Things to Consider for UK Passport Holders While Visiting India

If you are also planning to visit India from the UK, then this blog contains the information that might be useful for you. There are various things that you should consider while visiting India with a British passport. If you travel on an Indian e-visa, then there is a list of airports and seaports of entry. You also need to register yourself with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). You need to fill out your e-arrival card and also apply for a visa extension if you want to extend your stay. 

In this guide, we provide information on all the requirements for UK citizens traveling to India. We have mentioned the important registrations and their methods, the custom rules for UK citizens, special access permits, e-arrival cards, and entry and exit requirements.

Entry Requirements for UK Citizens in India

If you have a British passport, then this can be very useful information for you. These entry rules are enforced by the Indian authorities. 

1. Requirements for Passport Validity

One of the most important passport validity requirements is that while entering India, the validity of your passport must be at least 6 months from your date of arrival, and it should have a minimum of 2 blank pages for stamping. 

Keep in mind that your entry will be denied if you don't carry proper travel documents or try to use a lost or stolen passport. 

2. Travelers Returning to the UK

On the journey back to India, all UK citizens should carry their British Passport or the certificate of entitlement. 

Visa Requirements for British Nationals 

All travelers must have an Indian visa for UK citizens to enter the country, unless they are Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and hold an OCI card. There are many categories of visas in India, so make sure that you choose the right type of visa as per the purpose of your travel.

1. Apply for an Indian visa or an Indian e-visa

You can apply for an Indian visa from the Indian Bureau of Immigration. With the proper documentation, you can apply for a regular (paper) visa and an e-visa. Don't forget to check the eligibility criteria and all the restrictions before you apply for the Indian Visa. Apply for a visa well in advance so that there is enough time for your application to get processed. 

2. Pakistani Origin Applicants

If you have a Pakistani origin, a British-Pakistani dual nationality, or hold a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), then the processing time for the visa will be quite longer than the other visa applications. You can also obtain more information regarding this by visiting the official website of the High Commission of India. 

If your nationality is British-Pakistani, then you need to apply for an Indian visa on your Pakistani passport. If you have renounced your Pakistani nationality or surrendered your Pakistani passport, you must submit proof of this with your documents when applying for an Indian visa.

3. OCI Card Holders

If you have an Overseas Citizen of India card, then you can visit India by using this card along with your British passport. There will be no visa with the OCI card. If you have a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card, then you need to convert it to an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. 

4. E-arrival Card

Before reaching immigration, the foreign nationals traveling to India need to complete their e-arrival card online. The paper-based arrival cards have been replaced by these digital disembarkation forms. You can still use the paper forms until March 2026, but after that, they will be discontinued completely.

You can complete this online e-arrival card within 72 hours before you arrive in India. Please don't consider this e-arrival card as a replacement for a visa; you still need to have a visa or an OCI card to enter India.

5. Visa Extension

Overstaying the visa is considered illegal in India, so make sure that you leave the country before the expiry of your visa, or you can also apply for its extension if required. In case of a medical emergency, you can either convert your tourist visa to a medical visa or apply for its extension. 

Register Yourself With Authorities

It is a requirement that hotel, hostel, and other accommodation providers register their foreign guests with the FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Office). You should also keep in mind that you have been registered by using the C-form online. 

After entering the country, you will require your British passport and a valid visa to get the accommodation. The British citizens who have overstayed their Indian visa have to face more difficulties in finding accommodation in India. 

If you have a plan to stay in India for more than 180 days without having an OCI card, then you are required to register yourself with FRRO within 14 days of your arrival. If you do not register, then your permission to stay could be denied, and you will have to leave within 180 days.

Exit Requirements for British Citizens

While leaving India, the authorities will check when you entered the country. If there is no entry stamp in your passport, such as if you have issued a new passport or have an emergency travel document, then you should definitely apply for a special exit permit before traveling. 

To apply for this special exit permit, you need to apply through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within India. For such straightforward applications, the processing can take between 5 and 15 working days. 

Requirements of Vaccination for UK Citizens

While traveling to India, here is the list of vaccination certificates you must have: 

• A yellow fever vaccination certificate (if coming from an affected country) 
• Polio Vaccine certificate ( if coming from an affected country) 

Custom Rules for UK Citizens

There are some strict rules about the things that travelers can carry in or out of India. You should declare by yourself if you have anything subject to tax or duty, or may be prohibited.

Bringing Money to India

As per the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India, there are restrictions on bringing Indian Rupees into India. All the visitors, including tourists and residents, need to follow all these guidelines. If you are travelling to India from the UK, then you are allowed to bring cash and travellers' cheques, but they should be in British pounds or any other currency.

You can also bring a bank card and withdraw or exchange rupees in India. Also, keep in mind that you should declare any amount you carry more than 5000 dollars in notes and 10,000 dollars in notes and travellers' cheques combined.

Access Permits for UK Citizens

Some parts of India are designated as protected or restricted areas, and tourists need a special permit to visit those areas. The rules for this permit can change anytime, so keep yourself updated from: 

• Local tour operators
• The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs
• The Indian Bureau of Immigration
• The liaison office of the relevant state

You must apply for the permit at least 3 months before your arrival. Here are the places where you can submit your application:

• In the UK, the High Commission of India is located in London, or any other Indian Consulate
• In India, the liaison office of the state for which a permit is required, or the FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Office)

Why Choose Visament?

There are many things that British passport holders should consider while they visit India. They need to fulfill all the entry requirements, like having a passport, a valid visa, and much more. Many other factors to consider are visa extension, if they plan to overstay their visa. They have to complete all the legalities and fill out the necessary forms, such as the e-arrival card. If you have any confusion about the requirements, then you can take help from our experts in getting the correct visa. 

At Visament, the experts have a combined experience of 30+ years, and they can apply for your accurate visa as per the purpose of your travel. We provide services from the comfort of your home, and the prices are very affordable. The agents on our platform are available 24/7 to help you out with all your queries, and you can also check the status of your application on your platform.