What Happens If I Overstay My Indian e-Visa?

If you overstay your Indian e-Visa, you may face financial penalties, difficulties leaving India, and problems obtaining visas in the future. Contact the Foreigners Regional Registration Office or Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO/FRO) promptly to resolve your status and obtain the necessary departure permission to leave India.

The penalty schedule starts at ₹10,000 for an overstay of 1–30 days.

What penalties can apply?

An Indian e-Visa overstay can lead to financial and legal consequences. Under Section 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, the maximum criminal punishment includes up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹300,000, or both. These are statutory maximums, not automatic outcomes for every traveler.

The general overstay schedule is:

Length of overstay	Compounding amount
1–30 days	₹10,000
31–90 days	₹20,000
91–180 days	₹50,000
181 days to one year	₹100,000
More than one year	₹200,000 plus ₹50,000 for each year of overstay, capped at ₹300,000

Ask FRRO to confirm the amount applicable to your circumstances, particularly for periods exceeding one year. Payment does not itself extend your permission to stay.

What should you do if you have already overstayed?

If you discover an Indian e-Visa overstay, address it before your intended departure:

1. Check your documents. Review your passport, e-Visa approval, arrival stamp, and any immigration endorsements to establish your permitted stay.
2. Contact the responsible FRRO/FRO. Explain when your permission ended, why you remained, and when you intend to leave.
3. Use the official e-FRRO service. Follow the instructions for the relevant immigration service, including an Exit Permit where required.
4. Prepare supporting evidence. Have your passport, visa details, accommodation information, and documents explaining the delay ready. Submit the documents requested for your case.
5. Follow the decision. Complete any required payment and comply with the departure conditions issued by the authorities.

The official e-FRRO system handles services including Exit Permits. An office visit is generally unnecessary unless the responsible FRRO/FRO specifically calls you in.

Can you pay at the airport and leave?

For overstays of up to 30 days, the compounding notification authorizes either FRRO or an immigration officer at an immigration post to handle compounding. However, this does not guarantee immediate departure clearance. Contact FRRO beforehand and confirm the Exit Permit requirements rather than leaving the matter until check-in.

Can you extend your e-Visa to avoid an overstay?

The Indian e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. You should therefore plan to leave within your authorized stay rather than assuming an extension will be available.

If illness or another emergency could cause an Indian e-Visa overstay, contact FRRO/FRO as soon as possible. Keep medical records, flight cancellation notices, or other relevant evidence, and ask what procedure applies. Do not assume that the emergency automatically changes your departure deadline.

Will an overstay affect future visits?

Yes. An Indian e-Visa overstay may affect your chances of receiving another Indian visa or being admitted on a later visit.

Keep copies of your immigration correspondence, payment receipts, Exit Permit, and departure records. If a future application asks about previous immigration violations, answer accurately and provide the requested explanation.

For a future trip after resolving your Indian e-Visa overstay, you can check eligibility and request e-Visa application assistance from Indian Immigration Services. This private service provides application support; decisions on visas, overstay cases, and departure permission remain with the Indian authorities.