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Bengaluru Entry Requirements

Bengaluru Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Bengaluru, capital of Karnataka and India's tech hub, greets overseas visitors at Kempegowda International Airport. Entry is smooth but hinges on nationality and reason for travel. Officers check your visa or ETA, scan fingerprints, and confirm return tickets. Lines spike between midnight and 4 a.m. when most long-hauls land, so schedule connections with care. Keep hotel addresses and local phone numbers close. Proof of accommodation in Bengaluru may be demanded before you're waved through.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
Unlimited stay

Nationals of Bhutan and Nepal may enter without a visa.

Includes
Bhutan Nepal

Must carry valid passport or voter-ID card; no work permitted without prior approval.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
30 days (Tourist), 180 days (Business), 60 days (Medical)

Most tourists and business visitors apply online for an eVisa before boarding.

Includes
United States United Kingdom Australia Canada Germany France Japan Singapore Malaysia Brazil South Africa UAE Korea Russia
How to Apply: Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before arrival. Upload photo and passport page. Pay online. Receive ETA by email. Carry printed copy.
Cost: Mid-range government fee plus small card surcharge

Valid only at 31 designated airports including Bengaluru; double-entry permitted on Tourist eVisa. Extension not possible inside India.

Visa Required
6 months (Tourist), 1, 5 years ( Business), duration stamped on arrival

Citizens of countries not eligible for eVisa must obtain a sticker visa from an Indian mission.

How to Apply: Submit form, photo, passport, supporting letter and fees to nearest Indian embassy/consulate; processing 3, 5 working days in most metros.

Applicants from Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and a few other nations require additional clearance and may face longer processing.

Arrival Process

After disembarking at Bengaluru airport, follow the yellow "International Arrivals" signs to immigration, baggage reclaim and customs.

1
Health Screening (if active)
Thermal cameras. Random oral temperature checks. Have vaccination certificates ready if health alerts are in place.
2
Immigration Counter
Present passport, visa/ETA, arrival card and boarding pass. Fingerprints and facial biometric captured. Officer may ask purpose of visit and hotel address.
3
Baggage Claim
Carousels numbered by flight. Free trolleys. Porters available for a small fee.
4
Customs
Choose Green (nothing to declare) or Red channel. Officers may X-ray bags randomly.
5
Exit to Landside
Pre-paid taxi counters, ride-hail pickup zone, airport bus and metro feeder services located 50 m outside arrivals door.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport valid ≥6 months with two blank pages
Checked at airline check-in and again by immigration in Bengaluru.
Printed eVisa/ETA or sticker visa
Digital copy on phone accepted but paper speeds processing.
Return/onward ticket within visa validity
Airlines may deny boarding without proof of exit.
Hotel booking or host address in Bengaluru
Officers occasionally phone hotels to verify.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Fill the arrival card on the plane to avoid holding up the queue.
Keep a pen and a photocopy of your passport separate from the original. Handy if asked.
If landing during the midnight rush, use the left-most immigration counters, often shorter.

Customs & Duty-Free

Indian customs regulations are enforced at Bengaluru airport. Penalties for undeclared dutiable goods can be 10 times the duty plus fines.

Alcohol
2 litres of wine or spirits
Minimum legal drinking age in Karnataka is 21; bottles must be sealed.
Tobacco
100 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 125 g tobacco
Exceeding quantity attracts 100 % duty on excess.
Currency
Foreign currency >USD 5,000 or aggregate >USD 10,000 must be declared
Declaration form needed on arrival and departure to prevent seizure.
Gifts/Goods
Value up to ₹15,000 (≈ mid-range) per person
Applies to items intended for personal use. Jewellery and electronics often scrutinised.

Prohibited Items

  • Narcotic drugs, zero tolerance, non-bailable offence
  • Counterfeit currency or pornographic material
  • Agricultural seeds, fresh plants, soil, bio-security risk

Restricted Items

  • Satellite phones, require Dept. of Telecommunications clearance before arrival
  • Meat products, need sanitary import permit
  • Gold >1 kg, mandatory declaration and payment of duty

Health Requirements

No vaccinations are mandatory for entry into Bengaluru unless arriving from yellow-fever endemic zones.

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow Fever, for passengers >9 months old arriving from or transiting through affected African/Latin American countries

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis A & B
  • Typhoid
  • Japanese Encephalitis (if visiting rural Karnataka)
  • Routine boosters MMR, DPT

Health Insurance

Not compulsory but strongly advised. Private hospitals in Bengaluru expect upfront payment for non-emergencies.

Current Health Requirements: Check if COVID-19 or other health measures are active on the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare website 48 h before departure.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Locate your mission in New Delhi or Consulate-General in Bengaluru (many countries maintain honorary consuls in the city)
Refer to your government's travel advisory portal for phone and address.
Immigration Authority
Bureau of Immigration India, immigrationindia.nic.in
Official visa policy updates and eVisa status tracker.
Emergency
Police 100, Ambulance 108, Fire 101
Single emergency number 112 also works from mobile phones in Bengaluru.

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Carry child's passport, birth certificate listing parents' names, and notarised consent letter if only one parent is traveling. Adoption or guardianship papers required if not biological parent.

Traveling with Pets

Obtain DGFT import permit, veterinary health certificate within 10 days, and rabies vaccination ≥30 days but <1 year. Pets arrive as manifested cargo at Bengaluru; 30-day home quarantine applies.

Extended Stays

Apply for extension at Bengaluru's Foreigners Regional Registration Office at least 60 days before visa expiry. Tourist visas generally not extendable, so convert to Entry (X) visa or exit and re-enter with fresh eVisa.

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