I noticed on the visa website it says that it's preferable to obtain the visa in the conventional way in order to avoid problems and delays on arrival. This type of e-visa works very well in Sri Lanka but I'm wondering if India hasn't yet got it up and running - big country! Or perhaps it is more for people travelling at short notice? :huh:

Jaya,a regular contributor to the forum, has recently obtained an Indian evisa and will no doubt reply to your post. I went to Kerala in September and obtained a visa by completing application form online and visiting local visa application centre. Got passport back with visa inserted within five days.

Hope this helps.

Lesley

I am off to india in just over 2 weeks, I took the lazy option and JY have arranged my visa, my paperwork is on its way so I'll see what I get and let you know how I get on with passport control.

Tim

I go E-Visa. It is easy and a lot cheaper - ca $62. All you have to do is print out the email you receive and take it with you. I think even Just You is getting E-Visas for those who do not choose to get one themselves.

Jaya

Hi

I am off to india in just over 2 weeks, I took the lazy option and JY have arranged my visa, my paperwork is on its way so I'll see what I get and let you know how I get on with passport control.

Tim

Tim, I'm glad you mentioned eVisa through JY. I'm going through the process now.

The visa department adviced me of receipt of my passport and dispatch of my passport all in one day. But have not received any info regarding my eVisa. Like a reference or anything.

Have you had a letter or something?

Alex

As for getting into India itself I did this in November arriving in Chennai via Colombo. There was a special desk for e-visas but this was not open as we disembarked so we all trooped over to the normal booths only to be told we were in the wrong queue. Having exited the plane quite briskly I was near the front of the queue but as we were escorted back to the right booth I was now at the back of the queue!! They call you forward one by one and check your passport etc but the fingerprint readers were a real nightmare as (probably due to humidity) they could not get a clean reading despite much wiping of sweaty hands and everyone took several attempts before they got through. This meant a very slow process for those at the back I was in the queue a tad longer than the flight from Colombo) but everyone got through once the authorities got a clean reading. Watch out for the e visa queue and be prepared for it to take time. It will be worth it once you get into the country. I balance this against the inconvenience of perhaps having to apply for a non e visa in person in (say) London. I live on the Isle of Wight so that would involve a whole day plus the cost of travel (and perhaps an overnight).

I am sure if there was a problem with yours they would have been in touch. They are being sent out with our tickets etc etc.

Jean

Hi Alex, I have just phoned JY to check on my visa as I haven't heard anything either. Good news, it has been granted so India here I come!

I am sure if there was a problem with yours they would have been in touch. They are being sent out with our tickets etc etc.

Jean

Yay Jean- Thank you........ Its getting closer, only 17 Sleeps More

See you there.

e-visa worked fine, just make sure you look our for the e-visa sign at immigration, its at a different counter, we all queued at the wrong counter first

Thank you Tim That is very useful info.

Alex

e-visa worked fine, just make sure you look our for the e-visa sign at immigration, its at a different counter, we all queued at the wrong counter first

Thank you Tim That is very useful info.

Alex

Alex

Hope you have a wonderful time, I think I can say that on the tour I went on we all had a great time. On the retail opportunities (carpets, jewellery, marble and silk) there's some really nice stuff on offer but it's not cheap, so if you think you might be tempted make sure you have a way to pay as there's not an option to order online when you get back home.

Tim

e-visa worked fine, just make sure you look our for the e-visa sign at immigration, its at a different counter, we all queued at the wrong counter first

Thank you Tim That is very useful info.

Alex

Alex

Hope you have a wonderful time, I think I can say that on the tour I went on we all had a great time. On the retail opportunities (carpets, jewellery, marble and silk) there's some really nice stuff on offer but it's not cheap, so if you think you might be tempted make sure you have a way to pay as there's not an option to order online when you get back home.

Tim

Ooh good tip Tim - Jewellery is what draws my eye- But also silk- I'm thinking I might have to buy a larger suitcase for this trip-I only have a small one.....

Has anyone successfully obtained the new e-visa and got smoothly through passport control in India? I think you get a certificate to print out to take with you instead of the permanent sticker in the passport.

I noticed on the visa website it says that it's preferable to obtain the visa in the conventional way in order to avoid problems and delays on arrival. This type of e-visa works very well in Sri Lanka but I'm wondering if India hasn't yet got it up and running - big country! Or perhaps it is more for people travelling at short notice? :huh:

Indian visas are a lot of work whichever way you do it. I did an e visa last year after several years of the conventional visa. It was a bit fiddly getting the photograph to right dimensions, but on arrival in Trivandrum I was the only person entering on an e visa. The customs official welcomed me with open arms, carried my baggage through and it seemed I had made his day! I had to wait for my friend to come through on her conventional visa. Things may be different at bigger airports but my experience was very positive. Good luck with your visa application. It's like sitting your A levels!

e-visa worked fine, just make sure you look our for the e-visa sign at immigration, its at a different counter, we all queued at the wrong counter first

Thank you Tim That is very useful info.

Alex

Alex

Hope you have a wonderful time, I think I can say that on the tour I went on we all had a great time. On the retail opportunities (carpets, jewellery, marble and silk) there's some really nice stuff on offer but it's not cheap, so if you think you might be tempted make sure you have a way to pay as there's not an option to order online when you get back home.

Tim

Ooh good tip Tim - Jewellery is what draws my eye- But also silk- I'm thinking I might have to buy a larger suitcase for this trip-I only have a small one.....

You will be taken to an emporium that sells carpets ornaments marble and the most wonderful jewellery ! The gold jewellery is expensive but I like silver and bought two lovely rings there. If you are tempted by the marble topped tables they will ship them for you, mine arrived about 6 weeks after I got home, very good service.

I loved this holiday and I am sure you will too.

Ange

e-visa worked fine, just make sure you look our for the e-visa sign at immigration, its at a different counter, we all queued at the wrong counter first

Thank you Tim That is very useful info.

Alex

Alex

Hope you have a wonderful time, I think I can say that on the tour I went on we all had a great time. On the retail opportunities (carpets, jewellery, marble and silk) there's some really nice stuff on offer but it's not cheap, so if you think you might be tempted make sure you have a way to pay as there's not an option to order online when you get back home.

Tim

Ooh good tip Tim - Jewellery is what draws my eye- But also silk- I'm thinking I might have to buy a larger suitcase for this trip-I only have a small one.....

You will be taken to an emporium that sells carpets ornaments marble and the most wonderful jewellery ! The gold jewellery is expensive but I like silver and bought two lovely rings there. If you are tempted by the marble topped tables they will ship them for you, mine arrived about 6 weeks after I got home, very good service.

I loved this holiday and I am sure you will too.

Ange

Ange thats brilliant info, Thanks. xx So excited now.

Can anyone who has got their e-visa for India, tell me the best website to use - there are several.

Many thanks

Cheers,

Hils

This is the Government site. My visa came through (as an e mail) within 24 hours.

There are also several threads on here about uploading your photo (which when I did it needed to be a specific size as a jpeg) & your passport (as a pdf file)

Ian

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/index.html 

This is the Government site. My visa came through (as an e mail) within 24 hours.

There are also several threads on here about uploading your photo (which when I did it needed to be a specific size as a jpeg) & your passport (as a pdf file)

Ian

Many thanks Ian. The Government site is definitely the cheapest - other visa companies seem to charge about $109 which is more expensive than if I had got JY to do it! I had to get my IT guy in yesterday as my scanner wasn't working! May have been cheaper to use JY!!