India Visa · Quick Answer
What Is the Difference Between an India eVisa and a Sticker Visa?
An e-Visa is issued online and printed by you — fast (72 hours to 4 business days), cheap, and valid for tourism, business, medical and conferences. A sticker visa is physically affixed in your passport by an embassy or visa application centre, takes 5 to 15 working days, and supports longer stays, work, study and non-e-Visa nationalities.
- Processing time
- e-Visa: 72h to 4 days; sticker: 5 to 15 working days
- Cost
- e-Visa: USD 10 to 200; sticker: bilateral
- Validity
- e-Visa: up to 5 years; sticker: up to 10 years
- Eligibility
- e-Visa: 170+ countries; sticker: all nationalities
- How to apply
- e-Visa online; sticker via embassy or visa application centre
When to choose which
- e-Visa for tourism, short business, medical, conferences.
- Sticker visa for work, study, long stays, or non-e-Visa nationalities.
- Sticker visa for land entry at non-designated borders.
Frequently asked questions
Is the e-Visa cheaper than the sticker visa?
Usually yes, and faster; sticker visa fees vary by nationality.
Can I work on a sticker visa but not an e-Visa?
Only specific sticker visas (Employment, Project) allow work — not the e-Visa.