New Delhi Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Citizens of Bhutan and Nepal may enter without a visa by presenting a valid national passport or voter-ID card.
Travel must be for tourism, family visit, or business. Employment requires prior clearance.
Nationals of over 165 countries may apply online for an e-visa that is accepted at New Delhi airport.
Cost: Mid-range government fee plus modest bank charge. Exact amount varies by country and visa validity.
Print the e-visa PDF; airlines will ask for it at check-in. Port of entry must be listed as Delhi. But onward domestic connections are allowed.
Passport holders not eligible for e-visa must obtain a regular sticker visa before travel.
Processing ranges from 5-15 working days. Employment, research, missionary and film-making visas require additional ministry clearance and cannot be obtained on arrival.
Arrival Process
New Delhi's Terminal 3 handles nearly every long-haul arrival. Follow the overhead signs to 'International Arrivals' after deplaning.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
India's baggage rules apply uniformly at New Delhi airport. Declare anything above the duty-free limits or any restricted item to avoid confiscation and fines.
Prohibited Items
- Satellite phones, breach of telegraph law
- Narcotics and psychotropic substances, zero tolerance
- Maps showing incorrect Indian borders, can lead to heavy fines
Restricted Items
- Professional cameras, drones, or recording equipment need a temporary import permit from Delhi Customs' JCIB office if value exceeds duty-free limit.
- Medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances require a doctor's prescription on letterhead and prior approval from India's Narcotics Commissioner.
Health Requirements
India currently imposes no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirement. But rules can change quickly. Always check the week you fly.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow fever, if arriving from or transiting through a yellow-fever endemic country within the past 6 days
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis B
- Japanese encephalitis for rural stays
- Rabies for long-stay backpackers
- Routine boosters (MMR, DPT)
Health Insurance
Not mandatory. But treatment at private hospitals in New Delhi is mid-range for foreigners. Carry a policy covering evacuation.
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Important Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Minors need their own passport and visa. If only one parent is present, carry a notarized consent letter from the absent parent plus the child's birth certificate to avoid questioning at New Delhi immigration.
Dogs and cats require an import permit applied for online at least 7 days before arrival, rabies vaccination ≥ 30 days but < 12 months, and a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Pets are inspected on arrival in Delhi's animal quarantine enclosure. Advance notice to the airport veterinary officer speeds release.
Tourist e-visas cannot be extended within India. Exit before the visa expires, or apply for a long-stay entry visa (6 months, 5 years) from an Indian mission outside the country. Overstaying in New Delhi attracts a mid-range fine and a 2-year re-entry bar.
Know What to Pack
Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear, with shopping links for every item.
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