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Looking for the list of top visa-free countries to travel to in 2018 with an Indian passport? Read this article to find out the list of the best countries to visit without a visa for Indian nationals including the best times to visit and travel permit details.
Indians need a valid visa to visit just about any country in the world except for some 50 plus amazing destinations. Our passport is a little restricted in terms of freedom to travel anywhere and generally requires additional documents to take off. Getting the necessary visa can be a hassle.
As an Indian, traveling without a visa or getting a free visa on arrival with an Indian passport is my dream, especially for really cool destinations like Equador, Fiji, Seychelles!!
You should be able to just pack and leave as soon as you have your flight tickets confirmed, right? No visa-processing troubles should ever bother us on our vacation. So, I have done all the research for you and listed very useful information about these stunning visa-free travel destinations. Enjoy 🙂
These countries either do not need a Visa to enter for Indian passport holders or they give us Visa On Arrival for FREE if you have your return ticket and hotels already booked or have proof that you can meet the expenses of your stay there!
What are you waiting for? Go check out these wonderful places and hop on that flight 🙂
Without much further ado, here is the list of top 10 most gorgeous countries to visit without a visa for Indian nationals.
Top 10 Visa-free countries for Indian passport holders
Ecuador
Visa: Not Required. You can stay in Equador for up to 90 days and also have an option to extend your stay.
Continent: South America
Best season to visit: November to April
Things to do: Yasuni National Park, Cotopaxi National Park, Floreana Island, Baltra Island, Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, Quilotoa lake. Ciudad Mitad del Mundo is a monument that marks the equator. Hiking, camping and stretching out with your feet in the water are popular activities here. Check out a volcano, turtles, rain forests and much more in this beautiful nation.
International Airport: Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito is the most busiest airport in Equador. This country has many international airports.
Maldives
Visa: Required. Free. Given on arrival when you travel to Maldives and have a return ticket. This visa is valid of 30 days and is extendable to add another 60 days. If you do not have a hotel reservation or a sponsor in Maldives, you would need to show that you have at least USD 150 to cover each day of stay there.
Continent: Asia
Best season to visit: November to April
Things to do: Hulhumale Beach, Maafushi, Meeru Island, Kuramathi, Rangali. Gorgeous ring-shaped coral reefs and stunning beaches form the beautiful atolls of Maldives nestled in the Indian Ocean. Beach hopping, surfing, scuba-diving are all done here. Maldives is popular with honeymooners too.
International Airport: Male International Airport is the international airport of Maldives.
Laos
Visa: Required. Free. Given on arrival. You get a Visa on Arrival when you travel to Laos and enter at any of these three cities: Luang Prabang (LPQ), Pakse (PKZ) and Vientiane and have confirmed accommodation details. This visa is valid for 30 days.
Continent: Asia
Best season to visit: October to April
Things to do: Kuang Si Falls, Pha That Luang, Vat Phou, Patuxai, Mount Phousi, Phu Chi Fa, Bola Ven Plateau. There is so much to do in this stunning nation. Waterfalls, hiking, ziplining, museums, palaces, temples, forest, you got it all.
International Airport: Wattay International Airport at Vientiane is the most famous international airport in Laos.
Jamaica
Visa: Not Required. You can stay here for You must have a return ticket to enter this country without a visa from India.
Continent: North America
Best season to visit: Mid-November to April
Things to do: Dunn’s River Falls, Dolphin Cove, Green Grotto Caves, James Bond Beach, Reggae Beach. If you are a fan of James Bond movies, you will love it here. Even an international airport in Jamaica is named after the secret agent 007’s creator, Ian Fleming.
International Airport: Jamaica has three international airports: Sangster International Airport, Norman Manley International Airport, Ian Fleming International Airport.
Fiji
Visa: Not Required. You will be issued a Visitor Permit to stay here for a maximum of 4 months. You may be asked to show a return ticket. This Visitor Permit is extendable.
Continent: Oceania
Best season to visit: Mid-April to mid-November
Things to do: Mamanuca Island, Kula Eco Park, Monuriki, Thurston Gardens, Yasawa Islands, Mana Island. Snorkelling, beaches, scuba-diving are popular activities in this gorgeous group of islands.
International Airport: Nadi International Airport is the main international airport in the Republic of Fiji.
Also read: Which countries do not need a visa to visit India
Mauritius
Visa: Not Required. You can stay in Mauritius for up to 90 days. This is extendable too. You need to show some proof that you are can financially support your stay for the period you choose to stay. Also, you need to have a return ticket to India as well as confirmed hotel reservations.
Continent: Africa
Best season to visit: May to December
Things to do: Picnic or hike at Black River Gorges National Park, Explore a volcano or waterfalls and more at Seven Colored Earths, Flic-en-Flac, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens, Trou-aux-Biches for beaches, Le Morne Brabant beach, Blue Safari Submarines, Tamarind Waterfalls. Mauritius has some of the most stunning beaches with turquoise waters, lagoons, rain forests and reefs in Africa.
International Airport: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is the main international airport here.
Trinidad and Tobago
Visa: Not Required. You can stay on these islands for a maximum of 90 days. You should have your confirmed return ticket or onward ticket to enter Trinidad and Tobago.
Continent: South America
Best season to visit: January to May
Things to do: Pigeon Point beach, Pitch Lake, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Englishman’s Bay beach, Tobago Cocoa Estate, Maracas Bay Beach. There is no need for me to tell you about the beauty of Trinidad and Tobago. They are islands in the famous Caribbean, what do you expect, eh? 😉 Enjoy like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean movie here!
International Airport: Piarco International Airport is the main international airport of these islands in the Caribbean.
Also read: Top Weekend getaways from Bangalore within 300 kms
Nepal
Visa: Not Required. You do not need a visa to enter Nepal because we have Freedom of Movement by the 1950 bilateral India-Nepal Treaty. A valid Voter’s Registration card is needed if you do not have a passport.
Continent: Asia
Best season to visit:
Mid-September to Mid-December
Things to do: Chitwan National Park to enjoy nature and also watch Bengal Tigers, Kathmandu Valley, Pashupatinath Temple, Sagarmatha National Park, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Annapurna Conservation Area. Hiking the mighty Himalayan mountains, especially Mount Everest, is the most famous thing to do in Nepal. Temple visiting, cycling, sherpas are other highlights.
International Airport: Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is the international airport in Nepal.
Samoa
Visa: Required. Free. You get an Entry Permit or Transit Permit on Arrival when you travel to Samoa and have a confirmed return ticket. This visa is valid of 60 days and is extendable.
Continent: Oceania
Best season to visit: May to October
Things to do: Upolu for surfing, beaches and waterfalls, Alofaaga Blowholes, Samoa museum, Aganoa beach, Mount Matavanu, To-Sua Ocean Trench, Piula Cave-pool! Samoa is about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Of course it is gorgeous with its stunning beaches with reefed-borders, rain forests, waterfalls and more.
International Airport: Faleolo International Airport near Samoa’s capital city, Apia, is the international airport of this country.
***Note: Do not confuse this country with American Samoa, which is a different country close to Samoa. This nation also gives a entry or transit permit on arrival for Indians if you have a return ticket.***
Bhutan
Visa: Not Required. You can enter and stay in Bhutan without a visa for a maximum of 14 days. You should have a return ticket. You would need to show that you have at least USD 200 to cover each day of stay there. Also, you should have booked a tour though an agent or tour operator to enter this country.
Continent: Asia
Best season to visit: October to April
Things to do: Paro Taktsang for cliff side monasteries, Manas National Park, Punakha Dzong Palace, Gangteng Monastery, Gaint Buddha Statue in Thimpu, Rinpung Dzong, Bhutan National Museum. The Paro International Airport itself is located near a beautiful river bank in a gorgeous valley. This gives a pleasant start for your trip. You can look forward to a pretty wonderful trip filled with valleys of divine flowers, monasteries, palaces and more.
International Airport: Paro International Airport is the only international airport in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Other beautiful visa-free destinations for Indian passport holders
- Seychelles in Africa – Free Visa on Arrival for 30 days.
- Cook Islands in Oceania – Visa Not Required for 31 Days.
- Macau in Asia – Free Visa on Arrival for 30 days.
- Hong Kong in Asia – Visa Not Required for 14 Days with online pre-arrival registration.
- Grenada in North America – Visa Not Required for 90 Days.
- El Salvador in Central America – Visa Not Required for 90 days. (Check for tourist safety tips and safe places to visit before you go.)
If you want to visit any other country like Iceland, USA etc. check that country’s official website to apply for a visa or go with a reputed visa agency like iVisa.
Fun Fact
Oceania is not one of the 7 traditional continents, but is used to cover countries in the middle of huge oceans like the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa.
Conclusion
For even more countries with great visa policies for Indian passport holders, check out this article by Triphobo.
NOTE: This list is based on my research of visa requirements at the time of writing this article, November 2017. Kindly verify the requirements again for current conditions before you travel.
*All these countries need your passport to be with you. And the passport should be valid for a minimum of 6 months from your date of travel.
**Only visiting Nepal does not need a passport if you have your valid Voter ID card with you and if you are traveling directly from India.
Also read: Top 16 destinations in South India that you must visit right now!
After reading this post, the first thing that comes to mind is that as a USA Passport holder, we take for granted our passport benefits. However, we shouldn’t, because just the other day I was reading that some countries in the EU might will start requiring US Citizens to apply for a visa before traveling there. Thank you for the resource you included from Olympic Air…I probably will start using it more soon.
Thank you for the kind words Sheila 🙂
It’s useful post. Bhutan is my favorite country on this list. It’s such a beautiful country and I can live there permanently.
Thanks 🙂 That’s nice to know!
I like you can do attitude! I am glad there are several options for people with Indian passports. Ecuador and Jamaica are gorgeous and have tons of things to do. Plus, they are relatively cheaper than other places on the list. I am surprised to see El Salvador on the list. My husband is form there and I have been many times. It has a bit of a rough reputation but there are areas that can be visited without problems.
Thank you! Oh, good to know. Yes, every place has its good and bad spots. As travelers, we should make informed choices to be safe!
Great info. I hold an American passport, so I think there are more options for us.
Thanks!
Although I do not have an Indian Passport I learned something new. I did not know it was difficult to enter many countries with and Indian Passport.
Yeah, we need a visa for so many places!
What a great idea for a blog post. You have included lots of information and tips and advice.
Thank you!
This is a very useful information for those with an Indian passport. I wished we didn’t have such restrictions when it comes to the type of passport one possess but it is the sad reality with live in. I will share your post. Maybe it could help my Indian friends.
Thanks so much!
It’s definitely easier to travel visa free. Lucky you get the opportunity to visit beautiful places like Figi and the Maldives. Both places are like paradise.
True..thanks 🙂
That’s a very useful post. I don’t knew so many country has visa on arrival option. Thanks for sharing
Hope you can travel to one of these beautiful places soon!
Well this is great article for Indians. As travelers everyone’s dream to travel the world without a hassle. So without visa or Visa on arrival is dream came true. And also it shows the power of the passport of the relevant country. And I would like to invite you the your tropical neighbor Sri Lanka. Another hassle free visa destination for Indians.
Thank you. Yes, getting a visa on arrival is great too 🙂
very useful article,do you know the countries which have a visa on arrival option? please listed it to us
and many Thanks for sharing