India Visa Guide for UK Citizens — Complete 2026
India e-Visa: Quick Reference for UK Travellers
This India visa guide for UK citizens covers everything you need to know before booking your India holiday in 2026 — which e-Visa to apply for, the exact step-by-step process, how much it costs in pounds sterling, how long it takes, what documents you need, and the most common mistakes that lead to delays or rejections. We have been organising India tours for UK visitors since 1991. Every client we send to India needs this information. We have put it all in one place.
The short answer: UK citizens need an India e-Tourist Visa. It costs £25–£80 depending on duration. You apply online in about 20 minutes at the official Government of India portal. It arrives in your email within 3–4 business days. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel to be safe.
India Visa Guide UK Citizens: Do You Need a Visa?
Yes. British Citizens holding a British Citizen passport require a visa to visit India. There is no visa on arrival for UK passport holders. India operates an e-Visa system that allows online applications without visiting an embassy — this is the route the vast majority of UK visitors use.
Important note on passport type: The India e-Visa is available only to British Citizens. It is not available to:
British Subject passport holders · British Protected Person passport holders · British Overseas Citizen passport holders · British National (Overseas) passport holders · British Dependent Territories Citizen passport holders
If you hold any of these passport types rather than a standard British Citizen passport, you must apply for a regular visa through the Indian High Commission in London or via the VFS Global visa application centre.
Which India e-Visa Should UK Citizens Apply For?
For tourism — holidays, sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives, yoga retreats, Ayurveda treatments — you need the e-Tourist Visa. There are three duration options:
30-Day e-Tourist Visa (~£25): Valid for 30 days from first arrival in India. Double entry. Best for: a single India holiday of under 30 days with no plans to leave and re-enter. Most UK visitors on a 2-3 week holiday use this option.
1-Year e-Tourist Visa (~£40): Valid for 365 days from the date of issue. Multiple entry. Maximum stay 180 days per calendar year, with no single stay exceeding 180 days. Best for: UK visitors planning two or more India trips within a year, or those who may want to make a side trip to Nepal or Sri Lanka and re-enter India.
5-Year e-Tourist Visa (~£80): Valid for 5 years from the date of issue. Multiple entry. Same 180-day per calendar year limitation. Best for: frequent India visitors, those with family in India, or travellers who plan to return regularly. The best value for money if you visit India more than once every two years.
Our recommendation for most UK visitors: The 1-Year e-Tourist Visa at ~£40. For only £15 more than the 30-day option, you get a full year’s validity and multiple entries. If your holiday runs over 30 days — even by one day — you need this. If you want to visit Nepal or Sri Lanka during your India trip, you need this. Most UK visitors on a first India holiday take the 1-Year option.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step India e-Visa Process for UK Citizens
Step 1 — Go to the official and only legitimate website
Visit: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
This is the Government of India’s official e-Visa portal. Do not use any other website. See the section below on scam sites.
Step 2 — Start a new application
Click “Apply” on the homepage. Select “e-Tourist Visa” from the visa category dropdown. Select your nationality (United Kingdom) and your port of arrival (the airport you are flying into).
Step 3 — Fill in your personal details
Your full name exactly as it appears on your passport. Your date of birth. Your passport number, issue date, and expiry date. Your nationality and country of birth. Your parents’ names and nationalities (required). Your occupation. Your UK address. Recent travel history (last 10 countries visited).
Step 4 — Upload two documents
A recent passport-style photograph (white background, face clearly visible, under 1MB, JPEG format). A scan of your passport photo page (the page with your photograph and personal details — not the back cover).
Step 5 — Choose your arrival date and visa duration
Select your expected arrival date in India. Select your visa duration (30-day, 1-year, or 5-year). The system will calculate the validity automatically.
Step 6 — Pay the fee
Pay by credit or debit card. The fee is quoted in USD — approximately $25/40/80 depending on duration. Your card will be charged in USD or the equivalent GBP at the current rate. An additional 3% bank transaction charge applies on top of the visa fee. The fee is non-refundable once paid, regardless of whether the visa is approved or rejected.
Step 7 — Note your application ID and wait
You will receive an application ID immediately after payment. Use this to check your application status at: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/visaStatus.html. Check your email (including spam folder) regularly. Normal processing: 3–4 business days.
Step 8 — Print your e-Visa
When approved, you will receive your e-Visa by email. It will show status “GRANTED”. Print a physical copy. You must present the printed e-Visa at the immigration desk on arrival in India, along with your passport. Immigration officers will stamp your passport. Keep the printed copy — airlines may also check it at check-in.
India e-Visa Eligibility: What Your UK Passport Needs
Before applying, check these requirements:
Passport validity: Your British passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your intended arrival date in India. If your passport expires within 6 months of arrival, renew it before applying for the visa.
Blank passport pages: You need at least 2 blank pages in your passport for the immigration stamp on arrival. If your passport is full, renew it before travel.
Photograph requirements: The photograph uploaded must be recent (taken within the last 6 months), white background, front-facing, plain expression (no smiling), full face visible, no glasses. Common rejection reason: photographs that don’t meet these specifications.
Apply in advance: The official minimum is 4 business days before travel. We recommend 2 weeks minimum. If your visa is rejected for any reason (incorrect details, poor photograph quality), you need time to reapply.
India e-Visa Ports of Entry: Where Can You Arrive?
The India e-Visa is valid for entry at designated airports only. Key airports where UK visitors typically arrive:
Delhi — Indira Gandhi International (IGI) · Mumbai — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International · Chennai — Anna International · Bengaluru — Kempegowda International · Hyderabad — Rajiv Gandhi International · Kochi — Cochin International · Kolkata — Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International · Ahmedabad — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International · Goa — Dabolim International and Mopa (Manohar) International · Varanasi — Lal Bahadur Shastri International · Jaipur — Jaipur International · Amritsar — Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International · Leh — Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
Critical warning: The India e-Visa is NOT valid at land borders. If you plan to travel overland into India from Nepal, Pakistan, or Bangladesh, you need a regular visa from the Indian High Commission in London. This is a common mistake — plan your entry airport before applying.
India Visa Scam Websites: What UK Citizens Must Know
This section could save you significant money. A large number of unofficial websites mimic the look of the Government of India e-Visa portal. They charge £50 to £150 or more for a visa that costs £25 to £80 on the official government site. They appear in Google paid advertisements and look legitimate.
The only legitimate website for India e-Visa is: indianvisaonline.gov.in
How to spot a scam website: The URL does not end in .gov.in · The fees are significantly higher than official rates · The website asks for additional “processing” or “service” fees · The website claims to offer “express” or “priority” government processing
The Government of India charges no emergency fees, no additional service charges, and uses no third-party agents for the e-Visa service. If you are using a third-party visa agency (some people prefer this for convenience), they may charge a legitimate service fee on top of the government fee — but you should know exactly what you are paying and why.
Regular Visa (Sticker Visa) Through the Indian High Commission
If you hold a non-British-Citizen British passport type, plan to stay more than 180 days, intend to work, study, or carry out journalism in India, or need to enter at a land border — you need a regular visa through the Indian High Commission.
How to apply: Applications are processed through VFS Global, the official visa application partner. Visit: https://services.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/ind/apply-visa
You will need to visit a VFS application centre in the UK (located in London and other major cities) with your physical passport, photographs, completed application form, and supporting documents. Processing time: minimum 3 working days, typically 5-10 working days. The High Commission may require an in-person interview for some visa categories.
India Visa for UK Citizens: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Applying too late. The minimum is 4 business days, but rejections and reapplications take time. Apply 2 weeks before travel.
Mistake 2: Wrong photograph. The photograph must have a white background. Blue, grey, or patterned backgrounds are grounds for rejection. Glasses must be removed. This is the most common rejection reason.
Mistake 3: Passport details mismatch. Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport — including middle names, hyphens, and spacing. Any mismatch between the e-Visa and your passport causes problems at immigration.
Mistake 4: Forgetting to print the e-Visa. The e-Visa is digital but you must carry a printed copy on arrival in India. Do not rely on showing it on your phone — the immigration desk requires a paper copy.
Mistake 5: Wrong arrival port. Your e-Visa is linked to the airport you specified during application. If you change your flight and arrive at a different airport, contact the e-Visa help desk immediately — the system may need updating.
Mistake 6: Passport expiring within 6 months. Check your passport expiry date before booking your India holiday. If it expires within 6 months of your India arrival date, renew your passport first. Visa applications with an expiring passport are rejected.
How We Help UK Visitors with India Visa Queries
We cannot apply for your India visa for you — the e-Visa application must be made directly by the traveller on the official government portal. What we can do:
Tell you exactly which visa type to apply for based on your itinerary. Alert you if your passport needs renewing before the India trip. Confirm which airport to specify in your application based on your routing. Advise on supporting documents if your application hits a complication. Arrange your India itinerary around your visa validity so nothing overlaps.
We have been organising India tours for UK visitors since 1991. Visa questions come up on every booking. We know the answers.
India e-Visa Quick Summary for UK Citizens 2026
Do UK citizens need a visa? Yes — no visa on arrival for British passport holders.
Official website: indianvisaonline.gov.in (only legitimate portal)
Visa types for tourists: 30-day (~£25), 1-year (~£40), 5-year (~£80)
Processing time: 3–4 business days normal; apply minimum 4 days before, ideally 2 weeks
Documents needed: Passport scan, passport-style white background photograph
Passport validity required: 6 months beyond India arrival date
Blank pages required: Minimum 2 blank pages
Land border entry: Not permitted on e-Visa — fly in only
Extendable? No — e-Visa cannot be extended inside India
Print required? Yes — carry a printed copy to immigration on arrival
Planning Your India Holiday from UK?
Once your visa is sorted, the planning begins. We design private, tailor-made India tours for UK visitors — Rajasthan, Kerala, Golden Triangle, Ladakh, Varanasi, or any combination. Ministry of Tourism, Government of India — Recognised Tour Operator. Est. 1991. Reply within 12 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions — India Visa for UK Citizens
Do UK citizens need a visa for India?
Yes. British Citizens require a visa. The India e-Tourist Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in is the standard route — online, no embassy visit required.
How much does India e-Visa cost for UK citizens in 2026?
30-day approximately £25 · 1-year approximately £40 · 5-year approximately £80. Plus 3% bank transaction charge. Fees are non-refundable.
How long does India e-Visa take to process?
3–4 business days normal processing. Apply at least 4 days before travel; we recommend 2 weeks before departure.
Which India airports accept e-Visa?
28 designated airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Goa, Varanasi, Jaipur, Leh. NOT valid at land borders.
Can I extend my India e-Visa inside India?
No — e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. Apply for the 1-year option if you have any uncertainty about your stay length.
What is the official India e-Visa website?
indianvisaonline.gov.in — the only legitimate Government of India portal. Many scam sites charge inflated fees for the same visa. The official site charges no service fees beyond the visa fee itself.
