India eVisa for UK Citizens: Complete 2026 Guide
Whether you are flying out of Heathrow for a Rajasthan road trip, visiting grandparents in Gujarat or Punjab, or heading to Bengaluru for a week of client meetings, the India eVisa for UK citizens lets you arrange permission to enter India without handing your passport to anyone. British passport holders apply online, receive an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) by email, and complete the formalities on arrival. This guide covers eligibility in 2026 and the options open to British travellers. It also explains the rules for British Indians and gives tips for departing from London, Manchester and Birmingham.
If your dates are fixed, you can apply for your India eVisa from the UK through our assistance service and use this guide as a checklist while the authorities process it.
Key takeaways
- British citizens are eligible for India’s e-Visa. India withdrew the facility for UK nationals in 2021 and restored it at the end of 2022.
- Available options include the e-Tourist Visa (30 days, 1 year or 5 years) and the 1-year multiple-entry e-Business Visa.
- UK nationals holding a 1-year or 5-year e-Tourist Visa can stay up to 180 days per visit, within an overall limit of 180 days per calendar year.
- You need a passport valid for at least six months when you apply, with at least two blank pages.
- Apply at least four days before arrival and submit the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of landing.
- British citizens of Indian origin should consider the OCI card; anyone of Pakistani origin must apply for a regular visa instead.
India eVisa for UK citizens: is it available in 2026?
Yes. The United Kingdom is on India’s list of e-Visa-eligible countries, and British citizens can apply for every e-Visa category open to ordinary passport holders.
That has not always been the case. In 2021, during the pandemic-era dispute over travel rules, India withdrew the e-Visa facility for UK nationals. British travellers then had to apply for paper visas through the outsourced visa centres. India restored the electronic route for British nationals at the end of 2022. In early 2023, business travel advisories confirmed that all e-Visa categories were available again, including tourist, business, medical and conference. For the latest official position, see the GOV.UK entry requirements for India. Since then, British travellers have been able to use the online system in the normal way.
Which e-Visa suits your trip?
e-Tourist Visa for holidays and family visits
The e-Tourist Visa is the right choice for sightseeing, beach holidays, yoga retreats, and visiting friends or relatives. British travellers can choose:
| e-Tourist option | Entries | Maximum stay per visit for UK nationals | Typical British traveller |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | Multiple entry | Within the 30-day window | Two-week Kerala or Goa holiday |
| 1 year | Multiple | Up to 180 days continuous | Winter-sun traveller returning within the year |
| 5 years | Multiple | Up to 180 days continuous | Families visiting relatives regularly |
The UK is one of only four countries (alongside the USA, Canada and Japan) with the longer 180-day continuous stay. It applies to the 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist Visa, while most other nationalities can stay 90 days per visit. The annual limit of 180 days in India per calendar year applies to all tourist visa holders. So plan long winter stays carefully if you intend to return later in the same year.
Once you have picked your duration, you can complete your India e-Tourist Visa application for a British passport in a single sitting.
e-Business Visa for commercial trips
The UK and India have deep trade links, and plenty of British professionals travel for meetings, negotiations, trade shows, supplier visits or technical discussions. The e-Business Visa is valid for one year from the date of grant, allows multiple entries, and permits a continuous stay of up to 180 days per visit.
It does not cover taking up employment in India, and you cannot later convert it into a work visa. If your trip involves genuine business activity rather than a job, you can begin your India e-Business Visa request online and upload your business card and the invitation letter from your Indian host company.
British Indians, OCI and family travel
With well over a million people of Indian heritage in the UK, family visits are among the most common reasons British citizens travel to India. The right document depends on your background.
When the OCI card is the better choice
Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) is available to many foreign citizens of Indian origin. This includes British citizens whose parents or grandparents were Indian citizens. Foreign spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders may also qualify, subject to conditions. OCI works as a lifelong, multiple-entry visa: once you have it, you do not need an e-Visa for each trip, and OCI cardholders are also exempt from India’s e-Arrival Card.
The trade-off is time. An OCI application involves more documents and takes considerably longer than an e-Visa. Many British Indian families therefore apply for a 1-year or 5-year e-Tourist Visa for the next trip and apply for OCI separately for the long term.
Former Indian passport holders
India does not recognise dual citizenship. If you were once an Indian citizen and have since naturalised as a British citizen, India expects you to have surrendered your Indian passport or renounced Indian citizenship. Keep that paperwork to hand, because officials may ask for it when you apply for a visa or OCI.
Travellers with links to Pakistan
A significant number of British families have roots in both India and Pakistan. India’s rules state that people of Pakistani origin, or those holding a Pakistani passport, are not eligible for an e-Visa. The eligibility rules also take into account where your parents and grandparents were born or permanently lived. If this applies to you, apply for a regular visa through the Indian mission’s visa application centre in the UK rather than the online e-Visa system.
India eVisa for UK citizens: documents you need
Before starting, have the following ready:
- A British passport with at least six months of validity on the date you apply and at least two blank pages. You must travel on the same passport you apply with, so do not renew it between applying and flying.
- A digital passport photo with a plain white background and your full face visible.
- A scan of your passport’s bio-data page.
- Your intended arrival airport or seaport and an address in India.
- A return or onward ticket and evidence you can support yourself during your stay, if asked.
- For business trips: your business card and an invitation letter from the Indian organisation.
Avoid scanning a printed booth photo, which often looks blurred; a fresh digital image works better.
Flying from the UK: London, Manchester and Birmingham
London Heathrow and Gatwick
Heathrow offers the widest choice of nonstop services to India, with direct flights historically linking London to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and other cities. Gatwick has also had direct India routes at times. Airlines adjust their UK–India timetables often, so check the current schedule before you commit to an itinerary.
Manchester and Birmingham
The North West and the Midlands are home to large British Indian communities. Airlines have added and withdrawn direct flights from Manchester and Birmingham to India over the years. When no nonstop option suits your dates, the usual alternatives are to connect through London or via Gulf and European hubs. Whichever routing you choose, make sure your final arrival airport in India is one of the designated e-Visa entry points.
Designated arrival points
The e-Visa is valid for entry through designated airports and seaports only. These include the main gateways used by British travellers, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Goa, Amritsar and Ahmedabad, as well as several cruise ports. Entry by land on an e-Tourist Visa is not permitted, which matters if you plan to travel on from Nepal overland.
Before you fly: the e-Arrival Card
From 1 October 2025, India introduced a digital e-Arrival Card for all foreign nationals, whether they hold an e-Visa or a regular visa. It must be submitted within the 72 hours before arrival and asks for your passport details, contact information, purpose of visit and accommodation address. Because most flights from the UK arrive in India early in the morning, count the 72 hours back from your Indian arrival time, not your UK departure time.
Your e-Visa and e-Arrival Card are two different things, and British travellers need both unless they hold OCI. Our complete travel to India guide covers other pre-departure essentials such as health advice, money and local transport.
Applying step by step from the UK
- Decide on the category and duration that fits your trip.
- Complete the online form with details that match your passport exactly, including any middle names.
- Upload your photo and passport scan, plus business documents if relevant.
- Apply at least four days before you arrive. Around Diwali, Christmas and the Easter holidays, when many British families travel, allow more time.
- Receive your ETA by email, print it and keep a copy on your phone.
- Submit the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of arrival.
- Go through immigration in India, where officers take your fingerprints and photo.
Our specialists review each form to catch typing errors before submission. You can submit your India eVisa application with a document check whenever you are ready.
Related guides: you may also find these articles useful: how long India eVisa processing usually takes, the India eVisa photo requirements and our Golden Triangle India itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is the India eVisa for UK citizens still suspended?
No. The suspension applied during 2021–2022, and India restored the facility for British nationals at the end of 2022. British passport holders can apply for all standard e-Visa categories.
Can I stay in India for the whole winter on an e-Tourist Visa?
UK nationals can stay up to 180 days continuously per visit on the 1-year or 5-year e-Tourist Visa. As total time on tourist visas is capped at 180 days per calendar year, a winter stay crossing January can use allowances from two different calendar years; check your dates carefully.
I have a British passport and my parents were born in India. Do I need a visa?
You need a visa or an OCI card. If you do not yet have OCI, an e-Tourist Visa is usually the quickest way to travel. OCI is a longer-term solution that removes the need for a visa on each visit.
Can I extend my e-Visa while I am in India?
No. India’s e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible. If you think you may need to stay longer or change the purpose of your trip, arrange the right visa before you leave the UK.
Does a British Overseas Territories or other British passport qualify?
Eligibility depends on the type of passport and nationality shown in it. This guide covers British citizens holding ordinary passports; other British nationality categories should confirm their position before applying.
How many blank pages do I need?
At least two blank pages for immigration stamps, and at least six months of validity on the date you apply.
Conclusion: travelling to India on a British passport
With the suspension years behind it, the India eVisa for UK citizens is once again the most straightforward option for British holidaymakers, business travellers and families visiting relatives. Check your passport, choose the right category, apply at least four days before your flight, and submit your e-Arrival Card in the final 72 hours. When you are ready to go, you can apply for an India e-Tourist or e-Business Visa as a UK citizen and let our team take care of the checks.
India eVisa Gate is a private, independent service and is not affiliated with the Government of India. Visa rules can change; always check the conditions printed on your Electronic Travel Authorisation before you travel.