Most visitors to Gaya travel on an India e-Visa, applied for entirely online before departure. The process is straightforward once you have your documents ready, and Gaya is one of the airports approved for e-Visa entry.
What you need
- A passport valid for at least six months from your date of arrival, with two blank pages
- A recent front-facing passport-style photo with a white background
- A scan of your passport bio page
- A confirmed return or onward ticket
- A debit or credit card for the fee
Step by step
- Go to the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in and choose the e-Tourist Visa.
- Complete the application and upload your photo and passport page.
- Pay the fee (currently around USD 25 for a 30-day e-Tourist Visa in the July to March season) at least four days before travel.
- Wait for your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to show as GRANTED, then print it to carry with you.
Apply only through the official government portal. Agents are never required, and the whole process takes most people 10 to 15 minutes.
On arrival
Biometric details are captured at immigration, where the visa is stamped into your passport. Since October 2025 you should also submit the online e-Arrival Card up to 72 hours before you land. Apply no earlier than 120 days and no later than four days before travel. With the paperwork underway, you can Book & Hold your Gaya fare and read our first visit to Bodh Gaya guide.
