Quick answer
Indian passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Indonesia (IDR 500,000, about ₹2,700), the Maldives (free), Cambodia (USD 30), Laos (about USD 40–50), Jordan (JOD 40, about ₹4,960) and Tanzania (USD 50), among others. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt offer it to Indians only if they hold a qualifying US, UK or Schengen visa.
Key takeaways
- A visa on arrival is a real visa decided at the airport; carry the fee, return ticket, hotel bookings and funds, because officers can refuse it.
- Where an online version of the same visa exists, such as Indonesia's e-VOA, it usually saves a long airport queue.
- Gulf countries and Egypt offer visa on arrival to Indians only with a valid US, UK or Schengen visa or a similar qualifying document.
- Carry the fee in the right currency; Cambodia and Laos want US dollars in clean notes.
- Airlines in India check eligibility before boarding, so a doubtful case is better handled with an e-visa in advance.
How does a visa on arrival work?
You fly without a visa, queue at a visa counter on landing, pay the fee and get a sticker or stamp before immigration. It is quick when your paperwork is in order. It is still a visa decision: the officer can refuse it if you have no return ticket, no hotel booking or no money for the stay, and you go home on the next flight at your own cost.
The first check happens in India. Airlines verify that your nationality qualifies and that you meet the conditions, using the same international database for every carrier. If eligibility depends on another visa or a particular hotel booking, show it at check-in.
Which countries give Indians visa on arrival?
| Country | Fee | Stay | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia, including Bali | IDR 500,000 (about ₹2,700) | 30 days, extendable once | Also sold online as the e-VOA; Bali levy IDR 150,000 (about ₹810) |
| Maldives | Free | 30 days | Booking at registered accommodation; IMUGA declaration within 96 hours |
| Cambodia | USD 30 (about ₹2,640) | 30 days | Cash in US dollars; free e-Arrival card for air travellers |
| Laos | About USD 40–50 (₹3,500–4,400) | 30 days | Cash in US dollars; main airports and border points only |
| Jordan | JOD 40 (about ₹4,960) | 30 days | Fee waived with a Jordan Pass if you meet the minimum stay |
| Qatar | No fee | 30 days | Hotel booked through Discover Qatar; otherwise apply for the Hayya e-visa |
| Tanzania | USD 50 (about ₹4,400) | Up to 90 days | Main airports; carry a yellow fever certificate |
| Seychelles | Free visitor's permit | 30 days, extendable | Buy the Travel Authorisation online first, about EUR 10 |
Smaller states such as Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia and Timor-Leste also list visa on arrival for Indians. Their rules change with little notice, so confirm on the official immigration site before booking. Country detail for the big ones is on our Indonesia, Maldives, Cambodia and Jordan pages.
Where do you need a US, UK or Schengen visa first?
Several countries that require visas from Indians relax the rule for travellers who already hold a visa from a country with strict checks.
| Country | What qualifies | Fee and stay |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Valid US visa or Green Card; UK or EU visa or residence permit; residence permit from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada | AED 100 (about ₹2,400) for 14 days; a 60-day option at about AED 250 (₹6,000) plus charges |
| Saudi Arabia | US, UK or Schengen visa used at least once, or residence in the US, UK, EU or a GCC country | Visa on arrival or instant eVisa, roughly ₹10,000–12,000 with the mandatory insurance |
| Bahrain | Valid US, UK or Schengen visa, or GCC residence | Confirm the counter fee; the standard eVisa costs about BHD 9–14 (₹2,100–3,300) |
| Egypt | Valid US, UK or Schengen visa | Single entry for 30 days; about USD 25–30 (₹2,200–2,700) |
| Oman | Historically a valid US, UK, Schengen, Canadian, Australian or Japanese visa | Check the Royal Oman Police portal before relying on it |
One live caution: July 2026 reports said the UAE might drop UK visas and UK residence permits from its visa on arrival list. It had not been confirmed when we reviewed, so if a UK visa is your only qualifier, apply for the UAE visa in advance. Our guide to countries that are easier with a US, UK or Schengen visa covers the full list, including places that waive the visa entirely.
What should you carry for any visa on arrival?
- A passport valid at least six months, with two blank pages
- A return ticket inside the allowed stay
- Hotel bookings for every night
- The fee in the right currency, plus a card and some spare cash
- One or two passport photos, which some counters still ask for
- Printouts or screenshots of any arrival declaration, such as Indonesia's arrival card or the Maldives' IMUGA
Visa on arrival or e-visa: which is better?
If an online version exists, use it, especially with children or seniors. You get the decision before you fly, check-in in India is smoother, and you skip a counter queue after an overnight flight.
- Indonesia: the e-VOA costs the same as the counter visa.
- Cambodia: the e-visa costs a little more, about USD 30–36, but saves the queue.
- Laos: the e-visa only works at listed entry points, so the counter visa can suit overland routes.
- Jordan: a Jordan Pass bought online waives the fee and includes Petra entry.
- Qatar: the free on-arrival route needs a Discover Qatar hotel; staying with family means the Hayya e-visa.
Our guide to e-visa countries for Indians lists the official portals and processing times.
What happens if the counter refuses you?
Refusals at the counter are uncommon for genuine tourists, but they happen, usually because of a missing return ticket, no booking for the first nights or a passport about to expire. You are held airside and put on the next flight back, and the airline can charge you for it. There is no appeal at the airport. Forms such as the UK visitor application ask whether you have ever been refused entry to any country, so answer honestly if it has happened.
Families and senior travellers
Every traveller, including infants, needs their own visa and pays the fee where one applies. Queue as a family so the officer sees one booking and one return ticket. Seniors should carry medicines in original packaging with prescriptions; the UAE and Saudi Arabia restrict some common painkillers and sleeping pills.
Keep the exact fee in clean US dollar notes for each traveller when flying to Cambodia or Laos, plus a passport photo. Counter staff can refuse torn or marked notes, and airport ATMs don't always work. Buy the dollars before you leave; our foreign exchange desk can arrange them.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries give visa on arrival to Indians?
Can I get a visa on arrival in Dubai with an Indian passport?
Can a visa on arrival be refused?
Should I take the visa on arrival or the e-visa for Bali?
What currency should I carry for a visa on arrival?
Is the Maldives visa on arrival really free for Indians?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
