India e-Visa for UK Citizens: Step-by-Step

Sorting your entry permit is one of the few must-do jobs before an India trip, and for British travellers it's mercifully painless. The India visa for UK citizens is now an entirely online affair — the e-Visa — so there's no trip to a visa centre, no posting your passport away, and no anxious wait wondering where your documents are. You complete a form, upload a couple of files, pay online, and the approval lands in your inbox within a few days.

Quick answer: UK citizens need a visa for India, and almost all tourists use the online e-Visa. Apply at the official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in), pick the tourist e-Visa (30-day, 1-year or 5-year), upload a passport scan and a photo, and pay by card. Approval typically arrives by email in 3–5 business days, so apply at least a week before you fly.

Do UK Citizens Need a Visa for India?

Yes — there's no visa-free entry for British tourists, so you'll need to arrange a visa before travelling. For nearly all holidays, the electronic Tourist Visa (e-Visa) is the simplest route. It's approved in advance and tied electronically to your passport, so you just arrive with the confirmation saved to your phone.

The tourist e-Visa comes in a few durations, and choosing the right one saves money and bother:

| e-Visa type | Validity | Stay per visit | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 30-day tourist | 30 days | Up to 30 days | Short single trips | | 1-year tourist | 1 year | Up to 90 days per visit | Flexible or repeat trips | | 5-year tourist | 5 years | Up to 90 days per visit | Frequent returners |

For a one- or two-week trip, the 30-day e-Visa is usually all you need; if India might become a habit, the 1-year or 5-year option is good value. Our fuller India e-Visa guide compares the categories, and American travellers can follow the parallel walkthrough in India e-Visa for US citizens.

Before You Start: What You'll Need

Have these to hand and the application takes about ten minutes:

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with two blank pages.
• A digital scan of the passport photo page, as a clear PDF.
• A recent passport-style photo — square, plain white background, face clearly visible.
• A credit or debit card for the fee.
• Your travel details — arrival date and a first address in India (your opening hotel is fine).

Step-by-Step: Applying for the e-Visa

Stick to the official site, take your time over the details, and it's a smooth process:

1. 1Open the official portal — indianvisaonline.gov.in. Steer clear of the many copycat sites that charge a markup for what is a government service.
2. 2Choose the e-Visa and your nationality, then select the tourist category and validity you want.
3. 3Fill in the form with your passport details, travel dates and Indian address. Check every entry against your passport — even a minor typo can trigger a rejection.
4. 4Upload your passport scan and photo in the required formats.
5. 5Pay the fee by card. The amount depends on the validity chosen.
6. 6Wait for the emailed approval — the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), usually within 3–5 business days.
7. 7Print it or save it offline and carry it; you'll present it at immigration on arrival.

Fees and Timing

The fee varies with the validity you select and is reviewed periodically, so always confirm the current figure on the official portal when you apply. Broadly, the 30-day e-Visa is the cheapest and the 5-year the dearest, with the 1-year in between. You pay in the portal's listed currency by card.

On timing:

• Apply at least a week ahead. Approval often comes within a few days, but a buffer protects against any query or a slow spell.
• Don't apply too far in advance — there are limits on how early you can apply, generally around 30–120 days depending on the visa.
• Match your application to your travel dates, since the validity window runs from when it's granted.

The visa is one of a handful of pre-trip essentials for Britons. While you're at it, sort travel insurance for India, review any vaccinations for India that apply to you, and glance at what to pack for India.

Arriving in India with Your e-Visa

At the airport, use the e-Visa immigration lanes with your approval and passport ready. An officer takes your fingerprints and a photo, then stamps you in. Keep the printed or saved ETA where you can reach it — not in your checked bag.

To land in good shape, our flights from the UK to India and India time difference guides help you plan the journey and the mild jet lag, while our India for British travellers primer covers the day-to-day practicalities.

With the admin done, the enjoyable part begins — and it's far easier when the route is handled for you. Our next departure, the [Royal Rajasthan: Golden Triangle trip, 18–25 August 2026](/destinations/beyond-taj-aug-2026), is hosted personally by Anna, capped at 12 travellers and priced at $950 in USD for international guests. You handle the e-Visa and the flight; we take care of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. If you'd like a UK-focused overview first, see our Golden Triangle tour from the UK guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the India e-Visa take for UK citizens?

Approval usually arrives by email within 3–5 business days of applying, and often sooner. Apply at least a week before departure to allow for any follow-up questions.

How much does an India e-Visa cost for UK citizens?

The fee depends on whether you choose the 30-day, 1-year or 5-year tourist e-Visa, and it's reviewed periodically. Check the current amount on the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, when you apply.

Can UK citizens get a visa on arrival in India?

No. There's no visa-on-arrival for British tourists. You must obtain your e-Visa online before travelling and arrive with the approval saved or printed.

What is the official India e-Visa website?

The official government portal is indianvisaonline.gov.in. Numerous third-party sites imitate it and add fees for the same service, so apply directly through the official site.

Ready to Trade Admin for Adventure?

Once your e-Visa is in hand, let us handle the rest. Our [Royal Rajasthan: Golden Triangle trip, 18–25 August 2026](/destinations/beyond-taj-aug-2026) is our next departure — a small group hosted by Anna, capped at 12 travellers and priced in USD for international travellers. New to India? Start with our first time India travel guide, and browse every upcoming date on our destinations page.