A visa on arrival (VOA) is a travel authorization issued to you at the destination country’s airport or land border immigration counter — not one you apply for and receive in advance. This is different from an eVisa or Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which is approved online before you fly and only needs to be shown (usually with a printout or digital copy) at check-in and immigration.
Below is a verified list of countries that currently grant visa on arrival to Indian passport holders, along with the stay duration, fee, and any conditions attached to each. Because OnlineEVisa processes eVisas and ETAs that are approved before departure, we don’t “apply” for these visa-on-arrival countries on your behalf — you obtain them yourself at the border. This page exists purely as an independent, up-to-date reference so you can plan your trip with confidence.
Countries offering visa on arrival to Indian citizens
Immigration rules change without notice — always cross-check fees and conditions with the destination country’s official immigration source (linked in the further-reading section below) shortly before you travel.
| Country | Duration allowed | Fee | Notes / conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Up to 30 days | US$100 | Issued at the port of entry; onward/return ticket and proof of funds expected. |
| Bahrain | Up to 90 days (visa validity from 2 weeks to 1 year) | From approx. BHD 9 (~US$25) for a 2-week single-entry visa; higher for longer/multiple-entry options | Available at Bahrain International Airport; an eVisa can also be arranged in advance via the official eVisa Bahrain portal. |
| Burundi | Up to 30 days | Approx. US$90 | Also available as an eVisa; VOA issued at Bujumbura International Airport. |
| Cambodia | Up to 30 days | US$30 (cash, plus a passport photo) | Available at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports and major land borders. OnlineEVisa can help you apply for Cambodia’s eVisa in advance instead — see our Cambodia eVisa page. |
| Comoros | Up to 45 days | Approx. US$50 | Issued at Moroni (Prince Said Ibrahim) International Airport. |
| Ethiopia | Up to 30 days | Approx. US$82 | VOA is issued only at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport; an eVisa arranged in advance is the more reliable route for other entry points. |
| Guinea-Bissau | Up to 90 days | Approx. US$80 | Issued at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, Bissau. |
| Indonesia | 30 days (extendable once by another 30 days) | IDR 500,000 (approx. US$31), payable on arrival or as an e-VOA online in advance | Available at major international airports and seaports. OnlineEVisa can help you apply for Indonesia’s e-VOA in advance instead — see our Indonesia visa page. |
| Jordan | Up to 30 days | JOD 40 (approx. US$56) | Waived for travellers on a registered tour staying a minimum of 3 nights (Jordan Pass); issued at Queen Alia International Airport and land borders. |
| Laos | Up to 30 days | Approx. US$30–35 (cash, plus a passport photo) | Only valid at designated ports of entry — Wattay International Airport (Vientiane) and select land borders; several minor border crossings do not accept VOA. |
| Madagascar | Up to 90 days | Free for stays up to 60 days; approx. US$59 for stays of 61–90 days | Issued at Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo. |
| Marshall Islands | Up to 90 days | Free | An entry permit is issued on arrival; onward ticket and proof of funds required. |
| Mongolia | Up to 30 days | Approx. US$50–53 | Issued at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbaatar, and select land border crossings. |
| Myanmar | Up to 28 days (VOA); up to 70 days on an eVisa | US$50 | VOA is issued only at Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw international airports; an eVisa arranged in advance is generally the more dependable route. |
| Saint Lucia | Up to 6 weeks | Free | Proof of onward travel and accommodation typically requested. |
| Samoa | Up to 60 days | Free | A visitor permit is stamped on arrival at Faleolo International Airport. |
| Sierra Leone | Up to 30 days | Approx. US$80 | An eVisa arranged in advance is recommended; VOA is available at Freetown International Airport for travellers without one, typically at a higher fee. |
| Sri Lanka | Up to 30 days | Free (ETA fee currently waived for Indian nationals) | Sri Lanka has largely moved to an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) applied for online before departure rather than a stamp issued at the border; a fallback visa-on-arrival exists at Bandaranaike International Airport for travellers without a prior ETA, but applying in advance is strongly recommended. OnlineEVisa can help you apply for Sri Lanka’s ETA in advance instead — see our Sri Lanka visa page. |
| Tanzania | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Tanzania’s online system lets you submit your application in advance and collect/pay for the visa on arrival at the airport or land border; walk-up cash payment is also generally accepted at major ports of entry. |
| Timor-Leste | Up to 30 days | US$30 | Issued at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, Dili, and major land borders. |
| Tuvalu | Up to 30 days | Free | A visitor permit is issued on arrival at Funafuti International Airport. |
| Zimbabwe | Up to 30 days (single entry); up to 30 days on the KAZA UniVisa covering Zimbabwe and Zambia | US$30 single entry; US$45 double entry; US$50 KAZA UniVisa | Issued at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Victoria Falls Airport, and major land borders. |
Note: Palau moved from visa-on-arrival to fully visa-free entry for Indian citizens (up to 30 days) in June 2025, so it is not included in the table above. Fees quoted in US dollars are commonly accepted at most of these borders alongside local currency; carry small denominations and exact change where possible, as border posts do not always give change.
How visa on arrival works
The exact process varies by country, but the general steps are similar almost everywhere:
- Check the entry point. VOA is often restricted to specific international airports or named land borders — confirm your arrival point actually issues it before you fly.
- Fly in with the right documents. Most airlines will not board you for a VOA country without proof you meet entry requirements, so carry: a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay with blank visa pages, one or two recent passport-sized photographs, your return or onward flight ticket, proof of accommodation, and proof of sufficient funds (cash or bank statement).
- Fill in the arrival/visa form. Some airports hand this out on the plane or at a kiosk before immigration; others require you to fill it at the visa-on-arrival counter itself.
- Pay the fee. Usually in cash (US dollars are widely accepted, though not always guaranteed) — check whether card payment is available so you’re not caught out.
- Get your passport stamped. An immigration officer reviews your documents and stamps the visa directly into your passport, on the spot.
- Proceed through immigration and collect your baggage. Keep your stamped visa and any receipt until you leave the country, in case of checks.
Frequently asked questions
Is visa on arrival guaranteed?
No. Visa on arrival is issued at the immigration officer’s discretion, even if you meet the published requirements. Missing documents, an invalid return ticket, insufficient funds, or a suspicious travel pattern can all lead to a refusal, so carry every supporting document listed for your destination.
What happens if I’m refused a visa on arrival?
If immigration refuses your visa on arrival, you are typically denied entry and placed on the next available flight back, often at your own cost. Some countries allow a brief detention in a transit area while this is arranged. This is why an eVisa or ETA, approved before you fly, is generally the safer option where one exists.
Can I get a visa on arrival with just my passport?
Almost never. Even where the process is described as “just show up,” officers routinely ask for a passport photo, the visa fee in cash, a return ticket, and proof of accommodation or funds. Arriving with only your passport risks delay or refusal, so prepare the full document set in advance.
Do children need their own visa on arrival?
Yes. Every traveller, including infants and children, needs their own passport and their own visa on arrival — a child cannot travel on a parent’s visa. Some countries charge a reduced or waived fee for minors; check the specific country’s policy before travelling.
Is visa on arrival the same as an eVisa or ETA?
No. An eVisa or ETA is reviewed and approved online before you travel, so you land already cleared. Visa on arrival is requested and decided at the border itself, which means more paperwork on the spot and a real chance of delay or refusal — an eVisa/ETA is generally the lower-risk option wherever it’s offered as an alternative.
Can I pay the visa-on-arrival fee by card?
Cash — usually US dollars or the local currency — is the safest assumption almost everywhere. Card payment is inconsistently available and card networks or machines at smaller airports and land borders often fail, so carry exact change in cash even if you also bring a card.
Can visa-on-arrival fees or rules change without notice?
Yes, frequently. Countries adjust fees, switch to eVisa-only systems, add or drop nationalities, or restrict which airports/borders accept VOA — sometimes with little public notice. Always verify current requirements against the destination country’s official immigration source shortly before departure, not just this page or any other online guide.
Does OnlineEVisa process visa-on-arrival applications?
No. Visa on arrival is obtained directly from the destination country’s immigration officers at the border, so there is nothing to submit in advance and no application for us to process. Where a country also offers an eVisa or ETA as an alternative — such as Cambodia, Indonesia, or Sri Lanka — OnlineEVisa can help you apply for that in advance instead.
Official sources used for this guide
This guide was compiled and cross-checked against official government immigration resources, including:
- Kingdom of Bahrain eVisa portal — Bahrain visa and visa-on-arrival rules
- Sri Lanka Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) — official portal
- Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration eVisa portal
- Ethiopia eVisa — official portal
- Tanzania Immigration Department eVisa portal
Rules, fees, and eligible entry points can change at any time — always confirm directly with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official immigration website before you travel.