred hotel level and any mobility needs. Ask which transfers, guiding, entrance tickets, meals and taxes are included. A useful comparison is a written route and inclusion list, rather than a headline price without the same services.
If you arrive late, ask whether the first hotel night and airport transfer are included. If you depart early, ask whether the last sightseeing day is realistic. If you add another destination, ask how it changes driving time and overnight stops. These decisions should be settled before you compare quotations.
Request a private India tour quote
Sanoli India Tours can help plan your route and provide tour arrangements. Immigration authorities decide visa eligibility and approval.
Frequently asked questions
Can I extend a tourist e-Visa?
Do not plan a holiday that depends on an extension. Check your visa conditions and official advice for any exceptional circumstances; an ordinary tour booking does not create a right to extend your stay.
Can Sanoli guarantee a visa?
No. We can help with itinerary details for your travel planning, but we cannot guarantee a government decision or provide an immigration ruling.
Should I send passport details with my first tour enquiry?
You can begin with your dates, route and traveller count. Avoid sending passport scans or application references in an initial general enquiry unless there is a specific, agreed reason.
Sources and review
Reviewed on 10 October 2026 against the Government of India e-Visa information and FCDO India entry requirements. Entry rules and fees can change; recheck the official instructions before applying and travelling.
