Note: Change of purpose is not permitted once you reach India. Depending on the nature of your journey, apply for the correct visa category.

Tourist Visa: Valid for 6 months to 10 years. Ten (10) year visas are available only to US citizens under a bilateral agreement. Regardless of the length of the validity of your visa, each visit's maximum period of stay in India is limited to 6 months (180 days). Multiple-entry visas are given. Extension of stay is not granted on tourist visas.
US citizens: 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years. Multiple entry.
Non-US citizens: 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. Multiple entry.
Sri Lanka citizens: 6 months single entry, 6 months multiple entry, 1 year multiple entry.

Business Visa: Valid for 6 months or 1 or more years with multiple entries. However, the period of stay in India (for each visit) under this category is limited to 6 months only. Business visas are valid for 10 years with multiple entries and available to foreign business people who have set up or intend to set up joint ventures in India.
US citizens: 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or 10 years. Multiple entry.
Non-US citizens: 6 months or 1 year. Multiple entry.
Sri Lanka citizens: 6 months single entry, 6 months multiple entry, 1 year multiple entry.

Conference Visa: Visas for international conferences or on certain subjects, as decided by the Government of India, are issued only after clearance for said conference is received from the Government of India.
Everyone: 3 months single entry.

Employment Visa: The Embassy/Consulate may grant an employment visa, which is valid for a year, irrespective of the duration of the contract. Further extension of up to 5 years may be obtained from MHA/FRRO in the concerned state in India.

Entry Visa: Valid for 6 months to 5 years' stay with multiple entry is given only to persons of Indian origin. However, members of the family of a person employed in India are also eligible for an entry visa.
Journalist Visa: Given to professional journalists and photographers for up to three months' stay in India. If you are intending to make a documentary in India, kindly contact the Press and Information Wing in the Embassy/Consulate. Processing time is usually a minimum of 3-5 working days.

Missionary Visa: Single-entry visa valid for the duration approved by the Government of India. Processing of applications for a missionary visa may take up to 3 months.

Research Visa: Validity of the visa would coincide with the research period.

Student Visa: Multiple-entry visas are given to bona fide students to pursue regular studies at recognized institutions in India. Valid for the period of study as approved by the educational institution in India.

Transfer of Visa: For transferring an Indian visa from an old passport to a new passport.

Transit Visa: A transit visa is granted for the sole purpose of enabling the holder to travel through India to reach his/her ultimate destination. Change of purpose is not allowed. The visa will ordinarily be valid for a single/double journey and for entry within 15 days of date of issue. The transit visa is valid for direct transit only for a maximum period of 3 days. For a stay in India beyond 3 days, an appropriate visa should be obtained.
Everyone: 15 days single/double entry.

Collective Visa: Collective visas can be issued to group tours consisting of not less than 4 members and sponsored by a travel agency recognized by the Government of India. Such groups may split into smaller groups for visiting different places in India after obtaining a collective "license to travel" from the immigration authorities in India. However, they must reassemble and depart as the original group.

Landing Permit Facility: A tourist group consisting of 4 or more members arriving by air, ship, or by a chartered or scheduled flight may be granted a collective landing permit for a period of up to 30 days by the immigration authorities on landing, provided the group is sponsored by a travel agency recognized by the Government of India. A pre-drawn itinerary must be presented along with details of passports, etc., of the members, and the travel agency must give an acknowledgement to conduct the group together.

Children of foreigners of Indian origin under the age of 12 without a visa may be granted a landing permit by the immigration authorities of a period up to 90 days to see their relatives.