For Portuguese travelers, India comes with a layer of history. Goa, one of India's most visited states, was Portuguese territory for over 450 years, until 1961. The baroque churches, the cuisine, the architectural details in Panaji's Latin Quarter reflects that Portugal's presence is still visible in stone and culture across the Konkan coast. Visiting India, for a Portuguese passport holder, often means visiting somewhere that still holds traces of home.
Before any of that, there's a visa hurdle to sort. Here's exactly what Portugal nationals need.
Portuguese Passport Holders Need an India e-Visa
Portuguese nationals require an India visa before entering India. There is no visa-free access and no visa on arrival. Your India e-Visa must be confirmed before you board.
The route is entirely online. Apply at the official Indian government portal, pay the visa fee, and your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) arrives by email. No visit to the Embassy of India in Lisbon, no documents to post, no appointment needed.
Two things to confirm before you begin:
- OCI cardholders holding a Portuguese passport are exempt from the India visa requirement entirely.
- Diplomatic and official passport holders are not eligible for an India e-Visa and must apply through the Indian Mission in Lisbon.
Which India e-Visa Do You Need?
The official portal lists nine e-Visa categories. For most Portuguese travelers, these three cover everything:
India e-Tourist Visa: For holidays, sightseeing, visiting family, yoga retreats, Ayurveda program, or short recreational courses not exceeding six months. Available in 30 days (double entry, valid from first arrival), 1 year (multiple entry, max 180 days per calendar year), and 5 years (multiple entry, max 180 days per calendar year).
India e-Business Visa: For trade visits, business meetings, or any commercial activity. Valid for one year from ETA grant, multiple entries, continuous stay per visit not exceeding 180 days.
India e-Medical Visa: For treatment at a recognized Indian hospital, including Ayurvedic and traditional medicine. Valid for 60 days from first arrival, triple entry. Requires a letter from the treating hospital in India on official letterhead.
The remaining six categories: e-Medical Attendant, e-Student, e-Family, e-Transit, e-Miscellaneous, and e-Production Investment are available to Portuguese nationals for more specific purposes.
How Much Does an India e-Visa Cost for Portuguese Citizens?
The India e-Visa fee depends on the category and, for the tourist visa, the season and duration you're applying for.
India e-Tourist 30 days Visa: $10
India e-Tourist 30 days Visa: $25
India e-Tourist 1 year Visa: $40
India e-Tourist 5 year Visa: $200
India e-Business Visa: $120
India e-Medical Visa: $80
India e-Medical Attendant Visa: $80
India e-Conference Visa: $80
A 3% bank transaction charge applies to card payments, and 4% for PayPal, per the official government portal, both inclusive of applicable taxes. These are added automatically at checkout and are non-refundable alongside the visa fee once the application is submitted.
Fees are set by the Government of India and revised periodically. Confirm the current figures before applying, and check eligibility details specific to Portuguese nationals if you hold dual nationality.
Confirm category and requirements through IVC Visas if any of these apply.
Remember all of these Indian e-visas categories are non-extendable. If you wish to extend your stay, learn the right route with IVC Visas.
Document and Other Requirements
✔️ Valid ordinary Portuguese passport:
Minimum 6 months validity from your India arrival date, at least 2 blank pages. If your passport was issued within the last 6 months, carry your previous one to India as well.
✔️ Scanned passport bio page:
Colour PDF, 10 KB–300 KB, all details clearly legible.
✔️ Recent passport photograph:
JPEG, 10 KB–1 MB, plain white background, no glasses, taken within six months. Plain alphabet file name only — no numbers, spaces, or special characters.
✔️ Supporting documents if applicable:
Business card and Invitation letter for e-Business; hospital letter on Indian hospital letterhead for e-Medical. All documents must be in English.
✔️ Valid email address:
Your approved ETA is delivered here. A typo means it goes nowhere.
✔️ Credit/debit card:
Credit or debit card is required for payment. A 3% bank transaction charge applies additionally. Fees are non-refundable once submitted.
Check India visa fee for New Zealand, Malaysia, Finland and other eligible nationalities before applying for an India e-visa.
Five Steps with IVC Visas and ETA is in your Hand!
Step 1: Choose either IVC to complete and submits your Indian e-visa application on your behalf or you fill the form and IVC reviews before submission. Both include a pre-submission photo and document check.
Step 2: Complete the IVC application form: nationality(Portugal), visa category, travel dates, port of arrival, passport details. Every detail must match your passport exactly.
Step 3: Upload your documents, relevant to the visa type. English only. Plain alphabets or numbers file names only.
Step 4: Pay the India e-Visa fee. Non-refundable once submitted.
Step 5: Receive your ETA by email. Print it. Confirm status reads 'GRANTED' before flying.
Apply at least 2–3 weeks before travel as the India Visa processing averages 8–10 business days.
Note: IVC provides rush services also! if you date of arrival in India is nearby and you want your India e-visa to be processed fast and easy, you may opt for the rush service of IVC visas. But remember that there is no official government service that priorities your visa first.
Before You Fly | What Every Portuguese Applicant Must Know
There are critical guidelines that one must adhere to, when applying for an India e-visa and flying with a Portugal passport:
Entry and Exit ports: Your India e-Visa permits entry through certain authorized immigration ports. No other crossing is permitted. Verify your entry point against the authorized ports list before booking.
E-Arrival Card: Mandatory since April 2026. Complete it within 72 hours before arrival via the official portal or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app — before boarding, not at the airport. Biometrics are captured on arrival and your passport is stamped. Ensure the stamp is affixed before leaving the immigration counter.
Only India Visa grant does not guarantee entry: Carry your printed ETA, a confirmed return or onward ticket, and proof of sufficient funds. Immigration officers at the arrival port retain full discretion.
Stay within your visa's purpose: Using an e-Tourist Visa for business activity violates conditions and can result in denial of entry.
Conversions, Extensions and overstays: India e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible. If genuinely unable to depart within validity, apply at FRRO before expiry. Overstaying without approval is an illegal act under Indian immigration law.
Pakistani lineage: Portuguese nationals whose parents or grandparents were born in or were permanently resident in Pakistan are not eligible for an India e-Visa. Apply through the Indian Mission in Lisbon.
Other restrictions:
- Defence, military, or police background holders are not eligible for an India e-Visa.
- Religious preaching or conversion-related activity is prohibited on all visa types.
- If you have transited through a Yellow Fever endemic country within 6 days of arrival, carry a valid vaccination certificate.
- Parts of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh require a Protected Area Permit in addition to your India e-Visa.
- Travel on the same passport used to apply.
Go Through Your Pre-Departure Checklist
- Ordinary Portuguese passport: 6+ months validity, 2 blank pages
- Correct India e-Visa category confirmed for your purpose of travel
- Supporting documents in English for business or medical applications
- Entry point confirmed against the authorized ports list
- e-Arrival Card completed within 72 hours before arrival
- Visa status reads 'GRANTED' , ETA printed and packed
- Return or onward ticket accessible at check-in
India Is Waiting! Choose IVC as your Visa Partner!
Most Portuguese travelers begin in Goa, and understandably so. What they tend to discover, once there, is that one state rarely feels like enough.
Goa: The Portuguese Chapter, Still Standing!
For a Portuguese passport holder, Goa is not simply a beach destination — it's a place where 451 years of history is still physically present and actively maintained. A few sites that carry particular weight:
- Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa — A UNESCO World Heritage Site completed in 1605, housing the preserved remains of St. Francis Xavier. The Baroque facade and gilded interior represent the high point of Portuguese colonial church architecture in Asia, and the Feast of St. Francis Xavier on December 3rd draws pilgrims from across the world.
- Sé Cathedral, Old Goa — The largest church in Asia at the time of its completion in 1619, still in active use. Its famous Golden Bell is audible across the surrounding area.
- Fontainhas Latin Quarter, Panaji — A declared cultural heritage quarter in Goa's capital, where streets of pastel-painted Portuguese-era townhouses survive intact. The overhanging wooden balconies, azulejo tile details, and narrow winding lanes are visually closer to Lisbon's Alfama district than to any other part of India. The Fundação Oriente cultural centre within the quarter runs exhibitions on Indo-Portuguese heritage year-round.
- Braganza House, Chandor — A 17th-century private mansion, partially open to visitors, with Indo-Portuguese furniture, Venetian chandeliers, and Chinese porcelain that have remained in the same family for generations.
- Figueiredo Mansion, Loutolim — Another Indo-Portuguese family home operating as an informal heritage museum, set in a village that retains much of its colonial-era character.
The best time to visit Goa for heritage travel — rather than purely beach tourism — is November to February, when temperatures are comfortable, crowds at beach resorts haven't yet peaked, and the cultural sites are at their most accessible.
At IVC Visas, every India e-Visa application is reviewed before it reaches the portal. Photo compliance, document accuracy, category selection, we catch what the portal doesn't.
Your India e-Visa is the only step between your Portuguese passport and all of it.
Start your India e-Visa application with IVC Visas and don't hesitate to contact if you have any queries!
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.