India e-Visa for US Citizens: How to Apply, Fees, Mistakes
India e-Visa for US citizens explained: which type to choose, how to apply on the official portal, how fees work and the mistakes that get people refused.
India's e-Visa lets most US citizens get permission to visit online, without posting a passport or visiting a consulate. You apply on the official government portal, pay the fee by card, and receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by email, usually within a few days. The process is simple if you use the right website, upload the right photo and apply at the right time.
## Which India e-Visa do US citizens need?
The e-Visa comes in several sub-categories. Pick the one that matches the real purpose of your trip, because using the wrong category can get you refused at the border. The main ones listed on the [official Indian e-Visa portal](https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/) are:
| e-Visa type | Use it for |
|---|---|
| e-Tourist | Holidays, visiting friends and family, short yoga or meditation courses |
| e-Business | Meetings, trade fairs, sales visits, setting up a business |
| e-Medical | Treatment at a recognised hospital in India |
| e-Medical Attendant | Accompanying someone travelling on an e-Medical visa |
| Other e-Visa types | Study, transit, family visits and the other purposes listed on the portal |
For most American visitors the [e-Tourist visa](/blog/india-e-visa-for-uk-citizens) is the right choice. It currently comes in three lengths: 30 days, 1 year and 5 years. The longer visas are multiple entry, so you can come and go during the validity period. On the 1-year and 5-year visas, the portal says your total stay in India must not exceed 180 days in a calendar year.
An e-Visa cannot be extended or converted to another type once you are in India. If you plan to work, report as a journalist or volunteer with an NGO, you need a regular visa instead.
If you are of Indian origin, check whether you qualify for an OCI card. It works as a lifelong visa and is often a better long-term option. Our guide to [what an OCI card lets you do](/blog/oci-card-travel-benefits) explains the difference.
## How to apply, step by step
1. **Go to the official portal.** The only official site is indianvisaonline.gov.in, run by the Government of India. Type the address yourself rather than clicking an advert.
2. **Fill in the online form.** You will need your passport details, home address, parents' names, travel dates, your port of arrival and a reference in India (your hotel is fine).
3. **Upload a photo.** It must be a square JPEG with a plain white or light background, your face centred and eyes open, and no glasses.
4. **Upload your passport bio page** as a PDF, plus any extra documents your visa type asks for, such as a business card or hospital letter.
5. **Pay the fee online.** The application is not processed until payment goes through.
6. **Track your status.** When the status shows "GRANTED", download and print the ETA.
You must apply at least 4 days before you arrive. The portal now lets you apply up to 120 days ahead, so there is no reason to leave it late. Your passport must be valid for at least six months and have at least two blank pages for the entry stamp.
## What does the India e-Visa cost for Americans?
Fees are set by nationality, and for the 30-day e-Tourist visa they can vary by season. We are not printing a dollar figure here because the government changes these, and an out-of-date number is worse than none. Check the current fee table on the official portal before you apply.
A few things about the fee hold true:
- A bank transaction charge (currently 3%) is added on top.
- The fee is non-refundable, whether your visa is granted or refused.
- The government does not charge any "express" or "emergency" fee, and nothing more is payable at the airport.
That last point matters. If a website offers to speed up your India e-Visa for an extra $100, it is not the government.
## Mistakes that cost Americans time and money
Most problems come from a handful of avoidable errors.
**Using a lookalike website.** Search results are full of private agencies with official-looking names. Some charge far more than the government fee for filling in the same form. The portal's own FAQ says the service is fully online and you do not need an agent.
**A rejected photo.** Selfies against a patterned wall, shadows across the face, glasses and rectangular crops are the usual reasons. Take the photo in daylight against a plain wall and crop it square.
**Names that do not match your passport.** Enter your name exactly as printed on the passport's machine-readable page. A missing middle name can cause trouble at immigration.
**Applying too late.** Four days is the minimum, not a target. Holidays and payment delays eat into that time.
**Arriving at the wrong place.** e-Visa holders must enter through designated airports and seaports. All the big international airports are on the list, but check the portal's list of authorised entry points if you are flying into a smaller city or arriving by cruise ship.
**Forgetting the e-Arrival Card.** Since 1 April 2026, foreign nationals arriving by air must also complete an online e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing. It is separate from your visa, and skipping it can mean extra checks at immigration.
**Assuming the visa covers everywhere.** Some border regions and islands are Protected or Restricted Areas that need a separate permit. Your e-Visa alone does not cover them.
**Overstaying.** Keep track of your dates. Overstaying is an offence and can affect future visas.
## What happens when you land in India?
Carry a printed copy of your ETA, your passport and your return or onward ticket. At immigration your fingerprints and photo are taken, the officer checks your ETA, and the e-Visa is stamped into your passport.
Check that you actually got a stamp before you leave the desk. The US State Department's [travel information pages](https://travel.state.gov/) are worth reading before any trip, and they also cover safety advice and how to reach the US embassy in New Delhi.
If you renewed your passport after getting a long-term e-Visa, carry both the old and new passports. The ETA is linked to the passport number you applied with.
Curious about India before you go? The [Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz](https://bkjquiz.com/?utm_source=dgamaf53&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_id=d53) is the official quiz of India's Ministry of External Affairs. It is free to join and open to everyone worldwide, and you do not need to be Indian to take part. It is a fun way to learn a little about the country before your flight.
## Once your e-Visa is sorted
With the paperwork done, the fun part is planning. If it is your first visit, our list of [first trip to India tips](/blog/first-trip-to-india-tips) covers what to pack, how to handle money and what surprises first-time visitors. If you want to build your route around India's great monuments, start with our guide to [UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India](/blog/unesco-world-heritage-sites-in-india).
Rules change from time to time, so read the latest instructions on the [official e-Visa portal](https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/) and the [Bureau of Immigration](https://boi.gov.in/) site in the week before you apply. A few minutes of checking can save a refused application or a long wait at the airport.
WokeTraveler