Travel Info

Entry requirements

Visas

You must obtain a visa before travelling to India; without one you will be refused entry. Contact the Indian High Commission in London. Foreign nationals arriving in India on long term multiple entry visas must register with the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer within 14 days of arrival. Overstayers will be fined and may be prosecuted or detained and later deported. They may also need to appear in person at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi. The High Commission/Deputy High Commission may not be able to intervene in these cases.

Unless visiting neighbouring countries (see paragraph below), tourists leaving India will receive a stamp in their passports indicating that they may not re-enter India for two months, regardless of their length of stay prior to departure. Tourists wishing to return to India before the two month period has passed will now have to visit the Indian High Commission or Consulate in the country to which they travelled or are resident and present their case for re-entry.

The authorities in all Indian Immigration Check Posts have, however, been authorised to allow tourists to make two or three entries, based on production of an itinerary and documentation (ticket bookings) substantiating the need for tourism related travel to neighbouring countries. For further information read the FAQs published by the MHA: http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/FAQ-TVisa170510.pdf

To transit through India you will need a transit visa. A transit visa is valid for a single or double journey, within 15 days, effective from the date of issue. Transit visas are for the sole purpose of a direct transit for a maximum period of three days. For stays beyond three days, obtain an appropriate visa.

In September 2009, a large number of foreign nationals resident in India were found to be employed on business visas instead of employment visas. Ensure that your visa is appropriate for your travel.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs FAQs clarify Business or Employment visa queries at: www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/work_visa_faq.pdf. For more details please speak to the Visa Department at the Indian High Commission.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity

Passports are required to be valid for a minimum of six months from the date you apply for your visa to India. Your passport must also be valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival in India.

Health

Local medical facilities are not comparable to those in the UK, especially in more remote areas. In major cities private medical care is available, but expensive. For psychiatric illness, specialised treatment may not be available outside major cities. The treatment of such illnesses may require long-term hospitalisation, which may incur large expenditure and insurance companies are often reluctant to cover costs.

Take care with your water and food hygiene. Drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea seek immediate medical attention. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya affect most of India.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that 2,300,000 adults aged 15 or over in India were living with HIV around 0.3% of the adult population. Compared to 0.2% in the UK. Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling and ensure vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC websites or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For further health advice from the NHS:

Click NHS UK

http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/destinations/asia-(east)/india.aspx

Health - Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been outbreaks of avian influenza in India, most recently in the north-eastern states of West Bengal and Assam.

As a precaution avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds. Ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked. Read this in conjunction with our Avian and Pandemic Influenza page.