India is a sensory overload, chaotic and intimidating but intoxicatingly gorgeous. This sub-continental trip has an assemblage of customs, cuisines, and adventures that ensure an experience you won't be able to get anywhere else. It is home to 1.2 billion people and has a diversified landscape that includes deep forests, towering mountain ranges, and tropical coastlines.
More than 54,000 Portuguese citizens visit India each year to experience tradition and culture, sightseeing, relative visit or business trips. Portugal is one of 169 countries in which citizens can apply for an Indian e-Visa after meeting all requirements for the online visa, enabling them to travel more easily to India.
1. India e visa for Portuguese citizens and Visa Types
India eVisa Benefits for Portuguese citizens
Portuguese nationals can use the India eVisa application to:
- In just a few minutes, you can apply for a visa from India from the comfort of your own home.
- Upload printed copies of supporting documents
- Receive an authorized eVisa through email, eliminating the need to schedule an appointment to pick up a document at an embassy or consulate.
- Pay the eVisa fee using a credit/debit card through a secure online system.
- Simply submit a copy of the approved eVisa at a border checkpoint to gain expedited admission into India.
Furthermore, the online Indian visa for Portuguese permits the holder to enter India via any of the following flights or seaports:
Indian e visa types for Portuguese nationals
There are 4 common types of Indian e-Visa that Portuguese can obtain, including:
- e-Tourist Visa: used when you want to make a casual trip to India for sightseeing, pilgrimage or relaxation. With this type of Visa, you will be able to stay in India for 30 days from the date of arrival. e-Visa for tourists is a single-entry kind and cannot be exchanged or converted.
- e-Business Visa: used when you have a business plan in India. With this type, you will have an allowance to stay in India for a total of 365 days from the date of your first arrival with multiple-entry and each time shall not exceed 180 days.
- e-Conference Visa: used when you need to participate in a conference hosted inside India territory. When applying this type, you will be able to stay in India for 30 days from the date of entry with a single entry.
- e-Medical Visa: used when you need to use medical treatment services in India. The validity is 60 days from the date of arrival with triple entry.
2. Indian e visa requirements for Portuguese citizens
Applying for an India e-Visa online is simple for Portugal passport holders and you are not necessary to go to an Indian embassy or consulate by using an online application process, making it easier and more affordable to go to India.
To apply for Indian Visa from Portugal, first you need to provide these documents below:
- A legal Portuguese passport with at least 6 months of validity and 1 blank page for markings, a scanned copy of biographical pages of your Visa, and one passport-sized photograph with white background and clear face.
- Proof of accommodation, invitation letter, travel itinerary, and return tickets: depending on your situation, you need to provide corresponding documents.
- Valid email address to receive your e-Visa.
- COVID-19 document: in some cases, you will have to provide your personal COVID-19 vaccination records. In addition, you can add a Indian travel insurance (optional) for increasing your chance of getting approved as well as keeping your benefit when traveling abroad.
In addition, you must submit your full name, date of birth, address and contact information, passport information, and nationality to completely complete the e-Visa application form for India.
The e-Visa will be provided via email if accepted, thus you must verify your email addresses during the application process. To enter India, you must print a copy of your e-Visa and keep it with them throughout your stay.
Electronic visas that have been approved can be used to enter India through any of the country's 28 recognized airports and five seaports. Anyone intending to enter India through an undesignated port of entry must get a normal visa.
Electronic visas cannot be extended and are not valid for travel to restricted locations, therefore you should keep this in mind.
3. The cost of an Indian visa for Portuguese citizens
After completing your documents, you need to add a small fee for Visa payment, including 2 main kinds of India visa fees: compulsory Government fee and adjustable service fee. For the government fee, since Portugal is not on India’s exemption list, as a Portuguese, you will need to pay that fee for entrance. For the service fee, there are 3 kinds for you to choose from:
- Normal: used in most casual cases. You will receive your e-Visa within 3 business days.
- Urgent: used when you are in a hurry. With this kind of service, you will receive your result within 24 hours.
- Super urgent: used in emergencies when you need to get your Visa in hours. With this kind, you just need to wait for around 5 business hours to receive your e-Visa via mail delivery.
Payment method: to complete your application process, you need to pay a total fee. There are 2 available methods: electronic payment and wire transfer. For electronic payment, you can choose a method of payment from these: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Paypal.
India Visa Requirements for Portugal Citizens FAQs
Do Portuguese citizens need visas for India?
Yes, Portuguese citizens need a visa to travel to India. Due to its fascinating culture and practicality, many Portuguese citizens include India on their bucket lists. More than 150 nations, including Portuguese citizens, can apply online for an India e-Visa.
The India e-Visa for Portuguese citizens is a document allowing entry into India through the electronic system. It was created to replace the traditional visa system with a stamp.
You should print a copy since you must provide it when you arrive. We always recommend that passengers print any material relating to their e-visa, including the confirmation e-mail and a copy of their passport. You can also get a floppy copy and give it to the airline and border officers when you arrive.
Remember that the Indian eVisa for Portuguese Citizens allows you to stay in India for a maximum of 90 days per entry and multiple entries. However, remember that the electronic visa is only accepted at 25 airports and 5 seaports. A consular visa is required if you enter through other ports of entry.
Is there a requirement for Portuguese Citizens to visit the Indian Embassy at any stage?
When applying for an Indian visa online from Portugal, there is no need to visit an Indian Embassy or Consulate at any point. You can proceed to the airport once you have got your eVisa for India via email.
You are not required to attend the Indian Embassy for confirmation or passport stamping, and you are not required to visit the Indian Embassy.
Indian Visa Online is recorded in the Government of India's central computer system, and Immigration Officers can view this information from any airport worldwide. The computer system stores your name, passport number, and Portuguese nationality.
Portuguese citizens must save a soft copy of an email received on their phone/computer/tablet or a printed copy of the eVisa and bring it to the airport. For the electronic Indian Visa Online (eVisa India) that is provided by email, no stamp is required on Portuguese citizens' passports.
Can I apply for a Business Visit to India on a Portuguese passport?
Under the Indian Government's eVisa India (India Visa Online) program, Indian Visas from Portugal can be obtained for business, tourism, and medical trips.
The Indian Business Visa allows you to stay in the country for 180 days. It is, however, valid for one year or 365 days and is a several-entry visa, which means that while you can only stay in the nation for 180 days at a time, you can enter the country several times for as long as the e-visa is valid. As the name implies, you would be qualified for it only if the nature and purpose of your journey to the nation are commercial or related to business concerns.
Any other Visa, such as a Tourist Visa, would likewise be inapplicable if you were here for business. In addition to these eligibility criteria for the Business Visa for India, you must also fulfill the basic eligibility requirements for the e-visa, and if you do, you will be qualified to apply for it.
The Indian business Visa is open to any overseas tourists visiting India for commercial purposes or any type of enterprise seeking to generate a profit. These purposes may include selling or purchasing goods and services in India, attending business meetings such as technical or sales conferences, establishing industrial or business ventures, conducting tours, delivering lectures, recruiting workers, and participating in trade and business fairs and exhibitions, coming to the country as an expert or specialist in some commercial projects. As a result, there are several grounds on which you may apply for an Indian business visa, as long as they are all tied to commercial or business enterprises.
How to travel to India from Portugal
There are two main ways to travel to India from Portugal: by air or sea.
By air:
This is the fastest and most convenient way to travel from Portugal to India. Several airlines offer direct flights from Lisbon and Porto to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. The flight time is approximately 10-12 hours.
By sea:
This is a more budget-friendly option, but it takes longer and can be more challenging. A few shipping companies offer passenger services from Portugal to India, and the journey takes approximately 15-20 days.
Here are some tips for traveling from Portugal to India:
- Book your tickets in advance, especially if traveling during peak season.
- Get your India visa online before you travel. You can apply for an Indian visa online or at an embassy or consulate.
- Always have your passport and visa ready. You must present this to immigration officials at the border between Portugal and India.
- Be patient and flexible. Traveling to developing countries sometimes goes differently than planned, so be prepared to adjust your itinerary if necessary.
Is it hard to get a SIM card in India?
No. Obtaining a SIM card in India is easy, but some restrictions must be met, particularly if you are a foreign national.
If you are not an Indian citizen visiting India, you must follow a different procedure than Indian nationals. Foreign citizens do not have Aadhaar cards, requiring a distinct documentation set. Due to the lack of Aadhaar for identity verification, overseas nationals must fill out a paper form to obtain an India SIM card.
If you want a prepaid (pay-as-you-go) connection, bring the following documents to your local Vodafone, Airtel, or Reliance Jio shop in India.
- Passport and photocopy
- A copy of the visa
- Passport-sized images (typically just one is required, but bring four just in case, as telecom operators in some Indian states demand four photographs)
The following papers are required for postpaid connections. This varies significantly per carrier but bring these documents (and, if possible, an Indian national who can vouch for you) to the store just to be cautious.
- Passport and photocopy
- a copy of the visa
- Passport-sized images (typically just one is required, but bring four just in case, as telecom operators in some Indian states demand four photographs)
- Details of a local reference
- Proof of local address
You must provide contact information for any Indian national you know (preferably a friend or relative) and verify your Indian residence, such as utility bills or a lease agreement. For postpaid connections, the telecom operator may additionally require verification at your local location. Thus, a representative from the company may visit your home in India within a week after issuing the SIM card. In some circumstances, such as Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, you must present that card and submit a photocopy when applying for a new SIM card.
Which language is spoken in Goa?
Goa is an Indian state on the western coast. Panaji is Goa's capital. It is a tiny yet multilingual country. Portuguese was the most widely spoken language in Goa during the Portuguese administration. Even now, older generations speak Portuguese proficiently.
However, Konkani is the most widely spoken language in Goa, followed by English, Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, and Kannada. There has been considerable pressure to make Konkani the official language in Roman script, and there is widespread support for establishing Konkani as the sole official language of Goa. Because Goa is a popular tourist destination, many people speak English. Marathi is a co-official language that is utilized in numerous government documents. Kannada is spoken by a few people near the Karnataka border, and the language has a long history in the state. The state also speaks Hindi, the national language. Read more: Diversity of Languages in India - 22 languages of India