Most foreign travellers visit Northeast India on an Indian e-Tourist visa, applied for online on the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in. Apply at least 4 days before you arrive, and make sure your passport is valid for at least six months. The e-Visa list of entry airports includes Guwahati, the main gateway to the Northeast, and Bagdogra for Darjeeling and Sikkim, as well as Kolkata and Delhi.
One thing catches many visitors out: the e-Visa is not valid on its own for protected or restricted areas. For Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram you also need a permit, applied for online on e-FRRO. Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura need only the visa. Rules are as of October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Visa: e-Tourist visa for 30 days, 1 year or 5 years, applied for at indianvisaonline.gov.in.
- Timing: apply at least 4 days before arrival. Pay the fee at least 4 days before travel.
- Gateways: Guwahati airport for most of the Northeast, Bagdogra for Darjeeling and Sikkim.
- Permits: the e-Visa does not cover Sikkim, Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur or Mizoram. Apply for a PAP or RAP on e-FRRO, ideally 30 days ahead.
- Use only the official site. Fees are set by nationality and are non-refundable.
Which e-Tourist visa should you choose?
| e-Tourist visa | Validity | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days | One month, multiple entry, cannot be extended | A single trip of up to a month |
| 1 year | 365 days from grant | Repeat visits, or combining India with Nepal, Bhutan or Thailand |
| 5 years | Five years from grant | Frequent visitors |
For the 1-year and 5-year visas, the official site says your total stay in India must not exceed 180 days in a calendar year. The 30-day visa cannot be extended or converted into another visa type.
How to apply
- Use the official site only: indianvisaonline.gov.in. Many look-alike sites charge extra fees.
- Check your passport: it must be valid for at least six months when you apply.
- Fill in the form and upload a photo and your passport bio page.
- Pay the fee. The fee depends on your nationality, the bank adds 3 percent, and it is not refundable. It must be paid at least 4 days before you travel.
- Wait for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check that the status shows "GRANTED", then print it and carry it with your passport.
Where can you enter on an e-Visa?
The official list of e-Visa entry airports includes:
- Guwahati (GAU): the hub for Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal and Nagaland. It also has direct international flights, such as the route to Bangkok in our Guwahati to Bangkok flight guide.
- Bagdogra (IXB): for Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim.
- Kolkata (CCU) and Delhi (DEL): with many connections on to Guwahati and Bagdogra.
Imphal, Dibrugarh and Agartala airports were not on the e-Visa airport list when we checked, so plan to enter India elsewhere and fly on domestically.
The e-Visa site also lists a small number of land border points, including some on the Bangladesh and Bhutan borders. The list has changed several times, and different pages of the site have disagreed, so check the current list on indianvisaonline.gov.in before you plan to arrive by land.
Permits: what the e-Visa does not cover
The official e-Visa site says the e-Visa is "not valid for visiting Protected/Restricted and Cantonment Areas" without prior permission. In the Northeast that means:
| State | Visa only? | Extra permit |
|---|---|---|
| Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura | Yes | None |
| Darjeeling, Kalimpong | Yes | None |
| Sikkim | No | Restricted Area Permit on e-FRRO |
| Arunachal Pradesh | No | Protected Area Permit via an approved operator |
| Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram | No | Protected Area Permit on e-FRRO |
Apply for permits at least 30 days before travel, or 15 days ahead if you are already in India. Our Northeast India permit guide for foreigners covers every state, with separate guides for Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
Combining India with Bhutan or Thailand
- Bhutan: many travellers drive from Guwahati to the Samdrup Jongkhar border. If you will re-enter India afterwards, choose a visa that allows multiple entries, such as the 1-year e-Tourist visa, and check that your exit and re-entry points are allowed. Our Bhutan from Guwahati guide explains the route.
- Thailand: the direct Guwahati–Bangkok flight makes it easy to add a few days in Thailand. Again, a multiple-entry visa gives you more flexibility.
Plan it with Breeziah
Most foreign travellers start in Guwahati and spend a few days in Meghalaya and Kaziranga, which need no permit, while their permits for Arunachal or Sikkim are processed. Our Best of Northeast India tour and Bhutan tour from Guwahati are popular with international guests.
Sources
- Government of India e-Visa portal, "e-Tourist Visa" information page (indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html), retrieved 19 October 2026: visa types and validity; 180 days per calendar year; apply at least 4 days ahead; 6-month passport validity; fees by country plus 3 percent bank charge, non-refundable; e-Visa not valid for protected, restricted and cantonment areas; designated entry points.
- High Commission of India, Kampala, PAP / RAP page, updated October 2026: e-FRRO only; 30-day and 15-day lead times.
Yes. The e-Tourist visa is valid for Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura on its own. For Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram you also need a permit applied for on e-FRRO.
Yes. Guwahati is on the official list of e-Visa entry airports, as is Bagdogra for Darjeeling and Sikkim.
At least 4 days before arrival. If you also need a PAP or RAP, start at least 30 days before travel so the permit has time to come through.
No. The 30-day e-Tourist visa cannot be extended or converted. If you might stay longer, apply for the 1-year e-Tourist visa.
Only at the land border points on the official e-Visa list, which has changed over time. Check the current list on indianvisaonline.gov.in before you plan a land arrival.