Asia and Oceania

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• We advise against all travel to rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir other than Ladakh; all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan, other than at Wagah; and all travel in Manipur. See Safety and Security - Local Travel.
  
  
• We advise against all but essential travel to Srinagar and Imphal. See Safety and Security - Local Travel.
  
  
• There is a high threat from terrorism throughout India. Recent attacks have targeted public places including those visited by foreigners. Following explosions in Delhi on 7 September and Mumbai on 13 July, major cities in India remain on high alert and British nationals should exercise caution. See Safety and Security - Terrorism.
  
  
• Anyone on a tourist visa leaving India cannot return within two months, unless they meet specific conditions. See Entry Requirements.
  
  
• Most British nationals who visit India have a trouble-free stay. See General - Consular Assistance - Statistics.
  
  
• Register with us on LOCATE before you arrive in India.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a high threat from terrorism throughout India. Terrorists have targeted places in the past which westerners are known to visit including public places such as restaurants, hotels, railway stations, markets, places of worship and sporting venues.

Take into account security arrangements when deciding where to visit. If you see unattended baggage, report it promptly. Be particularly conscious of security considerations in the vicinity of key government installations and tourist sites; when attending public events; and in public places, including hotels, airports, shopping malls/markets and on public transport, including buses, trains, trams and the metro. Security has been strengthened, notably at major hotels and airports. Allow extra time for security checks when checking in for flights.

Take particular care in the lead up to and on days of national significance, such as Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), Eid (31 August) and Diwali (26 October).

In the last few years there have been terrorist attacks in cities across India, including:

• On 7 September 2011, a bomb exploded outside the Delhi High Court killing 15 and injuring over 70, including a British national.
• On 13 July 2011, three explosions in Mumbai at Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House and Dadar killed at least 18 people and injured over 100.
• On 7 December 2010, an explosion in the holy city of Varanasi killed one child and injured 41 people, six of whom were foreigners.
• On 8 November 2010, there were eight attacks in five districts of Assam: 13 were killed and two injured in Sonitpur district, one killed in Chirang district, one killed and two injured in Baksa district, one killed and two injured in Karbi Along Diphu district, three killed and one injured in Udalguri district.
• On 19 September 2010, two Taiwanese tourists were injured in a shooting incident near the Jama Masjid mosque in New Delhi. 
• On 17 April 2010, two bombs exploded at a cricket stadium in Bangalore, Karnataka, where an IPL match was being played. 17 were injured. Three further unexploded devices were found later.
• On 13 February 2010, a bomb exploded in Pune, Maharashtra. 17 people were killed and over 50 were injured. Foreign nationals were among the casualties.
• On 16 October 2009, a bomb exploded in the town of Margao, Goa, killing one person.
• From 26-29 November 2008 terrorists attacked a number of sites in Mumbai, including luxury hotels, a railway station and a restaurant. Over 160 people were killed and more than 300 were injured. British Nationals were among the casualties.

In some areas terrorist incidents are frequent, especially Jammu and Kashmir (excluding Ladakh) and the north east. A 30-year insurgency campaign by an ultra nationalist group in Assam continues with frequent bombings and random killings. Violent extremist groups are also active in the rural areas of Bihar, Jharkand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa.

See Terrorism abroad.

Safety and Security - Crime
 

• Safeguard your passport and credit/ATM cards, particularly when travelling by bus and train. There has been an increase in handbag snatching in Delhi.
• Keep a photocopy of your passport, Indian visa and flight ticket separately from the originals when travelling.
• Be aware of what you are eating and drinking. There have been reports of travellers being drugged and robbed, particularly on trains.
• Do not leave your luggage unattended on trains at all.
• Be wary of confidence tricksters, particularly in Agra and Jaipur, who promise substantial cash for delivery of jewellery abroad in return for an initial deposit.  The jewellery is invariably worthless and the deposit, often amounting to thousands of pounds, is lost.
• Avoid walking alone in isolated spots in the popular tourist areas, particularly after dark. 
• There have been incidents of sexual offences against women (including British nationals) in Goa, Delhi and Rajasthan. Female travellers should take basic personal safety precautions. See our Women travellers and Rape and sexual assault overseas pages.
• Drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK.

See our Victims of crime abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Jammu & Kashmir

We advise against all travel to or through rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir, other than to Ladakh, and against all but essential travel to Srinagar. If you intend to travel to Srinagar then you should only travel there by air, and you should check the local security situation before doing so. Despite an overall decline in violence in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, there is a high risk of unpredictable violence, including bombings, grenade attacks, shootings and kidnapping. In some border areas there is the danger of land mines. If, despite this advice, you decide to travel to or remain in this region, you do so at your own risk.  Review your travel insurance policy, security arrangements and be aware that the level of consular assistance that we can provide in Jammu & Kashmir is extremely limited.

There is also a risk of kidnapping. Militants took an Indian journalist hostage in 2006. Be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers.

Recent incidents include:

• 2 June 2011: Three militants were killed in a gun battle in Sopore.
• 17 May 2011: A policeman was shot dead by militants at Sopore.
• 8 April 2011: Moulvi Showkat Shah, a well-known religious leader, was killed in an IED explosion in central Srinagar.
• October 2010: Curfew restrictions are being sporadically imposed. Schools, colleges and shops are frequently closed due to curfew and strikes. There is a heavy security force presence. An improvised explosive device was found and defused outside a police station on 18 October. Protests and strikes, which have often turned violent in the past, may be expected to continue in major towns of Kashmir.
• June-September 2010: Around 110 people were killed and hundreds injured in recurring clashes across Indian-administered Kashmir between stone-pelting protestors and security forces. 17 people were killed and 130 others injured in clashes on 13 September alone. All major towns in Kashmir including Srinagar, Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla and Sopore were affected. Curfew was imposed for extended periods across Kashmir, including for a two-week stretch in September. Movement of traffic in cities and highways was affected, telecommunications services were occasionally disrupted while school, colleges and shopping establishments were closed during protests and when curfew restrictions were in place. Air services to Srinagar were briefly suspended.
• On 6/7 January 2010, three people were killed and nine injured when terrorists attacked police and entered a hotel near Lal Chowk in central Srinagar.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Other Northern States
We advise against all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan other than travel across the international border at Wagah. Four rocket attacks launched from Pakistani territory landed near Attari on 12 September 2009, and a previous attack took place in July 2009.

The border between India and Pakistan in Rajasthan is unmarked in some areas. Approaching the border away from an official crossing point could be dangerous, and where unmarked could lead to a visitor straying into the other country illegally.

Trekking: In 2000, there were several attacks, including murder, in the mountain areas of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Trekkers should travel in groups and engage local guides.  

If you trek in remote mountain areas be aware that there are no commercial mountain rescue services operating above 3,000 metres. There are also parts of the border areas where only the Indian Air Force is permitted to carry out air rescues. Be aware though that they are under no obligation to perform air rescues and have limited resources to do so. Ensure that your insurance policy covers you for altitudes over 2,400 metres. The use of personal satellite phones is illegal.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - East and North East India
We advise against all travel in Manipur and against all but essential travel to Imphal. If you plan to travel to Imphal then do so only by air. There is a risk from insurgent groups, mainly in rural areas. Although foreigners have not been the deliberate targets of violence, attacks can be indiscriminate. Although the overall security situation in the northeast has improved in the last year, kidnapping, banditry and insurgency still take place. If, despite this advice, you decide to travel to or remain in these areas, you do so at your own risk. Review your travel insurance policy, security arrangements and be aware that the level of consular assistance that we can provide may be extremely limited.

We advise you to take particular care while travelling to Assam in the lead up to, during and after India’s Independence Day (15 August) and Republic Day (26 January) celebrations. Rebels in Assam have in the past boycotted the celebrations and run-up to the events have been violent. Visitors to Assam and neighbouring areas are advised to carefully consider the local situation, to seek advice from local authorities or police while planning movement in and around the city and to avoid large crowds.

Violent extremist groups are active in the rural areas of Bihar, Jharkland, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Orissa, with more frequent attacks since mid-August 2010.

There are frequent and sudden strikes called by the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha in Darjeeling and the surrounding hills in North Bengal. This results in severe transport disruption, shortage of drinking water, suspension of waste removal and closure of shops and government services in the region. If you intend to visit the region, consult your local tour operator or hotel before travelling to the region. Any disruption will also affect visitors to Sikkim as roads to the state run through the Hill area.

• On 3 August 2011, an IED exploded in downtown Imphal, Manipur, killing five and injuring at least 20.
• On 8 November 2010, eight separate attacks on civilians were co-ordinated by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), claiming at least 19 lives across different locations in Assam. The attacks took place some distance from the state capital Guwahati (a 4+ hour drive).
• On 30 October 2008, 11 bombs exploded in Assam. Guwahati and the Barpeta, Bongaigoan and Kokrajhar districts were affected. 77 people were killed and over 300 injured. Since then there have been a number of isolated attacks in Assam, most recently on 22 November 2009 at Nalbari.
  On 21 October 2008, a bomb exploded in Imphal, Manipur killing 17 people and injuring many others.
• On 1 October 2008, a bomb exploded in Agartala, capital of Tripura seriously injuring four people.
  

Be aware of the risk of violent crime in the rural areas of Bihar and Jharkhand. There have also been skirmishes on the India/Bangladesh border.

Indian Government permits are required for travel to Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Make applications for travel well in advance (three months). In India, they should be made at the liaison offices of the state requiring permits or Foreigners Regional Registration Offices. Permits for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands can be issued on arrival in Port Blair but this is not the case for other states.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Western Region
We advise against all travel in the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan other than travel across the international border at Wagah.

The India/Pakistan border in Gujarat is unmarked in some areas. Approaching it away from an official crossing point could be dangerous and where unmarked could lead to a visitor straying into the other country illegally.

There continues to be some inter communal tension in Gujarat which can lead to isolated incidents of violence.

In Mumbai, there is a risk of armed robbers holding up taxis along the main highway from the airport to the city in the early hours of the morning. If you use the route during these times arrange to travel by coach where possible or seek advice at the airport on arrival.

In Mumbai, the international and domestic airport terminals are at a considerable distance from each other and it is not possible to walk from one to the other. If you are transiting between international and domestic flights you can use the free shuttle services if you have an onward connection on your ticket. You will not be able to use the service once you exit the terminal building. Both terminals also have pre-paid taxi facilities. At the international terminal, these can be reached from inside and outside the terminal building. At the domestic terminal, prepaid taxi facilities are accessible only from inside the terminal building. There have been reports of scams at both terminals with unofficial taxi drivers demanding exorbitant sums of money once you are inside the cab so use either prepaid taxis or metered taxis.

After you clear customs and immigration at Mumbai airport be wary of approaches by thieves posing as Government officials.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Southern India
An interstate dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, over the Mullaiperiyar Dam has led to some protests on either side of the State border. The dam is on the Periyar River in Idukki District in south-eastern Kerala. Monitor local reports or seek advice from local authorities about possible disruptions to road/rail movement in that region.

In connection with the Telangana movement in Andhra Pradesh, large crowds may gather in public spaces in Hyderabad, along with possible protest marches, demonstrations and other public meetings. During such periods, disruptions are usually expected in local public transport in and around Hyderabad city. In recent months, in some cases this has led to civil unrest. Visitors to Hyderabad are advised to carefully consider the local situation, to seek advice from local authorities and police while planning movement in and around Hyderabad city and to avoid large crowds.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Goa
You should take the same precautions as you would in any other coastal resort, be it in Europe or elsewhere in Asia.

There have been reports of drinks being spiked and travellers, including British nationals, subsequently being robbed, sexually assaulted or dying. In 2009, 32 British nationals died in Goa, up to ten of these deaths were attributed to drug/alcohol abuse.

Avoid beaches after dark, because of the risk of being attacked by packs of stray dogs, robbed or sexually assaulted. Avoid walking alone in isolated spots in the popular tourist areas, particularly after dark.

Female travellers should observe and respect local dress and customs. There has been a series of high-profile incidents in Goa of alleged rape against foreign nationals, including Britons. See our Rape and sexual assault abroad and Your trip pages.

Buying property in Goa?: See General - Purchasing Property.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Car and bike accidents are one of the biggest causes of injury and death overseas. Several British nationals die each year on Indian roads. Special care should be taken at night. Always travel in a well-maintained vehicle with seatbelts. If you travel by bike, wear a helmet and proper footwear.

See our Driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea Travel
Tourist boats and other small crafts rarely carry life-saving equipment. The poor infrastructure can make the provision of consular assistance difficult, particularly in remote areas.

Although piracy has not so far affected India’s territorial waters, it poses a significant threat in parts of the Indian Ocean, especially for shipping/mariners that do not take appropriate precautions or follow agreed shipping industry best practice guidelines. We urge all mariners to be vigilant and to sail close to the Indian coast. See our Indian Ocean travel advice for more information.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Swimming
There are strong currents off many coasts. Regular drownings of both locals and foreigners has highlighted the lack of warning signs or flags and life-saving equipment on most beaches.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Rail Travel
Do not accept food or drinks from strangers. There have been reports of travellers being drugged and robbed on trains often on overnight trains. Take particular care of your passport and valuables when boarding and whilst on the train.  Avoid individuals at railway stations offering tickets and tours, mainly to Kashmir and Rajasthan.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
Do not accept food or drinks from strangers. There have been reports of travellers being drugged and robbed on trains, often on overnight trains. Take particular care of your passport and valuables when boarding and whilst on the train.  Avoid individuals at railway stations offering tickets and tours, mainly to Kashmir and Rajasthan.

User Development Fees (UDF) have been levied at many airports for all embarking / departing passengers for domestic and international journeys. The fees are around Rs. 1,000 per international passenger and range from Rs.150 to 260 per domestic passenger. This should already be included in the cost of airline tickets. However, if for any reason the fee is not included it will be collected at the airport check-in counter. So ensure you carry the appropriate amount in Indian rupees.

Safety and Security - Political Situation

India Country Profile

Political rallies and demonstrations are frequent throughout the country and can turn violent, particularly around elections. Transport and Public services may also be disrupted at short notice.

Drugs are illegal in India. There is a minimum sentence of six months for possession of small amounts deemed for personal consumption only. A 10-year sentence for possession of other amounts applies. The slow judicial process means that lengthy pre-trial detention, usually of several years, is normal.

Drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK.

Obey local laws. There may be very serious penalties for breaking a law which might seem trivial to you or for doing something which may not be illegal in the UK. Hobbies that involve cameras and binoculars, such as bird-watching or plane spotting, may be misunderstood particularly near military sites, government buildings, airports and railway stations.

The penalties for paedophile offences are severe. Indian family law is very different from UK law and particular caution is needed when, for example, child custody becomes an issue. See our Child abduction page.

See our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
You must obtain a visa before travelling to India; without one you will be refused entry. Contact VSF Global for more details. Foreign nationals arriving in India on long term multiple entry visas must register with the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer within 14 days of arrival. Over-stayers will be fined and may be prosecuted or detained and later deported. They may also need to appear in person at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi. The High Commission/Deputy High Commission may not be able to intervene in these cases.

Unless visiting neighbouring countries (see paragraph below), tourists leaving India will receive a stamp in their passports indicating that they may not re-enter India for two months, regardless of their length of stay prior to departure. Tourists wishing to return to India before the two month period has passed will now have to visit the Indian High Commission or Consulate in the country to which they travelled or are resident and present their case for re-entry.

The authorities in all Indian Immigration Check Posts have, however, been authorised to allow tourists to make two or three entries, based on production of an itinerary and documentation (ticket bookings) substantiating the need for tourism related travel to neighbouring countries. For further information read the FAQs published by the MHA.

To transit through India you will need a transit visa. A transit visa is valid for a single or double journey, within 15 days, effective from the date of issue. Transit visas are for the sole purpose of a direct transit for a maximum period of three days. For stays beyond three days, obtain an appropriate visa.

In September 2009, a large number of foreign nationals resident in India were found to be employed on business visas instead of employment visas. Ensure that your visa is appropriate for your travel.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs FAQs clarify Business or Employment visa queries. For more details please speak to the Visa Department at the Indian High Commission.

Entry Requirements - Visas for applicants of Pakistani origin and Pakistan nationals
All applicants of Pakistan origin who hold dual nationality must apply for an Indian visa on their Pakistan passport. Those who have either renounced Pakistani nationality or cancelled their Pakistani passport would need to submit documentary proof in this regard.

Processing time of applications received from persons of Pakistani origin will be 7-8 weeks or more.

Processing time for applications from Pakistani nationals/those holding dual nationality will be substantially longer.

For further details see the website of the Indian High Commission in London.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter India. Your passport must have two blank pages for your visa and must be valid for a minimum of 180 days from the date of entry into India.

Entry Requirements - Medication
Medicines may be taken to India so long as you carry with you a bona fide doctor’s prescription for them. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances, however, are prohibited. For further information and specific queries, please contact the High Commission of India in London.

Local medical facilities are not comparable to those in the UK, especially in more remote areas. In major cities private medical care is available, but expensive. For psychiatric illness, specialised treatment may not be available outside major cities. The treatment of such illnesses may require long-term hospitalisation, which may incur large expenditure and insurance companies are often reluctant to cover costs.

Take care with your water and food hygiene. Drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea seek immediate medical attention. Mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya affect most of India.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that 2,300,000 adults aged 15 or over in India were living with HIV the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.3% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

Seek medical advice before travelling and ensure vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the National Travel Heath Network and Centre  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel websites or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. See our Travel health page.

Health - Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
There have been outbreaks of avian influenza in India, most recently in the north-eastern states of West Bengal and Assam.

As a precaution avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds. Ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked. Read this in conjunction with our Avian and Pandemic Influenza page.

Natural Disasters - Monsoons
Travel in the rural areas during the Monsoon season can be hazardous and care should be taken. Monsoon rains cause flooding and landslides that can cut off some towns and villages for days. Check access routes before setting off.

Natural Disasters - Cyclones and Tropical Storms
Cyclones and tropical storms are common, particularly off the Bay of Bengal affecting most of the East coast of India. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department and follow the advice of local authorities and tour operators. See our Tropical cyclones page for advice on what to do if you are caught up in a storm.

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes
On 18 September 2011, an earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale struck the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim, which borders Nepal. It caused damage but, no deaths were reported in India.

Several parts of India lie on highly active fault zones. Three areas are considered high-risk (see map). Earth tremors are common in these regions and can cause landslides in hilly and mountainous areas. Limited adequate emergency response vehicles, equipment, and medical facilities could increase the impact that an earthquake could have in these areas in particular. See Earthquake Facts for information on what to do in an earthquake.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities. See our Travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Cults
There have been media reports about cults and religious movements in India. For further information contact the charity Information Network Focus on Religious Movements (INFORM) which helps people by providing accurate, up-to-date information about new and/or alternative religious or spiritual movements.

General - Purchasing Property
Seek comprehensive legal advice from a reliable source before investing in immovable property or businesses in India. There have been a significant number of cases where British and other foreign nationals have encountered serious difficulties, often because of misleading advice from unscrupulous agents and by not adhering to strict visa and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations resulting in (often unwitting) illegal acquisition of property. There are strict rules preventing the purchase of property by non-Indian nationals, which cannot be bypassed (e.g. by registering a local company for the sole purpose of acquiring a property). If the purchase is judged to violate local laws (including if you purchase whilst on a tourist visa), you are likely to lose your money and may even face prosecution. Click on the following link for FEMA regulations.

General - Photography and use of technical equipment
Equipment such as satellite phones, listening or recording devices, radio transmitters, powerful cameras or binoculars which are legal and available in the UK may require a licence for use in India. Seek advice from the Indian High Commission in London or your country of residence before bringing in such equipment.

Obey local laws. There may be very serious penalties for breaking a law which might seem trivial to you or for doing something which may not be illegal in the UK. Hobbies that involve cameras and binoculars, such as bird-watching or plane spotting, may be misunderstood particularly near military sites, government buildings, airports and railway stations.

General - Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Replacing a lost or stolen passport
If your travel document is lost or stolen notify the police immediately and obtain a police report. A replacement passport can only be applied for at New Delhi. However, Mumbai, Chennai, Goa and Kolkata can issue an Emergency Travel Document in dire emergencies. Straightforward applications are normally issued within 20 working days.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
Most of the 787,000 British tourists who visit India every year (Source: Immigration Authorities) have a trouble-free stay. Between April 2010 and April 2011, 338 British nationals required consular assistance for the following types of incidents: 125 deaths; 50 hospitalisations; and 27 arrests.

General - British Overseas Missions in India

NORTHERN INDIA: The British High Commission in NEW DELHI covers Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the new State of Uttaranchal. Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021 (tel: +91 11 2419 2100 Consular fax: +91 11 2611 6094); e-mail: Consular.assistance.NewDelhi@fco.gov.uk  Office Hours: (GMT) Mon-Fri: 03:30-07:30 and 08:30-10:30; (local time): Mon-Fri: 09:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00.
Consular Hours: (GMT) Mon-Fri: 04:00-07:00; (local time): Mon-Fri: 09:30-12:30. Out of Hours contact: +91 11 2419 2100.

EAST AND NORTH-EAST: The British Deputy High Commission in KOLKATA (Calcutta) covers Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 1A Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Kolkata 700 071 (tel: +91 33 2288 5172/73/74/75/76; fax: +91 33 2288 3435) e-mail: Kolkata@fco.gov.uk
Office Hours: (GMT): 03:00-07:30 and 08:30-10:30; (local time): 08:30-13:00 and 14:00-16:00.
Consular Hours: (GMT) Mon-Fri: 03:30–07:30 and 08:00–10:30; (local time): Mon-Fri: 09:00-13:00 and 13:30–16:00.
Out of Hours contact: +91 11 2419 2100.

SOUTH INDIA: The British Deputy High Commission in CHENNAI (Madras) covers Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the Union Territory of Pondicherry and the Lakshadweep Islands. 20 Anderson Road, Chennai 600 006 (tel: +91 44 4219 2151; fax: +91 44 4219 2322) e-mail: consular.chennai@fco.gov.uk.
Office Hours: Mon-Thu (GMT): 03:00-11:00 (local time) 08:30-16:30; Friday (GMT): 03:00-08:00 (local time): 08:30-13:30
Consular Hours: Mon-Thu (GMT) 04:00-07:00 and 08:00-10:00 (local time) 09:30-12:30 and 13:30-15:30; Friday (GMT) 04:00-07:00 (local time) 09:30-12:30.

WESTERN REGION: The British Deputy High Commission in MUMBAI covers Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Naman Chambers, C/32 G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, (Opposite Dena Bank), Bandra East, Mumbai 400051 (tel: +91 22 6650 2222) (fax: +91 22 6650 2324) e-mail: Consular.bombay@fco.gov.uk. Office Hours: Mon-Thu: (GMT) 02:30-07:30 and 08:30-10:30; (local time): 08:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00
Consular Hours: (GMT) 03:00-08:00 (local time): 08:30-13:30 (Mon–Thu) Friday (GMT) 03:00–07:00 (local time): 08:30–12:30.
Out of Hours contact: +91 11 2419 2100.

GOA: The British Tourist Assistance Office in GOA provides consular assistance to British nationals. This office does not issue visas. S-13/14 Dempo Towers, Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa- 403001. (tel: +91 832 2438897 / 8734); (fax +91 832 6641297) e-mail: assistance@goaukconsular.org. Office Hours: Mon-Thu: (GMT) 02:30-10:30; (local time): 08:00-16:00 Friday (GMT) 03:00–07:00 (local time): 08:30–13:00.
Consular Hours: Mon-Thu (GMT) 04:00-09:30 (local time): 09:30-15:00; Friday (GMT) 04:00-07:00 (local time): 09:30-12:30.