India

Passport validity requirements

To enter India, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Returning to the UK

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement.

Visa requirements

You must have a visa to visit India unless you are an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder.

India has a number of visa categories including tourist, business, work, journalist and medical. Make sure you get the right visa for your travel.

You could be refused entry or deported for having the wrong visa. You could also be banned from entering India in the future.

For the latest information on Indian visas and immigration requirements, see the Indian Bureau of Immigration.

Applying for a visa or e-visa

Find out how to apply for a visa from the Indian Bureau of Immigration. Depending on your requirements, you may be able to apply for a:

• regular (paper) visa
• e-visa (check the website’s FAQs for restrictions on airports, land borders and seaports of entry)

Check your eligibility and any restrictions before you apply. Allow plenty of time for your application to be processed.

Applicants of Pakistani origin

If you are of Pakistani origin, a British-Pakistani dual national or hold a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), the visa processing time will be substantially longer than other visa applications. More information is available from the High Commission of India. 

If you are a British-Pakistani dual national, you must apply for an Indian visa on your Pakistani passport. If you have renounced your Pakistani nationality, or cancelled your Pakistani passport, you will need to submit documentary proof of this.

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders

If you hold a valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, you can use this, along with your valid British passport, to visit India. You do not need a visa. An Electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) was launched in June 2026 and means holders of an e-OCI card need not carry a physical copy of the card. More information is available at Online OCI Services, including the requirement for special permission to undertake certain activities such as research, missionary activities or journalism.

E-arrival card

Foreign nationals arriving in India must complete an e-arrival card online before reaching immigration. The online e-arrival card can be completed up to 72 hours before you arrive. You should complete the online process in advance to avoid delays at the airport. 

More details are available on the Indian visa website. The e-arrival card is not a visa, and you will still need a separate valid visa or OCI card to enter India.

Extending your visa

It’s illegal to overstay your visa in India. Make sure you leave the country before your visa expires or get an extension if permitted to do so. More information is available from the Indian Bureau of Immigration.  

If you’re hospitalised

If you or someone you’re travelling with has a short-term tourist visa and is hospitalised, you may be able to convert to a medical visa.

Make sure you get your passport stamped

Make sure the border control officer puts a stamp in your passport when you arrive in India. You’ll need to show it when you leave, so border control officers know you have not overstayed your visa.  

Registering with the authorities

Hotels, hostels and other accommodation providers must register foreign guests with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office. Make sure your accommodation provider, for example, hotels, hostels and homestead owners, registers you using the online C-form. (Web pages not accessible outside India).

You will need your passport with a valid visa to get accommodation in country. British nationals who have overstayed their Indian visa have found it difficult to find accommodation.

If you plan to stay in India for more than 180 days and do not hold an OCI card, you must register within 14 days of arrival with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (website not accessible outside India). You could be denied permission to leave if you do not do this.

You may need to register your stay depending on the type of visa you hold, check if you need to.   

Exit requirements

When you leave India, officials will check when you entered the country. If you do not have an entry stamp, for example, if you have a newly issued passport or an emergency travel document, you must apply for a special exit permit before you travel. If you need to apply for an exit permit, you can only apply to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office from within India (website not accessible outside India). It can take between 5 and 15 working days for straightforward applications. Factor this into your timeframe to leave India when you are booking flights.   

Vaccine requirements

To enter India, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a:

• yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk
• polio vaccine if you’re coming from a polio-affected country

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s India guide.

Ebola

As a public health measure, India has introduced health screening measures, including completing a mandatory Self-Declaration Form for all international passengers arriving in India. The Self-Declaration Form should be completed up to 24 hours before arrival through the Air Suvidha Portal.

If you don’t complete the form before you arrive, expect delays. Travellers from affected regions should also be prepared to undertake temperature checks. If you show symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine, and/or travel restrictions. Monitor local media and follow the advice of the airlines you are travelling with, local authorities and your travel company.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared this a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of India. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into India

There are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including residents and tourists, must follow Reserve Bank of India guidelines.

If you’re visiting India, you can bring cash, travellers cheques (in British pounds or another foreign currency) or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees in India.

You must declare any amount above 5,000 US dollars in notes, or 10,000 US dollars in notes and travellers cheques combined.

Access permits

Special permits are required to visit certain parts of India designated as restricted or protected areas. 

Permit regulations can change at any time. 

Information is available from:

• the Ministry of Home Affairs website
• local tour operators
• the relevant state liaison office
• the Indian Bureau of Immigration 

You need to apply for permits 3 months before your arrival. You can submit your application:

• in the UK, to the High Commission of India in London or another Indian consulate
• in India, to the liaison office of the state for which you need a permit or the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) (website not accessible outside India)

Foreign tourists and researchers must keep to security and administrative guidelines during visits to tribal areas across the country. For the more information see the Indian Bureau of Immigration

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of India. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into India

There are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including residents and tourists, must follow Reserve Bank of India guidelines.

If you’re visiting India, you can bring cash, travellers cheques (in British pounds or another foreign currency) or a bank card with you and exchange or withdraw rupees in India.

You must declare any amount above 5,000 US dollars in notes, or 10,000 US dollars in notes and travellers cheques combined.

Emergency services in India

Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)

These services provide support in English, Hindi and additional languages.

You can also download the 112 India mobile app which can track your location to support response in an emergency.

Further helpline numbers are available on the National Portal of India.

Indian Ministry of Tourism helpline

Telephone: 1800 11 1363

The tourism helpline provides:

• advice on reputable sites and services
• the option to make a complaint about a company

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO provides guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in India
• dealing with a death in India
• being arrested in India
• getting help if you’re a victim of rape or sexual assault abroad or victim of rape or sexual assault in India
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• if you are in hospital
• if you are affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

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Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in India on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks. 

Areas where FCDO advises against travel 

India-Pakistan border area

FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing is closed except for the daily border retreat ceremony.

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir

FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for:

• travel by air to and from the city of Jammu
• travel within the city of Jammu

Manipur

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur including the capital, Imphal. Curfews and restrictions continue in parts of Manipur following ongoing ethnic violence since May 2023.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel to these regions.

Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East

Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.

Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:

• check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
• check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator
• review your travel insurance policy for coverage
• monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts
• If you have been impacted by travel disruption and need to review your Indian visa contact the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). See e-FRRO Home (website not accessible outside India).

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Dress code

Respect local dress code and customs, particularly when visiting religious sites and rural areas. 

Alcohol laws and bans

Laws on alcohol, including buying, drinking and the legal drinking age, vary by state. Get advice from your travel agent, hotel or the authorities about the laws in areas you are visiting.

It is illegal to drink alcohol in public places, such as parks.

In some states, foreign nationals and non-resident Indians can buy 30-day alcohol permits.

There is often a ban on the sale of alcohol during major religious festivals, national holidays and elections. Police can carry out vehicle checks during this period.

The consumption, production or transportation of alcohol is illegal in:

• Bihar
• Gujarat
• Mizoram
• Nagaland
• Union Territory of Lakshadweep

If you drink or possess alcohol in these states, you could be arrested and held without bail. You could face a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years.

Smoking and vapes bans

It is illegal to smoke in most public places. Only smoke in designated smoking areas.

Vapes and related products are banned. You cannot buy vapes in India or bring them into the country.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Do not get involved with any illegal drugs. Drugs are not categorised as they would be in the UK, into Class A, B and C and possession of any illegal drug could lead to sentencing. You could face a minimum sentence of 6 months for possession of small amounts deemed for personal consumption only, up to a 10-year sentence for other amounts. The judicial process is slow, and you could be detained for several years while your case is processed.

Using cameras and binoculars in secure areas

Activities involving cameras and binoculars, like photography, birdwatching or plane spotting, may be misunderstood. Be particularly careful near military sites, government buildings, airports and railway stations.

Satellite phones and other devices  

It is illegal to possess and operate satellite phones and GPS devices in India without a licence, even if you are only transiting through India. This may also cover other satellite-enabled devices, including handheld or cycling GPSs. You can be fined or arrested for possession of these devices without permission and the item can be confiscated.

A number of British nationals have been arrested or detained for bringing satellite phones and other satellite-enabled navigational devices into the country without prior permission. Contact the Indian Department of Telecommunication to request a licence. Further information is also available at the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

Swimming safety

There are strong currents in rivers and off many coasts and people drown every year. Most beaches do not have warning signs, flags or lifesaving equipment. Take local advice and follow warnings and instructions issued by lifeguards. Emergency service standards may differ from those in the UK.  

See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.

Trekking in India

Trekkers should:

• travel in groups
• use reputable local guides and stay on established routes
• check if you need any special permits

Leave details of where you’re going and when you expect to return with your accommodation. You are extremely unlikely to have a phone signal in the mountains, so make sure your accommodation provider registers your whereabouts using the online C-form.

It is illegal to possess or operate satellite phones or GPS devices without prior permission of the Indian authorities. Contact the Indian Department of Telecommunication to request a licence.

Hazards when trekking exist throughout the year, especially above 3,000 metres, including:

• altitude sickness
• sudden weather changes, including thunderstorms
• avalanches and snow drifts
• landslides, flooding and rock falls

Make sure your insurance policy covers you for altitudes over 2,400m and mountain rescue and helicopter costs.

While commercial ground-based search and rescue (SAR) teams generally do not operate at base stations above 3,000m, commercial helicopters do. This would require insurance. In some border areas only the Indian Air Force can carry out air rescues. However, they are under no obligation to perform them and only carry out rescues during working hours.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual relationships are legal in India. However same-sex marriage is illegal. Indian society is conservative. This includes attitudes to LGBT+ people, which can be less accepting than in the UK. There is a risk of harassment and discrimination, especially outside of big cities. Showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention.

See more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Child custody and family law

Indian family law is different from UK law. Special caution is needed when child custody becomes an issue. In case of dispute, consult a lawyer in India to find out more about the relevant laws.

Commercial surrogacy is illegal for foreign nationals in India. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) should seek legal guidance on non-commercial (altruistic) surrogacy.

Wildlife, animal products and souvenirs

It is illegal to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal or trade its parts without a licence. India has a strong legal framework to regulate and restrict wildlife trade and is also a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). If you’re caught purchasing or trafficking these illegally, you will be prosecuted and receive a prison sentence or fine.

Sexual offences against children

There are severe penalties for any form of sexual offence against a child. There is a minimum jail term of 20 years, which may go up to life in prison or a death sentence, for anyone convicted of raping a child aged 12 or under.