India Visa Fees: Complete Guide to Costs for All Visa Types

How practically does an Indian visa cost? Complete fee guide

Travel to India require proper visa documentation, and understand the associate costs is essential for plan your trip. This comprehensive guide break down the current visa fees for India base on visa type, nationality, and application method.

Standard e visa fees for India

India’s e visa system offer a convenient online application process for tourists, business travelers, and medical visitors. The fees vary base on your nationality and visa duration:

Tourist e visa fees

• 
  30 day e visa:
  
  $25 for most nationalities
• 
  1 year e visa:
  
  $40 for most nationalities
• 
  5 year e visa:
  
  $80 for most nationalities

U.s. citizens pay higher fees due to reciprocity policies:

• 
  30 day e visa:
  
  $80 for u.s. citizens
• 
  1 year e visa:
  
  $100 for u.s. citizens
• 
  5 year e visa:
  
  $120 for u.s. citizens

Business e visa fees

• 
  30 day e visa:
  
  $80 for most nationalities
• 
  1 year e visa:
  
  $100 for most nationalities

Medical e visa fees

• 
  60 day e visa:
  
  $80 for most nationalities
• 
  Medical attendant e visa:
  
  $80 ((or companions of medical travelers ))

Regular visa fees (embassy / consulate application )

If you’re applied through aIndianan embassy or consulate preferably than the e visa system, different fee structures apply:

Tourist visa fees

• 
  Up to 6 months:
  
  $100 for u.s. citizens
• 
  Up to 5 years:
  
  $150 for u.s. citizens
• 
  10 year visa:
  
  $190 for u.s. citizens

Business visa fees

• 
  Up to 1 year:
  
  $140 for u.s. citizens
• 
  5 year visa:
  
  $190 for u.s. citizens
• 
  10 year visa:
  
  $240 for u.s. citizens

Student visa fees

• 
  For duration of course:
  
  $100 for most nationalities

Employment visa fees

• 
  1 year visa:
  
  $140 for most nationalities
• 
  5 year visa:
  
  $190 for most nationalities

Special visa categories and their costs

Conference visa

For attend conferences in India:

• 
  Short term (up to 3 months )
  
  $100 for most nationalities

Journalist visa

For media professionals:

• 
  Short term assignment:
  
  $100
• 
  Long term assignment:
  
  $150

Research visa

For academic research purposes:

• 
  Up to 6 months:
  
  $120
• 
  Up to 1 year:
  
  $170

OCI (overseas citizen of iIndia)card

For former Indian citizens and their descendants:

• 
  New application:
  
  $275 for adults, $$145for minors
• 
  Renewal:
  
  $25

Additional fees and charges

When budget for your Indian visa, consider these additional costs that may apply:

Service fees

• 
  Visa processing centers:
  
  $15 25 service charge
• 
  Expedite processing:
  
  $50 100 additional fee
• 
  Visa outsourcing agencies:
  
  $30 60 service fee

Biometric fees

Some applicants must provide biometric data:

• 
  Biometric processing fee:
  
  $15 ((hen applicable ))

Currency conversion fees

Payment in foreign currencies may incur:

• 
  Bank conversion fees:
  
  Typically, 2 3 % of transaction amount
• 
  Credit card foreign transaction fees:
  
  1 3 % additional

Fee variations by nationality

Visa fees for India vary importantly base on your country of citizenship due to reciprocity agreements. Here’s how fees differ for major nationalities:

Source: theindiaevisas.tumblr.com

North American citizens

• 
  U.s. citizens:
  
  Higher fees ($$80240 ))cross all visa categories
• 
  Canadian citizens:
  
  Standard fees with slight premium ($$75for e tourist visa ))

European citizens

• 
  UK citizens:
  
  Standard fees with minor variations
• 
  Eu citizens:
  
  Mostly standard fees ($$25for 30 day e tourist visa ))

Special arrangements

• 
  SPARC nations:
  
  Reduced fees for neighboring countries
• 
  Japanese citizens:
  
  Preferential rates on certain visa categories

Payment methods for Indian visa fees

India accept several payment methods for visa fees, each with its own considerations:

Online payments

• 
  Credit cards:
  
  Visa, MasterCard, American Express
• 
  Debit cards:
  
  Cards with international transaction capability
• 
  PayPal:
  
  Available for e visa applications

In person payments

• 
  Bank drafts:
  
  Draw on specific banks accept by the embassy
• 
  Money orders:
  
  From authorized financial institutions
• 
  Cash:
  
  Accept at some consulates (exact amount require )

Note that online payments for e visas include a 2.5 % bank transaction fee in addition to the visa fee.

Fee waivers and reductions

Certain travelers may qualify for reduced or waive visa fees:

Eligible categories

• 
  Children under 5 years:
  
  Fee waiver for some visa types
• 
  Diplomatic passport holders:
  
  Fee waiver with proper authorization
• 
  Un officials:
  
  Reduced fees with proper documentation
• 
  Humanitarian workers:
  
  Case by case fee waivers possible

How to apply for fee waiver

To request a fee waiver:

1. Submit a formal letter explain eligibility
2. Provide support documentation
3. Apply wellspring in advance of travel dates

Refund policy for Indian visa fees

Understand the refund policy is important in case your travel plans change:

Standard refund rules

• 
  Visa rejection:
  
  No refund of visa fees
• 
  Application withdrawal:
  
  No refund erstwhile processing begin
• 
  Process errors:
  
  Full refund possible if embassy / consulate error occur

Special circumstances

In exceptional cases, partial refunds may be considered:

• 
  Natural disasters:
  
  Case by case consideration
• 
  Medical emergencies:
  
  Require documentation
• 
  Double payment errors:
  
  Refund of duplicate payment

Recent fee changes and updates

Indian visa fees are subject to periodic revisions. Notable recent changes include:

• 
  2023 update:
  
  Introduction of new fee structure for long term e visas
• 
  2022 revision:
  
  Adjustment of fees for u.s. citizens due to reciprocity measures
• 
  Post pandemic:
  
  Temporary fee reductions to encourage tourism recovery

Invariably check the official Indian visa website or contact your nearest Indian embassy for the near current fee information before apply.

Visa application processing times

Processing times affect your planning and may impact whether you need to pay for expedite services:

Standard processing

• 
  E visa:
  
  3 5 business days
• 
  Regular tourist visa:
  
  5 7 business days
• 
  Business visa:
  
  7 10 business days
• 
  Employment visa:
  
  2 4 weeks

Expedited processing

• 
  Rush service:
  
  1 3 business days (additional $$50100 ))
• 
  Emergency service:
  
  24 48 hours (additional $$100150, require proof of emergency ))

Tips to save on Indian visa fees

Consider these strategies to minimize your visa expenses:

Time strategies

• 
  Apply during off-peak seasons:
  
  Processing centers are less busy
• 
  Plan wellspring in advance:
  
  Avoid rush fees for expedite processing
• 
  Check for temporary fee reductions:
  
  India occasionally offers promotional rates

Application strategies

• 
  Apply direct:
  
  Skip third party service fees by apply yourself
• 
  Double check documentation:
  
  Avoid rejection and reapplication fees
• 
  Consider visa duration:
  
  A long term visa may be more economical for frequent travelers

Common fee relate issues and solutions

Travelers oftentimes encounter these problems when pay for Indian visas:

Payment challenges

• 
  Credit card decline:
  
  Notify your bank of international transaction before apply
• 
  Payment gateway errors:
  
  Try an alternative payment method or different browser
• 
  Currency conversion issues:
  
  Use a card that offer favorable exchange rates

Fee calculation mistakes

• 
  Select wrong visa type:
  
  Double check visa category before payment
• 
  Overlook additional fees:
  
  Factor in service charges and processing fees
• 
  Miss nationality specific rates:
  
  Verify the correct fee for your citizenship

Often ask questions about Indian visa fees

Is the Indian visa fee refundable if my application is reject?

No, visa fees are non-refundable disregarding of the application outcome. This is standard policy across all Indian visa categories.

Do children pay the same visa fee as adults?

Children under 5 years may qualify for fee waivers for certain visa types. Children 5 18 mostly pay the standard adult fee, though some consulates offer reduced rates.

Why do u.s. citizens pay higher visa fees for India?

The higher fees for u.s. citizens reflect reciprocity measures — India charge similar fees to what the U.S. charge Indian citizens apply for u.s. visas.

Can I pay Indian visa fees in cash?

Cash payments are accepted at some consulates and visa application centers, but online applications require electronic payment. Invariably check the preferred payment method with your specific application center.

Source: varnam.my

Are there any hide fees I should know about?

Beyond the base visa fee, be prepared for potential service charges( 2.5 % bank fee for online payments), biometric fees, and third party service fees iif youuse a visa agency.

Conclusion: budgeting for your Indian visa

When plan your trip to India, factor in both the direct visa costs and potential additional expenses:

• Base visa fee appropriate to your nationality and visa type
• Service charges and processing fees
• Potential expedite processing costs if you need
• Transportation costs to visa application centers
• Document preparation expenses (photos, copies, translations )

By understand the complete fee structure and planning consequently, you can ensure a smooth visa application process for your journey to India. Invariably verify the current fees from official sources before apply, as they’re subject to change without extensive notice.