Last updated: September 2026. To apply for an Indian eVisa in 2026, UK travellers need a passport valid for six months from arrival, a scanned colour copy of the passport bio page, a recent digital photograph, a travel itinerary, and proof of accommodation. Category-specific extras apply for e-Business or e-Medical visas. The Indian eVisa is issued by the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs. If you are asking what documents do I need for an Indian eVisa, the mandatory list below covers every requirement for UK applicants.
Indian eVisa Document Checklist & Passport Requirements
The Indian eVisa mandatory documents include six items: (1) colour scan of passport bio page (PDF/JPEG, 10 to 300 KB, full page visible), (2) recent digital photograph (JPEG, 2 × 2 inches, white background, 10 KB to 1 MB), (3) confirmed round-trip or onward flight booking showing traveller name and dates, (4) proof of accommodation (hotel booking, Airbnb reservation, or host letter with full address and pincode), (5) Indian local reference contact, and (6) UK emergency contact. The Indian eVisa covers limited categories including e-Tourist Visa, e-Business, e-Medical, e-Conference, and e-Medical Attendant.
- Passport bio page scan: colour scan in PDF or JPEG, 10 KB to 300 KB, full page visible with no shadows or edge cropping
- Digital photograph: recent JPEG photo meeting portal specifications
- Travel itinerary: confirmed flight booking showing traveller name, dates, and route
- Proof of accommodation: hotel confirmation, Airbnb booking, or host invitation letter
- Reference contacts: Indian local reference and UK emergency contact details
Every passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in India and contain 2 blank pages for immigration stamping. Diplomatic passports, Official passports, and UNLP holders are not eligible for the Indian eVisa. OCI and eOCI card holders do not need an eVisa and should use their OCI card for entry. UK passport holders do not need to upload a residence permit; non-UK passport holders residing in the UK may need to provide one.
Passport Validity Calculation
The 6-month validity is counted from arrival, not application. If you arrive on 15 March 2026, your passport must be valid until at least 15 September 2026. Passports expiring before that date will result in automatic rejection. Additionally, your passport must contain at least 2 blank pages for immigration stamping upon arrival. Diplomatic, official, and UNLP passports are not eligible for the Indian eVisa.
Digital Photograph & Upload Specifications
The Indian eVisa photograph must be 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), JPEG format, plain white background, with the face covering approximately 80% of the frame. The Indian eVisa application rejects non-compliant photos as the most common rejection cause during online submission.
The digital photograph must meet every parameter below before upload:
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm); minimum 350 × 350 pixels; square 1:1 aspect ratio |
| Background | Plain white. No patterns, no shadows, no off-white tones |
| Face coverage | ~80% of frame; centred; neutral expression; mouth closed |
| Recency | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Glasses & headwear | No glasses (including prescription); no headwear except religious |
| File format | JPEG only (PNG, BMP, TIFF rejected) |
| File size | 10 KB to 1 MB |
| Document | Format | Min Size | Max Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport bio page scan | PDF or JPEG | 10 KB | 300 KB |
| Digital photograph | JPEG | 10 KB | 1 MB |
| Travel itinerary | PDF or JPEG | 10 KB | 300 KB |
| Proof of accommodation | PDF or JPEG | 10 KB | 300 KB |
Avoid: black-and-white scan, non-JPEG photo, cropped MRZ lines, files over 300 KB. For troubleshooting, see our guide on eVisa document upload fixes. Compress before upload to indianvisaonline.gov.in.
Travel Itinerary & Proof of Accommodation
The travel itinerary must be a confirmed round-trip or onward flight booking in PDF or JPEG (10 to 300 KB) showing the traveller’s full name, flight numbers, departure and arrival cities, and dates. The Indian eVisa accepts this as proof of entry and exit. For accommodation, three options are accepted: (1) hotel confirmation showing hotel name, full address, city, state, pincode, booking dates, and guest name; (2) Airbnb reservation with host’s full name and property address with pincode; (3) host invitation letter with full name, relationship, complete address with pincode, and phone number. Notarisation is not required.
The application form requests five accommodation fields: Host Name, Street Address, City, State, and Pincode. If you have no personal contacts in India, use your hotel’s name and address or your tour operator’s details as the Indian local reference. The Indian eVisa form also requires a UK emergency contact with name, relationship, UK address, and phone number.
After Approval & Category-Specific Documents
The Indian eVisa requires e-Business applicants to upload a business invitation letter on company letterhead (PDF, 10 to 300 KB) including company name, address, contact person, purpose of visit, and dates, plus a scanned business card (PDF). e-Medical applicants must upload a hospital admission confirmation letter (PDF, 10 to 300 KB) containing patient name, treatment description, treatment dates, attending doctor’s name, and hospital registration number. The Indian eVisa approval email contains the ETA for download.
Download the ETA
Download the Electronic Travel Authorization from the confirmation email and print it on A4 paper.
Self-Declaration Form (Air Suvidha)
Mandatory for all passengers as of August 2026. Submit at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in within 72 hours before departure.
Submit the e-Arrival Card
Complete within 72 hours before arrival at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or via the ‘Indian Visa Su-Swagatam’ mobile app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I apply for an Indian eVisa without a return flight booking?
Airlines may deny boarding without a return or onward ticket. A confirmed booking is strongly recommended for the Indian eVisa application.
What happens if my passport expires in less than 6 months from my travel date?
Your Indian eVisa application will likely be rejected. The 6-month validity rule is calculated from your arrival date in India, not from the date you submit your application.
Is there only one authorised website for Indian eVisa applications?
Yes, the government portal is indianvisaonline.gov.in, managed by the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs. The Government of India does not authorize any agent or intermediary to charge fees for eVisa applications. Beware of third-party sites with inflated fees or non-.gov.in domains.
Can I use an Airbnb booking as proof of accommodation?
Yes, as long as the booking confirmation includes the host’s full name, property address, city, state, and pincode. You will need these details to fill the accommodation fields on the Indian eVisa application form.
Do I need to upload my UK residence permit for an Indian eVisa?
Only if you are a non-UK passport holder residing in the UK. UK passport holders do not need to upload a residence permit for the Indian eVisa application.
What Indian contact details should I provide if I do not know anyone in India?
Use your hotel’s name and full address, or your tour operator’s details as the Indian local reference on the Indian eVisa application form. You will need to provide a name, phone number, and address.
How long does Indian eVisa processing take after uploading documents?
Standard processing: 3 to 5 business days. Processing time varies by nationality, visa category, and season.
What is the Indian eVisa photo background requirement?
The background must be plain white. Off-white, light grey, or cream backgrounds are not accepted and may result in rejection. Ensure there are no patterns or shadows behind your head.
Do I need to fill in a Self-Declaration Form before flying to India in 2026?
Yes. The Self-Declaration Form (Air Suvidha) is mandatory for all passengers as of August 2026. Submit at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in within 72 hours before departure on your Indian eVisa trip.
Can I change my accommodation details after submitting the eVisa application?
Generally no. Changes after final submission are not possible through the portal. Ensure all accommodation details are correct before submitting your Indian eVisa application.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify requirements with the Indian eVisa portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in before applying. Data sourced from Bureau of Immigration guidelines dated August 2026.
