India Expands E-Visa Entry Points: 11 New Ports Now Open for International Travelers

The expansion covers nine land ports and two airports and applies across all 17 e-visa categories. For foreign visitors, the change removes a routing constraint and opens direct entry into regions that previously required a domestic transfer after landing at a Tier-1 hub.

New entry points: what opens, where

The updated network now totals 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land ports. On the land side, the additions include Attari (Road) on the India-Pakistan border, Darranga, Gede, Ghojadanga, Haridaspur, Jaigaon, Dawki, and Moreh. Two Tier-2 cities gain direct international air access: Bhopal and Tirupati.

Operational impact: a traveller holding a tourist e-visa can now fly directly into Bhopal or Tirupati without routing through Delhi or Mumbai. Land-crossing visitors heading to Northeast India gain Moreh as a designated point on the India-Myanmar border; those approaching from Bangladesh gain Ghojadanga, Darranga, and Dawki as cleared options. Attari (Road) remains the standard overland crossing for traffic from Pakistan, though the visa status of Pakistani passport holders is governed by a separate clause (see below).

Processing window and programme scope

The e-visa facility, launched in 2014, currently covers nationals of 172 countries, up from 43 at launch. Government figures indicate approximately 95% of e-visa applications are processed within 72 hours. E-visas now account for 78% of all visas issued by India, reflecting a structural shift away from physical sticker-visa processing.

The 17 eligible categories include tourist, business, medical, student, mountaineering, cruise, transit, and group travel.

Exclusion clause: Pakistani passport holders and persons of Pakistani origin remain outside the e-visa framework. They must apply through an Indian Mission for a regular visa. This restriction is unchanged by the latest port notification.

Pre-departure checklist

• Verify the intended port of arrival is on the 88-port designated list before issuing the ticket.
• Match e-visa sub-category to stated purpose; misaligned applications are rejected at immigration.
• Submit the application at least 72 hours before departure, with a buffer for the residual 5% that exceeds the standard processing window.
• Carry the printed e-Visa approval alongside the passport; digital-only copies are not always accepted at smaller land ports.
• Pakistani-origin applicants: route through the Indian Mission, not the online portal.