India Visa Guide
India Transit Visa - Do You Need One for a Layover?
An India transit visa is required when a foreign traveller changes aircraft in India and passes through immigration, or leaves the airport transit area, on the way to a third country. Travellers who stay airside in the transit lounge on a single onward ticket generally do not need a transit visa. Transit visas are valid for 15 days with a maximum 72-hour stay per entry.
- Processing time
- 3 to 5 working days via the embassy or visa application centre
- Cost
- Set bilaterally; usually lower than a tourist visa
- Validity
- 15 days from issue, max 72 hours per transit entry
- Eligibility
- Any nationality not visa-exempt
- How to apply
- Sticker visa via Indian embassy, consulate or visa application centre
Do you need a visa for your layover?
- Will you pass through Indian immigration or leave the airport?
- Yes: You need a visa — An e-Tourist visa or a transit visa
- No: Usually no visa — Stay airside on a through ticket
- Check your airline and airport — Separate tickets, terminal changes or collecting bags can force you through immigration.
The question is not how long the layover is but whether you cross immigration. A change of terminal at some airports, a self-transfer between two separate bookings, or an overnight hotel all mean entering India — and that needs a visa.
Your options if you need to enter
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Short layover, want to see the city, e-Visa nationality | 30-day e-Tourist (from USD 10) |
| Self-transfer between separate tickets | 30-day e-Tourist |
| Nationality not on the e-Visa list | Transit visa from an Indian mission |
| Layover longer than 72 hours | Tourist visa, not transit |
Source: Government of India e-Visa rules, indianvisaonline.gov.in.
- Designated entry points
- 88 — Your first entry must be through one of these
- Airports
- 37 — Incl. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Goa
- Seaports
- 38 — Cruise and ship arrivals
- Land ports
- 13 — Overland crossings added from 2025
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs notice, 10 Aug 2026. Always confirm your port on indianvisaonline.gov.in before booking.
Step-by-step process
- Confirm you actually pass through immigration or leave the airport - if you stay airside, no transit visa is needed.
- Apply for a transit visa at the Indian embassy, consulate or visa application centre.
- Submit your passport, photo, confirmed onward ticket and visa for the final destination.
- Pay the transit visa fee.
- Collect the sticker transit visa affixed in your passport.
Requirements
| Passport | 6 months validity, 2 blank pages. |
|---|---|
| Onward ticket | Confirmed booking to a third country within 72 hours. |
| Destination visa | Visa for the final destination if required. |
| Photo | Passport-size per embassy specs. |
| Fee | Transit visa fee as set for your nationality. |
Common mistakes
- Assuming any layover needs a transit visa (airside stays do not)
- No confirmed onward ticket
- Layover longer than 72 hours - that needs a tourist visa
- Applying for transit when leaving the airport for a city visit
Expert tips
- If your layover is under 24 hours and you stay airside, skip the transit visa.
- Layovers over 72 hours need a tourist or e-Tourist visa instead.
- Carry the onward boarding pass to show at transit immigration.
- Some airports offer free transit tours - check if you can stay airside.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a transit visa for a layover in India?
Only if you pass through immigration or leave the airport. Staying airside in the transit lounge on a single onward ticket does not require a transit visa.
How long can I stay on an India transit visa?
Up to 72 hours per entry, within a 15-day validity window from issue.
Can I get an e-Visa for transit?
There is no e-transit visa. For short transits that stay airside, no visa is needed; to leave the airport, use an e-Tourist or transit sticker visa.
What if my layover is longer than 72 hours?
Apply for a tourist or e-Tourist visa instead - transit visas do not cover stays over 72 hours.