Flights booked for December? The visa is the one thing nobody can fix for you at the airport. Here is how to get it done calmly, on the official site, with time to spare.
At a glance: do Australians need a visa for India?
Yes. Australian passport holders need a visa to enter India. For holidays and family visits, the e-Tourist Visa is the simplest option. Apply online only at the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in. You can choose a 30-day, one-year or five-year visa. The government asks for applications at least four days before arrival and approval usually takes a few working days. We suggest applying two to four weeks before you fly. OCI card holders do not need a visa.
Who needs an Indian visa, and who does not
Every traveller on an Australian passport needs a visa for India. That includes babies and children, and it has to be done before you leave.
The exceptions are simple:
- OCI card holders do not need a visa. Carry the OCI card with your current Australian passport.
- Indian passport holders travel on their Indian passport, with no visa needed.
- Children born in Australia to Indian parents are Australian citizens. They need either an OCI card or a visa. If the OCI has not arrived, apply for an e-Visa.
Mixed families are common. Check every person, one at a time.
Use the official website only, and spot the copycats
The only official site for the Indian e-Visa is indianvisaonline.gov.in. Type the address in yourself rather than clicking the first search result.
Copycat websites sit at the top of search results, look official, and charge a large “service fee” on top of the government fee. Either way, you have handed your passport details to a private company.
Three signs you are on the wrong site:
- The address does not end in .gov.in.
- It asks for payment before you have filled in the full government form.
- It promises “express” or “guaranteed” approval. No one can guarantee a visa.
Which e-Tourist Visa should you choose?
Australians can apply for three e-Tourist Visa options. The fees differ and are listed on the official site. We do not quote them here because they change.
| Option | Good for | Things to know |
| 30-day e-Tourist Visa | One short trip, such as the December school holidays. | Short validity, so do not apply months ahead. |
| One-year e-Tourist Visa | Families who go home twice in a year, or who have not fixed their return date. | Multiple entries. Total stay in India cannot exceed 180 days in a calendar year. |
| Five-year e-Tourist Visa | Regular visitors, such as grandparents travelling every year. | Multiple entries, same 180-day rule each calendar year. Often the best value over time. |
The e-Tourist Visa covers holidays and family visits. Business and medical trips use separate e-Visa types.
How long does the Indian e-Visa take, and when should you apply?
The official site asks for applications at least four days before you arrive. Most approvals come through within a few working days. Some take longer if a photo is rejected.
Our advice is to apply two to four weeks before departure. Early enough to fix a problem, late enough that a 30-day visa does not run out before you use it.
Here is a simple timeline for the summer holidays.
If you fly | Apply by | Why |
For Diwali (8 November 2026) | Now | You are inside the four-week window already. |
Early to mid-December (Term 4 ends 11 Dec in QLD, 17 Dec in WA) | By mid-November | Leaves time for a resubmission before the pre-Christmas rush. |
18 to 24 December (Term 4 ends 18 Dec in NSW and VIC) | By late November | The peak departure week. Do not leave it to December. |
January, back for school 27 to 28 January 2027 | By early December | Processing can slow over the Christmas period. |
7 steps to a smooth Indian e-Visa application
1. Check your passport first
Your passport must have at least six months’ validity when you apply, and blank pages for the entry stamp. If it expires before mid-2027, renew it now. The visa is tied to the passport number.
2. Take the photo properly
The site wants a JPEG, between 10 KB and 1 MB, full face, front view, eyes open, no glasses, on a plain light or white background. Most rejections are photos.
3. Scan the passport page
You will upload the photo page of your passport as a PDF, within the size limit shown on the form. Make sure all four corners are visible.
4. Have your flight details ready
The form asks for a return or onward ticket, your arrival airport and where you will stay in India. If you want to lock in seats before paying in full, PayLite lets you hold a fare with a low deposit and pay the rest in up to 26 weekly instalments, on selected refundable fares.
5. Gather the family details
The form asks for your parents’ names and places of birth, any previous nationality, and a reference in India and in Australia with phone numbers. Write them down before you start.
6. Pay on the official portal and save the application ID
Note the application ID the moment it appears. You need it to check status and fix anything the office asks for.
7. Print the approval and carry it
Once approved, print the e-Visa approval and keep it with your passport. At the airport, go to the e-Visa counters. Flying into Mumbai? Read our new guide to flights from Adelaide to Mumbai for arrival tips at Terminal 2.
Common e-Visa mistakes Australian families make
Mistake | Why it matters | Fix |
Name typed differently from the passport | The visa must match the passport exactly or you can be refused boarding. | Copy the name letter for letter, including middle names. |
Applying on a copycat site | Extra fees, and your details go to a private company. | Use indianvisaonline.gov.in only. |
Photo with glasses, shadows or a busy background | The most common reason for a resubmission request. | Plain white wall, daylight, no glasses, eyes open. |
Passport with under six months’ validity | The application is rejected outright. | Renew the passport first, then apply. |
Forgetting a child | Every person needs their own visa, including infants. | Make a list of every traveller and tick them off. |
Applying the week you fly | No time to fix a rejection. | Two to four weeks before departure. |
Children, elderly parents and the whole family
The visa work usually falls to one person in the family. A few things that help.
- Each child needs their own application on their own passport. The parents’ details go on every form.
- Baby photos are the hardest part. Lay the baby on a white sheet in daylight, eyes open, no hands in frame.
- Doing it for elderly parents? You can fill in the form on their behalf. Have their passport, a current photo and their Australian address and phone number beside you.
- Grandparents with an OCI card do not need a visa.
Before you fly, check the Australian Government’s Smartraveller advice for India.
Why book your India flights with Mann Travel?
Since 2007, Mann Travel has helped families fly home to India from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. We do not process visas. What we do is remind you when you book, check your passport validity against your dates, and point you to the official site. Our Melbourne team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, and is on call 24/7.
Flights booked. Visa next. Let’s take you home.
Search live fares to India at manntravel.com.au/flights or call our team on 1300 754 002. Verified students and education staff can join MannPass for an extra AUD $25 off eligible return flights. Questions? Contact us any time.
frequently asked questions
Do Australians need a visa for India?
Yes. Australian passport holders need a visa before travelling to India. OCI card holders and Indian passport holders do not.
How long does the Indian e-Visa take for Australians?
The official site asks for applications at least four days before arrival. Most are approved within a few working days. Apply two to four weeks ahead, and earlier for December travel.
How much does the Indian e-Visa cost for Australians?
The fee depends on whether you choose the 30-day, one-year or five-year option and is shown on indianvisaonline.gov.in before you pay. The only payment you should make is on the government portal.
Can Australians get an Indian visa on arrival?
No. The e-Visa is approved before you travel. At the airport in India you show the printed approval at the e-Visa counter and get your entry stamp.
Do children need their own Indian e-Visa?
Yes. Every traveller, including babies, needs their own visa on their own passport. Children with an OCI card do not need a visa.
Visa rules, fees and processing times are set by the Government of India and can change without notice. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements on indianvisaonline.gov.in and smartraveller.gov.au before you travel.
