India Travel Requirements

• Passport: You’ll need to travel with a valid passport that has at least two blank pages. It should also be valid for at least six months beyond the date of travel.
• Valid Visa: With a few exceptions, all foreign nationals are required to have a valid Indian visa to enter, whether it’s an India Tourist Visa, India e-Visa, or India Business Visa.

Luckily, India’s visa application process is fast, easy, and hassle-free. You can typically get a visa within three business days. In some cases, you can apply for a visa online or through the Indian embassy in your country. Curious about how to visit India without a visa? We’ve got you covered.

• Overseas Citizen of India Card: This is for Indian nationals living overseas, or if you’re married to an Indian national.
• Customs Self-Declaration Form: Incoming airline passengers will be given a self-declaration form while on the plane or going through customs and immigration at your point of entry. Fill it out completely and accurately.

India’s entry requirements may vary by country. Confirm if there’s anything else you need to enter India by contacting Entriva, or your country’s Indian embassy.

If you don’t already have a passport, you can apply for one at your local passport office. The process typically takes four to six weeks, so make sure to apply well in advance of your trip. If you already have a passport, check its expiration date and renew it if necessary.

To get a United States passport, an American citizen needs to follow these steps:

1. Fill out form DS-11: The DS-11 form is available online or can be obtained at a passport acceptance facility.
2. Gather the required documents: You will need to provide proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate) and a government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license).
3. Get a passport photo taken: Your photo must meet specific requirements, such as size, lighting, and positioning.
4. Pay the application fee: The fee varies depending on the type of passport and processing time selected. The average processing time for a new passport is four to six weeks, but expedited services are available for an additional cost.
5. Submit your application in person: You can submit your application at a passport acceptance facility, which can be found at many post offices, courthouses, and libraries.
6. Track your application status: You can check the status of your passport application online or by phone.

You can obtain a visa by applying online through a visa service provider like Entriva, or through the Indian government’s official website. The application process can take anywhere from 72 hours to 15 business days, depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Make sure to apply for your visa well in advance of your trip to allow for processing time.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has many recommendations for which vaccines to get before traveling to India. But there’s only one required vaccination: yellow fever.

If you’re traveling to India from a country, region, or destination where yellow fever is known to exist, local authorities require a yellow-fever vaccination before entering the country. Otherwise, you may need to quarantine.

Countries or areas that the Government of India considers “high risk” for yellow fever include: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago (Trinidad only), and Venezuela.

The following vaccinations are recommended, but not required:

• Malaria: Highly recommended
• COVID-19: Recommended
• Cholera: Recommended
• Hepatitis A: Recommended for unvaccinated travelers older than one year and infants ages 6 to 11 months
• Hepatitis B: Recommended for unvaccinated travelers ages 60 or older
• Japanese encephalitis: Recommended if coming from infected area

You should also be up-to-date on all your regular vaccinations, such as flu, polio, and shingles.

If you need to bring prescription medication with you during your trip, you should do the following:

• Check with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of India or an Indian embassy or consulate to ensure that the drug is legal to bring into the country and you don’t violate local laws.
• Carry your medications in their original packing.
• Bring a copy of the prescription or a letter from your doctor.
• Declare your medications at customs.

If you’re traveling to one of India’s major cities for medical treatment on Medical or e-Medical visas, you’ll need to provide a letter from the hospital or doctor as required documents for the visa. It’s a good idea to bring copies and any other relevant health records with you as well.