Your college friend from Toronto has said yes. Your cousin's husband, a German citizen, is flying in for the mehendi. A colleague from Singapore wants to see a baraat for the first time. Then the questions start arriving on WhatsApp: Do I need a visa just to attend a wedding? Which one? How early should I apply? Is there a form to fill before landing? Can I fly into Udaipur directly?
Most couples are not visa experts, and nobody expects you to be. But your foreign guests will look to you first, and a single wrong answer, such as "you can get a visa at the airport", can cost someone their trip. This guide gives you a clear, host-side checklist built from the official Indian government portals, so you can point guests to the right place, set sensible deadlines and avoid the classic last-week panic.
Important: Visa and immigration rules change, and they depend on the guest's nationality and personal history. This article is general information for hosts, not immigration advice. Every guest must confirm their own requirements on the official portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in) or with the Indian mission in their country before booking non-refundable travel.
The short answer for hosts
Almost every foreign national needs a valid passport plus a visa, an e-Visa or an OCI card to enter India. On top of that, foreign nationals and OCI cardholders now submit an e-Arrival card online before they land. There is no special "wedding visa" for guests. A friend or relative attending your celebration usually travels on a tourist category, because the official e-Tourist purposes include a casual visit to meet friends or relatives. The guest still has to choose the correct category for their own situation.
Your job as a host is not to fill forms for anyone. It is to:
- Tell foreign guests early that they will need travel documents.
- Share the official links, not agent websites.
- Give them the dates, city and venue they need to plan.
- Set a soft deadline well ahead of the official minimum.
Step 1: Sort your foreign guests into four groups
Before you send a single reminder, split your international list. Each group needs a different message.
| Guest group | What they usually travel on | Your main reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign citizens with no Indian connection (friends, colleagues) | e-Visa (often e-Tourist) or a regular visa from an Indian mission | Apply early on the official portal; check passport validity |
| OCI cardholders (many NRIs with foreign passports) | OCI card with their current foreign passport | Carry the passport linked to the OCI; submit the e-Arrival card |
| Foreign spouses or children of Indian citizens or OCI holders | Often an e-Miscellaneous (e-Entry) or the category their mission advises | Keep marriage or birth certificates ready |
| Indian passport holders living abroad | Indian passport, no visa needed | Passport validity, flight bookings, local travel |
Indian passport holders living abroad are not "foreign guests" for visa purposes, but they still appreciate the same timeline and travel notes, so keep them on the general overseas list. Our guide on sending wedding invitations to guests living abroad covers the invite side.
Step 2: Understand the e-Visa basics guests will meet
The official e-Visa page on indianvisaonline.gov.in sets out the rules. These are the points that most often trip up wedding guests.
Timing
- Apply at least 4 days before arrival, and up to 120 days in advance, according to the official portal.
- In practice, ask guests to apply 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding. The 4-day minimum is a cut-off, not a plan. A rejected photo or a payment glitch eats days quickly.
- The e-Visa page says the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) status must show GRANTED before travel. Ask guests to screenshot or print it.
Passport and tickets
- The passport should have at least six months' validity from the date of arrival and at least two blank pages for stamping by the immigration officer.
- Guests should hold a return or onward ticket, and enough money to spend during their stay.
- The e-Visa is linked to the passport used in the application. If a guest renews their passport after applying, they need to check what to do on the official portal before flying.
Tourist e-Visa duration options
The official page lists e-Tourist options including a one-month visa and longer multiple-entry options (one year and five years), with limits on continuous stay that depend on nationality. Do not quote durations from memory to guests. Ask them to read the current table for their passport on the portal, because the rules differ by country.
Fees, agents and fake websites
- The fee is country-specific and non-refundable, according to the official portal, and there may be bank transaction charges on top.
- The government portal states that there are no agents or express fees in the official process. Lookalike websites that charge "processing fees" are a real problem. Tell guests: the official address is indianvisaonline.gov.in, and they should apply nowhere else.
What the e-Visa cannot do
The portal is clear that an e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible, and it is not valid for Protected, Restricted or Cantonment areas. That last point matters if your post-wedding plans include a trip to parts of the North-East, Ladakh or other areas that need special permits. If you are planning a family trip after the wedding, check permit requirements separately before inviting foreign guests along.
The portal also states that Pakistani nationals and people of Pakistani origin are not eligible for the e-Visa and must apply for a regular visa through the Indian mission.
Step 3: Check the arrival airport before guests book
This is the step hosts forget most often. An e-Visa holder must enter through one of the designated airports or seaports listed on the official portal. The list is long and includes major gateways such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Jaipur and both Goa airports.
But a destination-wedding city may not be on it. When we checked the list on 30 October 2026, Udaipur was not listed as a designated e-Visa arrival airport. A guest flying on an e-Visa to a Udaipur wedding would typically land at a listed international gateway, clear immigration there, and take a domestic flight or road transfer onwards. The list changes from time to time, so check it again for your venue city before you publish travel advice.
Host action: In your travel note for foreign guests, name one or two recommended international arrival airports for your venue, and the onward option (domestic flight, train or car).
Step 4: The e-Arrival card, the new step guests must not skip
This is the part of the process that is new for many repeat visitors. The official Indian visa portal states that foreigners and OCI cardholders must submit an e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before arrival. It can be filled on the portal's e-Arrival page, through the Bureau of Immigration website, or in the government's "Indian Visa Su-Swagatam" app.
Key points to tell guests:
- The e-Arrival card is arrival information, not a visa. A guest needs both: a valid visa, e-Visa or OCI, and the e-Arrival card.
- It cannot be filled weeks early. The window is the 72 hours before arrival. A good reminder slot is "the evening before you fly".
- Employer and visa-service guides report that the card became fully mandatory in 2026, replacing the paper landing card, and that it carries no fee. Guests should save the confirmation in case it is asked for.
The visa portal also mentions that all passengers fill a Self-Declaration Form on the Air Suvidha portal. Ask guests to check their airline's instructions close to departure, as health-related forms can change.
Step 5: OCI cardholders and foreign spouses
OCI cardholders
Many NRI relatives hold foreign passports with an Overseas Citizen of India card. The official visa portal lists OCI as a valid entry document alongside a visa or e-Visa, and it includes OCI cardholders in the e-Arrival card requirement. Remind OCI guests to:
- Travel with the current passport and the OCI card.
- Check on the official OCI services portal whether their OCI needs updating after a passport renewal, well before the trip.
- Submit the e-Arrival card within the 72-hour window.
Foreign spouses and children of Indian or OCI family members
The official e-Visa page describes an e-Miscellaneous (e-Entry) category for certain foreign spouses and children of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, and it asks for proof of the parent or spouse's Indian citizenship or OCI status plus a birth or marriage certificate. If your guest list includes a foreign in-law, ask them to check this category and keep these documents ready. Children need their own visa; the portal states that a separate e-Visa is required for minors.
Step 6: Where guests stay, and why hotels ask for passports
The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 came into force on 1 September 2025, replacing older laws including the Foreigners Act, 1946, according to an Indian Express explainer. Under section 8 of the Act, keepers of accommodation must report information about foreigners who stay with them. The Indian Express explainer says hotels, hostels and similar establishments must transmit the details electronically, generally within 24 hours of arrival and departure, including for OCI holders.
What this means for your wedding:
- Hotels and resorts will ask foreign guests for their passport and visa details at check-in. That is normal. Warn guests in advance so it does not surprise them.
- If you booked a room block, ask the hotel to be ready with the process so check-in is quick when the whole group arrives together.
- If a foreign guest is staying in a family home, the Act's proviso says the reporting duty does not apply to residential premises of a non-commercial nature unless a civil authority directs it for a specified area. Rules vary locally, and police in some cities have issued reminders about reporting foreigners in rented homes, so check with the local police station or the FRRO portal if you are unsure, especially for rented villas or homestays.
This is general information, not legal advice. If a guest has a complicated case, such as a previous visa refusal, a lapsed OCI or a stay longer than their visa, they should contact the Indian mission or a qualified professional.
Step 7: A host timeline you can copy
| When | What to send foreign guests |
|---|---|
| 4 to 6 months before | Save-the-date with city, dates and "you will need a visa or OCI" note |
| 3 months before | Travel note: recommended arrival airport, official visa link, passport validity check |
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Reminder to apply for the e-Visa (soft deadline: 6 weeks before the first function) |
| 3 to 4 weeks before | Ask guests to confirm "visa granted" and flight details |
| 1 week before | Final note: e-Arrival card window, hotel check-in documents, local contact number |
| Day before flight | Short reminder: "Fill your e-Arrival card today and save the QR or confirmation" |
Time zones make "tomorrow" ambiguous for overseas guests. Our note on wedding timings for overseas guests explains how to state times clearly.
A ready-to-send travel note for foreign guests
You can adapt this message for WhatsApp or email:
Travelling to India for our wedding We are so happy you are coming! A few travel notes: 1. Visa: Most foreign passport holders need an Indian visa, e-Visa or OCI card. Please apply only on the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in. We suggest applying at least 6 weeks before [date]. 2. Passport: Check it is valid for at least 6 months from your arrival and has two blank pages. 3. Arrival airport: We recommend flying into [airport]. From there, [onward plan]. 4. e-Arrival card: Within 72 hours before you land, please fill the e-Arrival card on the official portal or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app and save the confirmation. 5. Hotel check-in: The hotel will ask for your passport and visa details. This is standard. 6. Help: Message [name, number] if anything is unclear. Please do not use paid "visa agent" websites.
Common mistakes hosts make
- Saying "just get a visa on arrival". The official portal says visa on arrival is available only to nationals of a few countries (it lists Japan, South Korea and the UAE, with conditions for UAE nationals). For everyone else, it is not an option.
- Sending the venue city as the arrival point without checking it is an e-Visa designated airport.
- Assuming OCI guests need nothing. They still need the right passport and the e-Arrival card.
- Waiting for RSVPs before mentioning visas. Visa planning should begin at save-the-date stage, not after the formal invitation.
- Forwarding unofficial links. Fake visa sites are common. Share only the government portal.
Where a wedding website helps
Visa questions repeat. If ten foreign guests each ask the same five questions on WhatsApp, a single "Travel" page saves everyone time. A wedding website can hold the arrival airport advice, hotel details, function dates and the official visa link in one place, and you can update it if anything changes. If you are already using a LoveSolutions wedding website, a dedicated travel section is a natural fit; our guides on inviting international guests and how NRI guests can RSVP through a wedding website show how couples set this up.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a special visa for attending an Indian wedding?
No separate wedding-guest visa is listed on the official portal. Guests usually choose a tourist category, since the official e-Tourist purposes include a casual visit to meet friends or relatives. Each guest should confirm the right category for their own situation on indianvisaonline.gov.in.
How early should foreign guests apply for an Indian e-Visa?
The official minimum is 4 days before arrival, and applications open up to 120 days ahead. For a wedding, ask guests to apply 4 to 6 weeks before the first function.
Do OCI cardholders need to fill the e-Arrival card?
Yes. The official visa portal says foreigners and OCI cardholders must submit the e-Arrival card within 72 hours before arrival.
Can a guest on an e-Visa fly directly into any Indian airport?
No. e-Visa holders must arrive through a designated airport or seaport listed on the official portal. Check the list for your venue city.
Will the hotel need foreign guests' passport details?
Yes. Under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, accommodation providers must report foreign guests' details, so hotels collect passport and visa information at check-in.
Can I apply for the visa on behalf of my guests?
Each guest's application involves their own passport, photo and declarations, so guests should apply themselves on the official portal. You can help by sharing dates, the venue address and the official link.
Sources (read 30 October 2026)
- Government of India, Indian Visa Online: e-Visa information page and home page (indianvisaonline.gov.in): e-Visa categories, 4-day and 120-day application window, passport validity and blank pages, ETA "GRANTED", fees, no agents, non-extendable rule, designated airports and seaports, visa on arrival countries, e-Miscellaneous (e-Entry) documents, minors, e-Arrival card requirement and 72-hour window.
- Bureau of Immigration, Government of India (boi.gov.in): e-Arrival card notice.
- The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, section 8 (reporting by keepers of accommodation), India Code.
- The Indian Express, explainer on the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 coming into force (5 September 2025).
- Envoy Global, India e-Arrival card update (secondary source on 2026 mandatory status and no fee).