Most foreign visitors need a visa before they fly to India, and for many nationalities the cleanest route is the online e-Tourist Visa. These tips for tourists visiting India cover the paperwork you need before you land and the habits that make the trip easier once you are here.
The visa, currency and health rules below were checked against official Indian government sources in October 2026. Links to each source are at the end.
Tips for Tourists Visiting India: The Short Version
| Apply for the e-Tourist Visa only on indianvisaonline.gov.in, at least four days before you travel. Fill in the free e-Arrival Card in the 72 hours before landing. Carry a card and some cash, drink sealed or filtered water, and book trains and hotels early from October to March. Save 112 and 1363 in your phone. |
Visa Rules for Tourists
Nearly every foreign visitor needs a visa. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not. Visa on arrival exists, but only for nationals of Japan, South Korea and the UAE, and UAE nationals qualify only if they have held an Indian visa before. Everyone else should apply online.
Apply on the Official Portal Only
Apply for the e-Tourist Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in and nowhere else. The government states that no agent or intermediary is needed, and that it charges no express or emergency fee. Skip any site that offers faster processing for extra money.
Apply at least four days before you arrive. You can apply up to 120 days ahead, and the fee must be paid at least four days before travel too, so a last-week application is a gamble.
| Type | Validity | Entries | Maximum stay | Standard fee, US dollars |
| 30 days | 30 days from first arrival | Multiple | 30 days | 25 from July to March, 10 from April to June |
| 1 year | 365 days from the date of grant | Multiple | 180 days in a calendar year | 40 |
| 5 years | 5 years from the date of grant | Multiple | 180 days in a calendar year | 200 for most nationalities |
Fees follow the government’s country-wise schedule, last dated 8 September 2026. US citizens pay US$160 for the five-year visa and UK citizens pay US$484. A few nationalities pay less or nothing. A 3% bank charge is added on top, and the fee is not refunded if you cancel or are refused.
Passport and Documents
Your passport needs six months of validity when you apply. It also needs two blank pages for stamps. You must hold a return or onward ticket and have enough money for your stay. Before you fly, confirm that the portal shows your ETA as Granted, and carry a copy. Biometrics are taken at immigration.
An e-Visa cannot be extended or converted into another visa. It is also not valid for protected, restricted or cantonment areas, which need prior permission from the civil authority.
Enter only through the immigration checkposts the portal lists as authorised. Check your arrival airport against that list before you book flights.
Before You Land: e-Arrival Card and FRRO
The e-Arrival Card
The e-Arrival Card replaced the paper disembarkation form for foreign visitors. It is free. Fill it in during the 72 hours before you arrive, at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival, on boi.gov.in or in the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app.
The portal is clear that this is arrival information and not a visa, so it does not replace your e-Visa. Authorities advise submitting it before you board, because travellers without it are sent to kiosks at the airport.
FRRO Registration
Most holidaymakers never need it. Under Bureau of Immigration rules, registration with the FRRO applies when your total stay in a calendar year, or a single continuous stay, goes past 180 days, and any condition printed on your visa comes first. Children under 12 and OCI cardholders are exempt. Registration is done online at indianfrro.gov.in.
Money, Cards and Payments
Foreign Currency Declaration
You can bring in any amount of foreign currency, but you must declare it on a Currency Declaration Form if you carry more than US$5,000 in notes, or more than US$10,000 in notes, travellers cheques and similar instruments together. Keep the stamped form if you want to take unspent money out again.
Rules on taking rupees out of India are strict. Convert leftover rupees at the airport before you leave.
Exchanging Money and Paying
Change money at banks, airport counters and other authorised dealers only, and ask for a receipt every time. Airport counters are handy on arrival, though the rate is usually a little lower than in the city.
Treat a Visa or Mastercard as your main payment and cash as the backup. Big hotels and city restaurants take cards. Small-town shops, temples and local transport mostly want cash, so keep small notes. Traveller’s cheques are rarely used now.
UPI for Foreign Visitors
UPI is India’s QR payment system, and in normal use it needs an Indian bank account and phone number. NPCI trialled a UPI One World wallet for foreign visitors in February 2026, starting with delegates at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Availability beyond that is limited, so do not plan your trip around it.
Best Time to Visit India
October to March is the easiest window for most of the country, and the busiest. Hotels and trains fill early. Climates differ so widely between regions that you should check the month for each place on your route.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
| Cool and dry | October to March | Pleasant across most of the plains and the main sightseeing circuits. Peak tourist season. |
| Hot | April to June | Very hot in the plains. May and June are also the busiest months for Indian families on holiday. |
| Monsoon | June to September | Heavy rain in much of the country. Hill roads can close because of landslides. |
Book hotels, trains and domestic flights as soon as your dates are fixed. From October to March, and again in May and June, last-minute options disappear quickly.
Health, Food and Water
Vaccines and Yellow fever
Ask a travel clinic which vaccines suit your route. The one certificate India checks at the border is for yellow fever.
If you arrive within six days of leaving a country on India’s yellow fever list, you need the original vaccination certificate, and it counts only from 10 days after the jab. Without it you can be quarantined for up to six days.
Carry enough of your regular medicines in their original packaging, with the prescription and the generic drug name. Brand names often differ in India.
Water and Food
Drink sealed bottled or filtered water, and skip ice at roadside stalls. Tap water is not reliably safe. Hygiene matters more than the menu, so pick busy places that cook fresh and serve hot, vegetarian or not. Peel fruit yourself. Many temples and pilgrimage towns serve only vegetarian food.
Safety, Scams and Emergency Numbers
Everyday Safety Tips for Tourists Visiting India
- Use prepaid taxis at airports and railway stations, or a booking app. If an auto-rickshaw has no meter, agree the fare before you get in.
- Be polite but firm with touts. Anyone who says your hotel is closed, or an attraction is shut, and then offers a “better” alternative is usually earning a commission.
- Buy monument, train and tour tickets at official counters or on official websites.
- Keep a photo of your passport and visa separate from the originals.
- In crowded markets and stations, carry valuables in a front pocket or a cross-body bag.
- If you travel alone, especially as a woman, share your live location with someone and use app-based cabs at night.
Emergency Numbers
Dial 112 from any phone for police, fire or ambulance. The Ministry of Tourism also runs a 24×7 tourist helpline on 1363 (toll free 1800 111 363) in 12 languages, including English and Hindi. Save both numbers before you land.
Getting Around
Trains link most major cities and sell out early, so book through IRCTC, the Indian Railways ticketing site, as soon as your dates are fixed. In big cities, app cabs and metro lines are easier than haggling with auto-rickshaws.
For long drives, read our tips to travel by road. Distances look short on a map and take far longer on the road, so leave a buffer between connections.
Temple Etiquette and Cultural Basics
- Dress modestly at temples and other religious places. Cover your shoulders and knees.
- Remove your shoes before entering. Most temples have a shoe counter near the gate.
- Photography is often restricted inside temples, so follow the signs and ask before photographing people.
- Entry rules differ from temple to temple, and a few admit only Hindus. Check the specific temple before you plan the visit.
- A “Namaste” with folded hands is a polite greeting almost everywhere.
Business Hours and Shopping
Offices generally run from about 9:30 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays. Banks usually work from around 10 am to 4 pm and close on Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Shops open later and stay open into the evening. Markets close on different days in different areas, so ask locally.
State government emporiums sell handicrafts at fixed prices. In markets and small shops, bargaining is normal, and a friendly counter-offer is expected.
Planning a Pilgrimage in India?
Pilgrimage routes need more planning than the general tips above. For the Char Dham circuit, yatra registration goes through the Uttarakhand portal at registrationandtouristcare.uk.gov.in, and helicopter bookings go through IRCTC at heliyatra.irctc.co.in.
Our route guides cover each shrine: the Char Dham Yatra guide, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. For Shiva pilgrimages, start with the 12 Jyotirlingas guide.
If you would rather have the logistics handled, see our Char Dham Yatra packages or Jyotirlinga tour packages, or message the team on WhatsApp at +91 8826094899.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for the visa on an unofficial website that adds its own fees.
- Paying for “express” e-Visa processing. The portal says no such fee exists.
- Booking flights before the e-Visa shows as Granted.
- Forgetting the e-Arrival Card until you reach the airport.
- Leaving train and hotel bookings to the last week of the October to March season.
- Packing too many cities into one trip.
- Assuming alcohol rules are the same in every state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do tourists need a visa for India?
Yes, almost all do. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are exempt, and visa on arrival covers only Japan, South Korea and the UAE. Everyone else applies for an e-Tourist Visa or a regular visa.
How long can I stay on an e-Tourist Visa?
The 30-day visa allows 30 days from your first arrival. The 1-year and 5-year visas allow up to 180 days in a calendar year.
Do I need an e-Arrival Card?
Yes. Foreign visitors fill in the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival. It is separate from the visa.
Is India safe for tourists?
Petty theft, touts and overcharging are the usual problems in busy tourist areas. Use official taxis or apps, keep valuables close and buy tickets from official sources.
Is tap water safe to drink in India?
No. Drink sealed bottled or filtered water and skip ice at roadside stalls.
Can foreigners drink alcohol in India?
Alcohol rules are set by each state. The legal age differs, a few states such as Gujarat and Bihar prohibit or tightly restrict it, and dry days apply around some holidays. Check local rules before you buy.
Do I need cash in India?
Yes. Cards work in cities, but small towns, temples and local transport mostly want cash. Keep small notes.
Can tourists use UPI in India?
Normally UPI needs an Indian bank account. A UPI One World wallet for foreign visitors was trialled in 2026 and is not widely available yet, so carry a card and cash.
What should I wear to temples in India?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and be ready to remove your shoes. Check the rules of the specific temple.
Do I need travel insurance for India?
It is strongly advisable. Make sure it covers medical care and cancellations, and check that high altitude is not excluded if you are visiting shrines such as Kedarnath.
Which number should tourists call in an emergency?
Call 112 for police, fire or ambulance. For travel help in 12 languages, call the Ministry of Tourism helpline on 1363 or 1800 111 363.
Checklist before you fly
- e-Visa showing Granted, with a copy on your phone and on paper.
- e-Arrival Card submitted within 72 hours of landing.
- Passport with six months of validity and two blank pages.
- A card plus some cash, and a Currency Declaration Form if you are over the limits.
- Travel insurance, regular medicines with prescriptions, and a yellow fever certificate if your route needs one.
- 112 and 1363 saved in your phone.
Planning a pilgrimage route? Browse our spiritual tour packages or message the team on WhatsApp at +91 8826094899.
Call
WhatsApp
Enquiry