Includes information on business customs, travel advisory, visa requirements, and other aspects of international travel.
Last published date: 2022-09-08
India is a diverse nation with 28 States, eight Union Territories, and dozens of major languages and cultural groups. This diversity gives rise to a variety of business customs. One factor common among them all is the importance of personal relationships. Building a strong personal reputation, establishing rapport, and cultivating goodwill are essential to establishing contacts and strengthening relationships in India.
In India, meeting times and schedules may not be followed as strictly as in the United States. It is not uncommon in India for people to arrive late, and last-minute cancellations for business events and meetings are possible. When arranging itineraries in India, it is important to build flexibility into your plans.
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With 28 states, eight union territories, and dozens of main languages and ethnic groups, India is a varied country. This diversity gives birth to a wide range of business practices. The significance of human relationships is one thing that they all have in common. Developing a strong personal reputation, creating rapport, and fostering goodwill are critical for making contacts and strengthening relationships in India.
Meeting times and schedules may not be adhered to as tightly in India as they are in the United States. Late arrivals are typical in India, and last-minute cancellations for corporate events and meetings are probable. It is critical to plan for flexibility while planning itineraries in India.
When meeting someone for the first time, a handshake is customary, while some Indians may utilize “nameskhar/namaste,” a popular welcome in which the palms are pushed together with fingers facing upwards and accompanied by a small bow. Throughout the epidemic, this greeting has grown more popular. Pleasant chat is frequent at the start of a business meeting and may include queries about family or even one’s income. It is considered courteous in India to enquire about dietary choices at meals, as many Hindus avoid meat, Muslims avoid pork, and Indians of all faiths are vegetarian.
The business card ritual is not as formal in India as it is in other countries, but having a supply of quality business cards is crucial. While presenting your card, use both hands. With your right hand, accept cards. Cards in English are okay, and printing business cards in local languages is not required.
Travel Advisories
Please see the U.S. Department of State consular information sheet for India.
All U.S. citizens visiting or residing in India are strongly encouraged to register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This free service allows U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. STEP automatically provides important information about safety conditions in country. Enrollment helps the U.S. Embassy, as well as family and friends, to contact you in the case of an emergency.
To enter and depart India for whatever reason, all US citizens must have a valid passport and visa. Please check that you have the appropriate visa for your intended activity in the nation. Before entering the nation, many travelers, even those on official U.S. government business, must apply for visas at an Indian embassy or consulate overseas. If you have the wrong visa type, you may be denied entrance and will usually not be allowed to alter your immigration category (e.g., from tourist to work visa) once you have arrived in India. Indian visa requirements are subject to change at any time. Please keep in mind that the US Embassy and Consulates in India cannot assist you if you come without valid documents.
On the website, you may get up-to-date information about the COVID-19 pandemic Embassy’s COVID-19 webpage. The government of India has resumed issuance of some visa categories, including business visas. A list of permitted categories for travel to India is available on the Embassy of India Washington, D.C. website. Entry requirements are also described on the Frequently Asked Question section on the Indian Bureau of Immigration website.
For the most up-to-date information on entrance and exit regulations, contact the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, (202) 939-9888, or the Indian Consulates in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, or Houston. Outside of the United States, contact the nearest Indian embassy or consulate. The Indian Bureau of Immigration website contains general information on Indian visa and immigration requirements, as well as the addresses and phone numbers for the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer offices.
Please provide photocopies of your US passport’s bio-data page as well as the pages carrying your Indian visa and immigration stamps. If your passport is lost or stolen, copies will assist you in obtaining a replacement passport as well as an exit visa.
While applying for Indian visas, US nationals of Pakistani heritage or descent must go through additional administrative steps and may expect additional delays.
Tourists: For information on tourist visas, including eligibility and criteria, please visit the Indian government’s Visa Portal. Visas are not issued upon arrival to US residents who do not have an electronic travel authorisation. If you do not have a valid passport and visa, you may be denied entry.
Diplomatic & Official Visas: Official visa applications are accepted directly at Indian embassies and consulates in the United States. For travel to India, all US government employees, including military personnel, must get country clearance. After you obtain your visa, double-check it to confirm that the visa type and number of entries are acceptable for your trip plans.
Foreigner Registration Requirements: Any foreigners visiting India for more than 180 days, or those on student, medical, research, or job visas, are obliged to register with the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer within 14 days of arrival.
The Indian Bureau of Immigration website offers general guidelines for foreigners registering in India.
Overstay & Visa Violations: If you overstay your Indian visa or breach any other Indian visa conditions, you must apply for departure clearance online. In most circumstances, you will be fined and, in certain cases, imprisoned. Visa violators seeking departure clearance must submit an online application. Processing a departure visa under these conditions may take some time, and judgments are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Companies in the United States that require foreign personnel to travel to the United States are warned that security evaluations are conducted through an interagency procedure. State Department visa website.
The Indian Rupee () is the country’s currency. Other currencies are rarely accepted. Most major cities have Authorized Foreign Exchange dealers, and banks will also exchange your money if necessary. Although ATMs are commonly available, not all of them accept foreign debit and credit cards. Credit and debit cards from Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted in stores, restaurants, and hotels. Yet, many suppliers and companies are unable to accept overseas credit cards. Moreover, transactions with taxis, marketplaces, and tiny street vendors frequently need the use of cash. It may be beneficial to hold a substantial quantity of cash in rupees and tiny denominations. Digital payment methods like as Google Pay, Paytm, and PayPal are commonly utilized, however they frequently require local phone numbers or bank accounts. Most money exchange desks, hotels, and airports accept traveler’s checks.
If your phone is unlocked, buying an Indian SIM card will help you save on roaming charges. India has the cheapest mobile data in the world, with an average price of $0.68 for one gigabyte as compared to the world average of $4.21. There are four major mobile phone operators in India – Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and state-owned BSNL/MTNL.
You can buy a SIM card at the airport or from an authorized dealer. You need the following documents to buy a SIM card:
Warning: Prohibition on use of satellite telephones in India: The use of satellite phones in India is illegal without prior approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Anyone carrying an unlicensed satellite phone is likely to face heavy fines and detention. The use and operation of telegraphic services or devices in India is regulated by the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. Per existing guidelines issued by the DoT, Inmarsat satellite phone services, excluding BGAN systems, can be used by the government, corporations, members of mountaineering expeditions, and other such categories with prior permission from DoT. Iridium and Thuraya satellite phone services are not permitted in India. Tata Communications Ltd. may facilitate satellite telephone services in India. If satellite phones are brought into India without DoT approval, the equipment may be confiscated by customs authorities until the owner of the satellite phone is able to produce a license issued by the Indian DoT.
Wi-Fi: Most hotels and many cafes are equipped with wireless internet.
Voltage: Voltage in India is 220 volts. Plugs are Type C and D. You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter to use U.S. appliances. Power can be unreliable in India and outages are common even in hotels and shopping malls.
Phone Dialing: The following dialing instructions may be useful:
India country code = 91
AC = Area code
CC = Country code
| Caller in USA to Indian cell phone | [011] + 91+Local Cell number |
| Caller in USA to Indian landline | [011] + 91+AC+Number |
| Indian landline to international number | 00+CC+AC+Number |
| Indian landline to Indian long-distance | 0+AC+Number |
| Indian Landline to local cell phone | Local cell number |
| Indian cell phone to India landline | 0+AC+number |
| Indian cell phone to Indian cell phone | Local cell number |
| Indian cell phone to Indian cell phone (in another city) | 0+Cell number |
| Indian cell phone to international long distance | 00+CC+AC+Number |
To and From India
International commercial travel has resumed after having been suspended in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are direct flights between the United States and India to a variety of cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad. Flight times are 14-16 hours. Getting to Eastern India from the United States requires a connection, with more and faster options typically through Europe or the Middle East. Travelers from the U.S. West Coast might consider going through Seoul, Tokyo, or Singapore.
Most international flights to India from the United States arrive and leave either early in the morning or late at night. An airport pickup organized by your hotel is advised. India has five domestic airlines: Air India, GoAir, IndiGo, Vistara, and SpiceJet. Global travel aggregators such as Expedia, Cleartrip, Yatra, and Make-My-Trip can help in booking domestic tickets for travel within India.
Within India
Road traffic in India is on the left. Road travel in India can be hazardous, especially at night. The safest driving policy is always to drive conservatively and assume that other drivers may not respond to a traffic situation in the same way drivers would in the United States. Be prepared for vehicles that run red lights and merge directly into traffic at yield points and traffic circles. Use your horn or flash your headlights frequently to announce your presence – it is customary to do so in India.
As a pedestrian, it is important to be alert while crossing streets and intersections, especially after dark, as traffic is moving from the left. Vehicles regularly drive in the opposite direction of traffic and you should exercise extreme caution when crossing streets, even in marked pedestrian areas.
It is recommended to hire a car and driver when regular transportation is needed. A wide range of car services are available in India and most hotels or travel agents can help you arrange a car for hire. Car services like Uber and its Indian equivalent Ola are also available. Some automobile transportation services provide cars chauffeured by women. An Indian or valid international driver’s license is required to drive in India.
Travel by train entails significant advanced planning and can be slow. It is therefore not recommended for business travel. Buses are also not recommended for business travel.
India boasts dozens of languages and thousands of dialects but English is common and most businesspeople will speak English fluently. However, during your stay you should expect to encounter people who speak limited or no English. The American accent can also be difficult for some Indians to understand and Americans may likewise have difficulty understanding the Indian accent. Patience, a sense of humor, and rephrasing what you want to say slowly and clearly can often help bridge the communication gap.
Most official signs are trilingual using the local language (if not Hindi), Hindi, and English. One exception is Tamil Nadu, where signs are in Tamil and English.
The quality of medical care in India varies considerably. Adequate private medical care that meets international standards is available in major cities but adequate medical care can be limited or unavailable elsewhere. All travelers are urged to obtain insurance that covers the costs of medical care and medical evacuation back to the United States or a third country. U.S. citizens traveling to India should review the Embassy’s webpage containing the latest information about COVID-19 pandemic conditions across India. U.S. citizens who travel to India are strongly urged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before travel and to take personal health safety measure to protect themselves. This includes practicing social or physical distancing, cleaning hands with soap and hand sanitizer, wearing masks, and avoiding crowded areas with poor ventilation. Face masks are almost universally required to be worn in public, especially in urban areas, indoors, and on public transportation. These regulations are strictly enforced and failure to adhere to mask-wearing norms is likely to result in a fine.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as food and water safety, insect bite protection, and malaria information may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747). Information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad can be obtained from the World Health Organization.
Emergencies: For a public ambulance anywhere in the country, call 102. The national emergency number is 112. Private ambulance services are also available. Because of ambulance delays due to traffic congestion, a taxi or private car may be necessary. For foreigners, upfront payment by cash or credit card is often required by hospitals prior to services or treatment. However, significant upfront payment may be waived by hospitals that have existing cashless agreements with major international insurance providers. Regardless of one’s ability to pay, all hospitals are required to provide emergency stabilization. Lists of medical providers grouped by major city and state are located on the U.S. Citizens Services section of the State Department’s website.
Highly specialized cases or complex emergencies may require medical evacuation. Air ambulances are costly and can be cost prohibitive without travel insurance. Singapore and Bangkok are typical medical evacuation destinations.
Medical Insurance: Ensure that your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas as most U.S. medical insurance plans do not cover care provided outside of the United States. U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See the State Department’s webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. Supplemental insurance to cover medical care and evacuation is strongly encouraged.
Vaccinations: You should receive all vaccinations for India recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For those arriving from Sub-Saharan Africa or other yellow-fever areas, Indian health regulations require evidence of vaccination against yellow fever. Without proof, you are subject to detention or quarantine.
Malaria risk varies depending on the time of year and areas visited. Transmission occurs throughout the year and is highest following the monsoon season from June through September. Please consult the CDC for additional information.
Dengue fever presents significant risk in urban and rural areas. The highest number of cases is reported from July to December, with cases peaking from September to October. Daytime insect precautions such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and mosquito repellent are recommended by the CDC.
There are many feral dogs in India, including in major cities. Dogs and bats create a high risk of rabies transmission in most of the country. Vaccination is recommended for all prolonged stays, especially for young children and travelers in rural areas.
Avoid feeding monkeys, as they can also transmit rabies and other serious diseases. If bitten, clean the bite for 15 minutes and immediately seek medical attention.
Air Pollution: Air quality is a significant problem in many cities in India. Consider consulting your doctor prior to travel regarding how seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may affect you. The air quality is typically at its worst in the winter. Anyone who travels where pollution levels are high is at risk but those at greatest risk include infants, children, and teens; people over 65 years of age; people with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema; people with heart disease or diabetes; and people who work or are active outdoors. Current air quality data can be found on the Embassy’s Air Quality page. The data on this site is updated hourly.
Food and Drink: Only ice-free bottled water, soft drinks, and hot tea and coffee are considered safe to consume. Avoid eating undercooked food, unpeeled fruits and vegetables, or food from restaurants where proper sanitary practices are not guaranteed. Stomach upset is very common for travelers to India. You may wish to travel with drugs like loperamide to alleviate the symptoms of diarrhea. Indian pharmacies are well-stocked in urban areas and can provide a variety of medications without prescription.
India has one time zone five-and-a-half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Because it has not adopted Daylight Savings Time and uses Indian Standard Time year-round, the time difference between India and the United States varies depending on the time of year. India is nine and a half hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Eastern Daylight Time and ten and a half hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Eastern Standard Time.
India’s work week is Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with a half-day on Saturday. In some large cities such as Mumbai, businesses start working earlier to avoid congested traffic while commuting. Lunch breaks are typically 30 minutes, usually between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Banking hours for cash transactions are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Some state and nationalized banks follow an alternate Saturday off schedule. In major metropolitan cities, several foreign and Indian-owned banks provide 24-hour banking services. Customers can visit the bank at any time during the bank’s working hours to conduct businesses.
Most holidays in India, except for a few national holidays, are regional in nature. Central government organizations that include public service offices, industrial, commercial, and trading establishments have about 16 holidays as a combination of national and state holidays. India celebrates three national holidays on fixed dates of the year. In addition, 14 mandatory holidays are issued every year by each state based on local festivals and prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. U.S. companies are advised to check for regional or national holidays through local contacts before arranging business meetings and travel plans.
All goods entering India are subject to customs inspection and clearance. An individual must be in India and is usually required to be present during the customs clearance process. Most household goods and personal effects are granted tax and duty-free entry provided they have been used and in the individual’s possession for a minimum of six months.
Indian customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and goods for exhibitions and trade fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information call (212) 354-4480.
Before traveling to or from India, you are urged to inspect all bags and clothing thoroughly to ensure they do not contain prohibited items. U.S. citizens have been arrested or detained when airport security officials discovered loose ammunition (even spent cartridges, casings, or souvenirs) or weapons in their luggage. If you are found to have ammunition on your person or in your bags, you could be charged with violation of the Indian Arms Act, incarcerated, and/or deported from India.
Consult India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs website for more information.
