India’s Monthly eVisa Issuance from 2015 to 2024

India’s monthly eVisa data shows a fascinating picture of the country’s international travel trends over the past decade, revealing clear seasonal patterns and the dramatic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its introduction, India’s eVisa program has shown a strong seasonal cycle, with peak issuances consistently occurring during the winter months (October to February). This period aligns with India’s most favourable weather conditions and Christmas holiday, attracting a surge of international visitors. The trend is remarkably consistent throughout the dataset, with December and January frequently recording the highest numbers each year. For instance, in December 2019, a total of 361,529 eVisas were granted—more than double the 147,807 issued in June of the same year. This pattern reflects India’s appeal as a winter destination, particularly for tourists from North America and Europe looking to escape the harsh winters back home.  From 2015 to early 2020, the data shows an impressive growth trajectory, with each January surpassing the previous year’s numbers. To put this in perspective, January 2015 recorded just 29,498 eVisas issuance, which had grown to 122,407 in January 2016, then 187,863 in January 2017, 299,676 in January 2018, 349,876 in January 2019, and finally reaching a pre-pandemic peak of 382,878 in January 2020. This represents an extraordinary 1,198% increase over just five years—clear evidence of the program’s success in attracting international visitors and making entry into India more seamless.

However, the pandemic’s impact was devastating. The data starkly reflects this, with no eVisas issued between April and December 2020 and again from January to March 2021, as India shut its borders and global travel ground to a halt. When issuances finally resumed in April 2021, the numbers were shockingly low—just 2,308 eVisas were issued, marking one of the most challenging periods for global travel in modern history. The early recovery was painfully slow, with May 2021 recording only 678 eVisas, which is less than 0.5% of pre-pandemic levels. However, from mid-2021 onward, the data shows a remarkable recovery. A major turning point came in October 2021, when issuances rose significantly to 22,470. From there, the numbers continued to climb through 2022 and 2023. In December 2023, monthly issuances had reached 309,875, bringing them close to pre-pandemic figures. The true milestone came in January 2024, when 366,006 eVisas were granted—surpassing the previous peak and setting a new all-time record. One interesting post-pandemic shift is the narrowing of seasonal variations. While winter still remains the peak travel season, the gap between peak and off-peak months appears to be shrinking. For example, in May 2024, 151,554 eVisas were issued—about 41% of the January 2024 peak. In contrast, May 2019 figures were only 39% of January 2019’s total. This suggests that travel to India is becoming more diversified, with a higher share of visitors coming for reasons beyond just seasonal tourism, such as business or other year-round purposes.