India has added 11 more international entry points—including nine land ports and two airports—to its e-visa scheme, allowing eligible foreign nationals to enter the country using electronic visas.
The newly designated airports are Bhopal and Tirupati, where e-visa holders can now complete immigration formalities. The nine additional land ports include Attari in Punjab; Gede, Ghojanga and Jaigaon in West Bengal; Darranga in Assam; Agartala in Tripura; Moreh in Manipur; and Haridaspur in Odisha.
With the latest additions, the total number of international ports allowing entry to e-visa holders has increased to 88, comprising 37 airports, 38 seaports and 13 land ports.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the move would further enhance the accessibility and utility of India’s e-visa facility. The government has taken several steps in recent years to liberalise, streamline and simplify the visa regime, while strengthening technological infrastructure to facilitate legitimate foreign travel and enhance internal security.
E-visas currently account for around 78% of all visas issued in India, with approximately 95% of e-visa applications processed within 72 hours, according to the ministry.
India introduced the e-visa facility, along with Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), in 2014 to simplify the visa process, particularly for tourists. Initially available to nationals of 43 countries, the facility has since been expanded to citizens of 172 countries.
The e-visa is currently issued under 17 sub-categories, including tourist, mountaineering, business, medical, student, transit, miscellaneous and group visitor visas for cruise passengers.
