Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Visa requirements for Indian citizens are the applicable for citizens of India rules and regulations that must be met upon traveling abroad. International travels require more preparations than domestic ones and are usually connected with the need to handle travel authorization documents, e.g., visas.

Currently, 111 countries require Indian passport holders to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival. Regular or Embassy visas are handled upon completing an application process at an Embassy or Consulate of the country to be visited.

The process may be complex and lengthy since it usually requires numerous supporting documents, including often providing official documents. Moreover, the processing time may take even up to a few weeks. That is why Embassy visas are considered to be the most difficult ones to obtain.

However, even though Indian citizens do not have the most significant international travel liberty, some destinations still offer more accessible alternatives to the regular, Embassy visas, such as electronic visas, visas available on arrival, and even visa-free travel.

There are 40 countries that offer eVisas, 49 that offer a Visa on Arrival, and 27 that enable visa-free entry.

Depending on the selected country, its specific requirements, and the selected visa type, the length of the stay will differ, especially regarding Embassy visas. Regular ones can be issued for both short and long-term stays, even those relating to working, studying, or joining a significant other abroad.

It's easier to establish the length of stay and purpose of visit with eVisas, Visas on Arrival, and visa-free travel since it's usually short-term (often 30, 60, or 90 days) and for tourism, business, and transit reasons.

Further information on each type of entry and the connected with it specific visa requirements are available below.

Electronic visa

An electronic visa is an online visa that is part of the system introduced as an easier alternative to regular visas. eVisas are usually issued for short-term stays relating to leisure, business, or transit. This electronic travel authorization document is available entirely online and, once approved, arrives at the applicant's email address.

List of countries that offer eVisas for Indian citizens

Indian citizens can travel using the eVisa system to 40 countries, all listed above. Most eVisas are issued within 72 hours from submitting one's application online and, later on, delivered to each applicant via email.

In most cases, all that's needed to apply is:

  • A valid passport that will not expire for the next 6 months
  • An active email address
  • Access to any online payment method or a credit/debit card

Some countries may require a few additional documents to be provided. These may include a photo of the applicant's face, a copy of the return ticket, proof of having a booked hotel, or evidence of sufficient funds for the trip.

Issued eVisa makes it possible for its holders to stay abroad for a short-term period of time, most of the time either 30 or 90 days.

Travelers can enjoy a stay for leisure, business, or transit reasons, including going on vacation, attending business meetings, visiting family and friends, or simply taking a layover while transiting to an onward destination.

Visa on Arrival

A Visa on Arrival is a travel authorization document available to be obtained after arrival at the selected destination upon completing an application process at the closest border control checkpoint. This may be connected with waiting in long lines and the need to handle one's visa at the very last minute.

List of countries offering a Visa on Arrival for Indian citizens

  • Angola
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Armenia
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bolivia
  • Botswana
  • Cambodia
  • Cape Verde
  • Comoros
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Djibouti
  • East Timor
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Iran
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Madagascar
  • Malaysia
  • The Marshall Islands
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Palau
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Togo
  • Turkmenistan
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • The United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Indian citizens can apply for their visas after arrival in 49 countries. This eliminates the need to complete the visa application process before departure when visiting these destinations.

However, this does not mean that no supporting documents will be necessary. Some countries require Indian passport holders to further validate their trip by providing a few documents. Sometimes, Indian citizens must have a valid visa or permanent residence from any Schengen Area country, USA, UK, or Canada, to be issued a Visa on Arrival.

Moreover, the supporting documents may include less complicated to handle documents, like hotel bookings for the trip, a return ticket, or proof of sufficient funds for the planned stay abroad.

It's crucial to check if any supporting documents are required to be attached to one's VoA application before arrival and prepare them before departure to avoid any issues with visa issuance.

Once prepared, applying for a VoA simply requires filling an application form on arrival and sometimes covering the visa issuing fee (which may be required to be done in local currency).

Issued VoA allows citizens of India to stay abroad for a short period of time, usually either 30 or 90 days, for tourism, business, or transit-related reasons.

All Indian citizens should note that many of the VoA countries also offer an eVisa option, which enables one to skip the long waiting lines on arrival and helps to travel prepared, therefore avoiding any stress.

Embassy visa

An Embassy visa or regular visa is a traditional travel authorization document that is usually stamped into the traveler's passport. This type of visa requires completing an application process at one of the official institutions, such as an Embassy or a Consulate. The application should be submitted in person and may require numerous steps to be completed.

List of countries that require Indian citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • The Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • The Republic of the Congo
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cuba
  • Cyprus
  • The Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • The Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Estonia
  • Eswatini
  • Finland
  • France
  • Gambia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Mali
  • Malta
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • The Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • The Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • The Solomon Islands
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sudan
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syria
  • Tonga
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • The United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen

111 countries require citizens of India to present a valid Embassy-issued visa upon their arrival. This means the need to submit an application at an official institution, either Embassy or Consulate.

Before starting the application process, Indian passport holders should check the specific Embassy visa requirements and prepare the needed documents. Next, it's time to fill the application form, which should be available on the official government website of the country one plans to visit.

With the complete, error-free paperwork, Indian citizens should visit an Embassy or Consulate they plan on applying to and submit their application in person there. The following steps may vary between different destinations. Some countries will require citizens of India to cover the issuing fee and go through a visa interview.

It's worth noting that the processing time of a traditional visa may take even up to a few weeks, which is why it's essential to submit one's application well ahead of the planned departure date.

Visa-free countries

Currently, 27 countries grant visa-free entry for Indian citizens to use on their international travels. However, some of the visa-free destinations have set specific requirements to meet for the visa-free travel to be allowed.

Check the list of visa-free countries for Indian citizens.

Citizens of India can visit the above-listed destinations without handling any type of visa. However, it's crucial to meet the specific requirements that some countries have imposed, e.g., visiting only for 72 hours, only selected areas in the country, or having particular documents.

Other than that, Indian citizens will need a valid passport or a valid ID (depending on the destination). Visa-free travel is the most effortless way to explore other countries since it eliminates the need for complicated visa handling processes.

Visa-free travel allows Indian passport holders to go on vacation, make friends and family visits abroad, attend a business meeting, conference, or seminar, and take a stopover while transiting to another destination.

Bogdan T
2022-10-7

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