New Delhi: A sharp critique from a U.S. traveller has rekindled concerns over chronic issues with the official Indian e‑Visa portal, reigniting frustrations in the global travel community.
On November 25, user Raymond Russell posted on X: “Anybody who applies for an e-visa to India knows the website is always comically, profoundly, embarrassingly broken.”
He attached screenshots reportedly showing malfunctioning visa forms and erratic disconnections, a complaint that has since resonated with many others.
(1) I love India
(2) Anybody who applies for an e-visa to India knows the website is always comically, profoundly, embarrassingly broken
It looks like it was written in 2003, kicks you out randomly without saving your work, won’t charge your credit card until your nineteenth… pic.twitter.com/3nhl3v0sZi
— Raymond Russell (@raymondopolis) November 25, 2025
Since Russell’s post, multiple applicants have taken to review platforms and social media to describe harrowing experiences: repeated crashes, lost form data, failed payments, and even uncertainty over whether their applications have been submitted at all.
User complaints reveal systemic problems
Several users describe the application experience as a “nightmare.” On the official review site of the e-Visa portal, many negative testimonials have poured in over the past year. One applicant said they had spent over an hour attempting to apply for two people, only for the website to keep crashing while saving.
A recurring complaint is that the form fails to save progress. “Pressing ‘next’ often takes you back to the beginning of the application process,” wrote one user, adding that attachments such as passport scans or photos are frequently rejected without explanation.
Others reported payment failures: after filling in all details, their credit card payments were repeatedly declined, forcing restarts. Some said they never even reached the payment gateway despite completing the form.
One user described an ordeal spanning several days: multiple logins, different browsers and devices — all with little success. “It keeps crashing … doesn’t save my data … took hours and repeated attempts,” he wrote, adding that he ended up giving up on the online process.
Official advisories — but user frustrations persist
Over the years, the government has warned applicants about fake or fraudulent websites impersonating the real e-Visa portal. Various diplomatic missions and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have repeatedly clarified that the only legitimate site is indianvisaonline.gov.in; they have cautioned travellers against using private intermediaries charging high fees for “express” visas.
However, even for those using the genuine portal, problems continue — suggesting that the issues lie beyond just fake intermediaries. According to an analysis by visa-help resources, some of the common technical problems include server overloads, strict upload requirements for photos and documents, and poorly optimised front-end code that fails under load.
Why it matters — for travellers and tourism alike
For foreign travellers — tourists, business visitors, students — the difficulties in obtaining an e-Visa add real-world consequences: visa delays, cancelled flights, lost bookings, and general uncertainty.
A few applicants have even admitted abandoning their travel plans out of frustration.
At a time when India aims to boost tourism and facilitate foreign visitors, such glitches in a key digital gateway could tarnish the broader image of “digital India.”
What travellers can do — and what needs fixing
Until the portal stabilises, visa-experts recommend the following to applicants:
- Apply well in advance — leave buffer time in case of crashes or repeated attempts.
- Use a stable browser (some users report better results with Firefox or Chrome) and clear cache/cookies before starting.
- Ensure documents (passport scans, photos) meet size and format requirements.
- Be wary of third-party websites — use only the official government site.
- Avoid peak hours — site may respond better during off-peak times.
But these are temporary workarounds. Long-term solution needs from authorities: improved server infrastructure, better front-end testing, and user support that responds to genuine grievances.
As one frustrated user put it on Reddit:
“It is like a website from 1995 … a country that supplies IT workers to the entire world still has a visa website that looks like somebody’s school homework project.”
Whether — and when — the portal gets the overhaul it needs remains to be seen. Until then, for many wanting to visit India, the real struggle begins before they even book a flight.
