What documents are required for an Indian e-Visa?

I applied for an Indian e-Tourist Visa from the USA and had a similar question.

The main things I prepared were my current passport and a recent digital photograph. I didn't have to upload a huge collection of financial documents for my straightforward tourist application.

One thing worth checking is your passport itself. The official e-Visa instructions say the passport should have at least six months' validity at the time of applying and at least two blank pages for immigration stamping. Applicants should also have a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds for their stay.

That doesn't necessarily mean you have to upload every one of those items with a standard e-Tourist Visa application.

Also, make sure the passport you use for the application is the passport you'll use for travel. The official instructions specifically address travel on the passport used for the e-Visa.

I'd follow the upload fields generated by the official application rather than trying to create your own checklist.

There are definitely differences depending on the type of e-Visa.

For example, the document list for an e-Medical Visa includes a letter from the Indian hospital, while an e-Business Visa requires additional business-related documentation.

So if you're applying for a simple tourist trip, don't use an e-Business or e-Medical checklist as your reference.

The official site also has special requirements for things like short-term courses and mountaineering under the e-Tourist category.

For the normal tourist application, I'd have these ready before starting:

1. Valid passport
2. Clear scan of the passport bio page
3. Recent digital photograph meeting the specifications
4. Any additional document specifically requested by the application based on your circumstances

I'd also keep your return ticket and accommodation details available while travelling, even if they aren't necessarily among the standard upload fields.

Requirements can change, so check the official portal immediately before submitting.

For a normal e-Tourist Visa, the basic documents are less complicated than some websites make them sound.

When I applied, I uploaded the bio page of my passport showing my photograph and personal details and the required recent photograph.

The official Indian e-Visa website currently says that a recent front-facing photograph with a white background and the passport bio page containing personal details must be uploaded. It also says that an additional document may be required depending on the e-Visa type.

For an ordinary tourism application, I wouldn't upload random extra documents just because a travel agency checklist says they're required. Follow the document list shown in the official application for your particular visa category.

The photo specifications are also quite specific. The current instructions say the photograph should be JPEG, have equal height and width, show the full face looking forward with eyes open, and have a plain light-coloured or white background.

I'd make sure the passport scan is clear before uploading it.