India Visa & OCI for Australians — A Plain-English Guide
Before you book flights to India, sort the paperwork. Here is how the e-Visa and the OCI card actually work for Australians, in plain English.
Before you book flights to India, there is one thing worth getting right early: your entry document. For Australians that usually means an e-Visa, and for people of Indian origin it often means an OCI card. Here is how each works, without the jargon.
This is general information to help you plan, not immigration advice. Rules and fees change, so always confirm the current details on the official Indian government sites linked below before you apply.
If you hold an Australian passport: the e-Visa
Australian passport holders can apply for India's e-Visa online. For most family visits and holidays, the one you want is the e-Tourist visa, which comes in three lengths, all multiple-entry:
- 30 days
- 1 year
- 5 years
At the time of writing the fees are roughly US$25 for the 30-day (it drops to about US$10 in the April–June low season), US$40 for the 1-year, and US$80 for the 5-year, plus a small bank charge. Because the fee is set per country and changes seasonally, check the live figure when you apply.
If you travel to India even semi-regularly to see family, the 1-year or 5-year visa is usually the better value than paying for a 30-day each time. On the longer visas you can enter as many times as you like, but your total stay in any calendar year cannot exceed 180 days.
Use the official site — and only the official site
Apply here and nowhere else:
indianvisaonline.gov.in
There are many lookalike third-party sites that charge two or three times the real fee for the same visa. They are not the government. The official portal is the only place that issues the e-Visa.
A few practical points:
- Apply at least four days before you fly (earlier is safer).
- Your passport needs at least six months validity and a couple of blank pages.
- India has introduced an online e-Arrival Card that travellers complete shortly before departure — check the official portal for the current requirement when you book, as this is a newer step.
When the e-Visa is not enough
The e-Visa does not cover everything. For long stays, work, journalism, or travel to certain protected or restricted areas, you will need a regular sticker visa through the Indian High Commission or Consulate (via VFS) here in Australia.
If you are of Indian origin: the OCI card
If you were once an Indian citizen, or your parents or grandparents were, you may be eligible for an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card. This is the big one for many families, because an OCI holder does not need a visa at all.
What OCI gives you
- A lifelong, multiple-entry right to visit India for almost any purpose — no visa application before each trip.
- No need to register with local authorities on arrival.
- Parity with Indian nationals on things like domestic airfares and monument entry fees.
- The ability to own most property in India (agricultural land aside).
What OCI is not
OCI is not dual citizenship. You keep your Australian citizenship and do not become an Indian citizen. It is a lifelong visa status issued by the Government of India, not something the Australian government administers.
Who is eligible
Broadly: former Indian citizens, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and spouses of an Indian citizen or OCI holder where the marriage has been registered and has lasted at least two years. One thing to note for readers of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage: anyone whose parents or grandparents were citizens of Pakistan or Bangladesh is not eligible for OCI.
Cost and timing
You apply online through the official OCI portal (ociservices.gov.in), then complete biometrics and submission through VFS or the consulate. Budget around US$275 per applicant and allow at least a month for processing, often longer in busy periods. Confirm the current fee and the exact AUD total, including service charges, on the VFS Global (India) Australia site.
The new-passport rule
The rules here were simplified recently. In short: you generally do not have to re-issue your OCI every time you renew your passport. Instead you upload your new passport and a photo online, usually within three months of receiving it. There is one mandatory re-issue — when you get your first new passport after turning 20 — so the card captures your adult features. Because consulate pages sometimes still show the older wording, confirm the current rule on the official portal before you travel.
A quick word on Pakistan
If you are flying to Pakistan instead, the picture is different. Pakistan has moved to an online e-Visa system (apply before you travel, do not rely on visa-on-arrival), and people of Pakistani origin should look into a NICOP or POC card, which allows visa-free entry. Apply through the official Pakistan online visa portal, and check the current rules before booking.
Sort the visa, then let us sort the flights
Getting the paperwork right early means you can book with confidence. Once you know your dates, we will find the cheapest sensible way to get the whole family to India — with the baggage and flexibility that matter on the long haul home.
See our route guides for Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, or request a callback and talk to a real consultant.