Travel Information

Passport & Visa Information

You are advised to contact the Indian Embassy / High Commission / Consulate in your country in order to obtain a visa of entry. Please apply for your visa in good time (minimum 60 days prior to travel). Your travel agent may also be able to help you.

There is no provision of 'Visa on Arrival' in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before they start their journey to India except nationals of Nepal and Bhutan who do not require visa to enter India and nationals of Maldives who do not require visa for entry in India for a period up to 90 days (a separate Visa regime exists for diplomatic/official passport holders).

The Consular Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for issuance of Indian visas to the foreign nationals for their visit for various purposes. This facility is granted through various Indian missions abroad.

Visa fees are non-refundable and subject to change without notice. The High Commission reserves the right on granting and deciding type/duration of visa irrespective of the fees tendered at the time of making application. Granting of Visa does not confer the right of entry to India and is subject to the discretion of the Immigration Authorities.

The instruction and information given here is general in nature, however for specific information, you may contact the respective Indian Mission.

China & Pakistan

Additional formalities are required for delegates from China (or born in China) and Pakistan. If you are applying for a 'Conference Visa' you must provide Conference Works your passport details 75 days prior to travel at minimum.

Arrival & Departure

Direct International Flights to Hyderabad

Rajiv Gandhi International airport at Shamshabad, Hyderabad is served by following international airlines -

• Air India
• Jet Airlines
• Air Arabia
• British Airways
• Emirates
• Lufthansa
• Malaysia Airlines
• Oman Air
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Thai Airways

Please check with your travel agent for a full list of airlines flying in and out of Hyderabad.

Hyderabad Via Indian Metro Cities

The airports at the major metro cities of Delhi,Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are well-connected with international destinations and offer convenient onward connections to Hyderabad. Bengaluru (Bangalore) also has international flights and is well connected with Hyderabad.

For those who are planning to take pre or post congress tours to other parts of India, it may make more sense to use Delhi or Mumbai as gateway cities.

Arrival Formalities

If the visa, for stay in India, is for more than 180 days, a Registration Certificate and Residential Permit should be obtained from the nearest Foreigners' Registration Office within 15 days of arrival. Four photographs are also required for registration. The foreigners registered at Foreigners' Registration Office are required to report change of their addresses. All persons including Indian nationals are required to fill in a Disembarkation Card, at the time of arrival.

Departure from India

All persons, except nationals of Bhutan & Nepal, leaving by air, road or rail have to fill in an Embarkation Card at the time of departure.

Exit Formalities

Every foreigner who is about to depart finally from India must surrender his Certificate of Registration either to the Registration Officer of the place where he is registered or of the place from where he plans to depart or to the Immigration Officer at the Port / Check post of exit from India.

Foreign Travel Tax

Passengers embarking on trips to any place outside India from a Customs airport/seaport will have to pay a Foreign Travel Tax (FTT) of Rs. 500 and Rs. 150 on trips to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. No tax is payable on trips performed by ship from Rameshwaram to Talaimanar and in case of transit passengers, provided they do not leave the customs barrier. Transit passengers travelling by air who have to leave the airport on account of mechanical trouble but continue their journey by the same aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also exempt from FTT. Transit sea passengers leaving the ship for sightseeing, shopping etc. during the ships' call at any of the Indian ports will not be required to pay FTT.

Customs

Visitors are generally required to make a baggage declaration in respect of baggage and foreign currency in their possession. They are also required to obtain the Currency Declaration Form from the Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the airline during the course of the flight.

Currency Allowed in India

There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travelers' cheques a tourist may bring into India provided you make a declaration in the Currency Declaration Form given to him on arrival.

Leaving India

Rupees are not allowed out of India. Exchanging them before you depart is the best option.