Visa & Entry
Germans, Austrians, and Swiss need a visa for India. The good news: Since 2014, there is the e-Tourist Visa (eTV), which has significantly simplified the process.
e-Tourist Visa (recommended)
- Application: Online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, at least 4 days before travel (better 1–2 weeks)
- Validity: 30 days (25 USD), 1 year (40 USD), or 5 years (80 USD) — each from the date of entry
- Stay: Max. 90 days at a time (for 1-year and 5-year visas), max. 30 days for the 30-day visa
- Entry: At 28 designated airports and 5 seaports
- Required: Passport (valid for 6+ months, 2 blank pages), digital passport photo, credit card for fee
Regular Visa (for longer stays)
Apply at the Indian embassy/consulate. Processing time: 5–15 working days. Required for stays over 90 days, work, or study stays.
Upon Entry
At the airport: e-Visa holders go to the special counter (often shorter than the regular line). Fingerprints and photo are taken. Entry is straightforward — the officers are professional, though sometimes slow.
💡 Tipp
Print your e-Visa confirmation document (do not just save it digitally!). The website indianvisaonline.gov.in is the ONLY official site — there are many third-party providers that charge significantly more. Fill out the form carefully — errors in the name or passport number will lead to rejection.
Achtung
The e-Visa is sometimes rejected without reason (especially for names of Pakistani origin or previous trips to Pakistan). In this case: Apply for a regular visa at the embassy. Don't panic — this is a known issue and not a personal security risk.
