Skip to content In the recent months, India has gradually expanded the number of entry points available to travelers holding an e-Visa, increasing flexibility for international arrivals. This marks a significant evolution of the system.
New entry points
Historically, authorities limited entry into India with an e-Visa to a relatively small number of airports and seaports.
For instance, in the past years applicants could arrive at 29 e-Visa designated airports. These included: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Gaya, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kannur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai, Nagpur, Portblair, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Trivandrum, Varanasi, Vishakhapatnam and 5 designated seaports (i.e. Chennai , Cochin, Goa, Mangalore, Mumbai). Applicants could depart from any of the authorized Immigration Check Posts in India.
However, between late 2025 and early 2026, the Indian government progressively updated the list of authorized entry points, bringing the total to over 50. This has substantially broadened access options for travelers.
This expansion represents an important step toward improving accessibility, particularly for those traveling to secondary or less central destinations. In the past, many itineraries required mandatory transit through major hubs such as Delhi or Mumbai. Today, it is increasingly possible to plan direct arrivals closer to final destinations, reducing both travel time and logistical complexity.
Consequences for travel planning
Despite this expansion, it is important to note that authorities have not fully liberalized the system. The e-Visa remains valid only for entry through specific authorized Immigration Check Posts. Travelers must therefore carefully verify that their intended point of arrival is on the official list. Attempting to enter through a non-authorized port or airport may result in denial of entry, even if the traveler holds a valid e-Visa.
Unlike other immigration reforms, so far authorities did not publish a single centralized announcement or widely publicized policy statement. Instead, the changes have emerged through incremental updates to official lists on government portals, supported by technical communications.
This incremental approach likely reflects an operational rather than political strategy. Rather than introducing a sweeping reform at once, authorities appear to be gradually expanding the network of entry points in line with international traffic patterns and infrastructure capacity.
From a practical standpoint, the outcome is clear: travelers today have significantly more options for entering India than in previous years. However, the need to verify the latest list of authorized entry points remains essential during the trip planning process.
In conclusion, India is making its e-Visa system more flexible and accessible while maintaining strict control over entry points. It is a meaningful development, but one that still requires careful attention and verification by travelers.