India Travel Guide

Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
Other EU	Yes	Yes	No
USA	Yes	Yes	No
Canadian	Yes	Yes	No
Australian	Yes	Yes	No
British	Yes	Yes	No

Passport valid for at least 190 days and with at least two blank pages required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Important Addresses).

Visa Note

Certain parts of the country have been designated protected or restricted areas that require special permits and in some cases prior government authorization. Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be granted to visit that region only. It is advised that applicants apply for the special permit for restricted areas when they enter India by visiting the FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Office) which have offices in all major Indian airports and cities. An additional form must be completed but there is no fee for a restricted area permit. Passengers are advised to check with the tourist board for up-to-date information before departure. Application forms must be filled in completely, and with as much detail as possible, otherwise the application may be rejected and a new application only allowed after three months have passed.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist visa: £32 (multiple-entry; up to six months); £52 (multiple-entry; up to one year). Business visa: £57 (up to six months) £107 (up to one year); £162 (more than one year). Transit visa: £17 (single/double-entry). Restricted/protected area permit: £22. Prices for certain other nationals vary, nationals are advised to contact the embassy to check cost. All visa applications are subjected to a non-refundable £9.24 VFS service charge.

Validity

Tourist: six months or one year for multiple entry. Transit: maximum stays of three days within 15 days of issue. Business: six months or one year, or up to two years for multiple entry. Visas are valid from the date of issue.

Applications to:

Embassy or high commission (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Important Addresses. There are also Indian Visa Application Centers in London, Hayes, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Working Days Required

All visa applications in the UK now have to be file online at http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk. After the mandatory electronic filing of visa applications, applicants are asked to submit printed copies of their applications, photos, passports and fees to respective Indian Visa Application Centers (IVACs). Processing times vary at the sole discretion of the High Commission of India and its Consulates in the UK, and some applications may take longer than others to get processed. Hence, confirm your travel plans only after obtaining the visa. Here are some estimates of processing times under normal circumstances: Applications submitted in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh will take minimum two to three working days to get processed. Applications submitted in Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow will take a minimum of five to seven working days. These times may differ for other nationals. In addition, if the High Commission or the Consulate General requires an applicant to attend an interview, the India Visa Application Center will contact the applicant and inform the date and time of the interview accordingly.

Travel Warnings

Most visits are trouble-free.

Travelers are advised against all travel to rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir other than Ladakh; all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan, other than at Wagah; and all travel in Manipur and Tripura.

All but essential travel to Srinagar and Imphal is also not advised. If you do travel to these areas then you should only do so by air.

There is a high threat from terrorism throughout India. You should take particular care in the lead up to and on days of national significance, such as Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), Ramadan (11 Aug to 9 Sept), Eid (10/11 September) and Diwali (5 November).

Since July 2006 there have been terrorist attacks in major cities across India, including Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Faizabad, Varanasi, Lucknow and Hyderabad.

On 13 February 2010, a bomb exploded in Pune, Maharashtra. Nine people were killed and up to 53 were injured.

On 16 October 2009, a bomb exploded in the town of Margao, Goa, killing one person.

From 26-29 November 2008 terrorists attacked a number of sites in Mumbai, including luxury hotels, a railway station and a restaurant. Over 190 people were killed and more than 325 were injured. British Nationals were among the casualties.

On 30 October 2008, 11 bombs exploded in Assam. Areas affected were Guwahati and the Barpeta, Bongaigoan and Kokrajhar districts. 77 people were killed and over 300 were injured.

On 21 October 2008, a bomb exploded in Imphal, Manipur killing 17 people and injuring many others.

On 27 September 2008, a bomb exploded in New Delhi. Two people were killed and 24 were injured.

On 13 September 2008 five bombs exploded in New Delhi, 30 people were killed and 90 were injured.

On 26 July 2008 a series of bombs exploded in Ahmadabad, Gujarat and the surrounding area resulting in up to 49 fatalities and over a 100 injured.

On 25 July 2008 there were a series of bomb blasts in Bangalore, South Eastern India resulting in at least two fatalities and many more injuries.

On 13 May 2008, there were a series of bomb blasts in Jaipur, western India, resulting in 60 fatalities and 200 casualties. Keep a photocopy of your passport, Indian visa and flight ticket separate from the originals when traveling.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Health care facilities are limited and travelers are strongly advised to take out full comprehensive medical insurance before departing for India. It is advisable to bring specific medicines from the UK. There are state-operated facilities in all towns and cities and private consultants and specialists in urban areas.

On leaving India: Visitors leaving for countries which impose health restrictions on arrivals from India are required to be in possession of a valid certificate of inoculation and vaccination.

Vaccinations

Vaccination	Special Precaution
Diphtheria	Yes
Hepatitis A	Yes
Malaria	Yes
Rabies	Yes
Tetanus	Yes
Typhoid	Yes
Yellow Fever	No*

Special Notes

* Any person (including infants over six months old) arriving by air or sea from an infected country must obtain a yellow fever certificate (includes passengers who have been transit in a country in the endemic zone).