Country Reference
India
Visa news and reference for India — entry visas, e-Visa categories, OCI cardholder rules, and citizenship policy affecting Indian-origin diaspora worldwide.
Last verified: May 3, 2026
Key facts
- Primary agency
- Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) + Bureau of Immigration; consular services via Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
- OCI cardholders
- Approximately 4 million worldwide, concentrated in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore
- e-Visa portal
- indianvisaonline.gov.in — issues electronic visas to citizens of 160+ countries
- OCI services
- Fully digital since 30 April 2026 under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026
Visa types covered
- e-Visa (Tourist / Business / Medical / Conference)
- Regular paper visa
- Employment visa
- Student visa
- OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholder status
- PIO-merged-into-OCI legacy
- Long-term visa (for select nationalities)
- Tibetan refugee certificates