Entry and Exit Rule

Arrival and entry in India is easy for tourists who like to explore incredible India, just follow immigration and custom procedures. Also, the process of re-entry in India within two months from the last date of departure has been eased to make it convenient for travelers to visit nearby countries while touring India.

Passport

A passport valid for at least six months over your planned stay in India and onward/return ticket is must for foreign tourists to enter India. In case your passport gets stolen or you lose it, you must immediately notify your respective embassy. To be on safer side, make sure to carry photocopies or email yourself the scan copies of your identity, airline tickets and visa as backup.

Visa

Citizens of following countries can obtain single-entry visa valid up to 30 days on arrival from Delhi, Chennai, Cochin, Bangalore, Kolkata, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Trivandrum airports:
Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Guyana, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue Island, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.
All you need to do is apply online at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), a maximum of 30 days or a minimum of 4 days prior to your scheduled travel. You need to upload a photograph along with your passport and pay a small fee of US$60.

Visa Extension

Contact the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office in Delhi if you need to extend your visa. Visa extension can only be granted in certain unavoidable circumstances viz. medical emergencies or theft of passport just before the applicant is to leave the country as visa validity comes to an end, etc. Depending on the situation, regional FRRO is permitted to issue 14 days extension. You must produce your air ticket, photocopy of your passport and visa along with a passport photo.

Entry Formalities to be followed

If you wish to stay in India for more than 30 days you need to get a visa before arriving in India. You can approach Indian embassies in your country (addresses given below) to avail your visa or you can apply for it online (check the link https://indianvisaonline.gov.in). Before applying for visa, make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your scheduled stay in India, with at least two blank pages.

• Tourist visa is valid from the date of issue.
• Though US citizens can avail tourist visa valid through 5-10 years, but you can stay in the country for up to 180 days continuously.
• Certain additional restrictions apply to visa for tourists from Bangladesh, Pakistan, certain eastern European, African and central Asian countries. Please check with the Indian embassy in your country.
• Visa Fee is set in local currency and may have an added service fee.
• People of Indian origin can avail for extended visa who otherwise live abroad and hold a non-Indian passport, excluding those in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• Visas valid for more than six months must be registered at the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office in Delhi within 14 days of arrival in India.

Customs Procedures

If you are carrying cash over US$5000, you must declare the same upon arrival in India. Also if you are carrying video cameras, laptop computers or other expensive gadgets, you need to declare them on ‘Tourist Baggage Re-export’ form. This is to ensure you take them back at the time of departure.

Re-entry Formalities

Citizens of Pakistan, China, Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sudan are not authorized to re-enter India within two months of their last exit, others can avail multiple entry visa and can transit freely between India and its neighboring countries.