India Travel Requirements: What You Need to Know Before You Go

When planning a trip to India, a country with complex entry rules, diverse climates, and cultural expectations that vary by region. Also known as the Indian subcontinent, it welcomes millions of visitors each year—but only if they have the right paperwork and mindset. Getting into India isn’t just about buying a flight. It’s about understanding visa requirements, the official permission you need before boarding a plane to India, whether you’re visiting for tourism, pilgrimage, or business, health declarations, the digital forms you must complete before arrival, including any vaccine records or health screenings, and customs limits, what you can and can’t bring in—like currency, medicines, or souvenirs—without getting fined or delayed. These aren’t suggestions. They’re rules enforced at airports, borders, and even hotels.

Many travelers assume India is easy to enter because it’s popular. But that’s where things go wrong. You can’t just show up with a passport and hope for the best. If you’re from the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, or most of Europe, you need an e-Visa. It takes less than 72 hours to get, but you must apply at least four days before departure. No exceptions. Some travelers forget to print their e-Visa confirmation or don’t have a blank page in their passport. Others bring prescription meds without a doctor’s note—even if it’s just ibuprofen—and get stopped at customs. Then there’s the money: you can bring in up to $10,000 USD without declaring it, but anything over that? You fill out a form or risk losing it. And don’t assume your credit card works everywhere. Cash is still king in rural areas, temples, and small towns. You’ll need rupees. ATMs are everywhere in cities, but they sometimes run out, especially during festivals like Diwali or Kumbh Mela.

India’s entry rules change often, but the core stays the same: plan ahead, double-check, and don’t rely on old advice. A friend’s trip from five years ago? That info is outdated. The country updated its e-Visa system in 2023, added new health forms in 2024, and tightened rules on drones, religious items, and even yoga mats at certain borders. You don’t need a degree in travel law, but you do need to read the official government site once—just once—before you pack. The posts below give you real examples: what happened to a couple who showed up without a visa, how a solo traveler got through Kerala with the right documents, why a family was turned away at the airport for carrying too many supplements, and how to handle medical emergencies with the right insurance. You’ll find tips on where to get your visa, what to pack in your carry-on, how to avoid scams at the airport, and which documents to keep handy at all times. No fluff. No theory. Just what actually works when you’re standing in line at Delhi or Goa, tired, stressed, and wondering if you did everything right.