India: do South Africans need a visa?
South Africans need to apply online for an e-visa before travel to India.
e-Tourist 30 days: valid 30 days from first arrival, multiple entry (the portal text says multiple; older versions said double), not extendable or convertible. e-Tourist 1 year and 5 years: multiple entry, valid from date of grant, no more than 180 days in India per calendar year. e-Business: 1 year, multiple entry, maximum 180 days continuous stay.
e-Visa required (South Africa is on the e-Visa eligibility list). A regular paper visa via VFS Global in South Africa is also available. No visa on arrival for South Africans (India's VoA is limited to nationals of Japan, South Korea and the UAE).14
India is one of 51 countries where South Africans apply online before travelling. See them all.
Before you travel
Length of stay
e-Tourist 30 days: valid 30 days from first arrival, multiple entry (the portal text says multiple; older versions said double), not extendable or convertible. e-Tourist 1 year and 5 years: multiple entry, valid from date of grant, no more than 180 days in India per calendar year. e-Business: 1 year, multiple entry, maximum 180 days continuous stay.12
Confirmed on an official government source
Purpose of visit
e-Visa sub-types available to South Africans: e-Tourist (30 days, 1 year, 5 years), e-Business, e-Conference, e-Medical, e-Medical Attendant, e-Ayush, e-Student, e-Transit, e-Family, e-Emergency X-Misc. e-Visa is not valid for Protected/Restricted or Cantonment areas without prior permission.1
Confirmed on an official government source
Passport validity
How to apply
Apply online only at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/ (Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs). Apply at least 4 days and up to 120 days before arrival. Fees for South Africans: e-Tourist 30 days USD 0 (both seasons); e-Tourist 1 year USD 25; e-Tourist 5 years USD 25; e-Business USD 25; e-Medical and e-Medical Attendant USD 0. A bank charge of about 3% (4% PayPal) is added to any non-zero fee; fees are non-refundable. Biometrics are captured at immigration on arrival. Enter through one of the designated e-Visa airports or seaports (portal currently lists 36 airports and 38 seaports, up from the 32/5 cited by older sources); exit via any authorised checkpoint.123
Confirmed on an official government source
Where South Africans apply
e-Visa: online only. Regular visas: through VFS Global (no walk-ins at the mission) at Johannesburg (Isle of Houghton Office Park, Boundary Rd, Parktown; covers Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga), Cape Town (1st Floor, 47 Strand Street; covers Western and Northern Cape) and Durban (91-123 Cowey Road, Essenwood; covers KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape). Submission Mon-Fri 08:00-14:30. Mission: High Commission of India, Pretoria; Consulates General in Johannesburg and Durban. Regular visa fee per High Commission schedule from 1 April 2026: visas up to 90 days free for South Africans; tourist visa up to 1 year or 1-5 years ZAR 485 total; business visa ZAR 1,420 total.45
Confirmed on an official government source
Travel insurance
Not published by official sources
Return or onward ticket
Required: return or onward journey ticket.1
Confirmed on an official government source
Proof of funds
Required: sufficient money to spend during the stay (no fixed amount published).1
Confirmed on an official government source
Accommodation or invitation
Not required for e-Tourist. e-Business/e-Conference need an invitation letter from the Indian organisation.1
Not yet confirmed by an official source
Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa
Yellow fever certificate needed only by people arriving from or transiting through a notified yellow-fever endemic country (South Africa is not on the list); without it, quarantine for up to 6 days. A South African flying via, for example, Addis Ababa or Nairobi with only an airport transit is a grey area; check ihpoe.mohfw.gov.in. India is not a yellow-fever risk country, so South Africa's certificate rule does not apply on return.6
Confirmed on an official government source
Arrival forms
e-Arrival Card (digital disembarkation card) introduced from 1 October 2025 for all foreigners. File within 72 hours before arrival on boi.gov.in, indianvisaonline.gov.in or the official 'Indian Visa Su-Swagatam' app. It is free; ignore paid third-party sites. Reports say the paper card was phased out after March 2026 (not confirmed at tier 1).78
Confirmed on an official government source
Extending your stay and overstaying
e-Tourist 30-day visa cannot be extended or converted. Overstay must be regularised through the FRRO/e-FRRO system before exit; penalties not checked.1
Confirmed on an official government source
Transit
e-Transit visa available (30 days, multiple entry). Airside transit without leaving the international area generally does not need a visa (not verified at tier 1).1
Confirmed on an official government source
Travelling with children
Every child needs their own passport (six months' validity) and their own e-Visa application.1
Confirmed on an official government source
What changed
Sources
Official
The destination's own government
- 1Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs (official e-Visa portal) indianvisaonline.gov.in
- 2Government of India e-Visa portal (country-wise e-Tourist fee table) indianvisaonline.gov.in
- 3Government of India e-Visa portal (e-Business/e-Medical fee table) indianvisaonline.gov.in
- 4High Commission of India, Pretoria hcipretoria.gov.in
- 5High Commission of India, Pretoria (visa fee schedule from 1 April 2026) hcipretoria.gov.in
- 6Bureau of Immigration, Government of India boi.gov.in
- 7Embassy of India, Manila (Government of India notice) eoimanila.gov.in
- 8Government of India e-Visa portal (fee/bank charge notes, fake-site warning) indianvisaonline.gov.in
Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book. Spotted something out of date? Report a change.