This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in India. More information for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders is available on the Online OCI Services website. Read about how our consulates in India can help and services we provide.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Indian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information. 

Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad. 

To stay up to date:  follow the British High Commission New Delhi on Facebook and X  (formerly Twitter).

Before you go

See our travel advice for India for up-to-date information on entry requirements and travel restrictions, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.emergencies. 

SeeThe movingOverseas orBusiness retiringRisk abroadservice offers information and advice for British companies operating in India. on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Visas and residency

See Check the entry requirements for India in our travel advice.

See how to apply for a visa to enter India: the e-FRRO online portal (part of the Indian Foreigners Regional Registration Office), the Bureau of Indian Immigration website and Indian Ministry of External Affairs website.

If you enter India on a long-term visa andthat planallows you to stay more than 180 days,days at a time, you should check with the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office about registering within 14 days of arrival.

HealthcarePassports and travel

SeeYou ourcan travelapply advice for or renew your British passport from India.

Check the India travel advice for passport validity requirements.

Healthcare in India

India and the UK do not have reciprocal healthcare agreements. You should buy comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you enter the country.

You should also make sure you’reyou are covered by health insurance for UK treatmenttreatment, or you’llyou will be charged by the NHS for any care you receive in the UK.UK.

TheIf NHSyou hascannot informationregister for peoplehealthcare, movingyou abroad.

Seemust ensure you have private healthcare cover for India. FCDO has a list of hospitalsmedical providers in India. Youwhere shouldsome alsostaff checkwill speak English.

NOTE:  UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your prescriptionshealthcare arecosts legalif inyou India.live overseas.

Organ transplant letter

Medicine

If you needare anon organa transplantprescription letterfor fromany amedication Britishyou highshould commission,ensure you canhave applya andsupply payof onlineit, or are able to obtain it when in India. Certain medicines may not be available in [India] (including major brands readily available in the UK), and collectyou yourmay letterbe prohibited from ataking specifiedthem highinto commissionthe orcountry. office. You should consult your GP before travelling to [India] to find out about any alternative medication.

ApplyRead forthe anguidance organif transplantyou letterneed onlineto travel with medicines. 

Working in India

SeeIf informationyou are planning to move to India and work, you may need a visa. Read the Indian government’s guidance on employment visas and business visas.

To fromapply thefor Indiana Highjob Commission,you London.

Somemay jobsneed mayto requirecomplete a UK criminal records check (known as a DBS check).

To find out if your academic qualifications are recognised in India, check with your education provider.

Studying in India India

If you needplan ato letterstudy fromin aIndia, Britishyou highmust commissionmeet toall studyvisa atrequirements anbefore Indianyou universitytravel. orSee accessthe stateHigh orCommission nationalof archivesIndia’s website for research,information youon canapplying applyfor anda paystudent online.visa.

Contact You’llthe needrelevant higher education provider in India to arrangecheck forwhat yourfees letteryou have to bepay.

Tax

The collectedUK byhas couriera double fromtaxation aagreement specifiedwith highIndia commissionso orthat office.

Applyyou fordo anot letterpay oftax introductionon forthe admissionsame toincome anin Indianboth universitycountries. onlineAsk the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief. 

ApplyYou forshould aget letterprofessional toadvice accesson Indianpaying statetax orin nationalIndia. archivesFind onlinean English-speaking lawyer in India

Tax

SeeRead guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad and

• tax on your UK income if you live abroad.

• Wetax recommendif you get professionala advicepension onand payinglive tax in India.abroad

You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad to in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

PensionsBenefits

SeeCheck Statewhich UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you retireare abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Pensions

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and andyou are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in India, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension.. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.

Life certificates for UK stateState pensions

Pensions

If you get a a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you needmust to respond as soon as possiblepossible. –Your your payments may be suspended if you don’t.do not.

BenefitsMoney and banking

SeeThere claimingare benefitsrestrictions ifon youbringing live,Indian moverupees orinto travelIndia. abroadVisitors, including residents and tourists, should follow Reserve Bank of India guidelines.

FindIf outyou whichare UKvisiting benefitsIndia, you mightcan bebring ablecash, totravellers’ getcheques while(in you’repounds abroadsterling or another foreign currency) or a bank card with you and howexchange toor claimwithdraw them.rupees once in India.

ManyYou income-relatedmust benefitsdeclare suchany asamount Pensionabove Credit5,000 US dollars in notes, or 10,000 US dollars in notes and Housingtravellers’ Benefitcheques can’tcombined.

Foreign benationals paidliving ifin you’reIndia abroadwho wish to open a bank account need a long-term Indian visa, valid for more than 4182 weeks.days. Check with the relevant bank for their full requirements.

Accommodation and buying property

See buying a property abroad

Driving in India

SeeRead the guidance on what actions you must take to drive legally in India: drivingDriving abroad

If andyou roadare travelasked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (eg the DVLA).

For guidance for travelling by road in India see https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/country/safety-and-security#road-travel.

SeeIf takingyou awish vehicleto outtake ofyour thevehicle UKwith you, see https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk.

India drives on the left.

You can drive with a UK licence and an accompanying international driving permit after you arrive, but rules on how long you can drive on a UK licence vary from state to state. To arrange for a driving test, you should contact the traffic police office in the state where you live.

Voting

Disabled drivers

SeeIf votingyou whenhave you’rea abroadUK Blue Badge. and live in India, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

BritishThe citizensdriving livingtest abroadrequirements canfor votedisabled indrivers someare UKgenerally electionsthe –same. you’llDisabled needdrivers toin registerIndia asrequiring anvehicle overseasmodifications voter.

Births

Seeshould registercontact athe birthrelevant abroad.Regional Transport Office.

DeathsVoting

SeeYou whatmay be able to dovote afterin someonesome dies.

SeeUK also:elections. You can:

• English-speakingcheck funeralif directorsyou inare Indiaable to vote
• bereavementregister informationas foran Indiaoverseas voter

GettingBirths, marrieddeaths, marriage and civil partnership

Births

SeeIf gettingyour marriedchild abroadis born in India you should register the birth with the local authorities.  You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate.

Renewing passports

SeeIf overseasyour Britishchild passportshas applicationsBritish nationality, you anddo getnot anneed emergencyto travelregister documentthe (sometimesbirth calledwith anthe emergencyUK authorities passport).

Pets

Seeto travellingapply withfor petsa British passport.

Emergencies

Deaths

The If emergencysomeone numbersdies in India are:read our guidance on:

• 100

  What –to policedo if someone dies abroad

• 101 –

  Bereavement fireguidance for India

• 102

  English-speaking –funeral ambulancedirectors in India

If

Marriage youand needcivil urgentpartnership

Find help,out contacthow youryou nearestcan Britishget embassymarried or consulateget a civil partnership abroad.

Accommodation and buying propertyPets

SeeCheck buyingthe aguidance propertyfor taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad. andSee howIndia’s toAnimal buyQuarantine a& propertyCertification inServices website for guidance on importing pets into India.

Other useful informationEmergencies

See:The emergency numbers in India are:

• notary100 services– for Indiapolice
• English-speaking101 lawyers– in Indiafire
• translators102 in– Indiaambulance

Returning

Dial to the UK

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