International tourists visiting Kolkata from most countries can apply for India’s e-Tourist Visa online in advance, rather than needing to visit an embassy or consulate in person — this is the visa route the large majority of leisure travellers to Kolkata use.
The e-Tourist Visa is applied for through India’s official government visa portal, typically requiring a scanned passport photo page, a recent photograph, and basic travel details; processing is usually completed within a few business days, though applying at least a week or two before travel is the safer approach rather than leaving it to the last moment.
Most international arrivals into Kolkata land at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, where e-Visa holders go through a dedicated immigration channel; having a printed or digital copy of the e-Visa approval, along with the passport used in the application, keeps this step straightforward.
Beyond the visa itself, immigration officers typically expect to see a passport valid for at least six months beyond the travel dates, a return or onward flight booking, and in some cases proof of accommodation for the trip — having these ready digitally or printed avoids delays at the immigration counter.
Travellers planning to continue beyond Kolkata to other parts of West Bengal or India should check whether their specific visa category covers the full intended itinerary, since some visa types carry restrictions on regions or duration that are easy to overlook when booking domestic add-on trips.
Chandrawanshi Tour & Travels regularly arranges airport pickup for international visitors arriving on an e-Visa, and our visa and passport assistance service can help with documentation questions specific to your itinerary — see our airport pickup and drop service for a smooth start to the trip.