India has expanded its Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) access for UAE nationals by adding three more international airports, bringing the total number of eligible entry points to nine. The expansion is expected to strengthen tourism, business travel, and people-to-people movement between the two nations.
India has now added the following airports to the VoA list:
Kochi and Calicutare major gateways for Gulf-bound travellers, while Ahmedabad is a strong business hub with high-frequency UAE connections.
These join the earlier six airports already offering VoA to UAE nationals: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. This marks one of the largest expansions of VoA access by India for any country in recent years.
To qualify, a traveller must:
Important Note
The Visa-on-Arrival for UAE nationals includes:
Industry experts expect the expanded VoA to:
The move also aligns with the strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE, which has recently seen expansion in trade, mobility, education, tourism, and digital systems.
India’s decision to add three more airports to its Visa-on-Arrival scheme represents a major convenience boost for UAE nationals, offering more entry points and smoother travel. However, the facility does not extend to expatriate residents of the UAE, despite unclear headlines.
With the e-Arrival Card now mandatory, travellers should complete it online before departure and keep the necessary documents ready for a smooth entry
Step1: Complete the online application by providing your passport details.
Step2: Submit payment online using a credit card.
Step3: Monitor your email for confirmation of payment and receipt of your eVisa, which will be sent electronically.
