India Tourist Visa Price: What You Really Pay and Where to Get It

When planning a trip to India, the India tourist visa price, the official fee charged by the Indian government for short-term visitor entry. Also known as India e-Visa cost, it’s one of the first things travelers check—right after flights and hotels. But here’s the thing: the price you see online isn’t always the price you pay. There are service fees, rush charges, and even currency conversion traps that can double your cost if you’re not careful.

The India e-Visa, the digital visa system introduced to simplify entry for tourists is the most common option for travelers from over 160 countries. For most, the base fee ranges from $25 to $100 depending on nationality and visa length. A 30-day tourist visa might cost $25, but a full-year visa can hit $80 or more. Add on a third-party service fee, and you’re looking at $40–$120 total. The Indian government doesn’t charge those extra fees—you’re paying private companies for convenience, faster processing, or help filling out forms. Some sites even hide these costs until the last step.

And don’t forget the passport validity, a mandatory requirement for all India visa applications. Your passport needs at least six months of validity from your arrival date. If it’s close to expiring, you’ll need to renew it first—and that’s another cost you didn’t plan for. Also, make sure your passport has two blank pages. One is not enough. I’ve seen travelers turned away at the airport because they didn’t check this.

Processing time matters too. Standard e-Visa processing takes 3–5 business days. If you need it faster, you can pay extra for urgent processing—sometimes as little as 24 hours. But if you’re flying in a week, don’t wait. Apply as soon as you book your flight. And remember: the e-Visa only covers tourism, medical visits, or short business trips. If you’re planning to work, study, or stay longer, you need a different type of visa—and the price jumps significantly.

Some travelers think they can get a visa on arrival. That’s not true for most countries. India doesn’t offer visa-on-arrival for tourists anymore. You must apply online before you fly. And once approved, print two copies. One for immigration, one for your records. Digital copies on your phone aren’t always accepted.

What you’ll find below are real, verified posts that break down every detail: how much you actually pay depending on your country, which services are worth the extra cost, where scams hide, and how to avoid delays. You’ll also see how visa costs compare to other travel expenses in India—like how $20 stretches across meals and transport, or why some airports save you money on ground transfers. This isn’t just about the visa fee. It’s about making sure your whole trip starts smoothly, without surprises.