Essential Indian e-Visa Requirements for Cape Verdean citizens

Located in South Asia, India is known for its rich local culture and unique features that define the country’s character. With travelers arriving from all over the world, India is one of Asia's top tourist destinations. Here, tourists are able to experience the country's culture, cuisine, and customs for themselves.

E-Visas were introduced in India to make it easier for travelers from around the world to visit the country. Because tourism is expanding rapidly, the Government of India has been making efforts to promote this sector.

India e-Visas are available to citizens from more than 150 countries (including Cape Verde). The application process for an Indian e-Visa can be completed in a matter of minutes entirely online at the Indian Immigration Services website. Travelers can now complete all of the requirements for an Indian visa online from the comfort of their homes, saving them the trouble of having to go to a consulate or embassy in person.

1. Types of Indian e-Visa for Cape Verdean citizens

Applicants for Indian e-Visas from Cape Verde can apply for an Indian visa online, depending on the purpose of their trip.

• Indian e-Tourist visa: To enter the country for tourism, travelers will have to obtain an e-Tourist Visa. Citizens of Cape Verde can apply for three types of tourist e-Visas, depending on the length of their stay in India

With this double-entry e-Visa, you can stay in India for up to 30 days from the date of arrival.

If you want to stay longer in India for leisure purposes, to visit relatives and friends, or to participate in short-term yoga programs and local language classes, you can apply for a long-term e-tourist visa, including the India Tourist Visa for 1 Year and 5 Years. These visas allow multiple entries, with each stay limited to less than 90 days

• Indian e-Business Visa: An Indian e-Business visa is needed for visitors who are visiting for business purposes. This visa is valid for 365 days from the date of grant of ETA, with each stay not exceeding 180 days, with a continuous period of each visit not exceeding 180 days.
• e-Conference Visa: With a single-entry visa, you can stay in India for up to 30 days from the day of your arrival.
• Indian e-Medical Visa: When you stay in the country to receive medical treatment, you will need to apply for an e-Medical visa. With this visa, you can stay in India for a maximum of 60 days from the date of your first entry. It entitles you to three visits to India.
• Indian Ayush visa: The Government of India has created a new visa category called Ayush (AY) Visa, specifically designed for foreigners seeking treatment in the Indian healthcare system. On 2 August, the Government informed everyone about this new policy. The visa is open to anyone interested in Ayurveda, Yoga, and other traditional forms of therapy and well-being. The Ayurvedic visa allows three entries and is valid for 60 days from the date of issue

To ensure that Cape Verde travelers apply for the correct type of e-Visa, they are strongly encouraged to research the several types of e-Visas that are currently available to them.

Does a Cape Verdean citizen have to go to any embassy office for an Indian eVisa? 

No, Cape Verdean residents do not need to visit any Indian diplomatic office throughout their eVisa application process. Online India visa services were launched to reduce the requirement for actual visits to embassies and save time for foreign tourists. As a result, the Indian government has made the whole Indian eVisa procedure available online.

In India, immigration officers will access your information through a centralized system, eliminating the requirement for your Cape Verdean passport's physical stamp or confirmation sticker.

Can a Cape Verdean obtain a business visa for India online?

Yes, Cape Verdeans may get an Indian business visa online. A business invitation letter is one of the supporting papers required for the Indian e-business visa, which allows for multiple entries during its one-year duration.

2. Indian visa requirements for Cape Verdean citizens

In order to be eligible for an Indian e-Visa, applicants will need to be in possession of a valid email address, a passport, and a credit or debit card in their name. In addition to this prerequisite, applicants are expected to fulfill the following requirements:

• In order to enter India, visitors' passports have to be valid for at least six months after the date they arrive in the country and the passport should still have at least two blank pages where entry and exit stamps can be affixed.
• A scan of the passport’s biographical page
• A personal photograph of the applicant that was taken within the last 06 months
• An email address to receive the Indian electronic visa

Travelers must carry a copy of their e-Tourist visa throughout their stay in India. Remember that if you choose another type of Indian e-Visa than the tourist one, you may require additional documents as below:

• An Invitation letter from the host and an ID card/Passport of the host (For a Business visa).
• Medical letter from an Indian hospital. Attendants must have an eVisa number from e-Medical holders to apply (for a Medical visa).
• An Invitation letter from the conference organizer and political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (For e-conference visa)

There are 28 designated airports and 5 seaports from which travelers can enter the country using the Indian e-Visa. However, travelers are free to leave the nation at any immigration checkpoint that has been permitted.

3. How to apply for an Indian visa online from Cape Verde

The application requires travelers to provide some information regarding their personal, passport, and visa details.

It will also be possible for travelers to pay a processing fee online with a debit card or credit card. Travelers are strongly advised to review all the information they have entered in the application to verify that it is correct and that it corresponds to the information that is printed on their passports. You can boost your chances of being approved and, what is even more crucial, increase your chances of approval by including documents such as Indian travel insurance

After the application has been processed, the tourist will have their e-Visa emailed to them in a maximum of 03 business days. It is recommended for travelers to have at least a printed copy of their approved e-Tourist visa upon arrival in India to show to the Indian Immigration and Border Officials along with their passports.

An entry stamp will then be placed on the passport, which is an official record of the traveler's entry into the country.

Read more: How to apply for an eVisa

4. Indian e-Visa fee for Cape Verdean citizens

When compared to the overall expenses of a trip from Cape Verde to India, the India Visa Fee is a small but inevitable cost. A service fee and a government fee need to be paid for an Indian visa online, respectively.

The government fee is set by the Indian government and may vary by nationality and visa type. However, the service fee is not fixed. For a service fee, Indian Immigration Services offers you three choices and the processing time corresponding to each of them:

• Normal: You can get your Visa within a maximum of 05 days with this option.
• Urgent: Your e-Visa will be available in 48 hours with this option. As a result, you are required to pay an additional fee.

In addition, Indian Immigration Services currently also provides other package services to assist Cape Verdean citizens while traveling to India, such as a Car pick-up service in India, and an Indian eSim