Is it safe to travel to India right now?

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of India’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in India set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the High Commission of India in London or another Indian consulate in the UK.

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

Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.

The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for 6 months from your date of entry into India and must contain at least two blank pages for use by immigration officials.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports and other travel documents

Visas

Tourism visa: required
Work visa: required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required

Ensure you apply for the proper type of visa for the specific purpose of your trip. If you are denied entry by immigration officials, you will be returned to your point of departure.

Canadian-Pakistani citizens are subject to different visa application and registration procedures.

You can only stay in India for up to 180 consecutive days on a tourist visa, even when its validity exceeds 180 days.

Residency registration

If you stay in India for more than 180 days, you must register within 14 days of arrival with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

Useful links

• e-FRRO online portal (for Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru) – India's Bureau of Immigration
• FRRO Contact List – India's Bureau of Immigration

Penalties for overstaying

Strict penalties are enforced for overstaying. If you overstay, you could be subject to fines, detention and a future travel ban.

If you have overstayed your visa, you must request an exit visa from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). This process can be lengthy.

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay.

E-Arrival Card

You must complete the e-Arrival Card online up to 72 hours before your arrival, using one of the following methods:

• Indian Bureau of Immigration website
• Indian Visa portal
• official "Indian Visa Su-Swagatam" mobile application on iOS App Store or Google Play
• e-Arrival webform

You should complete the digital process in advance to reduce wait times at the airport.

Dual citizenship

If you hold an Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card, you must present it to enter and exit India. If you have an Electronic Overseas Citizen of India card (e-OCI), you don’t need to carry a physical one.

Online OCI Services – Ministry of Home Affairs of India

Departure

You must present a boarding pass and a photo identification to access airport departure terminals and public areas.

Lost or stolen passport

If your passport is lost or stolen, an exit visa is required to leave India.

To obtain an exit visa, you must present the FRRO with:

• a police report
• two current passport-size photographs
• a letter providing details of the loss or theft from the High Commission of Canada to India in New Delhi or Consulate General of Canada in either Chandigarh or Mumbai

The FRRO will verify the entry details before issuing an exit visa. This process can take several days.

Useful links

• e-FRRO online portal (for Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru) – India's Bureau of Immigration
• FRRO Contact List – India's Bureau of Immigration

Restricted and Protected Areas

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

Restricted or protected areas – India's Bureau of Immigration

Poliomyelitis

You may need to produce proof of polio vaccination if you are arriving in India from:

• Afghanistan
• the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Somalia
• Syria

Confirm this requirement with the nearest Indian diplomatic office before travelling.

Useful links

• Poliomyelitis
• Foreign Representatives in Canada

Children and travel

Learn about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).