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Explore ExperiencesLots of people want to travel abroad on their vacations. The Indian outbound market is especially booming. However, getting a visa to these places, especially for Indian passport holders can become a long and arduous process, not to mention an expensive one. Many countries around the world offer visa-free entry for those who hold the passports of specific countries. There are several visa-free countries for Indians but it’s important to know distinctions in various types of visa first.
Numerous headlines stating that “Indian passport holders can travel to 58 countries without a visa” can thus be misleading, as many of these destinations require visas on arrival, or eVisas (see below). As the titles themselves suggest there is a difference between ‘visa-free’, ‘visa-on-arrival’, ‘E-visa’ and ‘Permits’.
NOTE: This article was first published on 26 Feb 2019, but has since been updated
Different types of visas
Let’s first understand what the different types of visa are so as to avoid all future confusion. Impatient readers can scroll on down to the list of the countries.
Visa-Free Entry
It’s all in the name – visa-free means no-visa. You do not need any kind of a visa to enter a country that says it’s visa-free for the passport you hold. Countries with higher economic power enjoy this privilege. But that doesn’t mean other countries don’t have these options, they are just limited. As of February 2020, Indian passport holders can travel to 20 countries without a visa.
Visa on Arrival (VOA)
The visa on arrival facility allows you to get a visa instantaneously at the visa counter in the country of arrival. Visa on arrival can be accessed at the airport or land borders, as applicable. Documentation such as passport photos, ticket confirmation etc might be required. Some will simply require you to have a passport with minimum 6-month validity and 2 blank pages. These documents will differ from country to country so check what you need to take with you.
The procedure here is usually to stand in a queue at the visa counter, fill a form (if applicable), present the necessary documents and your passport, pay the visa on arrival fee and then wait to get your passport stamped. Once stamped, you can make your way to immigration or into the country, as applicable.
E-Visa
An E-visa is a visa you apply for beforehand but electronically. You do not need to go to an embassy or give any interviews or present documents in person. You fill the application online at the official site, upload any documents as requested and make a payment. The visa, if granted, is then sent to your email ID.
The time taken to receive your E-visa depends on the issuing country. So ensure that you apply well in advance. Also ensure you apply at an official website, usually provided by the tourism department or embassy of the issuing country. There will be plenty of ‘scam’ websites that offer E-visas, do not fall for them. In some cases, there are agent sites that will apply for the E-visa for you. In such cases, the visa application is legit, however, the visa fees will be slightly higher than the official fees, as the agent will add in their commission.
Permits
This is an official document that allows you to visit the country but isn’t exactly a visa. It’s basically a document that states that you ‘may do something’ in the country. Obtaining permits are usually easier and require less documentation. This, again, depends on the issuing country and what the permit is for (work permits will involve more processes than a mere entry permit, for example).
Knowing the above types of visas will make it easier for you to know how to plan for your trip.
Long story short
Visa-free = no visa, no hassle
Visa on arrival = keep necessary documents ready on arrival
E-visa = apply in advance online, keep visa issue duration in mind
Permit = keep necessary documents ready on arrival
Please note: Visa requirements keep changing for each country. At the time of publishing this post, the countries listed below offer visa-free entry for Indians. For all other countries, look for visas here.
Also Read: Did you know these 11 unusual passport facts?
Visa-Free Countries For Indians
If you’re planning on going on holiday, but don’t want to deal with the long queues and interviews that come with applying for a visa, why not try these visa-free countries for Indians?
Nepal
- Visa Duration: Freedom of Movement
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport or other valid proof of nationality such as driving license or voters ID. Indian citizens can live and work freely in Nepal
Bhutan
Bhutan is amongst the visa-free countries for Indians that requires you to get a permit at the border town of Phuentsholing or at Paro airport. It’s a short, hassle-free process. You get an initial permit to two cities – Paro and Thimphu. To visit other parts of Bhutan, you will have to get an additional permit at Thimphu. You will also need to pay a daily ₹1,200 ($17) fee.
- Visa Duration: 14 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport or other valid proof of nationality such as driving license or voters ID.
Barbados
- Visa Duration: 90 days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Dominica
- Visa Duration: 6 Months
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
El Salvador
- Visa Duration: 90 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Grenada
- Visa Duration: 3 Months
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Haiti
- Visa Duration: 3 Months
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Indonesia
- Visa Duration: 30 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Jamaica
- Visa Duration: 6 Months
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Maldives
- Visa Duration: 90 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport, confirmed hotel books or a sum of at least $30 per person
Mauritius
- Visa Duration: 90 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Micronesia
- Visa Duration: 30 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Qatar
- Visa Duration: 30 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Visa Duration: 3 Months
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Visa Duration: 1 Month
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Senegal
- Visa Duration: 90 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Serbia
- Visa Duration: 30 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Trinidad and Tobago
- Visa Duration: 90 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Tunisia
- Visa Duration: 90 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
Vanuatu
- Visa Duration: 30 Days
- Documents Needed: A valid Indian Passport
So if you’re an Indian tourist, take advantage of these visa-free countries for Indians and enjoy a stress-free holiday.
Other Easy Trips For Indian Passport Holders
There are also countries that offer visa on arrival for Indians, the difference being that you need a visa to enter, but can receive the visa upon arrival. You will have to queue at a visa counter, and apply and pay for a visa, which gets added to your passport before immigration. You can also check out these countries which offer visa on arrival for Indians:
Bolivia (90 days)
Botswana (14 days)
Cape Verde (30 days)
Comoros (45 days)
East Timor (30 days)
Fiji (4 months)
Iran (30 days)
Jordan (30 days)
Laos (30 days, up to 60 days)
Madagascar (30 days)
Marshall Islands (90 days)
Mauritania (30 days)
Mozambique (30 days)
Palau (30 days)
Saint Lucia (6 weeks)
Sierra Leone
Somalia (30 days)
Thailand (15 days)
Timor-Leste (30 days)
Togo (7 days)
Tuvalu (1 month)
Samoa (60 days)
Seychelles (3 months)
There are also countries that offer both visas on arrival and online (eVisas). An eVisa is just an alternative to a paper visa, which you can apply and pay for on the internet. Once approved, it can be printed out and presented at the immigration checkpoint for verification upon your arrival. Destinations that offer both options include:
Benin (30 days/8 days)
Cambodia (30 days)
Ethiopia (up to 90 days)
Gabon (1 month)
Guinea-Bissau (90 days)
Kenya (3 months)
Myanmar (28 days)
Rwanda (30 days)
Sri Lanka (30 days)
Tanzania (3 months)
Uganda (3 months)
Zimbabwe (up to 3 months)
Finally, these countries also offer eVisas to Indian passport holders:
Antigua and Barbuda (30 days)
Angola (30 days)
Armenia (120 days)
Azerbaijan (30 days)
Bahrain (90 days)
Côte d’Ivoire (3 months)
Djibouti (31 days)
Georgia (30 days)
Guinea (90 days)
Kyrgyzstan (30 days)
Kazakhstan
Lesotho (30 days)
Malawi (90 days)
Malaysia (30 days)
Moldova
Papua New Guinea
São Tome and Principe
Singapore
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan (30 days)
Vietnam (30 days)
Zambia (30 days)