India's Ministry of Tourism expanded the e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) program to 166 nationalities, up from 157 last year, in a quiet announcement made late on January 25 and verified on January 26, 2026. Kenya, Algeria, Fiji, Uruguay, Armenia, and North Macedonia are among the newcomers; these countries are crucial partners for Indian businesses in the energy sector, sourcing, and emerging markets.
India Boosts Business Travel by Extending the e-Tourist Visa Program to 166 Countries]
Travelers apply on the government portal, upload a passport scan and photo, pay the fee with a credit card, and often receive an electronic travel authorization within 72 hours. The e-TV process is still entirely online. For travel, conferences, and brief business meetings, the permit permits two entries and a maximum 30-day stay. After arrival, holders can visit a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to extend their validity to 90 days under the business or medical subcategories.
VisaHQ can handle the full application process for tourists or business travelers who would rather have a single window for tracking status and verifying documentation. Its crew examines each file before submission, reducing rejections and allowing HR or travel managers to concentrate on trip preparation rather than paperwork. Its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) compiles the most recent eligibility list, pricing structures, and photo guidelines.
The growth is more than symbolic for multinational corporations with their headquarters in India as well as foreign companies who transfer employees there for short-term assignments. It shortens lead times for last-minute travel, which has long been a problem for procurement and sales teams, and does away with the requirement for paper applications at Indian missions in nine more nations. Businesses that depend on Latin American or African suppliers will now be able to negotiate contracts or fly in quality-control engineers without having to deal with a backlog at the consulate.
The action also shows that India intends to employ digital technologies to compete with rival hubs in the Gulf and Southeast Asia that already have simplified e-visa policies. Data from the Tourism Ministry shows that e-TV arrivals increased 34% year over year in 2025, with 28% of users using a "business" or "conference" purpose code. This indicates that the program has subtly evolved into both a business-mobility facilitator and a tourist attraction.
In addition to reminding assignees that the e-TV cannot be extended beyond 30 days or converted into a work visa unless the trip comes inside the particular 90-day business upgrade, companies should revise their travel policies to reflect the updated list. Regular travelers who want longer stays must still apply at an Indian mission for a standard Business (B) visa.
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29 Jan 2026
