India e-Visa for citizens of China: online application, fees and processing time 2026

Yes, an e-Visa is required: citizens of China apply online before departure.

Data updated on 11 October 2026

Mandatory arrival form: e-Arrival Card. Within 72 hours before arrival. Free: beware of websites that charge for it.

Fill it in on the official website (indianvisaonline.gov.in)

Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal

China

India

Other direction

Official fee

25-80 USD

Processing time

72-96 hours

Our guide to the India visa from China

Chinese nationals need a visa for India. An e-Visa is applied for online before departure through India's official portal.

A Chinese citizen planning a tourist or business trip to India must obtain a visa before travelling. The electronic route runs through the official e-Visa portal, where the application is completed and paid for online. The passport should remain valid for at least six months.

Do you need a visa?

Yes. Chinese passport holders must obtain a visa to enter India; no exemption applies. An e-Visa covers common purposes (tourism, business, medical). The passport should remain valid for at least six months and have blank pages.

How much does an e-visa for India cost from China?

25-80 USD

Official government fee only. Providers and visa centres add their own service charge on top.

What does a visa for India really cost?

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

Government fee25-80 USD
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

What documents are required for an e-visa for India?

Documents required for an e-visa for India:

Passport valid 6 months
Recent digital photograph (white background)
Proof of onward travel

Documents and fees

Prepare a passport valid for six months, a photo in the required format, a scanned passport page and proof of travel. The exact fee is not confirmed here: check the amount shown on the official portal at the time you apply.

How to apply for an e-visa for India from China

1Fill in the form on the destination’s official portal.
2Upload the required documents (passport, photo, supporting papers).
3Pay the fee online by card.
4Receive the authorisation by email, usually without a consular visit.
5Show the authorisation, printed or on your phone, at boarding.

Apply on the official site Official portal

How and where to apply

The e-Visa application is filed online on the official portal of India's Bureau of Immigration (indianvisaonline.gov.in): form, photo, passport page and payment. For categories not covered by the e-Visa, the application goes through the Indian embassy or consulate in China.

Where do you apply for a visa for India from China?

An e-visa for India is filed entirely online: there is no counter to visit and no file to hand in. The only address that matters is the official portal.

The application, the supporting documents and the payment all go through the official portal, from any country.
Lookalike sites copy the portal’s name and layout, then resell the same application with a margin. Check the domain before you type in a passport number.
The authorisation arrives by email. Keep a printed copy, some airlines ask for it at boarding.

You live in China on another passport?

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in China but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Your nationality

Pick your nationality to see the rule

How long does an e-visa for India take?

72-96 hours

Indicative time, counted from a complete file. Peak season can be longer.

Processing and tips

Submit the e-Visa application several days before departure, as processing can take time and sometimes requires extra documents. Make sure the travel purpose matches the e-Visa category and enter only through authorised entry points.

Before you fly, and at the border

Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.

Common mistakes

Common errors: a non-compliant photo or passport page, an e-Visa category that does not match the purpose, or applying too late. Always verify current requirements on the official portal before booking.

Plan your trip

Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)

Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.

Flights (Trip.com)

Compare flights and airlines for your trip.

eSIM data (Saily)

Stay connected on landing, with no roaming charges. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone.

Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)

Book excursions ahead, with free cancellation on most activities.

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Other visa types for India

A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.

7 more visa types

Official sources

Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.

How we verify this data

Short-stay (tourism)

Visa required

Entry regime

Visa required

India e-Visa for citizens of China: online application, fees and processing time 2026