The exercise that is the India eVisa

Travellers heading to India need to concentrate and prepare to apply online for the tourist eVisa.

There are a lot of scam websites — so first let me direct you to the correct and only website to use:

indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

When you get to this website, first close the pop-op window that says “e-Production Investment Visa”, using the word CLOSE top right. The visa page is under this.

I suggest applicants then click on “sample e-visa application”, in the line of instruction boxes along the bottom of the page ‚ and study it thoroughly.

It can also be downloaded as a PDF. The box next to it (second left) is where you start to apply for the eVisa.

The “sample” shows you all the information you will have to give, and it is best to have all this prepared before you start.

Some of the things you will need when you apply:

+ You will need all your travel details, including date of arrival and departure, and where you will stay on the first night.

+ Most tourists will be applying for an “eTOURIST VISA”.

+ When you put in a mobile number, don’t use +61, use 0061 first.

+ When you type in an address, don’t use commas, just a space between words, for example: “Glyde Street Mosman Park”.

+ You will need both your father and mother’s details, including place of birth for each.

+ If you have been to India before, you will need to state all the cities you have previously been to, and put in an address from a previous visit.

+ You will need a “Reference Name in India”, and their address and phone number. This can be an official with the company you are travelling with — but my experience is that they have to be in India. (I have heard that putting the name and address of a travel agent has been rejected.)

+ You will need to upload a passport photograph of yourself. It needs to be square, a JPG, and between 10kb and 1MB. You need to be directly facing the camera, with a pure white background. My experience is that (if you have Photoshop or similar), it works best to take out shadows and make sure the image is quite light.

+ You will also need to upload a PDF of your passport’s information page. If you photograph it with your phone, you will have a JPG, and you can convert this online (for free) at somewhere like ilovepdf.com/jpg_to_pdf. The PDF needs to be between 10kb and 300kb.

+ I suggest you do all this from a laptop or desktop computer, if you have access to one — and have the JPG and PDF sitting on the desktop ready to go.

+ When you have thoroughly studied the sample, go back to the website (above) and click on “Apply here for e-visa”. You’re off…

+ I will mention that you can save a partially filled-in form, and come back to it through the website. It has a “complete partially filled application form” button. But I suggest it’s better to prepare well, then just do it in one go.

+ Once you have got through the whole form and get to paying, click on SBIePay.

+ A 30-day eVisa for entry from April to June is US$10 ($14). From July to March it is US$25 ($35).

+ On the same web page, you can check the status of your visa (once you have an application number).