India Introduces a Transfer Service for e-Visas and ETAs to New Passports

Since September 22, 2026, India’s official electronic visa system has offered a new feature called “Transfer of eVisa/ETA to a New Passport.” This allows travelers whose Indian e-visa is still valid to have the authorization transferred online to a new passport if they have since received a new travel document. Until now, changing passports while an e-visa was still valid often involved considerable red tape—the new feature is designed to simplify this process.

The transfer service is intended specifically for cases in which the previous passport was lost, stolen, or could not be returned to the holder for other reasons. Anyone who had to apply for a new passport for such a reason can thus, under certain conditions, continue to use the e-visa that has already been issued and is still valid, rather than having to submit a completely new application.

Important to note: Based on initial tests, the transfer is limited to certain categories. Accordingly, this applies exclusively to e-visas or Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) with a validity period of one or five years. Short-term or otherwise time-limited authorizations do not appear to be covered by this new procedure. Travelers should therefore carefully check which type of visa was originally issued to them before assuming they can take advantage of this new option.

For those planning to visit India for tourism or business anyway, applying for an e-visa for India remains the essential first step. Those who do not yet have a valid visa should apply for the appropriate category in a timely manner—such as a tourist visa for India for personal travel or a business visa for India for business purposes. The new transfer feature explicitly applies only to holders of visas that have already been issued and are still valid; it does not replace the regular application process for new visas.

For travelers affected by a passport change, it is recommended to carefully review their documents: the remaining validity period of the e-visa, the issuance date of the new passport, and the exact reason for the passport change may be relevant to the application. Since this is still a relatively new procedure, details regarding processing times and the exact documentation requirements may change at short notice. Anyone unsure whether their existing visa is eligible for transfer or whether it makes more sense to submit a completely new application should clarify this question well in advance to avoid delays before their trip.

Overall, the introduction of this service demonstrates that Indian authorities are continuously refining their digital visa system and adapting it to the practical needs of travelers. For anyone currently planning to submit an initial application or who has questions about the various available categories, it’s worth taking a look at the visa overview for India to understand the appropriate application type and the respective requirements in detail.