Visa on arrival for Indian passport holders: where it works, fees and what to carry
Visa on arrival sounds effortless, but every counter has conditions: cash in the right currency, a return ticket, a hotel booking and sometimes a pre-registration. Here is how it works for Indian passports, destination by destination.
Visa on arrival, visa-free and e-visa: the difference
Three things get mixed up under "no visa needed". Visa-free entry means you present the passport and are stamped in. Visa on arrival (VoA) means an actual visa is issued at the border, for a fee, against conditions such as a return ticket and a hotel booking; the airline checks those conditions before you board. E-visa means you apply online before travel and arrive with an approval. Where an e-visa exists alongside a VoA, the e-visa is the safer route because the decision is made before you spend money on flights.
Where Indian passport holders can get a visa on arrival or enter visa-free
The list below covers the destinations Indian travellers use most. Fees are approximate, in the currency charged at the counter, and change without notice; the official source for each is linked from the Vistolane destination page.
| Destination | Entry type for Indians | Approximate fee | Typical conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Visa-free (tourism), digital arrival card | Arrival card free | Up to 30 days per entry (revised 15 September 2026); proof of funds and onward ticket may be asked |
| Maldives | Free visa on arrival, 30 days (extendable to 90 for Indian passports) | Free | Confirmed hotel booking or Imuga declaration, return ticket |
| Nepal | Visa-free for Indian citizens | Free | Passport or voter ID accepted at land and air borders |
| Bhutan | Permit on arrival for Indian citizens | Sustainable development fee applies per night | Passport or voter ID; SDF paid in advance or on arrival |
| Mauritius | Visa-free, up to 90 days | Free | Return ticket, hotel booking, funds for the stay |
| Sri Lanka | ETA (apply online, also issued on arrival) | About USD 50 for 30 days; check the current scheme | Return ticket, funds; online ETA avoids the queue |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Visa on arrival, 30 days, extendable once | About IDR 500,000 | Return ticket; e-VoA available online before travel |
| Cambodia | Visa on arrival or e-visa | About USD 30 | One photo, cash in USD; e-visa recommended |
| Jordan | Visa on arrival | About JOD 40 | Waived with a Jordan Pass bought in advance |
| Kenya | Electronic Travel Authorisation (no visa on arrival) | About USD 30 | Apply online before travel; arrival counters no longer issue visas |
| Qatar | Visa-free on arrival for Indians, 30 days | Free | Return ticket, hotel booking, in some cases a Hayya or insurance requirement |
| Oman | Visa-free for short visits under current rules; otherwise e-visa | Free or e-visa fee | Hotel booking, return ticket; check the current scheme before flying |
Vietnam, Egypt, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Malaysia and Singapore are not visa-on-arrival destinations for Indian passports: Malaysia and Singapore run arrival cards and visa-free or visa regimes of their own, and the others issue e-visas. See each destination page for the current rule.
What to carry to the counter
- Passport with six months' validity and two blank pages.
- The fee in the right currency, in cash; cards are not accepted at every counter and ATMs are often after immigration.
- Return or onward ticket, printed.
- Hotel booking or host address, printed.
- Proof of funds: a bank statement or cards; several schemes quote a daily amount.
- One or two passport photos for destinations that still paste a photo on the form.
- Travel insurance where required and sensible everywhere.
- The pre-registration where one exists: Thailand's digital arrival card, the Maldives Imuga form, Sri Lanka's ETA, Indonesia's e-VoA.
When a visa on arrival is the wrong choice
Choose the e-visa or a sticker visa instead when you are travelling for work, study or longer than the arrival visa allows; when you have a previous refusal or overstay anywhere, because border officers have less room to consider explanations than a consulate does; and when the trip is expensive enough that a refused entry would be a serious loss. The arrival counter is a convenience for straightforward tourism, not a route for complex cases.
Vistolane processes e-visas and sticker visas with the government fee at the official rate plus a fixed filing fee, and every file carries a quoted decision date. Decision by the date we quote, or your Vistolane fee back. We can't guarantee approval; no one can. Check your profile first with the free eligibility check.
Fees and conditions last verified 5 October 2026 against the official immigration and foreign-ministry sources linked on each destination page. This article is refreshed monthly.
Questions, answered
Is visa on arrival the same as visa-free?
No. Visa-free means you are stamped in with no application or fee. Visa on arrival means a visa is issued at the border, usually for a fee and against documents; airlines may refuse boarding if you cannot show the eligibility conditions.
Can an airline deny boarding for a visa-on-arrival country?
Yes. Airlines check entry eligibility before departure. Carry the return ticket, hotel booking, proof of funds and the exact fee so the check-in desk can confirm the conditions.
Is an e-visa better than a visa on arrival?
Where both exist, the e-visa is safer: the decision is made before you fly, the queue at arrival is shorter and the fee is fixed. Visa on arrival is the fallback when you decide late.
Do I need travel insurance?
Several arrival schemes ask for proof of insurance or sufficient funds for medical costs. Insurance is cheap compared with a refused entry; carry the policy.
How current are these fees?
Fees are approximate and change without notice. Each destination page on Vistolane links the official source; this article is re-verified monthly.