Travel Information · Kerala
Most international visitors can apply online in minutes. Here is an honest, practical guide from people who help guests arrive in Kerala every week.
India requires most foreign nationals to hold a valid visa before arrival. The good news for visitors from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, the United States and most other European and Western nations is that the process is straightforward, fully online, and does not require a visit to an embassy or consulate. The system is called the e-Visa, and the authorisation it generates is called an ETA : Electronic Travel Authorisation.
An e-Visa is India’s online visa system, the application, payment and approval all happen on the government’s official portal. You do not post your passport anywhere, visit any office, or attend any interview.
An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is the approval document you receive by email once your e-Visa application is processed and granted. It is a PDF with a reference number linked to your passport. You print it, carry it with you, and present it at immigration on arrival in India alongside your passport. Immigration officers will stamp your actual visa into your passport at the airport. The ETA itself is not the visa, it is the pre-approval that allows you to board your flight.
Think of it this way: the e-Visa is the application process, the ETA is the result.
Citizens of over 170 countries are eligible, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and most other European and Western nations. Pakistan, Afghanistan and a small number of other nationalities are not eligible and must apply through an Indian embassy.
Check your eligibility on the official portal before applying: indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa
For tourism, visiting Kerala, travelling for leisure, visiting friends or family, you need the e-Tourist Visa. It comes in three durations:
30-day e-Tourist Visa : valid for 30 days from your first arrival in India. Double entry permitted. Suitable for shorter trips.
1-year e-Tourist Visa : valid for one year from the date the ETA is granted, with multiple entries. Maximum continuous stay of 180 days per visit. Best for most international visitors to Kerala as it gives flexibility if travel dates change.
5-year e-Tourist Visa : valid for five years from the date the ETA is granted, with multiple entries. Maximum continuous stay of 180 days per visit. Useful for frequent visitors.
For most guests booking a Kerala holiday, the 1-year e-Tourist Visa is the right choice. It costs slightly more than the 30-day option but gives you the flexibility to adjust travel dates without reapplying.
Note: US, UK, Canadian and Japanese passport holders are permitted to stay up to 180 days per visit on a tourist visa. Most other nationalities are permitted 90 days per continuous visit.
Step 1 : Go to the official portal Visit indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa – this is the only official Government of India portal. There are many third-party websites that offer to process Indian visas for a higher fee. They are not necessary. Use the official portal directly.
Step 2 : Fill in the application form The form takes 10 to 15 minutes. You will need your passport details, your travel dates (approximate is fine), your India address or hotel for the first night, and your parents’ names and nationalities. Have your passport open in front of you.
Step 3 : Upload your documents You will need to upload two things:
No other documents are required for most nationalities applying for a tourist visa.
Step 4 : Pay the fee Visa fees vary by nationality and visa type. As a general guide, the fee for a 1-year e-Tourist Visa is typically between USD 25 and USD 80 depending on nationality. Payment is by credit or debit card on the portal. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is rejected.
Step 5 : Wait for processing Processing typically takes 24 to 72 hours, though it can occasionally take up to 4 business days. The government recommends applying at least 4 days before travel. We recommend applying at least 7 to 10 days before departure to allow time to reapply if there are any issues.
Step 6 : Receive and check your ETA You will receive an email with your ETA when the application is approved. Check that your name, passport number, nationality and visa type are all correct. Print a copy to carry with you.
Step 7 : Arrive in India At immigration, present your passport and printed ETA. The officer will capture your biometric data (fingerprints and photograph), this is standard procedure for all first-time e-Visa arrivals. Your visa will then be stamped into your passport. The whole process at a Kerala airport is typically 15 to 30 minutes.
Apply closer to your travel date. The 1-year validity runs from the date the ETA is granted, not from your travel date. Applying too far in advance wastes validity. Apply 7 to 14 days before departure.
Each traveller applies separately. Children travelling on their own passport need their own e-Visa application. Children travelling on a parent’s passport need to be declared on that parent’s application.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival in India.
Carry a printed copy of your ETA. Airlines check it at check-in before allowing you to board. A digital copy on your phone is a useful backup but a printed copy is strongly recommended.
The e-Visa is not extendable. If you decide to stay longer than planned, you cannot extend an e-Visa from within India. You would need to exit and reapply, or apply for a regular visa through an Indian embassy before your original visa expires.
All four Kerala airports accept e-Visa arrivals. Cochin (COK), Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), Calicut (CCJ) and Kannur (CNN) are all designated e-Visa entry points.
India introduced an electronic arrival card in 2025. International visitors are required to complete this online before arriving in India. It is separate from the visa and is submitted through the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival. The process takes about 5 minutes and asks for your flight details, passport information and India address. Complete it within 72 hours of your arrival.
India does not currently offer a standard visa on arrival for most nationalities. The e-Visa system is the equivalent, you receive approval before travel and the physical stamp happens at the airport on arrival. A few nationalities (Japanese citizens under certain conditions, and citizens of select Pacific island nations) have specific arrangements, but for the vast majority of visitors the e-Visa is the correct route.
Citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh (certain categories), Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Sri Lanka and a small number of other countries are not eligible for e-Visa and must apply for a regular visa through the Indian High Commission or Embassy in their country. If you hold one of these passports, contact the nearest Indian diplomatic mission well in advance of your travel date as processing times for regular visas can be several weeks.
While Green Earth Trails cannot process visa applications on your behalf, the application must be completed by the traveller directly on the official portal, we are happy to help you understand the process, confirm which visa type is right for your itinerary, and advise on timing. If you have any questions about your visa as you plan your Kerala journey, just ask.
