India Expands E-Visa Entry Network to 88 Points, Adding Key Land Ports and Airports
The Government of India has expanded the entry network for its electronic visa (e-visa) system to a total of 88 designated checkpoints. The update incorporates several key road and land borders alongside new air entry terminals, broadening access for eligible international visitors travelling under various categories.
What Happened
Under the latest expansion, eight land ports have been integrated into the e-visa entry framework: Attari (via road), Dawki, Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, and Moreh. In addition to these border crossings, airport facilities at Bhopal and Tirupati have officially joined the e-visa entry network.
The e-visa system covers 17 distinct travel sub-categories, catering to purposes such as tourism, business, medical care, student visits, cruises, mountaineering, group travel, and transit. According to official data, around 95% of e-visa applications are processed within 72 hours.
The government noted that the e-visa regime is available to travellers from 172 countries, up from 43 countries when the initiative originally launched in 2014. Currently, e-visas represent 78% of all visas issued by India. However, the facility remains unavailable to individuals holding Pakistani passports or those of Pakistani origin, who are required to apply for standard paper visas through Indian diplomatic missions abroad.
Key Highlights
- Network Expansion: Designated e-visa entry points now stand at 88 across the country.
- New Land Ports: Land border access added at Attari (road), Darranga, Dawki, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, and Moreh.
- New Airports: Bhopal and Tirupati airports have been inducted into the authorised network.
- Turnaround Time: 95% of electronic visa applications are processed within 72 hours.
- Visa Categories: Operates across 17 sub-categories, including medical, business, tourism, student visits, and transit.
- Broadened Reach: Available to citizens of 172 nations, making up 78% of all Indian visas issued.
- Exclusions: Pakistani passport holders and persons of Pakistani origin cannot use the e-visa route and must apply through an Indian overseas mission.
Why This Matters
The expansion is positioned as an ongoing measure to simplify entry procedures for international travellers while preserving national border controls. An official government statement highlighted that initiatives have aimed to liberalise, streamline, and simplify the visa framework under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
By upgrading technological infrastructure, the government aims to facilitate legitimate foreign arrivals across both land and air routes while simultaneously reinforcing internal security protocols.
What to Watch Next
Eligible international travellers heading through the newly listed border crossings and airports can now utilise their electronic visas at these 88 designated checkpoints. Applicants from the 172 eligible countries will continue using the digital system across the 17 permitted categories of travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which new airports and land ports are included in the e-visa network?
The newly added land ports include Attari (road), Dawki, Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, and Moreh. The newly included airports are Bhopal and Tirupati.
How quickly are e-visas processed?
Official figures show that 95% of e-visa applications are processed within a 72-hour timeframe.
Who is excluded from the Indian e-visa facility?
Travellers who hold Pakistani passports or are of Pakistani origin cannot apply for an e-visa and must obtain a regular visa via an Indian mission abroad.
Source: Report based on information published by Business Today with inputs from PTI.