Yes, you can re-enter India overland with an e-Visa

India, a land of endless diversity, welcomes millions of international visitors every year. To simplify entry, the Government of India launched the e-Visa system—an efficient solution for many travellers. One key limitation, however, affects how e-Visa holders can enter the country: valid entry points.

Approved entry points for the Indian e-Visa

Holders of an Indian e-Visa may only enter the country by air or sea. This restriction is critical for travellers considering overland entry, such as from Nepal or Bangladesh.

India has designated more than two dozen international airports as valid entry points for e-Visa holders. These include major hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, along with smaller gateway cities like Jaipur, Goa, and Varanasi. The breadth of this network gives travellers significant flexibility when planning their itineraries.

For those arriving by sea, India also accepts e-Visas at several seaports, including Mumbai, Cochin, and the recently added Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. This option is particularly useful for cruise passengers and yachting enthusiasts.

Overland entry restrictions

Unlike air and sea entry points, land and rail border crossings are not permitted for the first entry into India under an e-Visa. This restriction may surprise travellers accustomed to overland border crossings in other parts of the world.

Exception for multiple-entry visas

There is one notable exception to this rule: holders of double- or multiple-entry e-Visas may enter India overland, but only after an initial entry by air or sea using the same e-Visa. This flexibility lets travellers combine different transport modes during their trip, providing more ways to explore the region.

Exiting India

While initial entries are limited, e-Visa holders enjoy full flexibility when leaving India. They may exit by air, land, sea, or rail, making it easy to continue journeys to neighbouring countries without visa-related constraints.

For example, a visitor wishing to combine India with a trip to Nepal must first enter India by air or sea and then depart overland to Nepal.

India continues to expand the scope of the e-Visa programme and is gradually commissioning additional rail border checkpoints.