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India e-visa vs paper visa for Finnish travellers

You can enter India either with an electronic e-visa or a traditional paper visa. Which one suits you depends on the purpose and duration of your trip. Here's how to choose correctly.

1 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

What is an e-visa?

The India e-visa is applied for entirely online and suits most short tourist and business trips. It's fast and convenient when the trip fits within the e-visa's conditions and duration.

The e-visa does, however, have limits on length of stay, number of entries and permitted entry points. So it doesn't suit every situation.

When is a paper visa needed?

A traditional paper visa (a sticker in the passport) is typically needed for longer stays, certain work and study purposes, and situations the e-visa doesn't cover. It requires the application to be processed through a mission.

If your trip exceeds the e-visa limits or the purpose is something other than ordinary tourism or business, a paper visa is the right choice.

How to choose correctly

The right visa type depends on the purpose, duration and number of trips. The wrong choice means rejection or unnecessary cost. We review your situation before applying and recommend the right type.

Once the type is clear, we complete the application and check the attachments so it goes through in one pass.

Get the right India visa

Tell us about your trip and we'll recommend the right type and handle the application.

See the India visa service

FAQ

India visa: FAQ

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