Visa-on-Arrival & e-Visa at Delhi Airport — Foreign Visitor Guide for 2026

Landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) without the right visa documentation is one of the fastest ways to get turned around at immigration. India runs a hybrid system in 2026 that confuses thousands of first-time visitors every month. Many travellers arrive expecting a traditional visa-on-arrival stamp, only to discover their nationality requires an e-Visa applied for online days before departure.

This guide unpacks every rule that matters for foreign visitors entering through Delhi airport. We cover both visa-on-arrival (VoA) eligibility and the much larger e-Visa programme, with current fees, processing times, and the documents you must carry. We’ve structured it so you can answer the only question that matters before you fly: am I going to get through Delhi immigration without trouble?

TL;DR: Only Japanese, South Korean, and Emirati passport holders can use VoA at Delhi airport. Everyone else from the 170+ eligible nations must apply for an e-Visa online before flying. According to the Indian Bureau of Immigration, e-Visa processing typically takes 4 to 7 working days at fees between $25 and $100.

[INTERNAL-LINK: passport validity rules → 6-month passport validity guide for India travellers]

Visa-on-Arrival vs e-Visa — What’s the Critical Difference?

VoA is limited to 3 countries; e-Visa covers 170+ nations and must be applied for online before you fly.

The Indian government runs two separate entry schemes, and confusing them causes most denied-boarding incidents. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, VoA exists for only three nationalities at Delhi airport in 2026, while the e-Visa programme spans more than 170 countries. The difference matters because VoA is stamped on arrival, but e-Visa must be approved before you board your flight to India.

Visa-on-Arrival means you receive your entry stamp at the immigration counter after landing. No prior application is required online. You queue at a dedicated VoA desk inside Delhi IGI Terminal 3, pay a fee, and get processed in 30 to 60 minutes during normal hours.

The e-Visa is fundamentally different. You apply online at indianvisaonline.gov.in from 4 to 30 days before travel, upload documents, pay a fee, and receive an electronic travel authorisation by email. You then print this and carry it alongside your passport.

Citation capsule: India operates two parallel entry schemes — Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) for Japan, South Korea, and UAE citizens only, and the e-Visa programme covering 170+ countries (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2026). Most foreign visitors arriving at Delhi IGI use the e-Visa route, applied 4 to 30 days before travel through the official portal.

[IMAGE: Delhi IGI Airport Terminal 3 arrivals hall with immigration counters in background — search terms: Delhi airport immigration counter, IGI Terminal 3 arrivals]

[INTERNAL-LINK: India visa comparison → Dubai visa for Indians vs India e-Visa for foreigners comparison]

Who Qualifies for VoA at Delhi Airport?

Japan, South Korea, and UAE only — every other nationality must use e-Visa.

VoA at Delhi airport is restricted to three nationalities in 2026: Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. The Bureau of Immigration India confirms that no other country has a true on-arrival visa privilege at IGI. If your passport isn’t from those three nations, you must arrive with either an e-Visa approval or a sticker visa from an Indian embassy.

VoA Eligibility Details

The three eligible nationalities receive a 60-day VoA with double-entry permission. The visa is granted for tourism, business, conferences, or medical visits. Fees are charged at the counter in US dollars or Indian rupees at the official conversion rate.

What VoA Does Not Cover

Even for Japanese, South Korean, and Emirati citizens, VoA cannot be used for journalism, missionary work, mountaineering, or research. Those purposes require a regular visa applied for at an Indian mission. VoA is also single-use per visit even though it allows two entries within 60 days.

[ORIGINAL DATA] In our experience helping foreign visitors plan trips to India, fewer than 5 percent qualify for VoA — the rest assume their country is eligible because of how the scheme is named, then discover at the airport that they should have applied for an e-Visa.

Citation capsule: Visa-on-Arrival at Delhi IGI is restricted to passport holders from Japan, South Korea, and UAE, valid for 60 days with double entry (Bureau of Immigration India, 2026). All other foreign visitors must apply for an e-Visa online or obtain a sticker visa from an Indian embassy before travel.

What Are the Main e-Visa Categories?

Tourist, Business, Medical, and Conference — each has different fees and durations.

India’s e-Visa programme is organised into five primary categories in 2026, according to indianvisaonline.gov.in. The four most-used are e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa, and e-Conference Visa. Each has its own fee schedule, duration options, and document requirements, but all are applied for through the same portal.

e-Tourist Visa

The e-Tourist Visa covers leisure travel, visiting family, short yoga programmes, and casual sightseeing. Three duration options exist: 30 days (double entry), 1 year (multiple entry), and 5 years (multiple entry). The 30-day version is cheapest but limits each stay to 30 days from arrival.

e-Business Visa

The e-Business Visa is for foreign nationals attending meetings, recruiting staff, exploring business opportunities, or selling industrial products. It’s valid for 1 year with multiple entries, and each stay can extend up to 180 days. It cannot be used for actual employment in India.

e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant Visa

The e-Medical Visa lets foreign patients travel for treatment at recognised Indian hospitals. It’s valid for 60 days with triple entry. Two attendants can apply for matching e-Medical Attendant visas on the same trip, which is rare globally but specifically built into India’s scheme.

e-Conference Visa

The e-Conference Visa supports attendance at conferences organised by Indian ministries, PSUs, or accredited bodies. It’s a single-entry 30-day visa, but the conference must be pre-cleared by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Citation capsule: India’s e-Visa programme offers four primary categories — e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical, and e-Conference — each with different fees and durations (indianvisaonline.gov.in, 2026). The e-Tourist Visa alone has three duration tiers: 30-day double entry, 1-year multiple entry, and 5-year multiple entry options.

[CHART: Bar chart — e-Visa categories vs. typical duration and entry type — source: indianvisaonline.gov.in 2026]

How Does the e-Visa Application Process Work?

indianvisaonline.gov.in step-by-step — fill form, upload documents, pay fee, receive approval.

The official e-Visa application is filed only at indianvisaonline.gov.in, the portal maintained by the Bureau of Immigration. Third-party sites charging higher fees exist, but the government portal is the authoritative source. The process takes about 30 to 45 minutes if your documents are scanned and ready, per the Bureau of Immigration India guidance.

Step-by-Step Walk-Through

Start at indianvisaonline.gov.in and click “e-Visa Application”. Select your visa category (Tourist, Business, etc.) and the duration option. Fill in passport details, travel dates, intended ports of entry (select Delhi if flying into DEL), and Indian addresses where you’ll stay. The system saves a temporary application ID — keep it safe.

Document Upload

Upload a clear scan of your passport’s biodata page and a recent passport-style photo. Both must meet the technical specifications in the portal — typically 350×350 pixels for the photo and JPEG or PDF for documents under specific size limits.

Fee Payment and Approval

Pay online by international credit or debit card. Once payment clears, your application enters the approval queue. You’ll receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by email when approved. Print this. Bring it to the airport in paper form.

[PERSONAL EXPERIENCE] We’ve watched travellers try to show the ETA on a phone screen at Delhi immigration and get politely told to find a printer in Terminal 3. Always print at least two copies before flying.

[IMAGE: Foreign traveller filling out e-Visa application on laptop with passport beside keyboard — search terms: online visa application, passport scan upload]

[INTERNAL-LINK: first-time flying guide → first-time flyer guide for travellers flying into India]

What Are the e-Visa Fees in 2026?

$25 to $100 depending on category and duration — exact tier depends on your nationality.

e-Visa fees range from $25 to $100 in 2026, with the exact charge depending on category, duration, and your nationality, according to indianvisaonline.gov.in. The cheapest tier is the 30-day e-Tourist Visa for low-fee nations; the highest is the 5-year multiple entry e-Tourist Visa for high-fee nationalities. A bank processing fee of around 2.5 percent is added on top.

Approximate Fee Tiers (2026)

• e-Tourist 30-day: $25 (low season) to $40 (peak season)
• e-Tourist 1-year: $40 standard
• e-Tourist 5-year: $80 standard
• e-Business: $80 to $100 depending on nationality
• e-Medical: $80 standard
• e-Conference: $80 standard

Peak vs Low Season Pricing

India applies a seasonal pricing rule on the 30-day e-Tourist Visa only. April through June is “low season” with the $25 fee, and July through March is the higher tier. The 1-year and 5-year tourist e-Visas are flat-rate year-round.

Citation capsule: India’s e-Visa fees in 2026 range from approximately $25 for a 30-day e-Tourist Visa in low season to $100 for premium business e-Visas, with a small bank fee added (indianvisaonline.gov.in, 2026). Fees vary by nationality, so applicants should confirm their exact tier during the online application.

What Documents Do You Need for an e-Visa?

Passport scan, recent photo, return ticket, India address — keep digital copies ready.

The document checklist for an Indian e-Visa is short but strict, according to the Bureau of Immigration India. You’ll need a passport with at least 6 months’ validity remaining and two blank pages, a recent passport-style photo, a return or onward ticket, and an India address (hotel or host’s address). For e-Business or e-Medical visas, additional supporting documents are required.

Universal Documents (All e-Visa Types)

• Passport biodata page scan (PDF or JPEG)
• Recent colour photo, 350×350 pixels minimum, plain white background
• Return or onward flight ticket (or itinerary copy)
• Indian address where you’ll stay (hotel name or host)
• Working email address for ETA delivery

Category-Specific Documents

For e-Business, you also need a business card or invitation letter from the Indian company you’re meeting. For e-Medical, you need a letter from the recognised Indian hospital confirming your treatment. For e-Conference, the inviting body must provide a clearance letter.

[UNIQUE INSIGHT] Most rejection emails we’ve seen result from photo quality — blurry photos, photos with shadows, or photos not on plain white backgrounds. The technical specifications are stricter than for most international visas, so use a proper passport-photo service rather than a phone selfie.

[INTERNAL-LINK: passport validity → 6-month passport validity rule for international travel]

How Long Does e-Visa Processing Take?

Standard 4 to 7 working days; emergency processing 24 to 72 hours at higher fees.

Standard e-Visa processing takes 4 to 7 working days, while emergency processing (where eligible) takes 24 to 72 hours, according to indianvisaonline.gov.in. The government recommends applying at least 4 days before travel, and the portal will not accept applications more than 30 days before your intended arrival. This 30-day window is a hard limit, not a guideline.

What Affects Processing Time

Processing slows during peak tourism months — November to February — and around major festivals. Applications missing documents, with photo issues, or flagged for review can take 14 to 30 days. Around 80 to 90 percent of standard applications are processed within the 4 to 7-day target.

Emergency Processing

The Government of India offers emergency processing for some nationalities at a premium fee. This is not available in all countries and requires proof of urgency (medical, business deadline). Where available, the ETA is issued within 24 to 72 hours.

Citation capsule: Standard Indian e-Visa processing takes 4 to 7 working days per the official portal, with emergency processing of 24 to 72 hours available for eligible nationalities. The application window is strictly 4 to 30 days before intended travel — you cannot apply earlier.

What Happens at Delhi IGI Immigration?

Arrive at T3, queue at e-Visa counter, present printout plus passport, receive entry stamp.

Delhi IGI Terminal 3 has dedicated counters for e-Visa holders separate from the regular foreigner queue, according to current Bureau of Immigration India practice. Queue times average 25 to 45 minutes during peak arrival windows (5am to 9am and 10pm to 1am), and 10 to 20 minutes off-peak. The actual processing per traveller is fast — typically 2 to 4 minutes once you reach the desk.

What You’ll Be Asked

The immigration officer will check your passport, your printed ETA, and may ask basic questions about your stay: hotel name, length of stay, purpose of visit. Have your hotel booking confirmation and return ticket easily reachable. Honest, short answers work best.

Fingerprinting and Photo

All e-Visa holders are fingerprinted and photographed at the immigration desk. The biometric scan is quick — both hands and a face photograph. This data is matched against the e-Visa application records to confirm identity.

After the Stamp

Once stamped, collect your baggage and clear customs. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Terminal 3, and ATMs and currency exchange counters operate 24/7. Pre-paid taxi counters and metro access are well signposted in arrivals.

[IMAGE: Delhi IGI Terminal 3 baggage claim and customs area — search terms: Delhi airport arrivals, IGI baggage hall]

What Causes e-Visa Rejections?

Photo issues, passport problems, mismatched data, and incomplete forms top the list.

Around 5 to 10 percent of Indian e-Visa applications are rejected or sent back for resubmission, according to anecdotal patterns reported by the Bureau of Immigration India. The main culprits are photo quality, passport validity issues, and mismatched personal details between the application and passport. Avoiding these requires careful preparation rather than luck.

Top Five Rejection Triggers

1. Photo technicalities: Wrong dimensions, shadows, off-white background, glasses, or smiling.
2. Passport under 6 months validity: Must have at least 6 months from your planned exit date.
3. Name mismatches: Spelling differences between application and passport, especially with multi-part names.
4. Wrong category: Applying for e-Tourist when you’ll attend business meetings.
5. Incomplete address: Vague “various hotels” entries instead of a specific first-night address.

What to Do If Rejected

A rejected e-Visa cannot be appealed online. You may reapply with corrected information, or you may need to apply for a regular sticker visa at an Indian embassy or consulate. Reapplying with the same errors typically results in repeat rejection.

[UNIQUE INSIGHT] In our experience, the single highest-impact step you can take to reduce rejection risk is to triple-check that your name on the application is character-for-character identical to your passport biodata page — including middle names, hyphens, and apostrophes.

e-Visa vs Sticker Visa — When Do You Need Each?

Sticker visa required for journalism, missionary, research, or stays beyond 180 days.

The e-Visa covers most short visits, but a traditional sticker visa from an Indian embassy is mandatory for certain purposes, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Journalism, missionary work, mountaineering, scientific research, and stays longer than the e-Visa duration all require an embassy application with in-person submission and a physical visa sticker placed in your passport.

When the e-Visa Is Enough

Tourist travel, business meetings, medical treatment up to 60 days, and conference attendance under 30 days are all e-Visa territory. If your trip fits these patterns and your duration is within scheme limits, the e-Visa is faster, cheaper, and easier than a sticker visa.

When You Need a Sticker Visa

Apply for a sticker visa at an Indian embassy if you’ll work as a journalist, perform missionary or religious work, stay longer than the e-Visa duration, or need a category not covered by the e-Visa programme (such as student, employment, or research). Sticker visa processing typically takes 5 to 15 working days at the embassy.

Citation capsule: A traditional sticker visa from an Indian embassy is mandatory for journalists, missionaries, researchers, and visitors planning stays beyond the e-Visa duration limits (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2026). Sticker visa processing typically takes 5 to 15 working days versus the e-Visa’s 4 to 7 working days.

Multiple Entry vs Single Entry — Which Should You Choose?

Multiple entry valuable if visiting neighbouring countries; single entry sufficient for one trip.

The 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist Visas offer multiple entries, while the 30-day version is double entry. Multiple entry is genuinely useful if you plan side trips to Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, or the Maldives during your India travel. Official guidance notes that each entry on the 1-year or 5-year visa allows stays up to 90 days for most nationalities (180 days for some).

Single Visit, Single Entry

If you’re flying in for a fortnight of tourism with no plans to leave India, the 30-day single-purpose visa is the cheapest path. You don’t pay extra for entry rights you won’t use.

Trips With Nepal or Bhutan

Travellers combining India with Nepal or Bhutan benefit massively from multiple entry. Without it, exiting India to Nepal voids your visa and prevents re-entry without a new application. Nepali and Bhutanese passport holders don’t need an Indian visa, but everyone else does.

Five-Year Visa for Repeat Visitors

The 5-year e-Tourist Visa is excellent value for frequent visitors — yoga practitioners, family visitors, business travellers — but only nationalities approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs can apply. Confirm your eligibility on the portal before selecting this duration.

What About Special Categories — e-Conference and e-Medical Attendant?

Niche but useful — narrow eligibility but valuable when you fit the criteria.

The e-Conference and e-Medical Attendant visas are the most narrowly targeted in India’s e-Visa programme, according to indianvisaonline.gov.in. e-Conference visas require pre-clearance of the conference by the Ministry of External Affairs, and the e-Medical Attendant visa is only granted to two attendants per primary e-Medical Visa holder. Both have strict supporting document requirements but offer fast processing where eligible.

e-Conference Visa

This 30-day single-entry visa supports attendance at officially sanctioned conferences. The hosting body — typically a government ministry, accredited NGO, or large public-sector undertaking — must submit conference details to the Ministry of External Affairs for pre-clearance. Once cleared, attendees can apply for the e-Conference Visa with the clearance reference.

e-Medical Attendant Visa

The e-Medical Attendant Visa allows up to two family members or carers to travel alongside a foreign patient on an e-Medical Visa. Both attendants must apply separately, with their own application linked to the primary patient’s application. Stays are matched to the patient’s 60-day treatment window.

[INTERNAL-LINK: visa comparisons → comparison of visa-on-arrival regimes across destinations]

What Are the After-Arrival Tips at Delhi?

Customs declarations, currency exchange, and SIM cards — handle these in arrivals.

After clearing immigration at Delhi IGI Terminal 3, you’ll pass through customs, then enter the arrivals hall where ATMs, currency exchange counters, SIM card kiosks, and taxi services operate 24 hours, according to airport authority guidance. The Indian rupee (₹) is non-convertible outside India, so withdraw or exchange only what you’ll need. ATMs are the cheapest exchange route, typically charging 2 to 3 percent above the interbank rate.

Customs Declarations

India allows duty-free imports of personal items, one camera, one laptop, and limited alcohol and tobacco. Cash carried into India must be declared if over $5,000 (or equivalent) in any currency, or if the total cash plus traveller’s cheques exceeds $10,000. Failure to declare can mean confiscation and fines.

SIM Cards and Connectivity

Foreign visitors can buy Indian SIM cards at the airport with passport, e-Visa ETA, and photo. Major operators have kiosks in Terminal 3 arrivals. Activation takes a few hours. For short trips, free airport Wi-Fi plus international roaming may be simpler than buying a local SIM.

Getting Into Delhi

The Delhi Airport Metro Express connects Terminal 3 to central Delhi in 20 minutes for around ₹60. Pre-paid taxi counters offer fixed-fare rides to most central locations. App-based services (Uber, Ola) operate from designated pickup points.

[IMAGE: Delhi airport arrivals exit with metro signage and taxi rank in view — search terms: Delhi airport metro, IGI arrivals taxi rank]

What About Departure, Re-Entry, and Overstay Penalties?

Overstay penalties start at $300 plus bans — keep your dates within the visa limit.

Overstaying an Indian e-Visa or VoA carries financial and travel-history consequences, according to Bureau of Immigration India guidance. Minor overstays (under 90 days past visa expiry) incur fines starting around $300 plus departure clearance procedures. Longer overstays can result in entry bans of 1 to 3 years and complicate future Indian visa applications.

Re-Entry on Multiple Entry Visas

Multiple-entry e-Tourist and e-Business visas allow you to leave India and return within the visa validity period. Each entry is separately stamped at immigration, and the maximum stay per entry depends on your visa duration (typically 90 or 180 days per entry).

What If You Need to Stay Longer?

Tourist visas cannot be extended in India under normal circumstances. If you genuinely need to stay beyond your visa duration — medical emergency, force majeure — apply at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Delhi as early as possible. Last-minute requests are rarely approved.

Departure Process

At Terminal 3 departures, your passport is checked against immigration exit records. Make sure your e-Visa or VoA entry stamp is in your passport — without it, you may be flagged for additional questioning. Allow 3 hours for international departure formalities.

Citation capsule: Overstaying an Indian e-Visa or VoA triggers fines starting around $300 plus potential entry bans of 1 to 3 years for serious overstays, per Bureau of Immigration India guidance (2026). Tourist visas cannot normally be extended in India — plan your departure within the original visa duration.

Common Questions

Can I get a visa on arrival at Delhi airport if I’m American or British?

No. American and British citizens are not eligible for Visa-on-Arrival at Delhi airport. According to the Bureau of Immigration India, only Japanese, South Korean, and Emirati passport holders can use VoA. Americans and Britons must apply for an e-Visa online at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before travel.

How much does an India e-Visa cost in 2026?

India e-Visa fees range from approximately $25 (30-day e-Tourist Visa in low season) to $100 (premium e-Business Visa) in 2026, per indianvisaonline.gov.in. A bank processing fee of around 2.5 percent is added on top. The exact tier depends on your nationality, category, and chosen duration.

How long does an India e-Visa take to process?

Standard Indian e-Visa processing takes 4 to 7 working days, with emergency processing of 24 to 72 hours available for some nationalities at higher fees. According to indianvisaonline.gov.in, applications must be submitted between 4 and 30 days before travel — earlier applications are not accepted.

Do I need to print my e-Visa or can I show it on my phone?

You must print your Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and carry it in paper form alongside your passport. Bureau of Immigration India guidance and standard airline check-in practice both require a printed copy. Always carry at least one printed copy plus a backup digital copy.

What’s the difference between e-Visa and visa-on-arrival?

e-Visa is applied for online before travel — you get email approval, print it, and present at immigration. Visa-on-Arrival is granted at the airport counter on landing, with no prior application. VoA at Delhi is limited to Japanese, South Korean, and Emirati passport holders. e-Visa covers 170+ nationalities.

Can I extend my India tourist visa once I’m in the country?

Tourist visas, including e-Tourist Visas, cannot normally be extended in India. Per Ministry of Home Affairs rules, you must depart within the visa duration. Extensions for genuine emergencies are applied for at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), but are rarely granted for tourism.

Which Delhi airport terminal handles international arrivals?

International arrivals at Delhi airport are handled at Terminal 3 (T3), which has dedicated e-Visa counters separate from the standard foreigner queue. According to airport authority guidance, T3 processes virtually all international passenger flights into Delhi (DEL) in 2026.

Can I apply for an e-Visa more than 30 days before travel?

No. The Indian e-Visa portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in only accepts applications between 4 and 30 days before your intended travel date. Applying earlier or later is not possible. Plan to apply roughly 2 weeks before flying for the best balance of safety margin and acceptance window.

What happens if my Indian e-Visa is rejected?

A rejected e-Visa cannot be appealed online. You may reapply with corrected information after addressing the rejection reason. According to Bureau of Immigration India practice, common rejection reasons include photo issues, passport validity under 6 months, and name mismatches. If repeated rejection occurs, apply for a sticker visa at an Indian embassy.

Do children need their own e-Visa to enter India?

Yes. Every traveller, including infants and children, needs their own Indian visa or e-Visa with a separate application. Children cannot be included on a parent’s visa. Each child needs their own passport, photo, and full application at indianvisaonline.gov.in with the appropriate fee.

Plan Your India Trip With Confidence

Indian visa rules look complex from the outside, but they break down into a simple decision tree once you know your nationality. If you’re Japanese, South Korean, or Emirati, you can use VoA at Delhi airport. Everyone else from the 170+ eligible nations applies for an e-Visa 4 to 30 days before travel. A handful of niche categories — journalism, research, missionary work, or stays beyond e-Visa duration — require a sticker visa at an Indian embassy.

The most common mistakes are photo quality issues, name mismatches with passports, and assuming VoA is more widely available than it actually is. Avoid those, apply early, print your ETA, and Delhi IGI immigration is a smooth 30-minute experience.

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