QUICK ANSWER FOR UAE TRAVELLERS
Which India Visa Route Should You Use?
If your passport nationality appears on India's e‑Visa eligibility list and you meet the other conditions, the e‑Visa is normally the simplest route for eligible tourism, business, medical, student, transit and other published electronic categories. UAE and Philippine passport holders are currently on the eligible list.
If you hold a Pakistani passport, or you are treated as being of Pakistani origin under India's e‑Visa rule, you cannot use e‑Visa. You must apply for an appropriate regular visa through the Indian mission/ICAC route, and processing can take substantially longer because government clearance is required.
UAE citizens have an additional option in limited circumstances: Visa on Arrival. It is available only to UAE nationals who have previously obtained an Indian e‑Visa or regular/paper visa. First-time UAE visitors should use e‑Visa or regular visa instead.
If you are an Indian citizen travelling on a valid Indian passport, you do not need an Indian visa to enter India. If you are an OCI cardholder, India also states that you do not need a visa, although specific activities can require special permission.
India's e‑Visa and regular paper visa are different systems. Do not pay a private website because it looks official. The Government of India says indianvisaonline.gov.in is the official e‑Visa portal and does not authorise intermediaries to sell emergency or express e‑Visa approval.
START HERE
e‑Visa, Regular Paper Visa or Visa on Arrival – What Is the Difference?
India e‑Visa
Apply entirely online through the Government of India portal, upload the required image/documents, pay online and receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Eligible travellers present the ETA and passport at an authorised immigration entry point.
Regular / paper visa
Complete the regular visa form online, print and sign it, then submit the physical application, passport and supporting documents through the current UAE Indian Consular Application Centre network.
Visa on Arrival
Available only to nationals of Japan, South Korea and qualifying UAE citizens. UAE nationals must have previously obtained an Indian e‑Visa or regular/paper visa and must meet all other conditions.
BLS IS NO LONGER THE CURRENT PROVIDER
India Visa Applications in the UAE Moved to Al Hind ICACs in July 2026
This is one of the most important 2026 changes for UAE applicants. The Embassy of India announced that BLS International and the former attestation provider stopped handling new consular applications during the June/July transition.
The Embassy's current general-information notice says that from 22 July 2026 Indian passport, visa and attestation services in the UAE are outsourced to Al Hind Tours & Travels and delivered through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres.
Appointments are booked through consularsevainuae.com. The official Embassy page says appointment slots are released at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm daily, ICAC service hours are 8:00 am–6:00 pm, and applicants should arrive no more than 15 minutes before their appointment.
The current outsourced-provider service charge is AED 19 inclusive of VAT. The Embassy says this charge includes ancillary services such as form filling, photography, typing, domestic courier, printout and photocopy. Government of India visa charges remain separate.
CURRENT UAE SERVICE NETWORK
Indian Consular Application Centres in Abu Dhabi Emirate
Centre details can move or be temporarily modified, so the location and time shown in your live appointment confirmation should take priority over a saved article.
Al Danah – Al Ghaith Tower, Office 1205, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Street, Al Danah, Zone 1, Abu Dhabi.
Musaffah – Capital Mall, Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.
Al Reem – Wafra Square Offices, Level 1, offices WSO 157, 158 and 159, Al Reem Island.
Al Ain – Building 14, Street 1, 163 Abdullah Bin Dhahir Al Muhairi Street, Al Khibeesi, Al Ain.
Madinat Zayed, Al Dhafra – Building 55, Bada Zayed, Abu Dhabi.
Ghayathi – Offices G15–16, Ghayathi Mall, Al Dhafra Region.
DUBAI, SHARJAH AND NORTHERN EMIRATES
Current Al Hind ICAC Locations Outside Abu Dhabi
Bur Dubai – UW Mall Al Mankhool, Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road, 317-11B Street, Bur Dubai.
Dubai Investment Park I – Room 601-02, Bayan, Green Community Village, Dubai Investment Park I.
Sharjah Al Majaz – Rooms 902-3, Bell Rashid Towers, Corniche Street, Al Majaz 1.
Indian Association Sharjah – Indian Association Building, Al Estiqlal Street, Al Manakh / Al Qasimia.
Ajman – Indian Association Ajman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road, Al Jurf Industrial 3.
Umm Al Quwain – Indian Association, Al Neefah, Al Ramlah 2.
Ras Al Khaimah – Indian Relief Committee, Al Mamourah Road, Al Mamourah.
Fujairah – Indian Social Club, Al Faseel.
Kalba – Indian Social & Cultural Club, Al Taraif 5, Kalba, Sharjah.
Khor Fakkan – Room 203, Bridi 670 Zarouni Building, Sheikh Khalid Road, Sharjah.
CHECK THE CURRENT OFFICIAL CHANNEL
Is There an India Visa Ban for UAE Residents in 2026?
As of this review date, official Indian sources do not show a blanket ban on Indian visas for UAE residents. The Embassy has an active 16-centre regular-visa network in the UAE, and the central e‑Visa portal continues to list the UAE among eligible e‑Visa nationalities.
Individual nationalities and categories can face restrictions, referrals or longer processing. For example, Pakistani passport holders and foreign nationals of Pakistani origin cannot use the e‑Visa route. That targeted rule should not be described as a general 'India visa ban in UAE'.
If a social-media post says visas have stopped 'today', check the Embassy of India Abu Dhabi, CGI Dubai and Indian Visa Online before changing your trip.
CURRENT ELECTRONIC ELIGIBILITY
India e‑Visa Eligibility for UAE-Based Travellers
The central e‑Visa portal currently lists both the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines among the eligible nationalities, together with many other countries.
Eligibility is not based on holding a UAE residence visa. A person living in Dubai checks the passport nationality against India's e‑Visa list. If that passport is eligible, the UAE residence itself is not what creates e‑Visa eligibility.
The applicant must use an eligible ordinary passport. The e‑Visa is not available to diplomatic or official passport holders, Laissez-passer/international travel-document holders, or people merely endorsed on another person's passport.
The passport must have at least six months validity when applying for the e‑Visa and at least two blank pages for immigration stamping. The traveller should hold a return/onward ticket and sufficient money for the stay.
SPECIAL REGULAR-VISA ROUTE
Pakistani Passport Holders and Travellers of Pakistani Origin Cannot Use India e‑Visa
India's current e‑Visa rule excludes travellers holding Pakistani passports and also excludes specified foreign nationals whose parent or grandparent was born in, or permanently resident in, Pakistan. Those travellers are directed to the regular Indian Mission/Post visa route.
CGI Dubai states that visa applications from Pakistani nationals and Pakistan-origin foreign nationals are processed subject to Government of India clearance and may take an average of about 60 days.
Pakistani nationals do not use the ordinary tourist-visa category described for other nationalities. CGI Dubai publishes a dedicated Visit Visa route, with nationality-specific requirements.
The UAE Visa on Arrival facility is also unavailable to UAE nationals who fall under the Pakistan-origin exclusion.
OFFICIAL 9 JULY 2026 FEE TABLE
India e‑Tourist Visa Price for UAE Passport Holders
India's official country-wise e‑Tourist fee table dated 9 July 2026 lists different fees by e‑Tourist duration and season.
For a United Arab Emirates passport, the 30-day e‑Tourist visa costs US$10 when the applicable travel/visa period falls in the April–June low-season slab and US$25 in the July–March slab. As this guide is reviewed in September 2026, the relevant published 30-day UAE fee is US$25.
The same current table lists US$40 for the one-year UAE e‑Tourist visa and US$200 for the five-year e‑Tourist visa. The government table states that a 3% bank transaction charge is added to applicable e‑Visa fees.
The e‑Visa processing fee is non-refundable whether the ETA is granted or rejected.
US$10 + 3%
Current UAE country-row fee.
US$25 + 3%
Current UAE fee relevant to September 2026.
US$40 + 3%
Current UAE country-row fee.
US$200 + 3%
Current UAE country-row fee.
PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDERS
Does a Filipino Passport Holder Need a Visa for India?
Yes. Philippine passport holders are not visa-free for India, but the Philippines is currently on India's e‑Visa eligibility list, so an eligible Filipino UAE resident can normally apply electronically.
The current 9 July 2026 e‑Tourist fee table shows a zero government e‑Tourist fee for Philippine nationals for the 30-day option, US$40 for the one-year option and US$200 for five years.
Zero government e‑Tourist fee does not remove the other requirements: the passport, ETA, correct entry point, return/onward travel and immigration admissibility rules still apply.
30 DAYS, 1 YEAR OR 5 YEARS
India e‑Tourist Visa Validity and Number of Entries
30-day e‑Tourist visa
The current e‑Visa portal describes the 30-day e‑Tourist visa as multiple-entry. Its validity runs for 30 days from the first arrival, and the first arrival must occur between the ETA issue and expiry dates.
One-year e‑Tourist visa
Valid for 365 days from grant of ETA with multiple entries.
Five-year e‑Tourist visa
Valid for five years from grant of ETA with multiple entries.
Annual stay limit
The current central portal states that stay in India during one calendar year should not exceed 180 days for the one-year and five-year e‑Tourist visas.
DIRECT GOVERNMENT PROCESS
How to Apply for an India e‑Visa from the UAE
- 01
Use only the Government of India e‑Visa portal
Start at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. The government explicitly says no other website is its official e‑Visa service.
- 02
Select the correct e‑Visa category
Tourism, business, medical, student, transit and other published electronic categories have different documentary requirements.
- 03
Enter passport and personal details exactly
Names, date of birth, nationality, passport number and previous India visa information must match your documents.
- 04
Upload the digital photograph
Use a square JPEG with a plain light/white background that meets the current size and quality requirements.
- 05
Upload the passport biodata page
Use the required PDF format and make sure the scan is readable, complete and not cropped.
- 06
Upload category-specific evidence
Business cards/invitations, hospital letters, admission documents, onward tickets or other evidence depend on the selected category.
- 07
Pay the country-specific fee online
Use the amount generated by the official system and allow for the current 3% bank transaction charge where a fee applies.
- 08
Check the ETA status before travelling
Do not treat payment confirmation as permission to fly. The official status must show GRANTED.
- 09
Carry the ETA and the correct passport
Print/save the ETA and travel on the passport used in the application, subject to the official old/new passport exception where applicable.
- 10
Complete the e‑Arrival Card before arrival
Foreigners and OCI holders can complete the free e‑Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS MATTER
India e‑Visa Photo and Passport Upload Specifications
The current e‑Visa portal requires a recent front-facing digital photograph on a plain light or white background. The JPEG must be between 10 KB and 1 MB and its height and width must be equal.
The applicant should face the camera with eyes open and without spectacles; the full head should be visible, with no facial/background shadows or borders.
The scanned passport biodata page must be PDF, currently between 10 KB and 300 KB. Other e‑Business/medical supporting documents use PDF and the same 10–300 KB range under the published specifications.
Unclear or incorrectly formatted uploads can lead to re-upload requests or rejection. Check the email address used in the application because document-correction messages are sent there.
DO NOT LEAVE IT TO THE NIGHT BEFORE
How Early Should You Apply for India e‑Visa?
The current central e‑Visa portal says eligible e‑Tourist and e‑Business applicants should apply at least four days before the intended arrival.
For the 30-day, one-year and five-year e‑Tourist options, the portal currently allows applications up to 120 days in advance of the proposed travel date.
Some older mission pages still refer to a 72-hour processing expectation, but the current central portal builds in a minimum four-day application rule. Treat four days as a minimum application timing rule, not a guaranteed approval deadline.
WHAT A NORMAL TOURIST NEEDS
India e‑Tourist Visa Requirements
Eligible ordinary passport with at least six months validity at the time of the e‑Visa application.
At least two blank passport pages.
Recent compliant digital photograph.
Clear PDF scan of the passport biodata page.
Accurate address/contact and travel information in the online form.
Return or onward journey ticket.
Sufficient funds for the intended stay; India does not publish one universal tourist e‑Visa bank-balance number.
For a short course permitted under e‑Tourist rules, the relevant institute/organisation letter.
For permitted short voluntary work, the host organisation letter.
ETA showing GRANTED before departure.
NO OFFICIAL MAGIC NUMBER
How Much Bank Balance Is Required for an India Tourist Visa?
India's official e‑Visa eligibility rule requires the traveller to have sufficient money for the stay and a return/onward ticket, but it does not publish one fixed tourist bank balance that guarantees approval.
For a short UAE-to-India holiday, the sensible evidence is money that realistically covers hotels, transport, food and the return journey after taking prepaid expenses into account.
For regular paper visas, the Indian mission can ask for category-specific evidence and additional documents. Avoid manufacturing a last-minute balance or submitting edited statements.
If a friend or relative in India is hosting you, explain the accommodation/funding arrangement honestly rather than creating a hotel booking that does not reflect the real trip.
WHEN e‑VISA IS NOT THE RIGHT ROUTE
How to Apply for a Regular India Visa from the UAE
- 01
Confirm that regular visa is required
Examples include Pakistani/Pakistan-origin cases, certain passport types, categories not suitable for e‑Visa, or travellers choosing the mission route.
- 02
Complete the regular visa form online
Use Indian Visa Online, select the correct UAE mission/category and complete all personal and travel details.
- 03
Print and sign the completed form
The regular process is not finished by online submission; the physical application and passport must be lodged.
- 04
Book the current UAE ICAC appointment
Since 22 July 2026, use the Al Hind ICAC appointment channel at consularsevainuae.com rather than BLS.
- 05
Prepare passport, UAE residence/Emirates ID and category documents
Regular applicants need original travel documents plus category-specific supporting evidence.
- 06
Attend personally
The UAE mission's general guidance requires applicants to be present in person for submission; biometrics may be captured as applicable.
- 07
Pay government charges and the current AED 19 ICAC service fee
Government visa charges depend on nationality, category and duration; use the live amount generated/quoted by the official process.
- 08
Track the application
Use the official visa status / ICAC tracking route and do not buy non-refundable travel based on a presumed approval date.
UAE MISSION REQUIREMENTS
Core Documents for a Regular India Visa in the UAE
Printed and signed regular visa application completed at Indian Visa Online.
Original passport with at least six months validity.
At least two blank passport pages facing each other under the Dubai mission guidance.
Two recent 51 mm × 51 mm photographs with the required background and facial visibility.
Copy of valid Emirates ID / UAE residence visa evidence.
Travel itinerary or hotel booking for a tourist application.
Purpose-specific documents for business, medical, entry, student, employment, conference, transit or other visa category.
Old/cancelled passports where relevant to prior Indian visa history or category requirements.
Additional residence proof if requested for UAE jurisdiction or where the applicant's UAE visa-issuing emirate and actual residence differ.
Any additional document or interview requested by the Embassy/Consulate.
MISSION BENCHMARK – NOT A GUARANTEE
How Long Does a Regular India Visa Take in Dubai?
CGI Dubai's visa FAQ gives a normal benchmark of approximately three to five working days after submission for ordinary cases.
That same official FAQ warns that certain nationalities and visa categories must be referred to Delhi or other missions and can take longer with no fixed timeframe. Incomplete documentation also adds delay.
Pakistani nationals and Pakistan-origin foreign nationals are a specific example: CGI Dubai states that government clearance may take an average of around 60 days.
The UAE front-office provider changed in July 2026. Treat the 3–5 working-day statement as the Dubai mission's ordinary processing benchmark—not a promise that ICAC intake, referral, holidays and passport delivery will always fit inside five days.
CATEGORY AND NATIONALITY MATTER
India Regular Visa Price from the UAE
Regular/paper visa fees are not one universal tourist price. Indian Visa Online states that the fee depends on visa type and duration, and special/reduced arrangements can apply by nationality.
The Embassy's current July 2026 outsourcing notice says Government of India service charges were revised from 1 July 2026 and that the current fee breakdown is published through the official ICAC channel.
In addition to the applicable government visa charge, Al Hind currently collects an AED 19 service charge inclusive of VAT.
We deliberately do not copy an older pre-July fee table into this page as though it were the current regular-visa price. Check the category/nationality amount generated by the live official UAE process on the day you submit.
AVAILABLE – BUT NOT FOR EVERY EMIRATI TRAVELLER
India Visa on Arrival for UAE Citizens
India offers Visa on Arrival to nationals of Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, but the UAE rule has a key condition: the UAE citizen must have previously obtained an Indian e‑Visa or regular/paper visa.
A UAE citizen travelling to India for the first time is advised by the Embassy to apply for e‑Visa or regular visa rather than relying on Visa on Arrival.
The UAE Visa on Arrival can cover tourism, business, conference and medical purposes for a stay up to 60 days. The immigration officer can grant a double-entry VoA valid up to 60 days.
The current fee is INR 2,000 or equivalent foreign currency per passenger, including children. It is non-extendable and non-convertible.
Pakistan-origin UAE nationals are not eligible for the scheme.
INR 2,000
Per passenger, including children.
Up to 60 days
Business, tourism, conference or medical purpose.
Up to double entry
Subject to immigration officer grant and scheme conditions.
OFFICIAL PAGES ARE NOT FULLY SYNCHRONISED
Where Can a UAE National Obtain India Visa on Arrival?
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi currently lists nine Visa-on-Arrival airports for UAE nationals: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Calicut and Ahmedabad.
The central Indian Visa Online Visa-on-Arrival page still displays an older six-airport list that omits Kochi, Calicut and Ahmedabad. Because two official pages are not synchronised, a traveller intending to use one of the three additional airports should reconfirm the operational position before boarding.
Visa on Arrival is an airport-specific facility. Do not assume it is available at every Indian international airport, seaport or land border.
MEETINGS AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
India Business Visa and e‑Business Visa from the UAE
India's e‑Visa system includes an e‑Business category for eligible nationalities. The current central portal describes the standard e‑Business visa as valid for 365 days with multiple entries.
The e‑Business upload list requires the passport biodata page and a business card, while an invitation letter from the Indian party can be relevant depending on the purpose.
For a regular Business Visa through the UAE mission, CGI Dubai's FAQ identifies an invitation from the Indian company and recommendation letter from the UAE company as mandatory core documents, together with company incorporation/licensing evidence and passport/Emirates ID documents.
Do not use a tourist visa for actual business meetings if your purpose belongs in the business category.
TREATMENT IN INDIA
India Medical Visa / e‑Medical Route from the UAE
Eligible nationalities can use India's e‑Medical route. The electronic application requires a scanned passport biodata page plus a letter from the Indian hospital on its letterhead showing the proposed or tentative admission/treatment date.
For a regular medical visa in Dubai, the mission's current page asks for a recognised Indian hospital letter, medical evidence from a recognised UAE hospital and a local doctor's recommendation. The UAE hospital letter should identify the Indian doctor/hospital, appointment date, patient and attendant.
India also provides a medical-attendant category. CGI Dubai states a maximum of two medical attendants for the regular medical-attendant route.
FORMAL STUDY IS NOT TOURISM
India Student Visa for UAE Residents
India's current e‑Visa portal includes an e‑Student category, and the required electronic documents include an admission letter from a recognised Indian educational institution, financial support evidence and, for medical/paramedical study, the specified Ministry of Health no-objection documentation.
The regular student route remains available. CGI Dubai asks for the admission letter, proof of fee payment and other supporting evidence and can request additional documents depending on the case.
A short informal course may fit within e‑Tourist rules only when it meets the published short-course conditions. A formal degree or structured academic programme should not be presented as tourism.
AIRPORT CONNECTIONS
Do You Need an India Transit Visa?
A foreign traveller in direct air transit who remains within the specified airport transit area and does not cross Indian immigration generally does not need a transit visa.
A transit visa is needed when the traveller must cross Indian immigration, leave the designated transit area, transfer in a way that requires immigration—for example certain international-to-domestic connections—or make a short landside stay on the way to another country.
The regular transit visa is generally issued for a journey through India and can allow a stay not exceeding three days per transit under the underlying transit rules. CGI Dubai publishes a regular transit category and asks for the onward flight schedule.
India's current electronic system also lists an e‑Transit Visa. The central portal currently describes it as valid 30 days from first arrival with multiple entries and asks for the confirmed India/onward ticket plus the visa/entry permit for the destination country where required.
DO NOT ASSUME EVERY BORDER ACCEPTS e‑VISA
Where Can You Enter India with e‑Visa?
The Government of India maintains a live list of authorised immigration check posts for e‑Visa holders. The current portal includes major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, both Goa airports, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Pune, Port Blair and many others.
The official e‑Visa page has been updated repeatedly and different text blocks on the same portal can show different historical counts of airports/seaports. Do not rely on an old article saying '16 airports' or '31 airports'. Check the live authorised-entry list for your exact port.
The portal also warns travellers not to assume that a valid e‑Visa permits entry through an arbitrary land border. Confirm the exact immigration check post before arranging a cross-border journey.
NEWER ARRIVAL FORMALITY
Foreigners and OCI Holders Should Complete India's e‑Arrival Card Within 72 Hours Before Arrival
India's current Visa Online portal says foreigners and OCI cardholders can complete the e‑Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival. It is free.
The e‑Arrival Card asks for passport/nationality information, purpose, date of arrival, countries visited in the previous six days, address in India and contact details.
It is an arrival-information form, not a visa. Completing it does not cure a missing e‑Visa, regular visa, OCI card or other required immigration permission.
The current official channels include Indian Visa Online, Bureau of Immigration and the Indian Visa Su‑Swagatam mobile application.
YOU MAY NEED OCI OR ENTRY VISA – NOT TOURIST VISA
OCI Cardholders, Former Indian Citizens and Foreign Spouses
CGI Dubai states that OCI cardholders do not require an Indian visa, although special permission may still be required for specified activities.
Former Indian citizens and certain family members who do not hold OCI can fall within the Entry Visa (X) category. CGI Dubai lists former Indian nationals, spouses and dependent children of persons of Indian origin, and spouses/dependent children of OCI/PIO cardholders among common Entry Visa cases.
Supporting evidence can include the former Indian passport and surrender certificate, Indian/OCI spouse documents, marriage certificate and birth certificates as applicable.
India does not recognise dual citizenship for Indian citizens. A person who has acquired another nationality should make sure old Indian citizenship/passport formalities are correctly resolved before using a foreign passport for the India visa/OCI process.
SIX MONTHS AND BLANK PAGES
India Visa Passport Validity Requirements
For e‑Visa, the passport should have at least six months validity when applying and at least two blank pages for immigration stamping.
CGI Dubai also applies a minimum six-month passport-validity rule for regular visa applications and requires at least two blank pages.
If an e‑Visa ETA was granted on an old passport and you later receive a new passport, the current e‑Visa FAQ says entry may be allowed when you carry both the new passport and the old passport on which the ETA was issued.
e‑VISA AND REGULAR VISA HANDLE THIS DIFFERENTLY
Do You Need Fingerprints for an India Visa?
For e‑Visa, the Government of India says biometric details are captured at immigration on arrival in India.
For regular UAE visa applications, CGI Dubai states that applicants should be present at submission for biometrics. The Embassy's general visa guidance also requires personal submission.
Do not send biometric scans to an unofficial agent claiming they can guarantee an Indian visa. Official e‑Visa applications are online and official regular applications use the authorised UAE ICAC network.
RECENT TRAVEL HISTORY CAN MATTER
Yellow Fever Certificate for Entry to India
The current India e‑Visa portal warns that nationals of yellow-fever-affected countries, or travellers arriving from such countries, must carry the required yellow-fever vaccination card under India's health rules.
A traveller who is subject to the requirement and arrives without the certificate can be quarantined for six days according to the e‑Visa portal warning.
The UAE itself does not make every traveller subject to the rule. Your nationality and recent route/country exposure determine whether the yellow-fever health requirement is triggered.
AN e‑VISA DOES NOT OPEN EVERY REGION
Protected, Restricted and Cantonment Areas
India's e‑Visa is not valid by itself for visiting Protected, Restricted or Cantonment Areas where separate civil-authority permission is required.
This matters for travellers planning remote border regions or itineraries involving areas with special permit controls. Check the location before treating a normal tourist visa as the only permission needed.
e‑FRRO IS THE OFFICIAL ONLINE SERVICE
Can You Extend an India Visa?
India's current e‑Visa portal says e‑Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible as a general rule. Do not buy a 30-day e‑Tourist visa with a plan to extend an ordinary holiday after arrival.
For foreigners who need eligible immigration services in India, e‑FRRO is the government's online platform for services such as registration, visa extension, visa conversion and exit permits where the relevant law/category allows.
The e‑FRRO portal says applicants normally complete the process online and should not use middlemen claiming to sell faster approval. The authority can request an interview or further documents.
USE THE CORRECT PURPOSE
India Tourist Visa Is Not for Employment or Ordinary Business Work
CGI Dubai describes tourist visas as being for recreation, sightseeing, casual visits, qualifying short yoga/cultural courses and limited short voluntary activity without payment, among the published purposes.
The mission explicitly says a tourist visa cannot be used for employment, contract work or ordinary business activity. Business meetings belong to a Business Visa; employment belongs to Employment Visa; formal study belongs to Student Visa; medical treatment should use the appropriate medical route.
Choosing the wrong category because it looks easier can create refusal, entry or future immigration problems.
USE THE RIGHT SYSTEM
How to Check India e‑Visa or Regular Visa Status
For e‑Visa, use the Visa Status function on Indian Visa Online with your application information. The ETA should show GRANTED before you begin the journey.
The UAE Consulate cannot accelerate or provide extra status information for centrally processed e‑Visa applications. The Abu Dhabi Embassy says e‑Visa is handled directly by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.
For a regular visa, use the regular Visa Enquiry / current ICAC tracking route. Keep the application ID and receipt generated at submission.
AVOID PREVENTABLE PROBLEMS
Common India Visa Problems for UAE Applicants
Using an unofficial e‑Visa website or paying someone for a fake 'express government' approval.
Typing passport details differently from the travel document.
Using a passport with less than six months validity or insufficient blank pages.
Uploading a blurred/cropped passport biodata page or non-compliant e‑Visa photograph.
Choosing tourist visa for a business, employment, formal-study or medical purpose that belongs to another category.
A Pakistani/Pakistan-origin applicant attempting the e‑Visa route despite the explicit exclusion.
A first-time UAE citizen assuming India Visa on Arrival is available without a previous Indian e‑Visa or regular visa.
Failing to check that ETA status is GRANTED before boarding.
Booking an e‑Visa journey through an entry point that is not authorised for that electronic visa.
Submitting false hotel, employer, sponsor, business or hospital documents.
Waiting until the minimum four-day e‑Visa filing point for an expensive fixed-date trip.
Assuming a regular visa's validity starts on the date of flight; the Dubai mission says regular visa validity is counted from date of issue.
Using a 30-day e‑Tourist visa with a plan to extend an ordinary tourist stay despite the non-extendable rule.
Ignoring e‑Arrival Card requirements before arrival.
Relying on pre-July-2026 BLS instructions for current UAE regular-visa submission.
WHAT CHANGED THIS YEAR?
India Visa Changes UAE Travellers Should Know in 2026
BLS is no longer the current UAE India-visa intake provider.
Al Hind Tours & Travels began operating 16 ICACs from 22 July 2026 under the Embassy's current arrangement.
The current ICAC outsourced service charge is AED 19 inclusive of VAT.
The official e‑Tourist fee table was updated on 9 July 2026 and lists UAE fees of US$10/25 for 30 days by season, US$40 for one year and US$200 for five years.
The current e‑Visa portal now lists a broader set of electronic visa subcategories, including e‑Transit and e‑Student among its current offerings.
Foreign travellers and OCI cardholders can complete the free e‑Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival.
The UAE Embassy currently lists nine airports for UAE Visa on Arrival, although the central VoA page still shows an older six-airport list—so reconfirm if using one of the additional airports.
BEFORE YOU APPLY OR FLY
Final India Visa Checklist for UAE-Based Travellers
Identify the passport you will actually travel on.
Check whether that passport is eligible for e‑Visa or must use regular visa.
If Pakistani or of Pakistani origin, use the regular mission route rather than e‑Visa.
If an Indian passport holder, do not apply for an Indian visa.
If an OCI holder, carry the valid OCI/travel documentation and check whether your planned activity needs special permission.
For UAE citizens using Visa on Arrival, confirm you previously obtained an Indian e‑Visa or regular visa and meet the Pakistan-origin exclusion.
Passport has at least six months validity and enough blank pages.
For e‑Visa, digital photo and passport scan meet the exact file-format/size rules.
For regular visa, use the current Al Hind ICAC network—not old BLS instructions.
Regular-visa applicant has current Emirates ID/UAE residence evidence and category-specific supporting documents.
Your visa category matches the real activity: tourism, business, medical, study, employment, entry, conference or transit.
If travelling on e‑Visa, ETA status shows GRANTED before departure.
Your planned Indian entry point is authorised for your visa type.
You have return/onward travel and adequate funds.
Yellow-fever documentation is available if your nationality/recent route triggers the requirement.
You have completed the free e‑Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival.
You have not paid an unauthorised agent for 'express' e‑Visa approval.
You understand that visa issuance does not remove the immigration officer's final authority at entry.