India Entry Guide

Entry Rules

"Everything you need to know before you board: the e-Arrival Card, where your eVisa is valid, and how long you can stay"

India entry rules for British travellers

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Required for All Travellers

The e-Arrival Card

A digital requirement introduced in 2025 — separate from your visa and mandatory for entry.

From 1 April 2026: The paper disembarkation card has been permanently discontinued. The e-Arrival Card is now the only option — no exceptions at the border.

What is the e-Arrival Card?

Since October 2025

The e-Arrival Card is a digital declaration you must complete before every flight to India. It replaces the paper disembarkation card that was previously filled out on the plane. It is not a visa and does not grant permission to enter India — you still need a valid eVisa or OCI card. Think of it as a digital version of the landing card.

It collects your passport details, flight information, address in India, and contact details. On submission you receive a QR code, which immigration officers will scan on arrival.

Who must complete it?

Mandatory

All foreign passport holders, regardless of visa type — and OCI cardholders too. Indian passport holders are exempt. There are no exceptions for frequent travellers, business visitors, or medical travellers.

How and when to complete it

Complete it within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India — no earlier. You can do it any time within that window, including at the airport before departure.

Visit the official portal

Go to the Indian Bureau of Immigration's e-Arrival Card portal, or use the 1avisas assisted service.

Complete the declaration

Enter passport details, flight number, address in India, and emergency contact information.

Receive your QR code

On submission you will receive a confirmation with a QR code via email. Save it to your phone or print it.

Show QR code at immigration

Present the QR code to the immigration officer on arrival in India. It will be scanned alongside your passport and eVisa.

Apply for your e-Arrival Card

Where Your eVisa Is Valid

Designated entry ports

Your eVisa is only valid at specific airports and seaports. You can exit through any authorised immigration checkpoint.

Important: You must enter India for the first time through one of the designated entry points listed below. After your first eVisa stamp has been placed in your passport, subsequent entries on the same eVisa may be made through any authorised checkpoint. Exit from India is permitted via any of the 104 authorised checkpoints. Verify your entry port before booking any non-refundable travel.

Designated airports

35 airports — most common route for British travellers

Ahmedabad (AMD)
Amritsar (ATQ)
Bagdogra (IXB)
Bengaluru (BLR)
Bhubaneswar (BBI)
Calicut / Kozhikode (CCJ)
Chandigarh (IXC)
Chennai (MAA)
Cochin / Kochi (COK)
Coimbatore (CJB)
Delhi (DEL) — most UK flights
Dabolim / Goa (GOI)
Guwahati (GAU)
Hyderabad (HYD)
Imphal (IMF)
Jaipur (JAI)
Kannur (CNN)

Kolkata (CCU)
Lucknow (LKO)
Madurai (IXM)
Mangalore (IXE)
Mopa / Goa (GOX)
Mumbai (BOM)
Nagpur (NAG)
Port Blair (IXZ) — RAP required
Pune (PNQ)
Srinagar (SXR)
Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)
Tiruchirappalli (TRZ)
Vadodara (BDQ)
Varanasi (VNS)
Visakhapatnam (VTZ)
Vijayawada (VGA)
Indore (IDR)

Designated seaports

For cruise arrivals

Mumbai
Chennai
Kochi (Cochin)
Goa (Mormugao)
Mangalore (New Mangalore Port)

Port Blair — Restricted Area Permit required

If you are arriving at Port Blair Airport or Port Blair Seaport (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is mandatory in addition to your eVisa. You cannot enter the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on an eVisa alone. Apply for the RAP separately before travel.

The list of designated ports is updated periodically by the Indian Bureau of Immigration. Always verify your specific entry point on the official portal before booking non-refundable flights. Check the official port list

Overland Entry

Land border crossings

A recent expansion — now available at four crossings from Nepal and Bhutan only.

eVisa now accepted at four land crossings

India began opening land borders to eVisa holders in late 2025 — a significant change from the previous airport/seaport-only policy. As of early 2026, four crossings are authorised:

Nepal border crossings (3)

Raxaul–Birganj (Bihar)
Sunauli–Bhairahawa (Uttar Pradesh)
Kakarbhitta–Naxalbari (West Bengal)

Bhutan border crossing (1)

Phuentsholing–Jaigaon (West Bengal)

These crossings are primarily relevant for travellers on multi-country South Asian itineraries who are arriving from Nepal or Bhutan by land. They are not crossings from Pakistan or Bangladesh — those borders are not accessible on an eVisa under any circumstances.

All other land borders — eVisa not valid

The vast majority of India's land border crossings do not accept eVisas. If you are crossing any land border other than the four listed above, you must hold a regular stamped visa obtained from the Indian High Commission or consulate in advance. Arriving at an unauthorised crossing with only an eVisa will result in refusal of entry.

The land border programme is expanding. For the most current list, check the Bureau of Immigration's official portal. View official port list

Visa-by-Visa Breakdown

Validity & stay rules by visa type

British Citizens benefit from extended stay limits not available to most other nationalities.

British Citizens: extended stay entitlement

On the e-Tourist Visa (1-year and 5-year), British Citizens are entitled to stay up to 180 days per continuous visit, compared to 90 days for most other nationalities. This also applies to Canadian, Japanese, and US passport holders. This is confirmed in Indian government policy and is one of the most important rules to understand when planning a long stay.

Tourist eVisa — 30 Days Short Stay

Validity

120 days from issue

Max stay

30 days
from first entry

Entries

Double entry

Best for: a single trip or short visit. The 30-day clock starts from your first arrival in India, not from when the eVisa is issued.

Tourist eVisa — 1 Year Multiple Entry

Validity

365 days from issue

Max per visit (UK)

180 days
most others: 90 days

Annual cap

180 days
per calendar year

Important: The 180-day annual cap applies across all tourist visas combined — not per visa. If you spend 180 days in India this calendar year on any tourist visa, you cannot re-enter for tourism until the new year.

Tourist eVisa — 5 Years Multiple Entry

Validity

5 years from issue

Max per visit (UK)

180 days
most others: 90 days

Annual cap

180 days
per calendar year

The most cost-effective option for regular travellers to India. The 5-year validity starts from the issue date — apply only when you have an upcoming trip planned to make full use of it.

Business eVisa Multiple Entry

Validity

365 days from issue

Max per visit

180 days

Entries

Multiple

Not permitted: Employment, NGO work, or journalism. If you plan to work in India, you need a regular Employment Visa, not an e-Business Visa.

Medical eVisa Triple Entry

Validity

60 days from first entry

Issue window

Valid 120 days
from issue date

Attendants

Up to 2
Medical Attendant eVisa

Requires a letter from the treating hospital in India on official letterhead, including the patient's name, nationality, passport number, and tentative admission date. The Medical Attendant Visa is tied to the patient's visa — apply together at the same time.

Conference eVisa Single Entry

Validity

Up to 30 days

Entries

Single entry

Sponsor

Govt-sponsored
only

Important restriction: The e-Conference Visa is only available for conferences hosted or sponsored by the Indian Government. If you are attending a privately organised conference, you must apply for a regular conference visa through the High Commission.

Staying Longer

Overstaying & FRRO registration

The consequences of overstaying are serious — and the rules on FRRO registration catch many travellers off guard.

When FRRO registration is required

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

If you are on a Student, Research, or Employment visa and your stay exceeds 180 days, FRRO registration is mandatory regardless of other conditions.

Registration is completed online via the FRRO portal (indianfrro.gov.in) or in person at the local FRRO office. Failure to register is a punishable offence and can complicate your departure.

Consequences of overstaying

Overstaying your visa validity — even by a single day — is a serious immigration offence in India. The consequences can include:

Financial fines imposed at the point of departure

Detention at the airport pending resolution

Deportation to the UK at your own expense

Future visa applications for India potentially refused or significantly delayed

An adverse immigration record that can affect visa applications for other countries

eVisas are non-extendable and non-convertible. You cannot extend an eVisa while in India, and you cannot convert it to a different category. If you need to stay longer than your visa allows, you must leave India and re-apply from the UK.

Planning a long stay or complex trip?

If you are planning to stay for more than 90 days, combine tourism with business, or attend medical treatment — it is worth reviewing your visa category carefully before applying. Getting the wrong visa type can mean leaving India earlier than planned with no recourse.

India Visa Overview Eligibility Guide Tourist eVisa e-Arrival Card Guide