Here's How to Apply for a Free India E-Visa for Filipino Tourists

You’ll be able to see the Taj Mahal minus the visa costs.

Published on Aug 6, 2025

A trip to India—whether it’s the palaces of Jaipur or the foothills of the Himalayas—might soon come with fewer hurdles for Filipino travelers. As part of ongoing efforts to deepen diplomatic and cultural ties, India has granted Philippine passport holders a free 30-day double-entry e-tourist visa valid from Aug. 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026.

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India to Offer Free E-Visas for Filipino Tourists

The announcement was made on August 5 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to New Delhi. According to the Philippine News Agency, the initiative is India’s way of reciprocating the Philippines’ recent decision to allow Indian nationals visa-free entry for up to 14 days.

Previously, Filipino travelers paid nearly P6,000 for an Indian tourist visa, including fees and banking charges. The free visa offer covers only the 30-day e-tourist category, which can be applied for through India’s official online portal. Applications are accepted from 30 days up to four days before arrival. Passports must be valid for at least six months, and border officials may request proof of onward or return travel as well as funds for the trip.

Approved travelers will receive a double-entry e-tourist visa valid for 30 days from arrival—enough for a circuit through India’s major cities or a mix of urban and countryside escapes. Other e-visa types, such as long-stay tourist, business, or medical visas, will still carry the standard fees, and all e-visas remain non-extendable and non-convertible. Those opting for a regular paper visa through the embassy, however, will continue to pay the usual rates.

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Guide:

How to Apply for an Indian E-Visa for Filipinos

Apply online through indianvisaonline.gov.in and upload your photo and passport page.

Receive your Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) via email.

Fly to India, present your ETA at immigration, and have your visa stamped in your passport.

Direct Flights from the Philippines to India to Launch

According to the Philippine News Agency, Air India is set to launch nonstop flights from Manila to Delhi starting October 2025, with budget airline IndiGo also eyeing the same route.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed ongoing discussions with Air India, noting that technical and procedural requirements for launching the route are already in motion.

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PHOTO: Canva.

Meanwhile, flag carrier Philippine Airlines is also looking into entering the India market, but is currently grappling with aircraft supply issues. In a report by The Philippine Star in May 2024, former PAL president Stanley Ng said that launching India routes remains part of the airline’s long-term network plans once fleet availability improves.

The renewed interest in India-Philippines connectivity reflects a broader tourism strategy, as the Department of Tourism (DOT) has placed an emphasis on tapping into other outbound markets like India. From January to August 2024, 55,836 Indian travelers visited the Philippines, which is up 17 percent from the previous year, according to Inquirer.

The Philippines and India also signed a tourism cooperation program covering 2025 to 2028, one of 13 bilateral agreements finalized during President Marcos’ visit.

Kat is Preview's Lifestyle Editor, explorer, and occasional rhymer. When not globe-trotting, she's over her computer, writing her next big novel.