U.S. Citizens need to obtain a visa to enter India. At this time, American citizens can get the India eVisa for short-term stays. In 2014, the country first introduced an electronic e-visa system that allowed citizens of over 60 countries to apply online for their visas. In the following years, India added more countries to the eligibility country list.
American citizens are eligible for an India e-Visa, which is a multiple-entry visa and grants stays of up to 180 days in the country.
Many US citizens choose the country as a holiday destination and look for the best time of the year to visit India. To experience everything this nation has to offer, Americans must meet the online visa requirements outlined below.
Travel to India from the US
Tourism in India plays a vital role in the economy. According to World Travel and Tourism, in 2017, tourism supported 41.622 million jobs, 8 percent of its total employment. The industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.9 percent by 2028. Back in 2015, it was also estimated that India’s medical tourism sector was worth about 3 billion USD and it is projected that this number will continue to rise between 7 to 8 billion USD by 2020.
The India e-Visa makes it easier for US travellers to obtain a visa to travel to the country. American travellers need to meet a few requirements to apply online for their Indian visa. All applicants require the following item:
Passport with at least six months validity from the expected date of arrival visa
Debit or credit card
Email of address
US travellers can visit India for tourism, business, or medical emergency purposes.
An Indian e-Visa for U.S. citizens will grant them a stay of up to 60 days from the first date of entry into the country. It is possible to get an Indian e-Visa up to 2 times per year. The e-Visa for India cannot be extended.
Foreign visitors are advised to apply for the India e-Visa at least 4 days before arrival. Applications are processed by the Government of India.
Documents Requirements for Indian e-Visa for Americans
US travellers who wish to apply for their electronic visa to India must have a valid passport, a debit or credit card, and an email address. To successfully obtain the eVisa for India, US citizens need to provide several details on the application form:
Full name (as it appears on the passport)
Date & place of birth
Address & Contact Number
Passport Details
Nationality Of Country
American nationals also need to fill out the following:
Marital status
Profession or occupation
Details of the stay: places to be visited while in India
Expected port of entry and port of exit
Countries visited in the last ten years
Religion
Educational of qualifications
All India e-Visa applicants must answer a series of security questions.
Passport and photo requirements for American travellers
US nationals must submit documents that meet the eVisa India requirements. Travelers from the United States are required to submit a scanned colour copy of the first page or the biographical page of their valid passport.
Each applicant must also submit a recent passport-style colour photo that meets the following requirements:
The applicant’s face must be clearly visible
The photograph must have a white background
The photograph must be in focus
The applicant’s head must be cantered
The photograph must show the applicant’s head from the crown to the tip of the chin
US Embassy Registration for Visiting India
American citizens visiting India are advised to register with the US embassy before traveling. This service is called the Smart Traveller Enrolment Program (STEP). Visitors registered with STEP receive a number of travel safety benefits. The US embassy in India will contact travellers to do the following:
Provide updates and advice about security information in India
Send information about international events that may affect travel between the US and India
Advise and assist the traveller in the event of an emergency
Help friends and family in the US contact the individual if there is an emergency situation back home
American diplomatic missions in India will provide assistance to US nationals traveling in the country. The US embassy is located in New Delhi. There are also American Consulate Generals in several major Indian cities, including the following: