What is an e-Visa? Everything You Need to Know

The usual visa application routine is that you locate your destination country’s embassy near you, go there and submit your application.

What is an e-Visa?

An e-Visa (which is the short form of electronic visa) is a digital version of a traditional visa that is issued electronically by a country’s government.

It allows you to enter the issuing country without needing a physical stamp or sticker on your passport.

With e-Visa, everything is done online – you can call it a part of a modern visa application system.

It is designed to make the whole visa application process easier, more convenient, and less stressful.

Unlike your regular visa, which you have to physically go to an embassy or consulate to apply, e-Visas don’t need all that.

You apply for it online, and it is issued to you electronically, usually via email.

If you want to apply for an e-Visa, you simply go through a government portal. You won’t visit any embassy or consulate in person.

Everything is done through the internet – you will submit your details, pay the necessary fees, attach all required documents and even get aproval – all online.

Once approved, the e-visa will be sent to your email, usually as a PDF document.

You can then print it out or save it on your phone and present it, along with your passport, upon arrival at your destination country.

That’s it!

For example, let’s say you want to visit India. Instead of going to the Indian embassy and waiting in line, you go online, fill out a form, upload your passport, pay the visa fee, and a few days later, you get your e-Visa by email.

Just like a regular visa, when an e-visa is issued to you, its validity, number of entries allowed, and permitted duration of stay will be clearly stated on it.

More features of an e-Visa

While the idea of e-visa sounds great, it is not used in all forms of travel.

E-visas are usually used for short stays, like when you are visiting for 30 to 90 days.
You will see e-Visas on people who are travelling for tourism, business visits, medical treatments, or those who want to attend conferences.
You can use them for a single or multiple entry.
When an e-visa is issued to you, it will be connected to your passport number.

One major advantage of the e-visa is that it saves time and effort. Because there is no need for embassy visits, you get things done faster.

In addition, e-visas also support contactless processing, which has become very important in a post-pandemic world.

It gives governments the chance to manage and monitor incoming travellers efficiently, this is because e-visa data is stored and tracked digitally.

How is an e-Visa different from a regular visa?

The table below shows the difference between an e-visa and a regular visa.

Feature	E-Visa	Regular Visa
Application Method	Applied online via official immigration websites	Applied physically at an embassy or consulate
Document Submission	Documents are uploaded online as scanned copies	Original documents must be submitted in person
Processing Time	Faster – usually processed within a few days	Slower – can take several days to weeks
Cost	Generally cheaper due to minimal admin charges	Can be more expensive due to processing and service fees
Biometric Requirement	Usually not required	Often required (fingerprints, photo capture, etc.)
Visa Format	Digital approval sent via email (no physical sticker)	Visa sticker or stamp placed inside the passport
Entry Points	Limited to selected airports or entry points	Accepted at all official borders and ports of entry
Types of Visas Offered	Mostly short-term (tourist, business)	Covers all types (tourist, student, work, permanent, etc.)
Interview Requirement	No interview required in most cases	Usually requires an in-person interview
Application Convenience	Highly convenient – can apply from home	Less convenient – must attend the embassy or the visa centre
Security Checks	Basic checks performed	More thorough background and security screening
Country Examples	India, Turkey, Kenya, UAE	USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France

From the above, you can see clearly that an e-Visa is more convenient for tourists and business travellers.

Types of e-Visas

There are many categories of e-visas, depending on the purpose of your visit.

E-Visa Type	Purpose	Example
Tourist E-Visa	For leisure travel, holidays, sightseeing	India, Turkey, Kenya
Business E-Visa	For meetings, conferences, and deals	UAE, Singapore
Medical E-Visa	For treatment abroad	India, Thailand
Transit E-Visa	For short stopovers or connecting flights	Ethiopia, Sri Lanka
Student E-Visa	For academic purposes (rare in e-format)	Some countries allow this

Who can apply for an e-Visa?

Not all countries allow e-Visas, and not all travellers are eligible. But many countries have e-Visas for people from selected countries.

You can apply if:

Your destination country allows e-Visas
You have a valid passport
You’re applying for a short-term visit (tourism, business, medical, etc.)

Disadvantages of an E-Visa

Here are some disadvantages of the e-visa:

Unlike the regular visa, not all countries have e-visas, and not all nationalities are allowed to apply.
One thing that we enjoy with a regular visa is face-to-face support when you visit an embassy for any issue; with an e-visa, you don’t have that luxury.
With an e-visa, you will mostly be allowed a short stay, not a long one and no work permits.
Fixing an error after submission can be difficult or impossible.
If you face problems, getting fast help online is always hard.
It can be hard to understand what documents you need to upload.

List of countries that offer e-Visas

Below are some countries that have e-Visas:

Country	E-Visa Available For
India	Tourism, Business, Medical
Turkey	Tourism, Business
Kenya	Tourism, Business, Transit
Australia	eVisitor & ETA for eligible countries
United Arab Emirates	Tourism and short visits
Sri Lanka	Tourism, Transit
Vietnam	Tourism, Business
Thailand	Tourism, Medical
Cambodia	Tourism, Business
Bahrain	Tourism, Business

Note: The list is growing as more countries adopt digital visa services.

What can you use an e-Visa for?

You can use an e-Visa for:

Tourism: Going for vacation, sightseeing, or visiting friends/family
Business: Attending meetings, conferences, or short-term business visits
Medical: Getting treatment or medical checkups
Transit: Passing through the country on your way to another place

Note: You can’t use e-visas for extended stays. If you want to study, work, or move permanently, you’ll need a regular visa.

How to apply for an e-Visa

To apply for an e-visa:

Step 1: Go to your destination country’s immigration website

Example: For Turkey → https://www.evisa.gov.tr

Step 2: Fill out the online application

Put your details (name, passport info, travel plans)

Step 3: Upload documents

Upload your passport photo, scanned international passport and any other required documents.

Step 4: Pay the visa fee

You can use a debit or credit card to make your payment

Step 5: Wait for a decision to be made on your application

It usually takes between 24 -72 hours, sometimes less, to get a decision.

Step 6: Get your e-Visa by email

Print it or save it to your phone to show at the airport.

Is the e-Visa safe?

Yes, e-Visas are safe as long as you apply through official government websites.

Many countries use encrypted, secure platforms for their e-visas.

How much does an e-Visa cost?

The cost of an e-visa depends on the country issuing it. some cost:

- - India: Around $25–$100.
  - Turkey: Around $60
  - Kenya: Around $51
  - Sri Lanka: Around $20
  - Cambodia: Around $30

Where to apply for e-Visas (Official government websites)

To apply for an e-Visa, make sure you go through the official immigration website of the issuing country.

For example, you have:

India: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in
Turkey: https://www.evisa.gov.tr
Kenya: https://www.evisa.go.ke
Vietnam: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn
Sri Lanka: https://eta.gov.lk

Avoid third-party sites. If you are travelling for a short stay, applying for an e-visa is a smart choice.