India Introduces 30-Day Group E-Visa for Cruise Passengers
The new visa permits multiple entries through 38 authorized seaports for travelers on fixed cruise itineraries.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced an e-Group Visit Visa for international tourists traveling aboard cruise ships with fixed, predetermined itineraries. The Indian government officially confirmed the new category on July 21, 2026.
According to information obtained from the ministry, the cruise visa will remain valid for 30 days and allow multiple entries into India. Approved passengers may enter through 38 authorized seaports that currently process travelers using the country’s e-Visa system.
Applications for eligible international passengers will be filed by the cruise operator or ship’s agent through a portal or mobile application developed for the process. Ministry sources said there will be no limit on the number of travelers included in a single group application.
The operator or agent must submit the application three days before the ship arrives at its first Indian port, and information attributed to the ministry indicates that no new requests will be accepted after the deadline. Once approved, the visa will include a QR code for use during immigration checks and subsequent travel within India under the cruise’s pre-arranged itinerary.