Arriving in India? Know the Latest Airport Rules, Checks & Entry Requirements!

Last Updated on Dec 18th, 2025 by Neha Sharma, Leave a Comment

Travelling to INDIA from any international destination comes with a set of airport arrival rules that every passenger must follow. These rules help ensure smooth immigration, customs clearance and health safety for all travelers.

This guide explains every important rule in detail, covering immigration, customs, baggage rules, arrival forms, duty-free limits, banned items, foreign currency rules, health guidelines & more. If you are an Indian citizen or a foreign tourist, this blog will help you enter India without stress.

1. Before You Land in India

Before your flight touches down, the cabin crew will give you important forms & instructions. These are important to prepare in advance. 

a. Fill the Immigration Arrival Card (Foreign Nationals Only)

Foreign nationals must fill an arrival card that asks for – 

• Full name
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Address in India
• Purpose of visit
• Flight details

Indian passport holders do not need to fill this card. 

b. Keep These Documents Handy

You must keep the following documents ready in hand luggage – 

• Passport (valid for minimum 6 months)
• Visa or e-Visa approval (if applicable)
• Boarding pass
• Hotel bookings or address of stay
• Return/onward ticket (for some visa categories)
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate (if arriving from high-risk countries) 

2. Immigration Rules After Landing in India

Immigration is the first major checkpoint after you get off.

a. Queue Arrangement

There are separate queues for – 

• Indian passport holders
• Foreign passport holders
• Diplomatic passport holders
• e-Visa passengers

b. e-Visa Passengers

If you are arriving on an e-Visa, you must – 

• Go to the e-Visa counters
• Provide your e-Visa confirmation printout
• Provide fingerprints & a live photo

c. Biometrics (Mandatory for Most)

Most travelers must suffer – 

• Face scan
• Fingerprint scan

Only positive categories like minors under 12 & people above 70 may be exempt.

d. Visa Verification

The officer may ask – 

• Purpose of visit
• Length of stay
• Hotel address or relative’s address
• Occupation

Make sure your answers match your documents.

3. Baggage Rules on Arrival

After immigration, you proceed to baggage claim.

a. Baggage Allowance

Airline baggage allowance depends on – 

• Your airline
• Cabin class
• Route

Check your airline website for exact rules.

b. Damaged or Lost Baggage

If your baggage is damaged or missing – 

• Visit the airline desk at the baggage area
• File a PIR (Property Irregularity Report)
• Keep boarding pass and baggage tag safe

4. Customs Rules After Arrival in India

Customs is one of the most important arrival steps. India follows a Green Channel and Red Channel system – 

a. Green Channel

Use this if you do not have anything to declare, like – 

• No commercial items
• No restricted goods
• No excess foreign currency
• No high-value electronics beyond the limit

b. Red Channel

Use this if you are carrying – 

• High-value electronics
• Gold above free allowance
• More than allowed liquor
• Foreign currency above limits
• Satellite phones
• Drones

If you hide items and get caught, you may face fines or confiscation.

5. Duty-Free Allowance Rules

a. Duty-Free Limits for Foreign Tourists & Indians

You can bring the following without paying duty – 

• Alcohol – 2 liters
• Cigarettes – 100 sticks
• Perfume – Up to reasonable value
• Other goods – Up to INR 50,000 (if staying abroad more than 3 days)

b. Gold & Jewelry Rules

• Indian travelers can bring 20 grams of gold (upto INR 50,000) duty-free.
• Anything above this attracts customs duty.

c. Electronics

You can carry – 

• 1 personal laptop duty-free
  If you bring extra, customs duty may apply.

6. Prohibited & Restricted Items

Prohibited

• Narcotics/drugs
• Counterfeit currency
• Wildlife products
  Pornographic material
• Satellite phones (without permission)
• Drones (require DGCA approval)

Restricted

• Medicines (need doctor prescription if in large quantity)
• High-value electronics
• Food items like meat products
• Plants/soil

7. Health & Quarantine Rules

India has some health regulations for incoming travelers.

a. Yellow Fever Certificate

Mandatory if arriving from – 

• Africa
• South America
• Many tropical nations

Without the certificate, you may be quarantined for 6 days.

b. Infectious Symptoms

If you show symptoms like – 

• High fever
• Continuous cough
• Severe stomach infection

The health officer may examine you or send you for testing.

8. Foreign Currency Rules

a. How Much Currency Can You Bring?

• Foreign currency in cash up to USD 5,000
• Total currency value (cash + documents) up to USD 10,000

If you carry more, you must declare it at customs using the Currency Declaration Form.

b. Indian Currency Rules

Foreigners can bring – 

• Up to INR 25,000

NRIs/Indians returning can bring – 

• Any leftover Indian currency they carried while exiting India.

9. Airports With Fast-track Services

Major Indian international airports offer fast-track immigration – 

• Delhi IGI Airport
• Mumbai Airport
• Bengaluru Airport
• Hyderabad Airport

Paid services like Pranaam (Mumbai) or Meet & Greet help skip queues.

10. Arrival Process for Connecting Flights in India

If you have a domestic connection after arriving from abroad – 

1. Clear immigration
2. Collect baggage
3. Clear customs
4. Re-check baggage at the domestic transfer counter
5. Go through security
6. Board your domestic flight

11. Airport Facilities After Arrival

a. SIM Cards

Available at – 

• Arrival halls
• Telecom counters
• Airport kiosks

b. Currency Exchange

Available inside the arrival area but rates may be higher.

c. Prepaid Taxis

Available at all major airports like – 

• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Bengaluru
• Chennai

d. Wi-Fi

Most airports offer free Wi-Fi for around 45 to 60 minutes.

If you are planning to visit India from Australia check the Routes Below!

• Melbourne to Delhi
• Sydney to Hyderabad
• Perth to Bangalore
• Brisbane to Amritsar

In Conclusion

Arriving in India is simple when you know the rules. From immigration & customs to baggage, duty-free limits and health guidelines, being prepared helps you avoid delays or penalties. Always carry your documents, declare anything you are not sure about and follow the airport billboards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I need to fill out a health declaration form if I come to India from outside of India?

A: They have done away with the health declaration forms and Air Suvidha Forms, however, the airport health authorities continue to watch passengers with thermal screening & if a passenger shows up to be presenting symptoms of illness the officer providing thermal screening may request to ask some questions or provide a quick check-body this is a standard safety process & does not require any written paperwork.

Q: How long will it take to clear immigration at the Airport?

A: The time it takes for immigration clearance depends on both the time of the day & on the amount of passenger traffic at the Airport. If it is a quiet time of the day, immigration approval should take between 10 to 20 minutes. If it is during a busy time, immigration clearance could take 45 to up to 60 minutes or more to complete. Some of the larger airports (Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore) have multiple immigration kiosks (counters) however, early morning & late night flights tend to be the busiest at these airports.

Q: What question(s) will the immigration officer ask upon my arrival at the Airport?

A: The immigration officer will most likely ask you some basic questions such as the purpose of your visit, where you will be staying while in India, your planned length of stay & your expected date of return. These questions are typical for everyone arriving in India & no question should be explained as an indication of any sort of problem.

Q: How much gold can I carry without paying duty?

A: Gold jewellery for personal use is allowed & does not need duty. Gold bars & coins must be declared. Passengers who have lived abroad for more than 1 year may get some duty benefits but only when duties are paid officially. Do not attempt to hide gold as penalties are strict.

Q: Are foreign currencies allowed, and do I need to declare them?

A: Yes, foreign currency is allowed. If you bring more than USD 5,000 in cash or USD 10,000 including travellers’ cheques, you must declare it at customs. Anything below this does not need declaration.

Q: What should I do if my passport is damaged or slightly torn?

A: India does not allow entry on severely damaged passports. If it is slightly torn, worn-out or water-damaged the immigration officer may still allow entry but it depends on their assessment. It is always safer to reopen your passport before travelling.

Q: Is it safe to exchange currency inside the airport?

A: Airports offer suitable currency exchange but usually at higher rates. If you want better rates, exchange only a small amount at the airport & use local exchange counters or ATMs in the city later.

Q: Can international passengers buy a SIM card inside Indian airports?

A: Yes, SIM cards are available at almost all major airports. You need to show your passport, visa & provide a photograph. Activation may take a few hours depending on the network.