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9 September 2015 by Ronan Gay
As of 15 August 2015, travelling to India has been simplified thanks to the introduction of India’s new ‘e-visa’ application process.
Holders of a UK passport are now eligible to apply and pay for an Indian visa application online via the official government tourism website, rather than booking an appointment with the High Commission of India in London, visiting an outsourcing agency or applying via post.
The new e-visa will reduce the number of queries and concerns surrounding the status of the application and whereabouts of the traveller’s passport, as official documentation can be uploaded directly to the website where online tracking is available to check the status of their application.
The e-visa also represents a reduction in price at $60 (approx. £39), down from £89.44. E-visas can also be submitted on short notice, with as few as four days before arrival. This is a significant and welcome shortening of the traditional two-week process for postal applications.
Our India Travel Specialist, Tim Tan, said of the e-visa: “This is welcome news for all those thinking of travelling to India. It’s a wonderful country but those have been before will know all too well about the existing visa process – I’m delighted to see the introduction of the e-visa scheme!”
Many of the existing travel conditions remain in place, such as the traveller’s passport requiring six months or more before expiration date, a 30-day validity from arrival data and the visa permitting only one entry. For full details of the e-visa process, please visit the Indian government’s e-visa website.
