India e-Visa for Best Yoga TTC in Goa : which visa you need, 2026–27
Quick answer: to join a yoga teacher training in Goa, most international students apply online for an India e-Tourist Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in. The Government of India lists “attending a short term yoga programme” as an allowed purpose. For most nationalities it costs US$25 for 30 days (July–March), US$10 (April–June) or US$40 for a full year, plus a small bank charge. Apply at least 4 days before you fly, and land at Mopa (GOX) or Dabolim (GOI): both accept e-Visa arrivals.
You’ve chosen your course and your dates. Now there’s one step between you and the mat in Arambol. This guide walks you through the India e-Visa for yoga teacher training step by step: which visa to choose, what it costs in 2026–27, how to fill in the form, what to upload, and what happens when you land in Goa.
About the author. Written by Yogini Manisha, founder of Diksha Yoga School, whose main school is at The Lotus Sutra on Arambol Beach, North Goa. She is an E-RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance, has taught for 16+ years, and has welcomed students from 80+ countries to Goa. Every rule and fee here comes from the Government of India’s official e-Visa portal, checked in October 2026.
Table of Contents
Which India visa do you need for a yoga teacher training?
For a residential course of a few weeks in Goa, the usual choice is the e-Tourist Visa. India’s official e-Visa portal lists these purposes for it, among others:
- recreation and sightseeing
- attending a short term yoga programme
- short courses in subjects such as music, dance, cooking or Indian medicine
Which e-Tourist Visa fits your course?
| Your plan | Course length | Best e-Tourist Visa |
| 100 Hour YTT Goa only | 11 days | 30-day (cheapest) |
| 200 Hour YTT Goa only | 23 days | 30-day, or 1-year if you’ll travel too |
| 300 Hour YTT Goa | 28 days | 1-year: 30 days leaves almost no margin |
| Course + travelling around India, or 200 + 300 hours back to back | 5+ weeks | 1-year (up to 180 days in a calendar year) |
Our recommendation: for most students the 1-year e-Tourist Visa (US$40 for most nationalities) is worth the extra US$15. It gives you multiple entries, room for delayed flights or travel, and you can come back for your 300 hour training within the year.
What the e-Tourist Visa doesn’t allow:
- Paid work, including teaching yoga for money in India.
- Extensions or conversions. An e-Visa can’t be extended or changed to another visa type once you’re in India.
- Long, formal courses. The portal describes allowed short courses as running up to 6 months and not leading to a formal qualifying certificate or diploma. If your plans go beyond a short residential yoga programme, check with your nearest Indian embassy before applying.
India e-Visa fees 2026–27 by country
Fees depend on your nationality and the visa length. The 30-day visa costs less from April to June, which matches our April and May batches in Goa.
| Your passport | 30 days (Apr–Jun) | 30 days (Jul–Mar) | 1 year | 5 years |
| Most of Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Brazil, Mexico | US$10 | US$25 | US$40 | US$200 |
| United States | US$10 | US$25 | US$40 | US$160 |
| United Kingdom | US$10 | US$25 | US$40 | US$484 |
| Japan | US$10 | US$25 | US$25 | US$25 |
| Singapore | US$10 | US$25 | US$25 | US$200 |
| Russia | Free | Free | US$40 | US$120 |
| Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines | Free | Free | US$40 | US$200 |
| South Africa | Free | Free | US$25 | US$25 |
| Argentina, Indonesia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Uruguay, Jamaica, Fiji | Free | Free | Free | Free |
A 3% bank charge is added when you pay by card, or 4% by PayPal. The fee is non-refundable, even if the visa is refused.
Source: the official e-Tourist Visa fee table (updated September 2026). Check your own nationality before paying, because fees change.
Which batch is cheapest for visas? The lower US$10 fee for the 30-day e-Visa applies in the April–June season, so our April and May 2027 batches are the cheapest time to travel on a 30-day visa. See every cost in our Goa yoga teacher training cost guide.
How to apply for the India e-Visa: step by step
The application takes about 10–15 minutes. Do it yourself on the official site: you don’t need an agent.
- Go to the official portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, and choose e-Visa. Check the address ends in .gov.in before entering any details.
- Start a new application and select e-Tourist Visa with the length you want: 30 days, 1 year or 5 years.
- Choose your port of arrival: Goa (Mopa) if you’re flying into GOX or Goa (Dabolim) if you’re flying into GOI. This must match your ticket.
- Fill in your details exactly as they appear in your passport: full name, date of birth, place of birth, passport number, issue and expiry dates, plus your address, occupation and any previous visits to India.
- Select the purpose of visit. Choose the option for attending a short-term yoga programme. For your address in India, use The Lotus Sutra, Arambol Beach, North Goa 403524.
- Upload your photo and passport page (see the specifications below).
- Pay the fee by card or PayPal. Your application isn’t processed until payment goes through, and payment must be made at least 4 days before you travel.
- Check your email. You’ll get a confirmation straight away, and usually your Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) within a few days. Check the status on the portal and make sure it shows “GRANTED” before you fly.
- Print or save your ETA and carry it with your passport.
[Image: screenshot of the e-Visa portal home page · alt: “How to apply for the India e-Visa for a yoga course in Goa” · suggested: your own screenshot, personal details blurred]
Stuck? The official e-Visa support line is +91 11 24300666 or +91 82 7808 7808, email indian-evisa@gov.in. Or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Documents, photo and passport rules
Your checklist before you start:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months when you apply, with at least two blank pages for the immigration stamp
- Digital photo: JPEG, 10 KB–1 MB, square (equal height and width), plain white or light background, full face, eyes open, no glasses, no shadows, no borders
- Scan of your passport photo page: PDF, 10–300 KB
- Course letter: for short-term courses the portal asks for a letter from the institute on its letterhead. Once you’ve booked, ask us and we’ll email you a confirmation letter from Diksha Yoga School with your course name and dates
- Return or onward flight booking, and enough funds for your stay (immigration can ask)
- Email address you check often, plus a card or PayPal for the fee
Who can’t use the e-Visa:
- Pakistani nationals or people of Pakistani origin need a regular visa from an Indian mission.
- People with a military, police or security background, serving or retired, aren’t eligible and must apply for a regular visa.
- Diplomatic or official passport holders.
- Children listed on a parent’s passport: each traveller needs their own passport and their own e-Visa.
Yellow fever: if you’re arriving within 6 days of being in a yellow-fever country, for example parts of Africa or South America, carry your vaccination card.
When to apply, how long it lasts, and Goa’s airports
| Question | Answer |
| Earliest you can apply | Up to 120 days before you arrive |
| Latest you can apply | At least 4 days before you arrive. We suggest 2–3 weeks |
| 30-day e-Tourist Visa | Valid 30 days from your first arrival, multiple entry, can’t be extended |
| 1-year e-Tourist Visa | Valid 365 days from the date it’s granted, multiple entry, maximum 180 days in India per calendar year |
| 5-year e-Tourist Visa | Valid 5 years from the date it’s granted, multiple entry, same 180-day yearly limit |
Good news for Goa: both airports accept e-Visa arrivals. Goa (Mopa) and Goa (Dabolim) are both on the official list of airports where e-Visa holders can enter India. Mopa is closer to Arambol: about 30 km and 45–60 minutes away.
Flying via another Indian city? If you connect through Mumbai, Delhi or Bengaluru on a domestic flight, you clear immigration at your first Indian airport, so choose that airport as your port of arrival on the form. All the major international airports are on the e-Visa list. You can leave India from any authorised airport.
Planning around a 30-day visa: our 200 hour course runs from the 5th to the 27th of each month. On a 30-day visa you can arrive up to about a week early, but check your return flight falls within 30 days of landing.
Arriving in Goa: e-Arrival Card, immigration and pickup
1. Fill in the e-Arrival Card (mandatory since 1 April 2026)
India replaced the paper landing card with a digital e-Arrival Card.
- Submit it within 72 hours before you land, on indianvisaonline.gov.in or the official “Indian Visa Su-Swagatam” app.
- It’s free. Ignore any site that charges for it.
- For your address, use The Lotus Sutra, Arambol Beach, North Goa.
- Screenshot or download the QR code straight away. Some travellers report they can’t retrieve it after closing the page.
- It’s not a visa. You still need your e-Visa.
2. Immigration at Mopa or Dabolim
Show your passport, ETA and e-Arrival QR code. Your fingerprints and photo will be taken; this is standard for all e-Visa holders. The e-Visa is then stamped in your passport. There’s no extra fee to pay at the airport.
3. Your free pickup to Arambol
Airport pickup from Mopa or Dabolim is included with our Goa yoga teacher trainings. Send us your flight details at least 3 days before you arrive. Arriving early or on your own? See our guide on how to reach Arambol from Goa airport.
Common mistakes, and how to avoid scam sites
Look-alike websites are the biggest risk. Many sites copy the look of the official portal and charge several times the real fee, sometimes for an “express” service. The Government of India says it charges no emergency or express fees, and that indianvisaonline.gov.in is the only official e-Visa website.
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
| Applying on an agent or look-alike site | Type indianvisaonline.gov.in yourself; check for .gov.in before paying |
| Wrong port of arrival | Choose Goa (Mopa) for GOX or Goa (Dabolim) for GOI, or the first Indian airport where you clear immigration |
| Photo rejected | Square JPEG, white background, no glasses, no shadows |
| Passport expiring too soon | It needs 6 months’ validity when you apply, and two blank pages |
| Name or date of birth typo | Copy exactly from your passport; if you spot an error on your ETA, contact e-Visa support at least 24 hours before you travel |
| Applying too late | Apply 2–3 weeks before you fly, and never less than 4 days |
| 30-day visa too short | Choose the 1-year visa if your trip might go past 30 days, because e-Visas can’t be extended |
| Forgetting the e-Arrival Card | Submit it in the 72 hours before landing and save the QR code |
| Planning to teach paid classes in India | Not allowed on an e-Tourist Visa |
Frequently asked questions
Can I do a yoga teacher training in India on a tourist e-Visa?
Yes, for a short residential course. India’s official e-Visa portal lists “attending a short term yoga programme” as an allowed purpose of the e-Tourist Visa. Paid work, including teaching yoga for money in India, isn’t allowed.
How much is the India e-Visa for a yoga course in 2026?
For most nationalities: US$25 for 30 days (July–March), US$10 for 30 days (April–June), US$40 for 1 year, plus a 3% card charge. Some countries pay less or nothing. Check the official fee table.
How far in advance should I apply?
You can apply up to 120 days before arrival, and no later than 4 days before. We recommend 2–3 weeks before you fly.
Can I fly into Mopa airport on an e-Visa?
Yes. Both Goa (Mopa, GOX) and Goa (Dabolim, GOI) are official e-Visa entry airports. Mopa is the nearest to Arambol.
Is a 30-day e-Visa enough for a 200 hour course?
Yes, our 200 hour course in Goa runs 23 days. For our 28-day 300 hour course, or if you’ll travel afterwards, choose the 1-year e-Visa.
Can I extend my India e-Visa?
No. e-Visas can’t be extended or converted, so choose the right length before you apply.
Do I need a letter from the yoga school?
The portal asks for a letter from the institute for short-term courses. Once you’ve booked, ask us and we’ll email you a confirmation letter on Diksha Yoga School letterhead.
Do I need the e-Arrival Card as well as the e-Visa?
Yes. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign travellers must submit the free e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before landing in India.
Indian citizens and OCI holders: do I need a visa?
Indian citizens don’t. OCI cardholders don’t need a visa but must complete the e-Arrival Card.
Your visa is the easy part. Now choose your dates
Our 23-day 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Goa runs every month from November to May at The Lotus Sutra on Arambol Beach, from €1,800 with your room, three sattvic meals a day and airport pickup from Mopa or Dabolim included. There are only 10 places per batch.
| Batch | Twin-shared | Private | 30-day e-Visa fee (most nationalities) |
| 5–27 Nov 2026 | €1,800 | €2,000 | US$25 |
| 5–27 Dec 2026 | €1,800 | €2,000 | US$25 |
| 5–27 Jan 2027 | €1,800 | €2,000 | US$25 |
| 5–27 Feb 2027 | €1,800 | €2,000 | US$25 |
| 5–27 Mar 2027 | €1,800 | €2,000 | US$25 |
| 5–27 Apr 2027 | €1,800 | €2,000 | US$10 |
| 5–27 May 2027 | €1,800 | €2,000 | US$10 |
“I had the most amazing and most special time of my life with you guys!” — Célina Schimanski, 200 Hour YTT graduate.
Reserve your place with a 30% deposit → · View the 200 Hour YTT in Goa · Ask us a visa question on WhatsApp
Training somewhere else? Read our Sri Lanka ETA guide and Thailand visa guide. Getting ready? See how to prepare for yoga teacher training.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Indian visa rules can change, so always confirm on indianvisaonline.gov.in before you apply.
