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, Srilanka 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 an oral 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.
There are two channels for clearance :
Green Channel :
For passengers not in possession of any dutiable articles or
unaccompanied baggage.
Red Channel :
For passengers with dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage
or high value articles to be entered on the tourist Baggage
Re-Export Form.
Dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high-value articles
must be entered on a Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form (TBRE).
These articles must be reexported at the Time of departure.
A failure to re-export anything listed on the TBRE becomes a
payable duty levied for each missing item. The following duty-free
possessions are permissible- clothes and jewellery, cameras
and up to five rolls of film; binoculars, a portable musical
instrument, a radio or portable tape recorder, a tent and camping
equipment, fishing rod, a pair of skis, two tennis rackets,
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars,.95 liters of liquor, and gifts
not exceeding a value of Rs. 600 (about $20). Depending on the
attitude of the customs' official, one may or may not have to
enter a portable computer on a TBRE form.
Currency Allowed In India
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency
or travellers' cheques a tourist may bring into India provided
he makes a declaration in the Currency Declaration Form given
to him on arrival. This will enable him not only to exchange
the currency bought in, but also to take the unspent currency
out of India on departure. Cash, bank notes and travellers'
cheques up to US$ 1,000 or equivalent, need not be declared
at the Time of entry. Any money in the form of travellers' cheques,
drafts, bills, cheques, etc. in convertible currencies, which
tourists wish to convert into Indian currency, should be exchanged
only through authorized money changers and banks who will issue
an encashment certificate that is required at the Time of reconversion
of any unspent money into foreign currency. Exchanging of foreign
currency other than banks or authorized money changers is an
offense under Foreign Exchange Regulations Act 1973.
Leaving India
Exchange Indian currency before you depart. Banking facilities,
for the conversion of rupees into foreign currency are usually
located in the same airport hall as the check-in counters. Its
best to access these facilities before immigration as they are
not available thereafter. All animal products, souvenirs, and
trophies are subject to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The export of skins made from protected wildlife species is
not allowed. Such items cannot be imported into many countries,
including the United States. As a rule, avoiding such souvenirs
that could be made of animal skins (except crocodile-leather
goods) is best. Generally, items more than 100 years old cannot
be exported without a permit from the Archaeological Survey,
which has an office in Delhi. Reputable shops will provide you
with the required permit or help you procure it. Indian Customs
will detain items without permits if they are believed to be
over 100 years old.
Embassy Information
The United States Embassy
(Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6889033) is open weekdays
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM for consular services.
The Canadian High Commission
(7/8 Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6876500) is open Monday-Thursday
8:30 AM -12:45 PM and 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM -
1:00 PM for consular services.
The British High Commission
(Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6872161) is open weekdays
9:00 AM - 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM -4:00 PM for consular services.
For lost passports or emergencies, a duty officer is available
24 hours a day at each embassy.
Time:
GMT/UTC plus five hours 30 minutes
Electricity:
230-240V, 50 HZ
Weights & measures:
Metric
Tourism:
2 million visitors per year
Airports
The international airports in the metro cities extend services
ensuring that the traveller on business can continue working
even during his wait for boarding an international connection,
or when transferring between international flights. These facilities
include restaurants, business centers, rest rooms and telephone
booths. Business centers are furnished with state-of-the-art
equipment including word processors and tele fax. Airports also
offer tourist duty free & handicrafts shopping, snack bars,
nursery and baby care rooms, and an art gallery too for art
lovers. Duty free prices in the airport shops are very competitive,
giving one bargains on international merchandise.
How to plan your tours:
Explore India, we offer tours packages and holidays guide to
all tourist destinations of India. For more tour options mail
us at info@easytravelindia.com
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North India 
