Can I Travel To India From The UK? Entry Requirements Explained

The beaches of Goa, palaces of Rajasthan and slopes of the Himalayas reopened to foreign travellers in winter 2021. But for British travellers, the reopening hasn’t been smooth. The e-visa system, which came into force in 2014, still hasn’t been reinstated for British passport holders. Instead, visitors are having to present their documents in person at processing centres. A need to pre-book appointments for these means there’s now a backlog of applications waiting to be processed, leading to delays.

If you’re planning a trip to India, here’s what you need to know — from visa processing time to Covid travel rules.

Main photo: Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan (Getty Images)

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Can I travel to India now?

Yes. However, any visas issued before October 2021 are no longer valid, so you’ll need to apply for a new one. British passport holders in particular are facing additional restrictions.

While India’s reopening to tourists applies to Brits, disagreements between the UK and Indian governments about reciprocal rights for travellers mean that British passport holders cannot currently use India’s more streamlined e-visa system, and must instead apply for a traditional paper visa in person.

They must do so through the official portal online, before submitting their passport and any documents required in person at a processing centre. It will take a minimum of three working days to process. However, there’s an extremely high demand for these in-person appointments due to a recent rule change by the Indian High Commission in the UK. The lack of availability before Christmas means a delay in visa processing times, forcing many travellers to cancel their plans.

Note that additionally, British citizens of Pakistani origin must apply for an Indian visa on a Pakistan passport, or prove that this has been renounced or cancelled. The process may take seven or eight weeks more.

If you’re a OCI or PIO cardholder, you don’t need a visa to enter India.

What are the travel restrictions?

Indian visa applications were already time-consuming before the pandemic, but the additional Covid-related checks are fairly standard for international travel these days. Visitors to India no longer need to quarantine on arrival, whether they are vaccinated or not, provided they have the right documentation.

All travellers aged five or over must have completed an Air Suvidha online declaration form, with a PDF of their passport and either a certificate of completed primary vaccination against Covid-19, or a negative RT-PCR test result from the 72 hours before departure. India accepts the NHS proof of vaccination. The declaration form is hosted on the website for Delhi International Airport, but applies to travellers arriving at other Indian airports too.

Around two per cent of arriving passengers will also be randomly tested at the airport and all passengers will be subject to thermal screening — if symptomatic, you may be isolated and taken to a medical facility.

Most states in India are loosening restrictions related to Covid as case numbers come down from Omicron-wave highs, though you should still expect to wear face masks in public places, and some states might ask for a negative Covid test as a condition of entry.

Due to the rise in monkeypox cases around the world, India has introduced some screening for travellers. This may include thermal screening and checks on recent travels.

Is it safe to travel to India?

For most parts of India, there is no UK Foreign Office advice to avoid travel — the only areas to which all travel is advised against are the majority of contested Jammu and Kashmir, and right by the border with Pakistan, except the crossing at Wagah with its popular daily closing ceremony. Parts of Manipur also carry a warning against all but essential travel.

The FCDO has given countrywide warnings about the risk of terrorism; for context, the threat level described for India is the same as that for France. India is a large and complex country, so the list of safety advice is a long one. It’s worth reading up on the specific regions you plan to travel to and being aware of any political disturbances.

Where should I go when I’m there?

Trying to take in a cross-section of India in one trip is a real challenge: the country is almost 2,000 miles from the north to its southern tip, from high-altitude glaciers to swaying coconut palms. Most visitors prefer to focus on one of a number of traditional circuits, or combine two on a longer itinerary of two or three weeks. The most popular route is a loop of Delhi, Agra (home to the Taj Mahal) and cities in Rajasthan such as Jaipur and Udaipur on a more culturally focused tour. If beaches and lusher landscapes are holiday essentials, Kerala is the star of southern India.

Other popular regions and themes to focus on include spotting tigers and other wildlife in central Madhya Pradesh, or riding mountain railways and sipping tea in the foothills of the Himalayas. You don’t have to journey to remote regions to get off the well-furrowed track: though cinematic Mumbai and spiritual Varanasi are tourism mainstays, even a city with the heritage of Kolkata is somewhat overlooked by non-Indians, as are significant states such as Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. If you’re prepared to travel away from major hubs, you’ll get to places that tug at notions of what “India” is: Nagaland with its tribal cultures, Sikkim on the borders of Tibet, and the distant and jungle-clad Andaman Islands.

Additional reporting by Qin Xie.

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Inspired to visit India but yet to book your trip? Here are the best Tui holidays* and British Airways breaks* to the country, as well as the best tours of India* from our trusted travel operators.

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