Countries Offering Visa on Arrival for Indians in 2026

Planning an international holiday is always exciting until you have to deal with embassy appointments, paperwork, long queues, and the fear of visa rejection. 

To make your international travel a bit easier, choose countries that offer visa on arrival for Indians. You can just pack your bags and plan a quick getaway from India, provided you meet their entry requirements.

However, before you make your plans, understand the reality of “Visa on Arrival”. Global travel rules are shifting rapidly, and several countries that previously offered standard VoA for Indians have changed their entry protocols. 

For instance, Thailand recently changed its stay limits, while Sri Lanka introduced a free tourist ETA pilot scheme that requires online registration. These changes show why Indians should check whether a visa on arrival is still applicable before booking flights. 

Quick List on Visa on Arrival Countries for Indian Travellers

The destinations listed below offer visa on arrival to Indian passport holders. Some countries have specific conditions, so scroll down the blog to the individual country section for details on stay limits, visa fees, flight duration, best time to visit, and overall trip cost. However, consulting a travel professional is recommended before planning your vacation.

What Is Visa on Arrival?

Visa on Arrival means you receive your visa after reaching the destination instead of getting a traditional visa from an embassy before your journey.

Depending on the country you plan to visit, you can complete a form at the airport. You have to show your passport, required documents, pay the visa fee, and wait for immigration officials to issue the visa.

A Visa on Arrival does not mean automatic entry. Immigration officers will still check your return ticket, passport, hotel confirmation, and other documents before allowing you into the country. You can be denied entry if any of these documents are not produced. 

Visa on Arrival Countries for Indians

While more than 20 countries offer Visa on Arrival for Indians, the following 10 are the most commonly considered destinations based on experiences, an easy visa process, no visa cost, or budget-friendly options for Indians.

A few destinations listed below use pre-arrival registration, eVisa approval or any other specific entry policy besides the on-arrival visa. 

1. Indonesia (Bali)

• Approx. VoA Cost: 500,000 IDR (2,675 INR).
• Stay Duration: 30 days.
• Flight Duration: 7 – 10 hours. 
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 187 IDR. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 95,000 INR. 
• Top Places: Bali, Ubud, Seminyak, Nusa Penida, and Gili Islands.
• Best Time to Visit: April and October (dry season). May, June, September (shoulder season).

Note: Read our comprehensive Bali visa guide for detailed information. 

2. The Maldives

• Approx. VoA Cost: Free.
• Stay Duration: 30 days. 
• Flight Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours. 
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 0.16 MVR. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 2,00,000 INR (for a private island resort).
• Top Places: Male, Maafushi, Thulusdhoo, and Baa Atoll. 
• Best Time to Visit: November to April is ideal for Maldives water activities.

Note: Before planning your trip, read our blog on Maldives visa for Indians. 

3. Cambodia

• Approx. VoA Cost: 30 USD (2,863 INR).
• Stay Duration: 30 days.
• Flight Duration: 7 – 9 hours. 
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 43 KHR. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 90,000 INR.
• Top Places: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kampot, Battambang, and Sihanoukville.
• Best Time to Visit: November to February. 

Note: For detailed step-by-step guidance, read our Cambodia visa blog. 

4. Laos

• Approx. VoA Cost: 35 USD (3,340 INR).
• Stay Duration: 30 days. 
• Flight Duration: 7.5 – 11 hours. 
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 237 LAK.
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 80,000 INR.
• Top Places: Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Pakse, and Si Phan Don. 
• Best Time to Visit: November to February. 

5. Qatar

• Approx. VoA Cost: Free.
• Stay Duration: 30 days. 
• Flight Duration: 4 – 7 hours.
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 0.038 QAR. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 1,30,000 INR. 
• Top Places: Doha, Souq Waqif, The Pearl-Qatar, Katara Cultural Village, and Khor Al Adaid. 
• Best Time to Visit: November to April (peak season). September to October (shoulder season)

6. Tanzania

• Approx. VoA Cost: 50 USD (4,770 INR).
• Stay Duration: 90 days. 
• Flight Duration: 12 – 15 hours. 
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 28 TZS. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 2,80,000 INR. 
• Top Places: Arusha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Zanzibar, and Dar es Salaam.
• Best Time to Visit: June to October.

7. Jordan

• Approx. VoA Cost: 40 JOD (5,383 INR).
• Stay Duration: 30 days. 
• Flight Duration: 8.5 – 11 hours.
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 0.0074 JOD. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 1,30,000 INR.
• Top Places: Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, and Aqaba.
• Best Time to Visit:  March to May (Spring). September to November (Autumn). 

8. Madagascar

• Approx. VoA Cost: 37 USD (3,530 INR).
• Stay Duration: 15 or 30 days available as an eVisa or Visa on Arrival for Indians.
• Flight Duration: 15 – 20 hours.
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 45.11 MGA. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 1,40,000 INR.
• Top Places: Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Morondava, Antsirabe, and Ranomafana.
• Best Time to Visit: May to October (dry and cool atmosphere). April and November (lush landscapes).

9. Ethiopia

• Approx. VoA Cost: 62 USD (5,915 INR).
• Stay Duration: 30 days. 
• Flight Duration: 6.5 – 12 hours.
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 1.70 ETB. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 1,40,000 INR. 
• Top Places: Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar, and Axum.
• Best Time to Visit: October to March.

10. Samoa

• Approx. VoA Cost: Free.
• Stay Duration: 60 days. 
• Flight Duration: 35 – 45 hours. 
• Exchange Rate (fluctuates): 1 INR = 0.0289 WST. 
• Approx. Mid-Range 7-Day Trip Cost: 3,75,000 INR.
• Top Places: Apia, Savai’i, Upolu, and To-Sua Ocean Trench. 
• Best Time to Visit: April to October.

Commonly Needed Documents for Visa on Arrival 

• Valid passport: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date and have 2 blank pages.
• Return or onward ticket: This helps show that you intend to leave the country within the permitted period.
• Hotel or accommodation confirmation: Keep your hotel booking accessible on your phone and preferably as a PDF. Some countries even require hard copies. 
• Proof of funds: A bank statement of the last 3 months with the required amount and sufficient cash in hand to prove you can support your trip. 
• Passport-size photographs: 2 to 4 recent colour photographs with a blue or white background.
• Visa fee: Keep the required amount in the accepted currency or have an appropriate payment card available.
• Travel insurance: Some destinations may require or recommend travel insurance.
• Online registration: Some countries require an arrival card, traveller declaration or online registration, which is separate from the visa. For example, the digital IMUGA for the Maldives. 

Conclusion

Visa on Arrival can make international travel much easier for Indian passport holders, especially when you want to plan a holiday in a short time and without embassy visits.

Popular choices for Indians are the Maldives, Indonesia, Cambodia and Qatar, which can work well for shorter international trips.

However, the easiest visa doesn’t mean you get the easiest destination. Places like Samoa take around 35 hours to reach, and the one-way flight cost is approximately 1 lakh INR.

Select a destination based on the cost, visa and entry process, or the experience you want. Make sure to check the current entry and visa conditions, required documents, permitted stay, and any online registration before booking your flight. 

For assistance regarding planning an international vacation, contact Dimaak Tours. We will help you with the visa process, itinerary, hotel booking, sightseeing, and flights. 

FAQs on Visa on Arrival Countries for Indians

1. Why do some countries reject travellers on arrival?

Rejections happen if you do not have a return ticket, hotel booking, sufficient funds, or if you forget pre-arrival forms. 

2. Is Visa on Arrival the same as visa-free entry?

They are different from each other. With Visa on Arrival, a visa is issued after you reach the destination. With visa-free entry, you do not need to obtain a visa, although you still need to meet immigration requirements.

3. What documents should you carry for Visa on Arrival?

Carry your passport, return ticket, hotel booking, proof of funds, travel insurance (if applicable), passport-size photographs where required, and the accepted payment method for the visa fee. Also complete any mandatory online arrival form before travelling and take a printout of that. 

4. Is Visa on Arrival cheaper than applying for an e-Visa?

It depends on the destination you visit. A Visa on Arrival can eliminate some application or agency costs, but the actual government fee varies by country. Some e-Visas are also inexpensive, while certain Visa on Arrival destinations charge 6,000 INR or more.

5. Which is the easiest visa-on-arrival country for Indians?

For Indian travellers, Maldives is among the easiest options because there is no visa fee and the traveller declaration can be completed online before arrival for free. Another key advantage is the flight duration, which takes 1.5 – 3 hours from major Indian cities such as Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, and Mumbai. 

Varshini IR

With a passion for traveling and storytelling, the job found me for my crazy obsessions. For all the beauty I saw, I was still left wanting more. I guess that's what travel does to you. Now, I am on a quest to discover surreal places and connect with new people. And the longing to know every corner of the world will always be unstoppable for me.

View Author Details