01 December 2014

India ETA visas - Not for Canadians

On 27 November 2014 India launched their new ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (ETA) visa system on-line, but not for Canadians.

Nationals of the following countries can use the ETA service: Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zeal and Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga,  Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

Processing takes 5 working days. Tourists will get their visas stamped into their passports upon arrival at one of nine major airports in India. This is not yet available to Canadians.

Until Canada is added to the list (perhaps in the new year) you must get a paper visa issued into your passport by the Indian High Commission in Canada prior to travel using the links below.

The fee to apply on-line is US$60, plus credit card charges by your bank and the Indian credit card clearing company. There is then a further charge at the airport in India of another 3700 rupees (US$60) to get the visa stamped into the passport. So the final fee is about US$120 for a visa which sells for $75 in Canada.

Indian travel industry executives have already complained the charge is unreasonable and will not encourage people to use the efficient system

Click here for India ETA Visa Application (non-Canadians only):

Click here for Indian visa forms for Canadians.