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Passport valid for at least six months required by all.

Required by all.

The following prices are for UK nationals only; prices for other nationals vary. Tourist: £30. Business: £30 (three/six months); £50 (one year); £90 (two years). Transit: £8. Student: £30 (six months); £50 (one year); £55 (more than one year).

(a) Non-UK nationals applying in the UK need to pay an additional £10 (amounts charged may also vary according to nationality and type of passport held) unless holding proof of at least one-year residence in the UK. (b) A £1 fee may be required for postal applications, depending on consulate.

Transit: 15 days. Business: three or six months, or up to two years for multiple entry.

Embassy or High Commission (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Passport/Visa Information.

(a) Passport valid for up to six months with at least two blank pages. (b) Completed application form. Nationals of Bangladesh and Pakistan must complete special application forms. Personal interviews in some cases may also be necessary. (c) Two passport-size photos. Nationals of Pakistan will require five. (d) Fee (bank draft or postal orders only). (e) Stamped addressed special delivery envelope. Business: (a)-(e) and, (f) A letter from their employer stating the reason of the visit and an invitation from the company in India and a letter of introduction from UK company addressed to the Embassy. Transit: (a)-(e) and, (f) Proof of onward travel. Student: (a)-(e) and, (f) Proof of admission to appropriate university/educational institution with duration of course.

Personal applications can normally be processed the same day. Postal applications may take up to 15 working days or longer (early September to February). Those requiring an additional fee may need a minimum of seven working days and possibly much longer for their visa application to be processed.

Prior permission should be sought before entry into India.

Certain parts of the country have been designated protected or restricted areas that require special permits and in some cases prior government authorisation. Intent to visit a specific restricted region should be indicated when applying for a visa and a permit will be granted to visit that region only. Passengers are advised to check with India Tourism for up-to-date information before departure. The following states are subject to some restrictions: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, borders areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim and the Union Territory of Laccadives Island (Lakshadweep).

Office of the High Commissioner for India in the UK
India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA, UK
Tel: (020) 7836 8484.
Website: www.hcilondon.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 (visa enquiries); 0915-1730 (visa applications and collections; telephone enquiries).

Embassy of India in the USA
Chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Consulate: 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 939 7000 or 9806 (consular section).
Website: www.indianembassy.org

India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA, UK
Tel: (020) 7836 8484.
Website: www.hcilondon.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1200 (visa enquiries); 0915-1730 (visa applications and collections; telephone enquiries).

7 Cork Street, London W1S 3LH, UK
Tel: (020) 7437 3677 or (0870) 010 2183 (brochure request line).
Website: www.incredibleindia.org

Chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Consulate: 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 939 7000 or 9806 (consular section).
Website: www.indianembassy.org

Suite 1808, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020-1700, USA
Tel: (212) 586 4901.
Website: www.incredibleindia.org
Office also in: Los Angeles.

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Any person (including infants over six months old) arriving by air or sea from an infected country must obtain a yellow fever certificate (includes passengers who have been transit in a country in the endemic zone). Otherwise, isolated detainment may occur for up to six days. Those countries that are considered infected are all African countries (except Algeria, Botswana, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tunisia and Zimbabwe) and all South American countries (except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay). When a case of yellow fever is reported from any country, that country is regarded by the government of India as being infected.

Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to India. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination, as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness.

Poliomyelitis is widespread. Immunisation is generally recommended. Typhoid can be contracted and there have been recent reports of typhoid drug resistance.

Malaria risk exists, mainly in the benign vivax form, throughout the year in the whole country below 2000m excluding parts of the states of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Sikkim. High resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is reported in the malignant falciparum form. The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine plus proguanil in risk areas and mefloquine in Assam.

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Well water near the Ganges and in West Bengal may contain traces of arsenic chemical. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Visceral leishmaniasis occurs in rural areas of eastern India. Cutaneous leishmaniasis occurs in Rajasthan. Filariasis is common throughout India and sandfly fever is increasing. An outbreak of plague occurred in 1994 and was contained by adequate government measures. Tick-borne relapsing fever is reported, as is typhus, and outbreaks of haemorrhagic dengue fever have occurred in eastern India. Tick-borne haemorrhagic fever has been reported in the forest areas in Karnataka State. Hepatitis A and E are common. Hepatitis B is endemic. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be contracted from water. Outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis occur, particularly in eastern coastal areas. Meningococcal meningitis is present in Delhi from November to May. Vaccination is advisable.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

All visitors aged between 18 and 70 years of age who are wishing to extend their visa for one year or more are required to take an AIDS test.

India has seen a massive growth in the voluntary and private health sector in the last few years; however, health care facilities are limited and travellers are strongly advised to take out full comprehensive medical insurance before departing for India. It is advisable to bring specific medicines from the UK. There are state-operated facilities in all towns and cities and private consultants and specialists in urban areas.

Visitors leaving for countries which impose health restrictions on arrivals from India are required to be in possession of a valid certificate of inoculation and vaccination.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2006-June 2007 period.

Jan 10 2006 Idu’z Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice). Jan 26 Republic Day. Jan 31 Muharram (Islamic New Year). Feb 26 Mahavir Jayanthi. Mar 14 Holi. Apr 6 Sri Rama Navami (Birthday of Sri Rama). Apr 10 Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). Apr 14 Good Friday. May 13 Buddha Purnima. Aug 15 Independence Day. Sept 2 Vijaya Dasami/Dussera. Oct 2 Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday. Oct 24-26 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Nov 21 Diwali. Dec 31 Idu’z Zuha/Bakrid (Feast of the Sacrifice).
Jan 26 2007 Republic Day. Jan 20 Muharram (Islamic New Year). Mar 3 Holi. Mar 8 Mahavir Jayanthi. Mar 27 Sri Rama Navami (Birthday of Sri Rama). Mar 31 Milad-Un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). Apr 6 Good Friday. Apr 14 Baisakhi, Vishu/Bahag, Mesadi, Maghi. May 2 Buddha Purnima.

(a) Public holidays in India tend to be observed on a strictly regional basis. Only the secular holidays of Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday are universally observed. The above dates are Government of India holidays, when government offices will be closed nationwide. In addition, there are numerous festivals and fairs which are also observed in some States as holidays, the dates of which change from year to year. For more details, contact Incredible India (see Top Things To Do). (b) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. For more information see the World of Islam appendix.