We live in a world where global travel has become much more accessible and achievable for Indians. While foreign travel was a dream for many Indians in the past and even today, those who can do it often have a few set destinations in mind. 

Whether for educational purposes in a country like the USA, Canada for immigration, the USA again, or the UK for work, tourists are often more open and accepting of other destinations. Whether it is proximity, costs, acceptance of Indian tourists, or just its popularity, travellers have many options to choose from. 

For example, Thailand is offering visa-free entry to Indians until the end of November 2024, thus making it an excellent destination for Indian travellers until then and beyond, when Thailand is expected to revert to offering visa-on-arrival for Indian passport holders. 

Similarly, dozens of countries offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival to Indians, enabling them to travel freely without worrying about lengthy and sometimes expensive formalities, which may prevent many travellers from even considering a trip there. Here are some of the most popular visa-on-arrival countries for Indians and how to plan a trip to them quickly and efficiently.

What is visa-on-arrival?

Visa-on-arrival is a system where a traveller can obtain a visa or entry permit for their destination country once they have reached the port of entry for that country for a nominal fee. This is as opposed to pre-applying for a visa weeks or months in advance, attending a visa interview, submitting documents, visiting the visa authority, sending your passport and other essential documents, and then waiting for them to approve it. 

For example, Indonesia offers visa-on-arrival for Indian passport holders, and Indians can apply for an e-visa, which is as simple as getting one on arrival or visiting Indonesia from the Jakarta airport and getting the visa from there within just a few minutes rather than five days for processing in the traditional method.

What are some of the top visa-on-arrival countries for Indians in 2024?

Suppose you are looking for a country as your next travel destination in 2024. In that case, the following table lists the top ten most popular travel destinations that offer visa-on-arrival for Indian passport holders and can be the next destination for your international trip.

What are the entry requirements for Indians looking to enter visa-on-arrival countries?

Although visa-on-arrival offers much more convenience and flexibility for travelling than getting a pre-approved visa, it is still essential to note that you can’t just pack your bags and head to a month-long vacation in these countries. You will still need to carry all necessary documents to ensure a quick and hassle-free visa application in Sri Lanka, Maldives or any other country you are considering visiting.

For example, you still need a travel itinerary with a confirmed return or onward flight, proof of finances, proof of accommodation, and visa-sized and passport-sized photographs to obtain the visa and enter the country. So ensure you have all these documents when boarding the flight for a country offering visa-on-arrival.

How can you easily navigate through the entry requirements for visa-on-arrival countries? 

Navigating through the entry requirements for visa-on-arrival countries for Indians is quite simple. Although not as convenient or beneficial as visa-free entry, it still requires minimal effort and time compared to getting a visa in the traditional manner. For example, getting a visa to the UK involves a lot of preparation, documentation, and planning, as well as higher visa costs, unlike visa-on-arrival for any of these countries, which costs much less and requires a lot less preparation comparatively. 

Here is how you can easily navigate through the entry requirements for visa-on-arrival countries for Indians:

• Research the country you plan to visit to determine if it offers a visa-on-arrival to Indian passport holders. 

• You can check the official website of the country's embassy or consulate for any specific requirements, eligibility criteria, and conditions for obtaining the visa.

• Upon arriving at the airport or designated port of entry of the country, locate the visa-on-arrival counter or immigration area.

• Prepare the required documents in advance, approach the visa counter and submit your documents to the immigration officer. 

• Fill out any necessary forms or applications as instructed and pay the visa fee.

• After reviewing your documents and payment, the immigration officer will process your visa and, if approved, stamp it onto your passport.

• Proceed through immigration and enter your destination country with your passport and newly obtained visa.

Conclusion

Travelling and exploring the world is now much easier, with countries offering more accessible and convenient options for obtaining a temporary entry permit. As the world has become more open over the years, many countries have become travel hubs to increase their earnings and lead to higher tourism revenues, thus making foreign travel necessary for the higher growth of many countries such as Thailand, Maldives, Croatia, etc.