India Expands e-Visa Program to 25 New Countries from 15 August 2026 – Kenya, Colombia, Serbia & More Now Eligible for 30-Day, 1-Year & 5-Year Visas

India expands e-Visa program to 25 new countries from 15 August 2026

New Delhi, 6 July 2026 — In a major boost for tourism and business travel, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has announced the expansion of its popular e-Visa platform to citizens of 25 additional countries, effective 15 August 2026.

The new cohort, largely from Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, includes Kenya, Colombia, Serbia, Ecuador, Tanzania, and Guatemala. Travellers from these nations will be able to apply online for 30-day, one-year, and five-year tourist or business e-Visas without visiting an Indian mission abroad.

Key Details of the e-Visa Expansion

• Processing Time: Remains 3 to 5 working days.

• Fees: Unchanged at US$25 for a 30-day permit or US$80 for the multiple-entry business variant.

• Purpose: Tourism and business travel.

• Eligibility: Citizens of the newly added countries can apply entirely online.

Officials told Reuters the move is part of India’s strategy to double annual e-Visa issuances from 1.8 million in 2025 to over 3 million by the end of 2026.

Significant Boost for Corporate Mobility & Tourism

For companies sending staff to India on short-term projects, the expansion removes a major logistical hurdle. HR and travel managers can now deploy specialists from newly eligible countries without coordinating consulate appointments.

Travel advisers recommend that assignees still carry:

• A printed copy of the approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

• Proof of return or onward travel.

Official Application Portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in

Visasupdate Support: For guided applications, error checking, and real-time tracking, many corporates and travellers use Visasupdate’s dedicated India portal: visasupdate/news

Important Exclusions

Pakistan and China remain excluded from the e-Visa scheme and must continue using the traditional paper visa channel due to ongoing security and reciprocity considerations.

Future Expansion Plans

Government sources indicated that another 10 African states could join the e-Visa program by December 2026 if the current rollout proceeds smoothly. The move is seen as a key lever to boost inbound FDI and support India’s post-G20 tourism targets.

For the latest India e-Visa updates, new eligible countries list, application guidance for Kenya Colombia Serbia nationals, and 2026 India visa policy news, visit: visasupdate.com