In a late-evening website update dated 20 November, the Ministry of Tourism announced that India’s flagship e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) can now be issued to citizens of 166 countries—up from 156 earlier this year. Although the full circular is still behind a JavaScript wall, officials confirmed the move to trade bodies, saying fresh inclusions focus on Latin America, Central Asia and Africa to diversify inbound demand.
The e-TV allows applicants to submit biometric data and pay fees online before travelling. Successful travellers receive an electronic travel authorisation that is scanned on arrival, reducing processing times at airports to around three minutes. The scheme has been credited with pushing foreign tourist arrivals past the 10-million mark for the first time post-pandemic and is a key pillar of India’s target of 100 million visitors by 2030.
![e-Tourist Visa list enlarged to 166 countries as Tourism Ministry targets new markets]()
Practically, the new list matters for global project teams. Multinationals drawing talent from emerging markets—think Brazilian engineers, Kenyan developers or Kazakh researchers—can now dispatch staff to India without couriering passports to consulates. The e-TV covers tourism but also conferences, short-term business visits and medical travel, making it a versatile option for corporates running regional training in India’s cost-effective hubs.
Travel managers should note that the e-TV remains single-entry (30 or 90 days depending on nationality) and non-extendable. Those needing multiple visits should still apply for a standard e-business visa, but the larger roster eases first-time entry and underscores India’s shift toward fully digital immigration.
The e-TV allows applicants to submit biometric data and pay fees online before travelling. Successful travellers receive an electronic travel authorisation that is scanned on arrival, reducing processing times at airports to around three minutes. The scheme has been credited with pushing foreign tourist arrivals past the 10-million mark for the first time post-pandemic and is a key pillar of India’s target of 100 million visitors by 2030.
Practically, the new list matters for global project teams. Multinationals drawing talent from emerging markets—think Brazilian engineers, Kenyan developers or Kazakh researchers—can now dispatch staff to India without couriering passports to consulates. The e-TV covers tourism but also conferences, short-term business visits and medical travel, making it a versatile option for corporates running regional training in India’s cost-effective hubs.
Travel managers should note that the e-TV remains single-entry (30 or 90 days depending on nationality) and non-extendable. Those needing multiple visits should still apply for a standard e-business visa, but the larger roster eases first-time entry and underscores India’s shift toward fully digital immigration.
