India
Summary
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to:
- the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan, other than at Wagah
- Jammu and Kashmir, except for (i) travel within the city of Jammu, (ii) travel by air to the city of Jammu, and (iii) travel within the Union Territory of Ladakh
The tourist destinations of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway are within the areas where the FCDO advises against all travel.
For more information, see Local travel and Terrorism
COVID-19 entry restrictions for India
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for India’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
Travelling from and returning to the UK
Check what you must do to travel abroad and return to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
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overall caseload continues to remain low. Check the COVID-19 situation in India before you travel.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has announced the resumption of regular international flights to and from India from 27 March 2022 in light of decreasing cases of COVID-19. This means termination of air bubble arrangements and restoration to the pre-COVID level of services. The full regulations are available from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority India on Twitter. To book tickets and to see important guidance prior to travel you should check airline websites. The British High Commission cannot assist with ticketing. The aviation sector remains unpredictable and is subject to change with short notice. To get the latest information sign up for travel advice email alerts. If you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission.
If you’re planning travel to India, find out what you need to know about coronavirus there in the Coronavirus section.
You may be asked to take part in thermal screening and/or travel history checks when arriving into India. This is to assist the Indian Government in the detection of Monkey pox. More information and detailed guidance is available on the website of the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. See further information on Monkeypox on the TravelHealthPro website.
Severe seasonal floods in North-eastern Indian states have caused loss of life and hazardous conditions, and are disrupting transport and other services. If you are in the affected areas or intend to visit these areas, you are advised to monitor local media closely and check with the local administration before travelling. You should also monitor the local weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department .
Travel in India during the monsoon season (June to October) can be hazardous. See Monsoons.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO guidance on foreign travel insurance.
For information about COVID-19 vaccines, see the Coronavirus page.
Over one million British nationals visited India in 2019. Most visits are trouble-free.
Severe air pollution is a major hazard to public health, especially during the winter months. New Delhi and other North Indian cities are most affected by extremely high levels of pollution. See Air pollution
Terrorists are very likely to carry out attacks in India. Recent attacks have targeted public places including those visited by foreigners. Media reports suggest Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) and other groups have an interest in attacking targets in India. There may be an increased threat to places visited by British nationals such as religious sites, markets, festival venues and beaches. You should be vigilant at this time, monitor local media and take all precautions for your safety. See Terrorism
Maoist (or Naxalite) insurgents specifically target police officers, paramilitary forces and government officials in parts of India, causing several deaths and injuries in 2019/20. The government of India has identified some districts as the worst affected. See Local travel
You should avoid protests and large gatherings. Stampedes have occurred during some events with large crowds, including at political rallies and religious gatherings, resulting in deaths and injuries. They can happen without warning and occasionally result in disorder. See Political situation
UK health authorities have classified India as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. For information and advice about the risks associated with Zika virus, visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre website.
The Indian Ministry of Tourism has a 24 hour multi-lingual telephone helpline on toll free number 1800 111 363 providing visitors to India with information about travel and tourism.
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. Consular support is severely limited in parts of India where the FCDO has existing advice against all travel and all but essential travel (as set out above).
Update history
2025-01-31 09:53
Updated information regarding accommodation requirements (see ‘Registering with the authorities’ on the ‘Entry requirements’ page)
2025-01-27 14:29
Updated information on satellite phones and other devices(‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-01-16 16:43
Updated information on Naxalism (‘Regional risks’ page).
2025-01-13 15:52
New information about Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-12-30 11:47
New information added on satellite phones and other devices (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-09-13 12:00
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2024-06-05 12:18
Removal of information on the general elections in India (‘Safety and security page’).
2024-05-29 17:04
Information on currency and states affected by Naxalism (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-03-22 14:59
Information on the upcoming general elections in India (‘Safety and security page’).
2024-03-13 14:29
Removal of the cricket page
2023-11-29 09:26
Information on accommodation (‘Entry requirements’ page) and removal of information on the Men’s Cricket World Cup (‘Cricket’ Page).
2023-11-16 15:30
This advice has been reviewed in full and published with minor editorial changes.
2023-10-02 16:20
Information on the Cricket World Cup and the following cricket competitions in India (‘Cricket’ page).
2023-09-11 10:57
Removal of information on G20 related traffic restrictions in New Delhi (‘Regional risks’ page).
2023-09-01 13:11
Information on G20 Leaders’ Summit related traffic restrictions in New Delhi from 8-10 September (‘Regional risks’ page).
2023-08-17 10:54
Removal of information on E-visas for Goa Airport (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-08-08 11:35
Information on E-visas for Goa Airport (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-21 15:23
Updated guidelines for international arrivals into India and updated information on heavy rains and flooding and mosquito-borne diseases in India (‘Entry requirements’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Health’ pages).
2023-07-19 12:13
Information on guidelines for international arrivals into India (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-07-11 12:07
Information on heavy rains and flooding in North Indian States (‘Safety and security’ page)
2023-06-22 09:44
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-06-19 10:51
Removal of information on cyclone “Biparjoy” (‘Regional risks’ page).
2023-06-12 15:13
Update on cyclone “Biparjoy” and rail travel in India (‘Regional risks’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2023-05-05 20:50
Update on the situation in Manipur (‘Summary page’ and ‘Regional risks’)
2023-05-02 11:23
Guidelines on transport risks in India and road traffic hazards (‘Safety and security’ page) and language on altitude sickness (‘Health’ page).
2023-03-28 13:35
Updated guidelines on Visa requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page) and information on the political situation (‘Safety and security’ page).
2023-02-16 09:57
Updated guidelines for International arrivals in India. Travellers from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan are no longer required to submit a self-declaration form and upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-02-13 11:34
New page design to improve the usability of travel advice pages.
2023-01-03 09:42
Updated guidelines on COVID-19 screening and testing requirements upon arrival in India (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirement’ pages)
2022-12-23 13:40
Clarification on COVID-19 screening and testing requirements upon arrival in India (‘Coronavirus’ page).
2022-12-06 15:36
Clarification of FCDO advice following the removal of COVID-19 entry requirements. The FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur except for Imphal and the Meiti Valley areas. The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir (‘Summary’ page) and Restoration of E-Visa for travel to India (‘Entry requirements’).
2022-11-24 11:41
Updated information on travellers no longer being required to submit a self-declaration form on the online “Air Suvidha” portal before scheduled travel. (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-10-31 15:41
Addition of information on the ‘three step’ regular visa application process (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-07-20 10:33
Updated information on air pollution (‘Summary’ page)
2022-06-23 15:59
Updated information on floods in North-eastern Indian states and removal of information related to the heatwave (‘Summary’ page)
2022-06-17 11:24
Addition of information on Monkeypox screening on arrival in India. Updated information on floods in North-eastern Indian states (‘Summary’ page)
2022-05-18 09:48
Updated information on COVID-19 (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ sections). Information on floods in North-eastern Indian states and heatwave in Northern and central Indian states (‘Summary’ sections).
2022-04-07 14:49
Updated information on further easing of COVID-19 related restrictions in India (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements sections’).
2022-04-01 15:08
Updated information on resumption of regular international flights to and from India (‘Summary’, and ‘Entry requirements sections’).
2022-03-25 16:55
Updated information on local travel in North-east India (Safety and security page)
2022-03-11 14:59
Updated information India’s entry requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page)