IVC's guide walks you through everything Philippines citizens need: eligibility, the current free visa offer, fees for every other category, required documents, and the full step-by-step process.
Do Philippines Citizens Need a Visa for India?
Yes. The Philippines is on India's eligible-nationality list for the India e-Visa scheme, and there's no visa-on-arrival for Filipino passport holders. Your India e-Visa needs to be applied for and approved online before you travel.
A few exceptions are worth knowing:
- OCI cardholders (Overseas Citizens of India) don't need a visa at all, regardless of current nationality.
- Diplomatic and official passport holders can't use the India e-Visa system and need to apply through the Embassy of India in Manila directly.
- Anyone whose parent or grandparent (paternal or maternal) was born in or was a permanent resident of Pakistan is not eligible for the e-Visa facility and would need to apply through regular channels instead.
Everyone else with an ordinary Filipino passport applies through the India e-Visa portal. Nationals of Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia go through the identical India e-Visa rule, with their own fee schedules but the same categories, documents, and review process, explain ahead.
India e-Visa Categories Available to Filipino Citizens
Beyond the free 30-day option, Philippines citizens have access to the same range of categories as most other nationalities.
▸ The India e-Tourist Visa covers sightseeing, family visits, short yoga or wellness programs, and short voluntary work of up to one month without payment. It's available in 30-day (the current free option), 1-year, and 5-year durations, with the longer two allowing multiple entries.
▸ The India e-Business Visa suits trade visits, meetings, and commercial exploration. It's valid one year from the date your ETA is granted, with multiple entries permitted.
▸ The India e-Medical Visa is for treatment at a recognized Indian hospital, valid 60 days from first arrival with triple entry, and requires a letter from the treating hospital. A companion can apply for an e-Medical Attendant Visa under the same terms, with up to two attendants allowed per patient.
None of these categories convert into one another once granted, so confirming the right one before applying matters, free offer or not. Such mistakes don't have a fix, but you must learn for those that have, and fix those errors before submitting your India e-visa application!
What Documents Do Filipino Applicants Need?
▸ For the India e-Tourist Visa (including the free 30-day option):
- A valid ordinary Philippines passport with at least 6 months' remaining validity and 2 blank pages
- A recent passport-style photo with a plain white background. No glasses, no headgear. Required in JPG format.
- A clear scan of your passport's bio page in a PDF
- A valid email address, since your approved ETA is sent there
No itinerary, accommodation proof, or invitation letter is required to apply for the tourist category, though immigration officers on arrival may ask to see a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
▸ For the India e-Business Visa, you'll also need an invitation letter from the company or organization you're visiting in India.
▸ For the India e-Medical Visa, a letter from the treating hospital confirming your appointment, written in English, is required in addition to the standard documents.
How Much Does an India Visa Cost for Filipino Citizens?
Here's the full breakdown:
- 30-day e-Tourist Visa: Free of charge through July 31, 2026 (government fee waived)
- 1-year e-Tourist Visa: Standard government fee applies, currently $40
- 5-year e-Tourist Visa: Standard government fee applies, currently $200
- e-Business Visa: $220
- e-Medical Visa: $80
- e-Medical Attendant Visa: $80
- e-Conference Visa: $80
A bank transaction charge applies on top of all of these, including the free 30-day visa, currently listed at up to 3% plus applicable taxes on the official government portal, though some pages still reference an earlier 2.5% figure. It's worth checking the live rate at checkout. Fees and offers are both subject to change, so confirm current numbers before applying on the official portal.
The gratis basis (no visa fee) India e-Visa category for Filipino Citizens
This is the detail most Philippines travelers should know before anything else: the Government of India is currently granting the 30-day India e-Tourist Visa free of charge to Filipino citizens, running from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026.
✔️ What this offer covers:
- The 30-day e-Tourist Visa only, granted as double entry by default
- No government visa fee for this specific category and duration
❌ What it doesn't cover:
- The 1-year and 5-year e-Tourist Visa categories, which still carry standard fees
- The India e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa, and e-Conference Visa, all of which remain chargeable
- The bank transaction charge, which still applies even when the visa fee itself is waived
Since this window closes on July 31, 2026, it's worth applying well before that date if your trip qualifies, and double-checking the offer's current status when you apply, since government arrangements like this are sometimes extended or adjusted without much advance notice.
How to Apply for an India Visa: Step by Step
You may either fill the official application on your own and get it reviewed by IVC before submitting or just follow the IVC procedure. Just submit your details and documents to process the India e-visa application. Your personal details remain safe with us!
Step 1: Start your application.
Select your nationality, visa category, and expected date of arrival in India. For the free offer, make sure you're selecting the 30-day e-Tourist Visa specifically.
Step 2: Fill in your details.
Enter your passport and personal information exactly as it appears on your passport. Mismatches here are among the most common causes of delay or rejection. Provide correct contact details, especially your e-mail address; your ETA arrives here.
Step 3: Upload your documents.
Submit your passport bio-page scan and photograph meeting the format and size requirements (these are mandatory). Based on your visa category, we will suggest any of the supporting documents needed for the application.
Step 4: Confirm and pay.
For every visa category, visa fees is different and the full fee breakdown appears before you confirm through IVC.
Step 5: Application review.
Your details and documents are checked against the category's actual requirements before submission, catching mismatched names, non-compliant photos, or an incorrect document format early. We will inform if any of the information is missing or incorrect, before submitting.
Step 6: Track and receive your visa.
You'll get an application ID on your e-mail to track progress. Once your status reads GRANTED, your ETA arrives by email as a PDF. Print it and carry it with your passport, since immigration wants a physical copy, not just a phone screen.
Apply at least 2–3 weeks before travel where possible. The government's stated minimum is 4 days before arrival, and for the free 30-day visa specifically, applications can be made up to 30 days ahead, but treat these as floors rather than your actual plan, particularly during India's peak season between October and March.
If you want your application to process faster through us, you may avail express(rush) service, in which your application is prioritized, even in peak business days.
Guidelines and Rules Filipino Travelers Should Know
A few conditions matter more than the rest of the process combined:
✅ Entry is restricted to designated ports. You can only enter through an authorized airport, seaport, or land port, though exit is unrestricted from any Immigration Check Post.
✅ The e-Arrival Card is separate from your e-Visa. Mandatory since April 2026 for all foreign nationals, it must be completed within 72 hours before arrival, not at the airport.
✅ Your visa category must match your actual activity. Using the free tourist visa for business purposes is a condition violation, not a minor technicality, and can lead to denial of entry.
✅ India e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible, across every category including the free offer. Genuine emergencies are handled through the e-FRRO portal, applied for before expiry. In case of no emergencies, it is better to leave and apply again.
✅ The free visa offer is time-limited. It applies only to the 30-day e-Tourist category and only through July 31, 2026, after which standard fees are expected to resume unless the offer is extended.
✅ Travelers with a defence, military, security, or police background aren't eligible for an e-Visa and need to apply through the Indian Mission instead.
✅ Religious activity of any kind — preaching, distributing material, or conversion-related activity, is prohibited on all visa types.
✅ If you have visited a Yellow Fever endemic country within 6 days of your India arrival, carry a valid vaccination certificate.
✅ Parts of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) in addition to your e-Visa.
✅ Philippines nationals of Pakistani origin, or those whose parents or grandparents were born in or were permanent residents of Pakistan, are not eligible for an India e-Visa. A regular visa application through the Indian Mission is required.
As a Filipino citizen, If you're traveling with family or colleagues holding different passports, it's worth checking each person's specific terms separately, especially since the free visa offer is specific to Filipino nationals and doesn't extend to other nationalities in your group.
A free visa fee doesn't mean a free pass on getting the details right. The bank charge still applies, the document requirements are the same as any other tourist application, and a mismatched name or non-compliant photo can still mean delays or rejection, regardless of how much the visa itself costs.
Why Filipino Travelers Choose IVC Visas?
Traveling from the Philippines to India offers a vibrant cultural exchange, deep spiritual exploration, and affordability. Filipinos enjoy easy travel logistics with straightforward Indian e-visa processes and direct flights connecting Manila to Delhi. The two nations share deep-rooted parallels in warm, family-oriented hospitality, festive traditions, and vibrant celebrations.
With such easy processes, comes complicated tasks like document reviewing, checking passport validation, choosing authorized ports of arrival and many more.
IVC got your back!
At IVC Visas, every application is reviewed before it reaches the government portal, checking your documents, your photo, and your category selection against what you're actually traveling for.
Whether you're taking advantage of the free 30-day offer or applying for a longer-duration visa, that review protects the trip you're planning around it.
Get in touch with IVC, or start your application whenever you're ready.
Disclaimer: IVC Visas is an independent visa service provider. We assist with application preparation and submission to official government portals. Final visa approval decisions are made solely by Indian immigration authorities. All information is based on current regulations as prescribed by the Government of India, which may change. Always verify the latest requirements before travel.