Update: India Tourist Visa Regulations

Allison Sodha

We are pleased to announce that effective immediately, foreign tourists can now re-enter India up to three times after visiting neighboring countries on a tourist visa in a six-month period. The highlights of the revisions are as follows:

  • A Tourist Visa can only be granted to a foreigner who does not have a residence or occupation in India and whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sightseeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives, etc. No other activity is permissible on a Tourist Visa. The Tourist Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible.
  • A foreign national who wants to revisit India within 60 days after visiting the neighboring countries may be permitted up to three entries.
  • The Immigration authorities in all Immigration check post in the country may allow such foreign nationals on a Tourist Visa arriving in India without the specific authorization from the Indian Missions/Posts subject to production of travel itinerary and supporting documentation (ticket bookings). Once a foreign national exits the country after availing the facility of three entries, there must be gap of at least 2 months from the date of final exit.
  • A visit within the 2 month gap may be permitted by the Missions/Posts only in emergent situations, including death/serious illness in the family.
  • Persons coming for medical treatment and other attendants shall be granted Med Visa and Med X Visa respectively. Such nationals shall not be issued a Tourist Visa.

We are very excited about these revisions, as it alleviates the challenges of coordinating multi-country itineraries with revisits to India. Please let us know if you have specific questions about the new policy.

Topics: India, Airlines, Visa

Allison Sodha

Written by Allison Sodha

As the President of Sodha Travel and author of Go! Girl Guides India, Allison has spent almost two decades exploring South Asia. She has a passion for creating experiences fueled by a deeper understanding of local communities.