Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Although you won’t need to get your travel permit before your trip, the process of getting a VoA can take some time when you land, as there tend to be queues.

Aside from the waiting time, the process is simple: you will need to fill out a short form and present it with your passport to border officials, who will proceed to grant you a visa in the form of a stamp in your passport.

Alternatively, you may be able to get your entry pass beforehand online with an eVisa. In this case, we highly recommend you follow this route to save you time when you arrive at your destination. After all, nobody wants to spend their holiday in immigration queues. Destinations that offer the eVisa service to Indian travellers include Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Tanzania.

Once you have decided on a destination, don’t forget to check the specific requirements for the eVisa or Visa on Arrival for Indian citizens, and what documents you will need to provide to authorities to be issued one.

Finally, most countries in this list allow Indian nationals to stay for 30 days in the country. There are a few exceptions where you may be granted less time and some destinations which allow Indian citizens with a VoA or e-Visa to stay for 90 days, such as Kenya and Tanzania.

Where Is an Embassy or Consulate Visa Required for Indian Citizens?

Here is the list of countries that require Indian passport holders to get a visa from an embassy or consulate to enter:

Indian citizens must get an embassy visa for around 155 countries. Embassy visas take the longest to process and require the most paperwork, compared to the other kinds of entry authorisations.

To get this kind of document, you generally start with getting an appointment at the nearest embassy of the country you wish to visit. This is followed by filling out forms and collecting documents to present at the embassy. After the appointment, you will normally have to wait several weeks before you can collect your passport along with your travel visa.

The documents you will need to provide, and the processing times, can vary considerably from one destination to the next. As such, make sure you check these thoroughly before making your appointment.

Countries Where a Visa Is Not Permitted

If you are travelling on an Indian passport, you will be pleased to know that no country is off limits for your nationality. However, some countries have very strict and thorough policies when it comes to visa requirements for Indians, which can complicate your travel plans.

For some countries, you will need to provide additional documents that could include the following: proof of employment, bank statements, an invitation letter, your birth certificate, your marriage certificate, and even your tax records. Others still, you can only visit through an organised tour.

For this reason, we always recommend checking the entry requirements before you start planning your trip. You may just decide to choose a destination with more straightforward entry policies.

Countries with Upcoming New Visas in 2022

Recently, more countries, such as Oman, joined the list of visa-free countries for India, and the list keeps growing.

What’s more, with more countries rolling out Electronic Visa systems, we can expect the list of countries that require an embassy visa to get smaller and smaller.

In terms of the best value visa for Indian citizens, the Schengen visa is easily the winner, so it’s not surprising that India is one of the top countries to apply for Schengen visas. The great thing about this permit is that once you have it, you gain access to 26 different countries, and you can get a permit that lasts for up to 5 years.

There have also been talks about the possibility of introducing an urgent travel Schengen visa for Indian passport holders for emergencies, short notice business trips, or similar purposes. So keep an eye out for updates!