The India visa for Australian passport holders is issued to Australians who wish to visit India for business or pleasure. The visa requirements are
A valid Australian passport
A completed e-visa application form
Passport photograph
Find below more information about obtaining an Indian visa for Australian passport holders.
Visa For Australians
Australian citizens who wish to visit India require a tourist visa before they board a flight for India. Without a visa, you cannot enter India. Furthermore, there are different types of visa open to Australians and if you have a valid passport, you can apply for any of them depending on your purpose for visiting and how long you plan to remain in the country.
Types Of Indian Visas for Australians
India issues different visa types to Australians, and they have different validity. Here are some of them.
India E-visa
The Indian e visa is a short stay visa issued to Australians who wish to visit the country to enjoy its sights and sounds. India is home to so many cultural sites and islands. To make the application process seamless for visitors, the government introduced the electronic visa application process for swift and easy application and processing.
You don’t have to visit the Indian embassy or any of its consulate in Australia to apply for an e visa. You can simply apply for it from the comfort of your home by filling the online application form and submit same online after attaching your relevant documents for approval.
The process is done via mail, and you will receive the e Visa or Electronic Travel Authority as it is called in your mail. Upon arrival, the immigration officials will take your biometric data, and you will be allowed into the country.
You don’t have to visit the Indian embassy or any of its consulate in Australia to apply for an e visa. You can simply apply for it from the comfort of your home by filling out the online application form and submit same online after attaching your relevant documents for approval
The electronic travel authority (ETA) is of two types. The first one allows Australians to enter India twice and stay for up to 30 days per visit. The processing of this document takes between 3-5 working days before your receive it in your email. The validity for a short ETA is 1 year.
The second one grants the holder multiple access into the country and allows an extended stay of 90 days per visit. The application takes between 3-5 working days to process and it has a validity of 5 years.
Note: an application fee for a short or long-term ETA varies depending on the current exchange rate, so do your findings before you commence the application process. Also, note that Electronic visas are only issued to ordinary Australian passport holders, not diplomatic or official ones.
How To Apply For an India Visa For Australian Passport Holders
To apply for an e visa as an Australian, kindly do the following
Fill Out The Online Application Form
The process starts by filling out the online application form. Provide your r details and make sure they are accurate to avoid rejection
Attach Documents
You need to scan and upload the bio page of your Australian passport showing your name, signature, and face. The passport must also have at least 2 blank pages for visa stampings when you arrive in the country.
Passport Photography
You must upload your passport photograph showing your face clearly with no adornments.
The e Visa must be obtained before you make the trip. Once you receive the visa in your email, print it out and bring the hard copy with you on your trip.
Business E Visa
Another visa Australians can apply for is a Business e Visa. This one is similar to the normal e-visa for tourism; however, this one is for business
The application process for this visa is similar to the tourism e visa and it requires the same documents. Additionally, the applicant must upload a business card showing their company name, business profile, and contact information. You must also upload an invitation letter from the company inviting you to India.
Business Visa
This is a conventional visa issued to Australians who wish to visit for the purpose of Business. The difference between this business visa and the other is the application process. To apply for a conventional business visa, you must visit the Indian embassy or any of its consulate in Australia.
You will be handed an application form to fill out and attach your relevant documents. A visa application fee will be requested, which you must pay before you submit the application form.
After that, an interview date will be set for you. You visit the embassy with your documents for verification on the set date. The official on duty will ask you several questions regarding your trip. After the interview you will get feedback from the embassy to come pick up your visa if it is approved.
While a normal business visa will take longer, you can apply for an e visa for tourism or business by completing the application form on VisaHQ. The process will only take you 30 minutes.