Guide to travel to India

Looking for a guide to travel to india? If you still don’t know What do you need to travel to India?, we are going to explain everything you have to prepare for entering and leaving India. general information and requirements to travel to India with its customs, laws and limitations in the customs of India. You have available this travel guide with the emergency telephone numbers, the best time to travel to india and everything you need to know to travel safely.

INDIAN DATA

Capital	India (See map)
Languages	Hindi and English
Currency	Indian rupee
Visa?	Yes
Voltage	230 volts

India Overview

With the current situation you may have to fill out some kind of form to travel to india or covid India requirements, so we advise you to check What do you need to travel to India? or any destination in the country in this travel guide.

The most popular and visited tourist spots in India are normally outside the danger zones and are properly monitored. However, there are areas that are risky such as the Indian border with Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

In particular, the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the Northeast States (Asam, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Meghalaya) sporadically experience terrorist incidents and inter-ethnic conflicts. Likewise, in Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Orissa, a group of the Maoist extreme left operates.

Recommendations when visiting India

• If you decide to travel to the mentioned areas, be extremely careful.
• Consider that some areas are classified as restricted or protected, for which all foreigners require an additional permit to enter. It is recommended that you consult this document of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• You must stay informed through the news of the country, as well as be aware of the events that occur in the locality in which you are.
• You must be aware of the environment and not leave your belongings unattended.
• Act with prudence and respect at all times the indications and provisions of the local authorities.
• Inform family and friends about your travel itineraries.
• Have contact information in that country at hand (hotels, friends, the emergency telephone number of the Mexican Embassy in India, among others).
• Always carry a copy of your Mexican passport and an official photo ID, keep an electronic copy of them.

Guide to travel to India entry requirements

These are the Indian entry requirements:

• The Mexican passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of entry to India.
• Valid visa.
• On your arrival and departure from any International Airport in India, you will have to go through free immigration control during which your passport will be stamped.
• If you are going to stay in the house of a relative and/or acquaintance, you must have an Invitation Letter.
• Likewise, at immigration control, you must complete and submit a disembarkation form (Arrival Card).
• When you arrive in India by air, you must fill out an immigration form that will be provided by the staff of the airline you are traveling with or by the immigration authorities at the airport. Make sure you have the immigration form before going to the passport and visa review area.

Guide to travel to India requirements to leave

Once your stay is over, these are the India exit requirements:

• For no reason should you exceed the length of stay indicated on your Indian visa. If you extend your stay even for one day, when you go to the airport to take your departure flight, the immigration authorities will not allow you to board the plane, so you will have to go to the immigration offices in New Delhi to apply for an exit permit and pay the corresponding fine.
• Upon your arrival and departure from any International Airport in India you must complete and submit a boarding pass (Departure Card).
• If you are transporting computer, photographic and/or video equipment, you may need to submit a Tourist Baggage Re-export form (Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form).

Indian Customs Information

• Before going to the customs area, you must fill out a form that will be provided by the staff of the airline in which you are traveling or by the immigration authorities.
• It is forbidden to import any type of products derived from beef cattle, pork, live plants or gold or silver bullion.
• You are not allowed to bring satellite equipment and phones, eg Thuraya and Irridium, into India as you are subject to criminal prosecution and seizure of the equipment.
• For information, see the website of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (in English and Hindi). You can also refer to the following customs guide for travelers (in English) prepared by said Board.

Indian local currency

• The legal tender in India is the Indian rupee («» or «Rp, INR).
• Traveler’s checks and international credit cards (American Express, MasterCard, Visa) are accepted at hotels, most restaurants and luxury stores.
• In the main cities of the country there are exchange houses where foreign currency operations can be carried out.
• India prohibits taking rupees out of its territory, so it is necessary to exchange money upon arrival and departure from the country.

For more information regarding the local currency or payment methods of the country, consult the section recommendations in money to travel abroad..

Indian customs

Make sure you know the customs of the country so you can know what the best time to visit india. Here are the most common.

There is nothing special to take into account.

Is it safe to travel to India?

• Foreigners are particularly vulnerable to crime, so extreme caution is recommended.
• The theft of objects and the presence of pickpockets on trains and trucks is common. Therefore, it is recommended not to carry large amounts of cash and prefer to make withdrawals from ATMs. Never neglect your personal effects or suitcases, especially in places with a large influx of people.
• Do not accept, for any reason, packages or suitcases from strangers.
• It is important to hire safe taxis, particularly at Mumbai and Delhi airports.
• Sexual harassment is frequent towards women who travel alone and there are isolated cases of rape of foreign women. It is recommended to travel in a group, take precautions at night, dress discreetly and respect local uses and customs.

Risk areas:

The most popular and visited tourist spots in India are normally outside the danger zones and are properly monitored. However, there are areas that present a certain risk:

• It is suggested that you avoid traveling to the border areas between Pakistan and India, especially Kashmir.
• In Northern states such as Asam, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Meghalaya, terrorist incidents and inter-ethnic conflicts are reported sporadically. It should be noted that a group of the Maoist extreme left operates in the center-east and in the south of the country.
• Similarly, it is preferable to avoid the regions most affected by terrorism in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Orissa.

Protected areas:

There are Protected Areas and Restricted Areas which require special permits to enter, depending on what type of passport you have, whether ordinary, official and/or diplomatic.

In the Protocol Manual of the Indian Foreign Ministry you can find more information: https://mha.gov.in/PDF_Other/AnnexVII_01022018.pdf

Indian Laws

• Always carry a personal ID with you. It is preferable not to go out with your passport but with a photocopy of it, along with a card from the hotel where you are staying.
• Possession of any type of drug is punishable by a minimum sentence of 6 years in prison.
• Promoting, favoring or facilitating the illegal consumption of toxic drugs, narcotics or psychotropic substances, through acts of manufacture, trafficking or possession is strongly prosecuted and punished. Do not accept to transport packages or orders from unknown people.

Other recommendations in guide to travel to India

• Do not forget to notify your bank that you will travel to India, so that they can inform you how to act in case of theft or loss of your credit cards in India, or problems that you could have when withdrawing money with your cards abroad.
• Recommendations and more advice by topic or type of traveler, visit the section of recommendations for your trip abroad of this guide to travel to India.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)