India entry requirements, by passport

Vaccinations

• No mandatory vaccines for general entry. Special yellow fever regime: anyone arriving without a valid vaccination certificate (except children under 6 months) may be isolated for up to 6 days if, within the previous 6 days, they left (or transited through) an area with risk of transmission. India keeps its own list of countries regarded as at risk (much of sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America). Airport transit without leaving the terminal may be exempted with the health officer’s agreement.
• Polio: India requires oral polio vaccination, given at least four weeks before departure, from travellers resident in countries where polio is endemic (Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan) or where the virus circulates after importation (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Syria). Of the passports covered here, this affects travellers resident in Pakistan, Nigeria and Kenya.

Customs limits

Cash

You must declare to customs Indian rupees above 25,000 INR, foreign currency notes above 5,000 USD, and foreign exchange above 10,000 USD in total (notes and travellers' cheques).

Alcohol

Up to 2 litres of spirits or wine duty-free, under an allowance of its own that does not count against the general value allowance. It does not apply to travellers arriving by land. Anything over that limit is dutiable.

Tobacco

Up to 100 cigarettes, 25 cigars or 125 g of tobacco duty-free, under an allowance of its own, separate from the general value allowance (25,000 INR for tourists of foreign origin and 75,000 INR for residents, tourists of Indian origin and foreigners holding a visa other than a tourist visa). Travellers arriving by land get neither.

Overstay penalties

Overstaying brings financial penalties and other adverse legal action, and damages your chances of obtaining Indian visas or entry in the future. The authority draws a distinction. Where the overstay was unintentional or caused by compelling circumstances, the period is regularised and the visa extension fee for those days is charged. Where it is found to be intentional and without justifiable reasons, a Leave India Notice is served on top of the fee and penalty.

Grounds for refusal

Apply to: Visa on arrival, e-Visa, Visa required

• Uploading documents or a photograph that are not clear or do not meet the specifications: that alone leaves the application liable to rejection.
• Submitting documentation not in English; business cards and invitation letters included: the official source names it expressly as a ground for rejection.
• Applying for an e-Visa for a purpose outside those allowed: recreation, sightseeing, a casual visit to friends or relatives, a short-term yoga programme, medical treatment, or business.
• Not being eligible for the e-Visa: it is unavailable if you, your parents or your grandparents (on either side) were born in or permanently resident in Pakistan, and to holders of diplomatic or official passports, UN laissez-passer, or other international travel documents such as INTERPOL’s.
• Worth knowing before you pay: the e-Visa fee is non-refundable, because it covers processing and does not depend on the authorisation being granted or refused.

What to do if you are refused entry →