Effective immediately, operators should be aware that the processing time for Indian E-Visas has significantly increased. What was previously a 72-hour turnaround is now taking a minimum of 8–10 days for approval.

This change has already created challenges for operators with short-notice trips to India, particularly when crew members have assumed that quick E-Visa processing timelines were still in effect.

Key Change

According to recent notifications from handling partners, Indian E-Visas are no longer being approved within 72 hours. The revised minimum processing time is now 8–10 days, although approvals may occasionally take longer depending on workload and verification procedures at the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs.

Business aircraft operators should plan accordingly and adjust trip planning timelines to reflect the longer approval window. Crew members in particular must hold a valid Indian business visa, as tourist visas are not accepted for flight crew.

Official Government Guidance

The Indian government has not issued a formal policy statement announcing a new 8–10-day standard. However, the official Indian Visa Online portal notes that visa processing requires a minimum of three working days and may take longer depending on nationality, verification requirements, and the workload of the issuing Mission or Post. In practice, operators and applicants are now experiencing considerably longer wait times than before, especially for business and crew categories.

It appears the longer processing window is the result of increased application volumes, enhanced background checks, and post-pandemic procedural changes rather than an officially published rule change.

Operational Impact

This change has already caused operational disruptions for several international flights into India. In multiple cases, operators filed or loaded trips under the assumption that crew visas would be processed within 72 hours. When approvals did not arrive in time, at least one pilot was unable to travel, forcing a last-minute crew rotation and repositioning in order to keep the trip on schedule.

These incidents highlight the importance of updating flight departments, schedulers, and dispatchers immediately about the new processing timeline to prevent future delays or trip interruptions.

Recommendations for Operators

• Apply early: Submit E-Visa applications at least 10–14 days in advance of the intended date of travel.
• Confirm business visa eligibility: Ensure all crew members apply for business visas, not tourist visas.
• Use the official government site: Always apply via the official Indian portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in and avoid third-party intermediaries when possible.
• Coordinate with your handler: Verify that all required documents and visa payment confirmations are complete before submission.
• Update pre-trip checklists: Review and revise internal visa timelines and procedures to reflect the longer processing period.
• Monitor status: Reconfirm visa status prior to dispatch or crew positioning flights into India.

Universal Support

Universal Trip Support teams are working with local ground handlers to monitor this situation and keep operators informed of any further changes. If you have upcoming operations to India, contact your Universal representative for the latest updates on visa processing and entry requirements.