With more than 80 million tourist visits in 2024, India always sits as one of the most visited countries in the world. Many individuals get tourist visas to explore India’s beauty and rich culture. However, there is one question that is always common among all tourists, and that is “When is the best time to apply for an Indian Tourist visa to avoid delays?” Well, no one likes to face rejection, especially when they are trying to have a successful trip to India. This is why all of them tend to have queries and confusion regarding the Tourist visa India processing time. So, all travelers need to know the answer to this question and everything related to it so that they can have a successful trip.
Understanding the Indian Tourist Visa Application Process
Well, before we tell you when the best time to apply for a visa is, you must understand the basics of this process. This is why we will start by explaining what the application process is really like before moving on to the other factors.
Types of Tourist Visas Available
India has designed multiple types of Tourist visas to make things easier for foreign travellers. All these visas are different from each other based on their application process. Some of these types of visas are:
eVisa
Applied online, the eTourist visa for India comes with the most convenience. This comes in two types, one allows one entry and stays valid for 30 days. On the other hand, the other type comes with multiple entries and offers validity periods like 1 year and 5 years, the maximum stay on which is 180 days/year. These visas can be applied for from anywhere without even stepping out of your house. However, not all countries might be eligible for this visa. So, it is best to check the eligibility before proceeding with the steps of application steps. The steps of applying this process are:
- Visit the online portal for visa application.
- Find the application form and fill it out with accurate details related to you and your travel purpose.
- Add scanned copies of necessary documents like a valid passport (one with at least 2 blank pages and 6 months validity beyond your travel date), a recent passport-sized photograph, travel itinerary, bank statements, flight tickets, and other things required by the authority.
- Pay the application fee through a debit or credit card.
Wait for 3 to 5 days to receive the visa approval letter in the email ID that you provided on the application form. This is the general tourist visa India processing time, and everyone is required to follow that. Contact the Helpdesk in case there is a delay.
Regular Tourist Visa
This is the oldest form of visa, and it is applied for only through an embassy or consulate. An embassy Tourist visa offers 10 years of validity and multiple entries to nationals from the USA, Canada, and Japan. Most of the other countries get a 5-year validity on their visa. The visa validity for nationalities from countries like Bangladesh and China depends on the bilateral agreements. Pakistani nationals are not eligible to get an Indian Tourist evisa. To get this visa, you are required to physically visit the place of application; otherwise, it will not be possible. Nationalities from any country that is eligible to enter the country can get this type of visa. The steps of applying for this visa are:
- Visit the embassy or consulate near you.
- Get the visa application form and fill it out with accurate details.
- Attach documents like a valid passport, copies of flight tickets, recent passport-sized photographs, bank statements, and other things required by the authority.
- Pay the visa application fee through your credit or debit card.
- Receive your visa and passport from the embassy after 5 to 10 days on approval.
Visa on Arrival
This visa is mainly applied for by travellers who are visiting the country on extremely short notice. Just like the name suggests, a Visa on Arrival is applied only after reaching the destination country. However, this visa isn’t also for all countries. Only Japanese nationals are allowed to get it and it comes with up to 60 days’ validity. On top of that, only 6 designated international airports like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad are capable of issuing this visa. The steps of applying for this visa are:
- Reach the Immigration counter at the airport.
- Fill out the application form.
- Offer the necessary documents required for the visa.
- Pay the fee through your preferred payment method.
- Submit the form and get evaluated for approval.
Peak and Off-peak Travel Seasons in India
Understanding the peak tourist seasons is important to plan the perfect trip to India. This way, it will be easier to understand when the best time is to apply for a traditional or eTourist visa for India.
High Tourist Season
The months between October to March are the peak tourist season. These months experience quite pleasant weather, and it is filled with festivals. However, the number of visa applications is high, so there’s a high chance of facing delays.
Low Tourist Season
April to September doesn’t experience many tourists as this is the monsoon and summer seasons. As a result, there are fewer visa applications and shorter tourist visa India processing time.
When to Apply to Avoid Delays?
Well, traveling during the peak seasons and off-seasons both come with pros and cons of their own. So, whichever season you pick, you will have to think of ways to avoid delays. Well, the ideal time to apply for a visa is at least 1-2 weeks before the trip, this way you are more capable of dealing with any mishaps. On top of that, you should also remember that there are some processing time variations based on nationality. So, remember that when applying.
Factors That Can Cause Delays in Visa Processing
The visa application process for a traditional visa or an eTourist visa for India might get extended due to a few things. Some of these things are:
- Submitting incomplete or incorrect applications that lack the necessary information or have mistakes in them.
- Applying during peak season rush, as there is a heavy embassy workload.
- Failing to comply with the background checks and additional document requests.
- Applying for your visa during public holidays and consulate closures.
Tips for a Smooth and Quick Visa Approval
Facing delays or other issues with the traditional or eTourist visa for India is common. So, all visa applicants need to come up with ways that help with a quick and stress-free application process.
- Remember to double-check the application requirements and documentation before submission.
- Apply for the visa well in advance of the recommended timelines that we stated in the above section.
- Stay updated on changes in visa policies to work around them.
Special Considerations for Last-minute Travelers
Well, if you have planned for your visit at the very last minute, then there are chances of facing delays in the tourist visa for India processing time. In a scenario like this, it is always best to apply for an eTourist visa over a traditional visa. Its processing time is shorter, and there are fewer chances of facing delays. Other than that, you can also try a visa on arrival if you are a nationality eligible to apply for it.
Feeling Confident to Avoid Delays When Applying India Tourist Visa?
Delays can be easily avoided in the process for a traditional or eTourist visa for India when you know when the best time to apply for the visa is. This way, it gets easier for you to plan out your trip at the right time and experience a stress-free journey. Other than that, you will just be required to follow all the steps properly and avoid making mistakes in the process.
However, if you still face any delays or other issues in the process, then you can just contact the Helpdesk for necessary assistance.
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