Entry to India

India is a South Asian country that covers most of the Indian subcontinent. The northern border is formed by the Himalayas. In the south, the country is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. India borders Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. With a population of around 1.42 billion, it is the second most populous country in the world after China. In terms of land area, however, it is only the seventh largest country in the world. The country is divided into 28 states and 8 federal territories. The capital of India is New Delhi. However, the country's most populous city and economic and financial center is Mumbai.

India is a destination that attracts visitors from all over the world at any time of the year. Most travelers visit this spectacular country for its millennia-old culture and religious sites, but also for the majestic Himalayas and the beautiful sandy beaches along the coast. Under normal conditions, travel is possible all year round. However, the best time to travel is from October to March. During this time, the climate in most regions of India is pleasant and dry. However, as the Indian subcontinent is very large and climatic conditions vary from region to region, the best time to travel varies from region to region. South India is particularly good for traveling from December to February. For the north and the west coast, the months from October to March are well suited. For the Himalayan mountains, on the other hand, the months from July to October are recommended, as there can be heavy snowfall at higher altitudes during the winter. No matter which region you choose, this mysterious country in South Asia is always worth a visit.

German citizens require a visa for their trip to India. This must be applied for in good time before departure from a visa agency, the Indian embassy or the Indian consulate, both for business trips and for tourist travel. The electronic residence permit "India e-Visa" can be applied for via the Internet portal buch-dein-visum.de and is therefore the quickest and easiest option. As a rule, applications are processed within two to four working days. In some cases, however, the application process can take a little longer. Once the visa application has been approved, you will be notified by email. The document only needs to be printed out for the trip.

Electronic visas for India are valid for 120 days from the date of issue. They authorize a stay of up to 60 days. Travelers also have the option to leave the country after the 60 days have expired, enter the country again within the validity period and stay in the country again for up to 60 days. However, e-visas only entitle the holder to enter the country at designated airports and seaports.

For entry by land or planned stays of more than 2 months, travelers to India must apply for a regular visa at the Indian embassy or via buch-dein-visum.de. The tourist visa entitles the holder to a stay of up to six months. Regardless of the type of entry authorization you require, you will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months on the day you plan to enter the country. You will also need a current passport photo, a completed application form and confirmation of the departure date, for example in the form of a return flight ticket.

A visa waiver is only available for residents of Bhutan, the Maldives and the Seychelles (90 days each), Nepal and for persons with Indian citizenship or an Indian citizenship card. As a rule, Germans and other travelers who require a visa do not require a visa for transit during a flight if they have valid documents for onward travel within 24 hours and do not leave the transit area of the airport. Please make sure you have this regulation confirmed by a responsible consular mission. If in doubt, it is better to apply for a transit visa for India.

If you plan to stay in India for more than 6 months, you must register within 14 days of crossing the border. Depending on the visa category, registration is also required regardless of the length of stay. For further information, please refer to our information on the obligation to register in India.

Travelers are advised to make sure that the border officials stamp their passports correctly when entering the country. Without an entry stamp, difficulties are to be expected when leaving the country. Everyone must ensure that they do not overstay their visa and, if necessary, find out about visa extension options in good time. According to the official agreement of the Indian Ministry of the Interior, there are no longer any visa restrictions for re-entry. Please also note that an exit ticket must be presented at the airport when entering India. An itinerary stating your travel destinations is not sufficient. Exit tickets are normally all tickets (flight, train or bus tickets) or proof that you have left a country, or more precisely, that you can leave a country such as India again because you have a return ticket, for example.

A mandatory yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers entering India from a yellow fever area. Only children under the age of 9 months do not require proof of vaccination. Some South American and African countries are considered to be acute yellow fever areas. Travelers from some Asian and African countries also require proof of an oral polio vaccination for a trip to India.

However, travelers are recommended to have all vaccinations recommended for Germany, in particular an up-to-date vaccination against tetanus, hepatitis A, measles, diphtheria, pertussis and poliomyelitis. Travelers over 60 years of age are recommended to have an additional vaccination against pneumococci and, if necessary, against influenza.

For longer stays in India or travel in basic conditions, additional vaccinations against hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis may be recommended. Travelers are advised to have their current vaccinations checked by a doctor before starting their journey. If in doubt, a tropical medicine specialist can give you more detailed advice. As the cost of some vaccinations can be high and must be paid for by yourself, you should check with your health insurance provider in advance to find out whether the costs will be covered.

Traveling to India with a child is possible without any problems, as long as the entry regulations are followed. First and foremost, children need a valid passport. Children under the age of 12 need a children's passport that is valid for one year. Children's passports issued before the start of 2021, on the other hand, are valid for 6 years. Children aged 12 and over already require a conventional passport. The documents must be applied for at the responsible local authority in good time before departure. The processing time is normally a few weeks. The same visa regulations apply to children as to adults. Parents or legal guardians are responsible for the visa application.

Children under the age of 5 do not have to present a negative PCR or antigen test when entering the country. However, if symptoms are detected on arrival, they are subject to the mandatory health protocol, including several tests and quarantine if necessary. Accompanying parents or guardians do not always have access to their children during self-isolation.

Under certain circumstances, it is possible to enter India with a dog. However, it should be noted that not every airline allows the transportation of animals. The airlines Air India, SpiceJet and Vistara allow pets on board. Air Asia and IndiGo, on the other hand, do not allow dogs on board at all. The regulations for taking animals on board vary depending on the airline. For transportation in the cabin, animals must not exceed a maximum weight of 5, 6 or 8 kilograms. Pets must be accommodated in transport boxes that do not exceed the dimensions permitted for hand baggage. Larger and heavier animals are transported in the hold of the aircraft.

For entry at the airport, dog owners require a health certificate confirming the health of the animal. This must be issued by a qualified veterinarian no more than 10 days before departure. You will also need a license from the DGFT (India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade) and a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Both permits can be applied for online or by telephone before departure. To obtain the NOC license, you will need the above-mentioned health certificate, proof of all your dog's vaccinations and a copy of your flight ticket.

The internationally valid entry regulations and customs regulations apply in India. No import duty is levied on personal property including jewelry. A camera, a video camera, a radio, binoculars, 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, 0.95 liters of alcohol and gifts worth up to 750 rupees may also be imported into the country duty-free. High-value items such as laptops or video cameras must be officially declared on a form. This form must be presented again when leaving the country.

Foreign currencies of 5000 US dollars or more must be declared on entry. The import and export of Indian national currency is completely prohibited for tourists. However, residents of India are permitted to import and export a maximum amount of 5000 Indian rupees. The import of weapons, pornographic material and gold coins and bars is strictly prohibited. Only foreigners of Indian descent are permitted to import up to 10 kilograms of gold into the country. In this case, however, customs duties of 250 rupees per gram must be paid. Another requirement for importing gold is a minimum stay abroad of six months.

When leaving India, it should be noted that the export of protected plants and animal skins is strictly prohibited. Violation of these customs regulations may result in fines or arrest on departure.

Further information on customs regulations for importing goods can be obtained from the Indian embassy. In case of doubt, they can provide you with legally binding information.

By far the largest international airport in India is Delhi Airport (DEL) in the capital New Delhi. It is considered the busiest airport in the whole of South Asia. The airport offers flights to 139 destinations in 46 countries. It is served by the airlines Air India, Qatar Airways and Air Berlin, among others. Bombay/Mumbai Airport (BOM), whose official name is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, is also considered one of the most important airports in Asia. It is served by over 40 airlines, including Qatar Airways, Air India and Jet Airways. Chennai Airport in the south-eastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is the third largest airport in the country. India's three largest airports handle significantly more passengers than all other Indian airports combined.

In addition to the three largest airports, there are numerous other international and national airports in the country. However, flight tickets from Europe to Delhi or Mumbai are generally much cheaper than to the country's other airports. It is usually advisable to first book a flight to one of the largest airports and then a connecting flight within India to your final destination. The flight network within the country is well developed. India now has more than 100 passenger airports, allowing travelers to get around the country quickly and comfortably. As the distances between the various destinations are often very long due to the size of the country, air travel is often the most suitable means of transportation.

Travelers who are only staying at an Indian airport for transit (onward flight) can travel through India without a visa under certain conditions. Visa-free transit requires a maximum stay of 24 hours at the Indian airport and a valid onward ticket to the third country. In addition, transit travelers are not allowed to leave the transit zone of the Indian airport while waiting for their connecting flight. There are currently no testing or quarantine requirements for transit travelers. However, non-vaccinated travelers must present a PCR test that is no more than 72 hours old when entering the country. Onward travelers are also subject to random tests and health checks by the Indian authorities. These affect around 2 percent of all travelers, who are selected at random.

Anyone who wants to leave the transit zone or has to wait longer than 24 hours for their onward journey needs a transit visa for their stay. This can be applied for online or at a travel agency, the Indian embassy or the Indian consulate. Once issued, the transit visa is valid for 15 days. It entitles the holder to a single entry with a maximum stay of 3 days within the validity period. Longer stays are no longer considered transit and require the issue of a tourist visa.

To apply for a transit visa, you will need proof of your onward journey, for example in the form of a copy of the flight ticket for the connecting flight. Persons of Indian origin must also submit a so-called "Surrender Certificate". Please note that the transit visa is only issued to air travelers. Transit visas are not issued for transit by car, bus, train or ship. In these cases, it is necessary to apply for a tourist visa.

The German mission abroad in India is a place of representation and serves to maintain bilateral relations and represent German interests. The consulate represents the German state administration abroad.

The most important tasks of the consulate include

• issuing and renewing passports and other documents
• looking after German citizens in prison, monitoring court proceedings
• assistance with financial and other emergencies
• reporting births, deaths and marriages abroad to the home authorities
• issuing entry visas for foreigners
• regulating the military situation of conscripts and providing information on entry, residence and working conditions.

For matters relating to the above, you should not hesitate to contact the German Mission Abroad in India. The German Embassy is located in New Delhi and is headed by Ambassador Mr. Michael Steiner. The address of the embassy and the opening hours can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office. Before visiting the embassy, you can make an appointment by phone or via the Internet.

In addition to the German Embassy, you can also contact the German Consulate General in Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata or Mumbai or the German Honorary Consul in Goa, Hyderabad or Trivandrum. If you lose your passport, the authorities can issue you with new documents. You can also call on the help of the diplomatic mission abroad in the event of conflicts with the local authorities and other problems or emergency situations.

Varanasi lies on the banks of the Ganges and is one of the holiest cities for Hindus. Every evening, a spectacular ritual takes place on the banks of the river to give thanks to Mother Ganges.

Jaipur is also known as the pink city and is considered the jewel of Rajasthan. The historic city offers numerous architectural gems such as the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds.

Darjeeling is located in northern India on the border with Nepal and Bhutan and is known for its mountains and tea. At the foot of the Himalayas, numerous different cultures live at an altitude of 1500 to 2500 meters.