Arriving in India - First-Time Visitor Airport Guide

The vast majority of foreign visitors arrive in India by air, most often through one of the major international gateways: Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru), Chennai International Airport, or Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata). All five are modern, signed in English, and run on the same broad pattern. This guide walks through what to expect from the moment your plane lands until you are in your hotel transfer.

Read first - the e-Arrival Card. Since 1 October 2025, every foreign passport holder and every OCI cardholder must complete a free online e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before their flight to India. There is no longer a paper form to fill on the plane. File the e-Arrival Card before you board — your airline will check at the gate, and immigration in India looks it up by your passport number on arrival.

Step 1 - Immigration

Follow the Arrivals signs to immigration. Queues are split by passport type:

• e-Visa holders — there is a separate, usually shorter queue at every major airport.
• Regular visa (sticker visa) holders — use the foreign-passport queue.
• OCI cardholders — use the OCI queue if one is signposted; the foreign-passport queue otherwise.
• Indian passports — separate queue.

The immigration officer pulls up your e-Arrival Card by passport number, takes your photo and fingerprints, and stamps your passport. Check the stamp before you walk away — it should show the date and the entry port. The stamp is what proves you entered legally; if it is missing, you will hit problems on your way out of the country.

English is spoken at every airport immigration counter — communication is rarely an issue.

Step 2 - Baggage

After immigration, head to the baggage carousel for your flight. A few practical points:

• Luggage trolleys are free at all Indian airports. They are kept in stacks near the carousels. If they look in short supply, wait a few minutes — porters periodically wheel more in from the kerb. Anyone offering you a trolley for a tip is freelancing — politely decline; the airport provides them at no cost.
• Some airports x-ray inbound checked bags before they reach the carousel. This is unusual internationally but normal in India and adds delay rather than cause for concern.
• Inspect your luggage for visible damage before leaving the airport. Mishandling claims must be reported to your airline at the airport baggage-services desk before you leave the terminal.

Step 3 - Currency exchange

Currency exchange counters are inside the terminal, before the customs exit. If you plan to exchange any cash:

• Do it now, not after you leave. Once you walk past the green/red customs channel, you cannot go back to the bank counters.
• Keep the exchange receipt ("encashment certificate"). It lets you reconvert unspent rupees to your home currency when you leave India.
• Airport rates are slightly worse than city rates — exchange just enough to cover the first day or two and use ATMs in the city for the rest. Indian ATMs accept foreign Visa and Mastercard. See our Currency Exchange and Foreign Exchange in India pages.
• Most major Indian banks have ATMs at the airport too. SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis are reliable.

A prepaid SIM counter is also typically available in the same hall — handy if your phone is unlocked. See Cell Phones & SIM Cards in India.

Step 4 - Customs (Red and Green channels)

After baggage you will see two exits — green and red.

• Green channel — for passengers with nothing to declare. The standard tourist allowance covers personal effects, a reasonable amount of clothing, used cameras and electronics, and a duty-free allowance of alcohol and tobacco. Most visitors use the green channel.
• Red channel — for passengers with goods to declare. Use this if you are carrying high-value items (expensive new electronics, gold jewellery beyond the personal allowance, commercial samples, sporting equipment, professional camera kits) or more than the duty-free limit on alcohol or tobacco.

Random spot checks happen on the green channel. If a customs officer flags you for an inspection, stay calm — it is routine. If you are asked to pay duty on something you brought for your own use and intend to take home with you, ask the officer for a TBRE entry (Tourist Baggage Re-export entry) in your passport. This records the item against your passport so you can take it back when you leave without paying duty.

Currency declarations: bringing in any amount of foreign currency is allowed, but if you have more than US$ 5,000 (or equivalent) in cash, or more than US$ 10,000 in cash plus traveller's cheques, you must fill in a Currency Declaration Form at the red channel.

Step 5 - Getting to your hotel

After customs you exit into the kerbside arrivals area. The safest options, in order:

• Hotel pickup — most mid-range and four- or five-star hotels offer an airport pickup. Costs typically ₹600-₹1,500 in the major cities depending on the car. The driver will be holding a placard with your name in the arrivals hall and is the easiest, lowest-stress option after a long flight, especially if you arrive late at night. Confirm the pickup in writing before you fly.
• App-based ride (Uber / Ola) — every major airport has a designated ride-share pickup zone, signposted. You will need a working SIM (Indian or international roaming) to summon and identify the car. App fares are usually cheaper than the prepaid taxi.
• Prepaid taxi — every major airport has a prepaid taxi booth in the arrivals area, run by either the airport authority or the local police. You pay a fixed government-approved fare to your destination at the booth, get a numbered voucher, and hand the voucher to the driver on arrival. The booth records the destination and vehicle number, which is a real safety benefit. Prepaid taxis are slightly more expensive than Uber/Ola but require no app, no SIM, and no haggling.
• Hand-flagged taxi outside the terminal — do not do this. Most international flights arrive at night, and unmetered tourist taxis are a long-running problem. Even local Indian travellers avoid them in favour of the booth or the app.

Step 6 - The journey into the city

Most major airports are 8-25 km from the city centre. Drives can be much longer than the distance suggests, especially during morning rush hours in Mumbai and Bengaluru. Don't plan a tight first-evening schedule — give yourself a buffer.

A few practical first-day tips

• Arrival is usually late at night. International long-haul flights mostly land in India between 22:00 and 04:00. Pre-book your first night's hotel and arrange airport pickup; do not plan to "find a hotel on arrival." Most airports have 24-hour transit hotels (e.g. Holiday Inn at Delhi Aerocity, Niranta and the ITC Maratha at Mumbai) for short stopovers.
• The first ATM withdrawal sets your foreign-card pattern. Some Indian ATMs charge ₹200-₹500 per foreign-card transaction; SBI, HDFC, ICICI and Axis tend to be reasonable. Daily limits are typically ₹10,000-₹25,000 per withdrawal.
• Train tickets within India can be purchased at a foreign-tourist counter at major railway stations once you are in town. See Buying Train Tickets in India.
• Keep your passport and the e-Arrival confirmation safe. Carry a photocopy of the bio page and the visa stamp separately — it speeds up replacement if anything is ever lost or stolen.

For the broader pre-trip checklist before you board your flight, see Plan Your Visit.