India Visa and Arrival: A Short Checklist

Most tourists need two things before flying to India: an e-Visa and, within 72 hours of arrival, the free digital e-Arrival card. This is a short checklist based on the official Indian government sites, checked on 29 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm each step on the official pages linked below before you travel. This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice.

Checklist

Check that your nationality can apply for an e-Visa. The official e-Visa site lists eligible countries, and Germany appears on the official e-Tourist Visa fee list. Visa on arrival is only for Japan, South Korea and the UAE (for UAE nationals who previously held an Indian visa) per the official visa-on-arrival page.
Check your passport. It should have at least six months of validity when you apply.
Apply at least 4 days before arriving. The e-Visa is applied for online, with a photo and a copy of your passport page; you pay online and receive the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email. Print it and show it at immigration, where the e-Visa is stamped in your passport.
Pick the right e-Tourist Visa. The official page lists a one-month visa (30 days, multiple entries, not extendable), a one-year visa and a five-year visa; on the one-year and five-year visas, the stay in a calendar year may not exceed 180 days.
Know the fee. The official fee table lists Germany at US$25 for the 30-day visa (US$10 in April to June), US$40 for one year and US$200 for five years. Treat this as a guide and confirm on the official table. The government says it charges no emergency or express fees, so be wary of sites that do.
Complete the e-Arrival card within 72 hours before arrival. It is free. Submit it at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival, at boi.gov.in or in the official “Indian Visa Su-Swagatam” app. It is arrival information, not a visa. Reports citing the US embassy in India say it has been mandatory for all foreign nationals since 1 April 2026.

Before you add Agra to your trip

Book your Taj Mahal day for any day except Friday (opening hours).
Choose the day and the way to travel: car or train, or add a private Agra day to your India trip.
Several of our tours start at Delhi hotels or the airport; the starting point is on each tour page.

Checked on 29 October 2026 at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa, the official fee table, the e-Arrival card page and the visa-on-arrival page. Whether the e-Arrival card is mandatory is stated by secondary sources (US embassy notice of 8 April 2026); confirm at boi.gov.in. Always rely on the official sites for your trip.