Okay, so, I needed to get an Indian visa the other day, and let me tell you, it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. I decided to go the online route ’cause, you know, it’s 2023, and who wants to deal with paperwork and long lines?
First things first, I did a bit of Googling. Just typed in “Indian visa online” and a bunch of stuff popped up. Some were from official-looking sites and others were from, well, let’s just say less official-looking ones. I wanted to play it safe, so I stuck with the ones that seemed legit.
I stumbled upon this app called “Su-Swagatam” for like 60 countries. I think I remember seeing that it’s an official app for getting an Indian Visa. Sounded fancy, but the process was actually pretty straightforward. It talked about different types of e-Visas, like e-Tourist, e-Business, and a few others. I just needed the tourist one, so I focused on that.
There was this online application form I had to fill out. Basic stuff, you know? Name, passport details, travel dates, why you’re going, all that jazz. Make sure you double-check everything before you hit submit. You don’t want any mistakes messing up your application!
Choosing the right e-Visa Type
- e-Tourist Visa: This was the one I needed. It is good for 30 days, 1 year or 5 years.
- e-Business Visa: For the folks going for business meetings and stuff.
- Others: There were a few other types, but these two were the main ones.
Now, about paying for it. There is going to be a fee, and it can vary depending on your nationality and the type of visa you’re applying for. I paid mine with a credit card, no problem. I did see something about an “emergency visa” option but didn’t need that luckily, so I just applied for the normal one, which took a couple of days to be processed.
After you hit submit, it’s a waiting game. They say it usually takes a few days to process, but mine came through in like two business days. Not bad, right? They email you the e-Visa, and you just need to print it out and bring it with you when you travel.
Oh, and one more thing. I did read somewhere that you should apply for the e-Visa at least four days before you plan to travel. Just to be safe, you know? Don’t leave it to the last minute! Anyway, I’ve got my visa now, so excited to be heading over to India for the first time!
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