India welcomes millions of international travelers every year. To ensure a smooth journey to your destination city, it is important to understand the airport immigration process in India for foreigners. Read on for an extensive guide for the same!
Essential documents for immigration clearance
- Valid passport: Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months from your date of departure and must have unused pages.
- Valid Visa/e-Visa/OCI Card: You need a Visa for India. India offers more than 30 types of visas, depending on the nature of your travel, such as tourist visa, business visa, employment visa, student visa, medical visa, and more.
More than 160 countries are qualified for Indian e-Visa, which also has different categories like e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa, and e-Conference Visa.
Overseas Citizen of India Card holders do not need a visa, but they still need to pass the immigration procedures.
- Return flight ticket: You need a return or onward flight ticket as proof of planned departure from India if you are visiting for a short period.
Read also: Essential travel documents to carry to India for foreigners
Before arrival
- From 1 October, 2025, foreign nationals have to fill in the digital e-Arrival Card online between 72 and 24 hours before boarding your flight to India. The form will ask basic information like your contact information, passport number, purpose of travel, nationality, local address, etc.
- Before the e-Arrival Card, the immigration process was manual. Airlines distributed a “Disembarkation Card” paper to foreign passengers before landing in India. The same information as above had to be filled by hand.
After arrival
- Once you land, get your carry-on luggage and deplane.
- When you enter the airport in India, you need to head to the Arrival Immigration Hall. The immigration counters have two lanes: one for Foreign Nationals, and one for OCI, Diplomats, and Indian Nationals.
- If you are a foreign national visiting India, you will need to queue at the Foreign Nationals counter.
- Keep your passport and Visa ready beforehand.
Immigration counter
- Foreign nationals visiting India for the first time will need to register their Biometric details at the immigration counter.
- An officer at the counter will ask you for your passport, visa, and boarding pass for verification and clearance. They may also ask you some general questions like your purpose for visiting India, duration of your stay, and accommodation address.
- Then your passport will be stamped and cleared.
Baggage claim
- After clearing immigration, head to the baggage claim area. The flight information will be displayed on large screens so that you can locate your baggage belt. You will also be informed about it on the flight before landing.
- Once you spot your baggage, collect it and proceed to Customs.
- If you need some cash handy, you can find currency exchange counters here as well, before exiting through customs.
Customs
- Once you reach Customs, you need to clear your goods under the Red or Green Channel. If you have dutiable goods to declare, proceed to the Red Channel. If you do not have any dutiable goods, go through the Green Channel.
- If you declare your goods wrong, it can result in confiscation of those goods or a fine. Attempts to smuggle gold without declaration can result in arrest and prosecution.
After all these steps, you will be legally allowed to enter into India. You can then exchange your currency and buy SIM cards if you need it, or you can simply exit the airport. You can book an Uber or Ola cab or prepaid taxi from the airport before exiting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Once you land in India, you need to head to the immigration counter with your boarding pass, essential travel documents, and cabin luggage. There is often a long queue at the immigration counters in India.
For immigration, you will need a valid passport and visa, a boarding pass, your flight tickets, proof of onward travel, entry permits and health certificates (if required). You may also be asked questions about the purpose and duration of your visit.
Yes, after security screening, passengers are required to proceed to the immigration counter.
The Government of India has implemented a new digital system wherein foreign nationals will have the option of submitting an electronic disembarkation form instead of a physical paper form.
About Aishwarya Shete
Aishwarya Shete is a content writer at India Someday. Her passions are writing, photography, and more importantly, food. She hopes to travel the world someday and document it through her pictures and words.
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