Citizens of Azerbaijan do need an India visa, but they do not need to go to the embassy. India has added our passport to its electronic visa system: you fill in the form online, pay by card and the visa arrives by e-mail. The whole thing is settled from home in a few days.
The electronic visa has its own rules, though, and those who do not know them run into trouble at the border: the visa only allows entry through certain airports, the 30-day version cannot be used more than twice a year, and middleman sites charge three times the price for exactly the same visa. This article covers all of it.
India visa types and fees
There are three tourist e-Visa options, and the choice depends on your travel plans:
| 30-day e-Tourist visa | About 25 dollars, double entry, twice a year at most |
| 1-year e-Tourist visa | 40 dollars, multiple entry, up to 90 days per stay |
| 5-year e-Tourist visa | 80 dollars, multiple entry, up to 90 days per stay |
| Application | Online only, on the official portal |
| Decision time | Usually 3–5 working days |
| Passport | At least 6 months’ validity, 2 blank pages |
A small bank processing percentage is added to the fee. Because fees differ by nationality, you will see the exact amount on India’s official e-visa portal once you enter your passport details. The portal’s address ends in gov.in; sites ending in .com or .org are middlemen and charge 60 to 100 dollars for the same visa.
Getting an India visa, step by step
- Go to «Apply here for e-Visa» on the official portal and fill in the form. It is in English and takes 20 to 30 minutes; it asks for your parents’ names, your employer and any previous trips to India.
- Upload a scan of your passport’s data page and a digital photograph on a white background. The photo requirements are strict and the portal rejects anything that does not fit.
- Pay the fee by card.
- Within three to five working days the confirmation arrives by e-mail with the status «Granted». Print it and carry it with your passport.
You must apply at least four days and at most 120 days before the trip. We recommend two weeks, because the portal sometimes asks for more information.
Where you may enter on an e-Visa
This is the rule that matters most. An e-Visa only admits you through designated airports and seaports; more than 30 airports are on the list, including Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata. Land crossings — taking a bus from Nepal into India, for instance — are not possible on an e-Visa. You may leave through any crossing, though.
On arrival your fingerprints and a photograph are taken, which takes a few minutes. You will be asked for the printed visa confirmation; a phone screen is sometimes not accepted.
Read next: Australia visa: everything about applying online for subclass 600
How to fly from Baku to India
There is no steady direct service between Baku and India; routes go via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi or Istanbul. Delhi and Mumbai take 8 to 11 hours in total, and Goa is usually reached on a domestic flight from Mumbai. Baku–Delhi tickets are reasonably priced thanks to competition among the Gulf carriers, rising during the November to February season.
For a first visit, the Delhi–Agra–Jaipur «Golden Triangle» is the classic start, and most India tour programmes are built on that line. India is a demanding country to travel independently, and a ready-made programme makes a first trip considerably easier.
Worth knowing before you go
- Vaccinations. None are required on entry, but hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended. Drink only bottled water.
- Money. The rupee. Dollars are changed everywhere; cards work in the big cities, and smaller places need cash.
- Season. October to March is the best time. June to September is the monsoon, and April and May are punishingly hot.
- Insurance. Not required, but essential given how common stomach trouble and road accidents are.
Frequently asked questions about the India visa
Can you pop over to Nepal and come back?
You can leave, but you must return through a designated airport, and on a 30-day visa you need that second entry available. Nepal issues visas to citizens of Azerbaijan at the border.
What if the e-Visa is refused?
Refusals are rare and usually come down to the quality of the photo or the scan. You can apply again with corrected documents, paying the fee once more. If it keeps happening, you can get a regular visa from the Indian embassy in Baku.
Can you work on an India visa?
No. The electronic tourist visa covers tourism, family visits and short courses only. Business meetings have a separate e-Business visa, and employment requires a work visa from the embassy.
In closing
An India visa is twenty minutes of online work with an answer in three to five days. What matters is applying through the official portal, choosing the right duration and planning your arrival at a designated airport. The Viza.az team helps with the form, with getting the photo to specification and with planning the route.
Read more about India as a destination and our service fees, or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is accurate as of the publication date. Fees and the list of entry points can change, so check the official portal again before applying.
