Visa on Arrival Countries for Indians 2026: Fees, Stay Duration & Documents

For Indian travellers, visa on arrival countries for Indians in 2026 remain the sweet spot between planning and spontaneity: no embassy visits, no waiting weeks for a sticker — you land, pay the fee at the counter, and walk out with a visa in your passport. The Henley Passport Index 2026 counts 25 such destinations for Indian passport holders, from the free 30-day stamp in the Maldives to Tanzania's 90-day single-entry visa. But ‘on arrival’ is not ‘guaranteed’: the fee, the documents and — this year — one significant rule change in the UAE all decide whether the counter smiles at you. This guide lists the fees, stay durations and documents for each major VOA destination.

Visa rules change fast. This guide was last verified on 9 October 2026 — always confirm on the official portal linked below before you apply.

What visa on arrival actually means

A visa on arrival is issued by immigration officers after you land, at a dedicated counter before the passport-control lines. You fill in a short form, pay the fee, show your documents, and get the visa stamped into your passport on the spot. It is not the same as visa-free entry (no visa at all) and not the same as an e-visa (approval obtained online before you fly). The practical difference matters: with VOA you can still be refused at the counter, queues can run over an hour in peak season at places like Bali, and some countries quietly prefer you to arrive with an e-visa instead — Vietnam and Sri Lanka both nudge travellers toward their online systems, and Kenya made its eTA mandatory with no counter fallback.

Visa on arrival countries for Indians: fees and stay durations

Fees below are the indicative 2026 figures from current travel guides; border fees change without notice, so treat them as budgets rather than promises, and carry a little extra in US dollars.

• Maldives — FREE, 30 days. The visa is issued at Male airport on arrival.
• Indonesia (Bali) — IDR 500,000 (~USD 35), 30 days, extendable once to 60 days.
• Cambodia — USD 30 plus service charges, 30 days.
• Laos — USD 50, 30 days.
• Myanmar — USD 50, 30 days.
• Vietnam — USD 25, 30 days; the e-visa is more commonly used and lets you skip the counter queue.
• Jordan — JOD 40 (~USD 97), 30 days.
• Qatar — free VOA for Indians (Hayya-linked), 30 days; confirm current terms before flying.
• Sri Lanka — ETA, currently FREE, 30 days; apply online before departure.
• Timor-Leste — USD 30, 30 days.
• Madagascar — ~USD 35-40, 30 to 60 days depending on the visa issued.
• Tanzania — USD 50, 90 days single entry.
• Kenya — eTA, USD 34.09 (~USD 35), 90 days; mandatory online before travel.
• Seychelles — Travel Authorisation, ~EUR 10, 90-day visitor permit.
• UAE — 14-day VOA (AED 100-120) only for eligible visa/residence holders; see the UAE section below.

The five things every VOA counter wants to see

• A confirmed return or onward ticket — the single most-asked-for document at VOA counters.
• Hotel bookings covering your stay.
• A passport valid at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.
• Proof of funds: recent bank statements or sufficient cash and cards.
• The visa fee in US dollars or local currency, in cash — card machines at VOA counters are unreliable.

UAE visa on arrival for Indians: who still qualifies

The UAE runs a conditional visa-on-arrival scheme rather than an open one. Indian passport holders get a 14-day VOA (AED 100-120, extendable once for 14 more days) or a 60-day single-entry VOA (AED 250, non-extendable) only if they hold a valid US visa or green card, or a visa or residence permit from the EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore or South Korea — with at least 6 months' validity remaining on both the supporting document and the Indian passport. The big 2026 change: the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) removed UK visas and UK residence permits from the eligible list in July 2026, so Indian travellers relying only on UK documents must now get a UAE tourist visa before departure (Moneycontrol's report on the change). Rules for UK visa holders were reported changed mid-2026 — verify the current position on the GDRFA or ICP portals before you fly.

When an e-visa beats visa on arrival

VOA is convenient, but it is not always the smart play. Vietnam's USD 25 e-visa costs the same as the arrival option and lets you walk past the VOA queue at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Sri Lanka's ETA is currently free and takes minutes online. Kenya made its eTA mandatory — there is no counter fallback at all. And for the Maldives, the VOA is already free, so there is nothing to gain by applying ahead. Rule of thumb: if a country runs a working e-visa or ETA system, use it; keep VOA for the destinations where the counter is genuinely the only option. The full Henley Passport Index is the best place to check which system each destination currently uses.

“A visa on arrival is a privilege exercised at a counter, not a right. Arrive with the fee in dollars, the ticket home and a hotel booking — and the counter will usually smile.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Maldives visa on arrival really free for Indians?

Yes. Indian passport holders get a free 30-day visa on arrival at Male airport. You still need a confirmed return ticket, a hotel booking and a passport valid for 6+ months.

Can I use my UK visa to get a UAE visa on arrival in 2026?

No — not anymore. The UAE removed UK visas and residence permits from VOA eligibility in a July 2026 ICP update. If a UK document is your only qualifying visa, apply for a UAE tourist visa before departure, and verify the current rules on the GDRFA or ICP portals.

Is Thailand still visa-on-arrival for Indians?

Effectively no. Since 15 September 2026 most Indians use the free 30-day visa exemption instead. A 15-day VOA (THB 2,000, cash only) still exists as a fallback for edge cases, but the exemption is the default.

Should I carry US dollars for visa-on-arrival fees?

Yes. VOA counters price in USD or local currency and card machines are unreliable, so carry the exact fee plus a buffer in USD cash — along with proof of funds for your stay.

If the counter-queue life is not for you, MyQuickTrippers plans the whole trip — flights, hotels and visa strategy — so you land prepared. WhatsApp +91 81711 58569 for a customised quote.

Sources