Anyone with recent experience of India?

[dragonman]

Travelling to India in a few weeks - will only be there for two nights. I have a couple of questions/clarifications.

Visa

Transit visa should be enough - there for less than three days. Do I have that right?

Currency
​I believe that recently the rules changed and you can no longer legally take Indian currency into the country. Has anyone got recent experience of this?

Thanks in advance

 

[sergeyvzn]

transit visa will only work if you have an itinerary showing you are going to a third country. Otherwise you need a normal tourist visa

 

[Febs]

I'd get cracking on the VISA application. They're relatively efficient, but I wouldn't be leaving it much longer than a few weeks to be safe.

(I visited a month ago - Visa process was easy enough, took maybe a week or so, but it's quite involved and you'll need to make sure everything is spot on with the application (and be prepared to wait a while if you're handing it in yourself).

Currency - Not sure sorry but I've never had an issue. I wasn't waving my rupees around on entry though. Sure this isn't just the usual "Over $10,000 or equivalent" restriction a lot of countries have?

Cheers.

 

[RB]

For our trip in Nov 2013 we sent our passports away to get the visa after filling out the online application(it had been subcontracted out). The photo requirements are different sizes to many countries and apparently very strictly enforced, so make sure you are up to speed on that. See details here IHC Visa Information - Australia - Home - Tourist .

For money we just rocked up to the ATM in Delhi airport-it was after customs & immigration but just before you stepped out among the throng of welcomers-be warned that armed guards won't let you re-enter that area once you have stepped out.

 

[dragonman]

transit visa will only work if you have an itinerary showing you are going to a third country. Otherwise you need a normal tourist visa

Thats true but my itinerary is SYD-NRT-DEL-NRT-HKG-SYD the transit visa is half the price but can only be applied for within 15 days of the arrival date.

 

[equus]

...NRT-DEL-NRT...

I would check very carefully. Looks like a return to me (and what Indian immigration will see), not a transit, which normally implies a different destination to origin.

 

[dragonman]

I would check very carefully. Looks like a return to me (and what Indian immigration will see), not a transit, which normally implies a different destination to origin.

Thanks so much you are quite right.

 

[NFF]

Is it just me or the links don't work ?
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/

 

[doctau]

I was there in late Jan, but can't answer the visa question.

I took rupees into the country, but not a huge amount - enough to deal grab a coffee in the airport (int-dom transfer), transport and so on. I'm pretty sure it was just the $10k equivalent limit.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

To answer the visa question, yes u need at a minimum a tourist visa.
Expect 3-4 business days to get one completed. India is moving to visa on arrival, but not expected to be up and running until later in 2014.

Visa-on-arrival facility extended to tourists from 180 countries - Economic Times

I visit India 3-4 times per year for work/pleasure. Never have issues with $$, usually dont bring any when coming for work reasons (my 'minders' pay for everything) and tend to take in $1-2k in US$ or A$ cash for holidays.

Cheers
BF

 

[SeatBackForward]

For the online visa applications in Australia, use this link:

IHC Visa Information - Australia

 

[Vivien]

You will need a visa if you plan on leaving the airport. We are cruising into Mumbai and stay for 8 hours (not even disembarking) and we had to get a tourist visa!
We got on ours on line at vfs-in-au.net or you can go personally into the Indian visa office of the capital city closest to you, a lot cheaper if you can go in personally, we couldn't, it cost us $103 each plus new passport photos, which MUST be 2inches in size (Officeworks do them for $10 for 2), a lot of questions to answer and make no mistakes or your visa won't granted and you loss the money!! We found it a very frustrating experience, but it had to be done. All the info you need is on the web site. Good luck!

 

[SeatBackForward]

You will need a visa if you plan on leaving the airport. We are cruising into Mumbai and stay for 8 hours (not even disembarking) and we had to get a tourist visa!
We got on ours on line at vfs-in-au.net or you can go personally into the Indian visa office of the capital city closest to you, a lot cheaper if you can go in personally, we couldn't, it cost us $103 each plus new passport photos, which MUST be 2inches in size (Officeworks do them for $10 for 2), a lot of questions to answer and make no mistakes or your visa won't granted and you loss the money!! We found it a very frustrating experience, but it had to be done. All the info you need is on the web site. Good luck!

At least they let you enjoy the Indian experience even before setting foot there.