Indian e-Visa requirements for Eritrean citizens
With the advent of India's e-Visa travel permission in 2014, tourists to the country and India as a whole profited enormously, significantly increasing its tourism. Only in 2018, did the country receive 10.5 million visitors. More than 160 countries can currently apply online for an India electronic visa by filling out a simple form.
Indian Immigration Services brings this easy and smooth process to Eritrea as well, which means previous formalities that included many consulates or embassy visits are now unnecessary. To obtain an India e-Visa, you must first fill out an online application, which might take up to 15 minutes.
1. Types of India e-Visa for Eritrean Citizens
In Eritrea, there are various types of Indian online visas depending on the purpose of your trip. They can all be found here and are categorized as follows:
- India Tourist e-Visa for 1 month: Tourist visas are the most common type of visa used by Eritrea residents, who use them mainly for leisure and tourism, as well as for visiting family members and attending yoga retreats. The visa confers 30 days of stay in India. Eritrean nationals can enter India only once using the 1-month validity e-visa.
- India Tourist e-visa for 1 year: This multiple-entry e-visa allows Eritrea travelers to stay in India for 90 days for each visit during the validity period of one year.
- India Tourist e-visa for 5 years: This e-visa is convenient for travelers who do not want to apply for a new e-visa many times. This type of visa is valid for 5 years from the date of entry and permits Eritrea citizens a stayover not exceeding 90 days per visit with multiple entries.
- India Business e-Visa: Eritreans planning to enter India on business are entitled to apply for an India e-Business visa. During the validity year of the visa, this type of visa permits many visits to India. The maximum duration of stay is 180 days per visit.
- India Conference e-Visa: The Indian e-Conference Visa is valid for 4 months from the arrival date, which allows you to travel to India and attend a conference organized by the Indian government for a maximum of 30 days with a single entry.
- India Medical e-Visa: Indian Medical e-Visas are granted to Eritrean citizens seeking medical treatment in the country. The Medical e-Visa is a triple-entry visa valid for 120 days after issuance, which allows travelers to stay in India for 60 days per visit.
Citizens of Eritrea entering India are required to bring all the supporting documents needed for the type of visa they have.
2. India Visa requirements for Eritrean Citizens
An Eritrean applicant must assemble all the required documents and meet all the conditions for getting an India e-Visa.
- An Eritrean passport with at least 6 months of validity before entering India is required. Moreover, the passport must have more than 2 unused pages for exit and entry stamps.
- During the India visa application process, a digital copy of the passport's biographical page and a digital photograph in accordance with the Indian e-Visa guidelines are also required.
- A digital photograph of yourself in color
- An invitation letter, staff ID card, and Political clearance from the Ministry of External must be submitted when travelers want to engage in business activities.
- For a medical e-visa - you must send to us a medical letter from the host hospital for the e-visa to be processed.
- The email address of the applicant from Eritrea is essential for all updates and approval notifications.
- To pay processing fees, applicants will need to provide payment information at the end of the application process. They will have the option of paying with a debit or credit card.
3. The application process for Eritrean citizens requesting an India e-Visa
Eritrean applicants must answer questions regarding their identity and other personal information such as:
- Full name
- Birthdate
- Nationality
- Gender
- Passport details
- Port of entry
- Details of their stay in India
Important note: Eritrean applicants traveling with children to India must submit their e-Visa application by an adult.
Before applying to India, it must be checked for accuracy and backed up with the necessary documents, known as India's e-Visa entry requirements, to avoid delays or mistakes during the approval process.
When an electronic visa application is processed, the approval usually occurs within a short period. The approval letter is emailed to Eritrean nationals at the email address provided in the application. A printed copy of this approval letter must be carried with them at all times during their stay in India.
4. Indian e-Visa fee for Eritrean citizens
Eritrean citizens will pay two types of Indian e-Visa fees when applying for an e-Visa: the government fee and the service fee. The Indian government charges are based on your nationality, while the other options have different processing times. Depending on your situation, you may want to consider:
- Normal: An application service that can help you obtain an e-Visa in three business days.
- Urgent: This type can be utilized in some cases if you have little time to wait for a response. You will receive your e-Visa within 24 hours if you choose this option.
- Super Urgent: You can receive your e-Visa within about 5 business hours if you use this service for emergencies.
Your application must be accompanied by a total payment. You may choose between two methods of payment: wire transfer and electronic transfer. Payments made with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or PayPal are accepted as electronic payments. Besides, wire transfer is only accepted if Eritrea makes payment through the Bank of Cyprus.
I suggest you add Covid-19 insurance to your itinerary. It is a good idea not only to protect your economic benefits but also to expedite the e-visa application process.