India eVisa Requirements in 2025: Updated Photo, Passport, and Fee Rules
India welcomed nearly 7 million international visitors on eVisas in 2024 alone, and the Ministry of Home Affairs has doubled-down on digital entry permits for 2025. If you plan to explore Rajasthan’s forts, Kerala’s backwaters, or Bengaluru’s start-up scene next year, make sure you understand the new India eVisa requirements that take effect 1 April 2025—especially the tighter rules around passport scans, photo quality, and revised government fees.
Quick takeaway: India did not change eligibility nationalities in 2025, but it did update document specifications and standardise fee bands. Submitting the wrong photo size or an outdated passport scan is now the top reason for rejection.
What changed for 2025? A 60-second overview
| Requirement | 2024 rule | 2025 update |
|---|---|---|
| Digital photo | 350 × 350 px JPEG, 10–300 KB | 400 × 400 px JPEG or HEIC, 20–500 KB; AI-detected background checks |
| Passport scan | First (bio-data) page only, ≤300 KB PDF | First two pages (bio-data + address) merged into one PDF, ≤400 KB |
| Passport validity | 6 months beyond arrival | 6 months beyond departure date + 2 blank pages |
| Visa fee | 4 seasonal price tiers USD 10–80 | 3 fixed bands USD 25 / 40 / 60; global payment gateway, INR option |
| Processing time | 4 business days | No official change (still 3–4 days), but priority 24-hour service relaunched at USD 100 |
Sources: Indian Bureau of Immigration circular 04/2025 and Ministry of Tourism press note, 15 March 2025.
1. Updated photo rules: 400 × 400 pixels—and watch the background
India’s eVisa portal now runs an AI compliance check on every uploaded photo. Follow these specifications to avoid the dreaded “Photo Rejected – Upload Again” alert:
- Size: 400 × 400 pixels (square) at 24-bit colour.
- File type: JPEG (.jpg) or HEIC (.heic). PNGs are no longer accepted.
- File size: 20 KB–500 KB.
- Background: Plain light colour. Pure white is safest. The AI tool flags shadows, patterns, or furniture.
- Pose: Full face, eyes open, neutral expression, no glasses glare, no headgear (except religious and keeping full face visible).
- Recent: Taken within the past six months.
Pro tip: Use a free online cropping tool or your phone’s built-in passport photo mode. Double-check the final pixel count before uploading.
2. Passport scan requirements: both pages in one PDF
As of 2025 you must merge the biographical page and the facing address/observation page into a single PDF (max 400 KB). Scans must be:
- Colour, at least 150 DPI.
- Entire page visible—including MRZ (machine-readable zone).
- Glare-free and legible. Smartphone photos are acceptable if they meet DPI and clarity rules.
Failure to combine both pages is currently the #1 rejection trigger flagged by India’s automated screening engine.
3. Passport validity and blank-page rule
India still requires six months of passport validity, but the calculation has shifted:
- Old rule: 6 months beyond date of arrival.
- New rule (2025): 6 months beyond anticipated date of departure.
If you are planning a 30-day yoga retreat, your passport must be valid at least 7 months from entry. In addition, you now need two blank pages for arrival and departure stamps—even though the eVisa is paperless.
4. New fee structure and how to pay
India consolidated its four seasonal tiers into three flat bands based on nationality groups. The table below lists the headline prices (government fee only; third-party platform or card fees may apply):
| Nationality group | 2025 fee (USD) | Example countries |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | 25 | Singapore, Japan, Cambodia |
| Group B | 40 | United States, Canada, EU states, Australia |
| Group C | 60 | UK, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, China |
Payment tips:
- You can now pay directly in Indian Rupees via international cards; the system auto-converts at mid-market FX plus 2 % gateway fee.
- A new Priority Processing Add-On costs USD 100 and promises a decision within 24 hours. It is optional and non-refundable.
5. Which eVisa type should you choose in 2025?
India continues to offer five online visa sub-categories:
- Tourist eVisa (30-day single entry; 1-year and 5-year multiple entry)
- Business eVisa (valid 1 year, multiple entry, 180 days stay cap per visit)
- Conference eVisa (30 days)
- Medical eVisa (60 days, triple entry)
- Medical Attendant eVisa (same as Medical)
The document and fee rules described above apply to every sub-category unless stated otherwise.
6. Step-by-step application timeline
The redesigned portal has clarified each stage:
- Day 0 – Complete the online form at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. Upload photo and merged passport PDF.
- Day 0 – Pay the fee immediately or within 2 hours to avoid form expiry.
- Days 1–3 – Automated screening against immigration and security databases.
- Days 2–4 – Grant notice emailed as a PDF. Print it or save a digital copy.
- Arrival – Present passport and eVisa PDF to immigration. Biometric capture and stamp.
The priority add-on inserts a human adjudicator within 24 hours and emails the result, often under 8 hours.
7. Common mistakes that trigger 2025 rejections
India’s immigration tech upgrade means more automatic denials for formatting errors. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Uploading a 350 × 350 px photo (old spec) instead of 400 × 400 px.
- Submitting only page 1 of your passport.
- Exceeding file-size limits (many phone scans hit 1 MB by default—compress them).
- Entering your name exactly as on the passport: surnames swapped or missing middle names lead to mismatch errors.
- Using a debit card without 3-D Secure; payment fails and the application expires.
Need a deeper checklist? See SimpleVisa’s Electronic Visa: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying.
8. 2024 vs 2025 requirement snapshot
| Category | 2024 rule | 2025 rule |
|---|---|---|
| Photo pixels | 350 × 350 | 400 × 400 |
| Allowed formats | JPEG | JPEG, HEIC |
| Passport pages | Bio only | Bio + address |
| File size cap | 300 KB | 400 KB |
| Fee tiers | 10, 25, 40, 80 | 25, 40, 60 |
| Priority service | Suspended | Re-introduced (USD 100) |
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Do minors need separate eVisas? Yes. Every traveler, regardless of age, must hold an individual approved eVisa and their own passport.
Can I edit my application after payment? Only contact details. For name, passport number or date of birth errors you must re-apply and repay.
Is the 5-year tourist eVisa still available? Yes. The long-term multiple-entry option remains unchanged; 2025 updates only affect document specs and fees.
What if my passport expires in five months but I travel next week? Your application will auto-reject because you do not meet the six-month-beyond-departure validity rule.
How early can I apply? Up to 120 days before your intended arrival date (was 30 days pre-COVID; the 120-day window was kept for 2025).
Plan ahead—and let SimpleVisa do the heavy lifting
Missing India’s new photo or passport specs can turn a dream trip into a denial. If you’d rather skip the formatting drama, SimpleVisa’s platform automatically checks pixel size, file weight and expiry dates before you press submit—whether you use our white-label app or an embedded widget inside your favourite travel site.
Ready to move India from “bucket list” to “booked”? Start your India eVisa application with SimpleVisa and enjoy a guided, error-proof process that keeps you compliant and on your way to the Taj Mahal.