British travellers heading to India for Diwali, weddings or winter holidays have fresh official guidance to read. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its India travel advice on 7 October 2026, with amendments on access permits, scams, trekking, air and rail travel, the India-Pakistan border area and western India, and healthcare.
The FCDO calls these minor amendments made after a review for accuracy. There is no new warning against travel to India as a whole. But the pages touched are the ones most first-time and returning visitors need, and Diwali falls on 8 November this year, so many trips are being booked now.
Before you fly: visa or OCI, and the e-arrival card
You need a visa to visit India unless you hold an Overseas Citizen of India card. The FCDO says OCI holders can travel with the card and a valid British passport. An electronic OCI, launched in June 2026, means holders of an e-OCI do not need to carry the physical card.
All foreign nationals must fill in an e-arrival card online before reaching immigration. It can be done up to 72 hours before arrival, and the FCDO recommends finishing it in advance to avoid delays. The card is not a visa.
There is also a health step. India has brought in a mandatory Self-Declaration Form for all international passengers, filed through the Air Suvidha portal up to 24 hours before arrival. The FCDO says travellers who skip it should expect delays, and that those arriving from affected regions may face temperature checks.
Permits, trekking and travel within India
Some parts of India are restricted or protected areas and need special permits. The FCDO says applications should go in three months before arrival, through the High Commission of India in London or another Indian consulate in the UK, or in India through the relevant state liaison office or the FRRO. Permit rules can change at any time.
Trekkers are told to travel in groups, use reputable local guides, stay on established routes and check permit needs. The advice notes that satellite phones and GPS devices are illegal to own or use without prior permission, and that phone signal in the mountains is unlikely, so accommodation should register guests through the online C-form.
On flights, the FCDO tells travellers to leave enough time for screening and for transfers between international and domestic terminals. It points out that Mumbai and Goa each have two airports a long way apart, so the airport on the ticket needs checking, especially on connections. Rail travel is described as generally safe, with a warning about thefts and touts offering tickets at stations.
The advice also notes wider flight disruption linked to escalation in the Middle East, including airspace closures, delays and cancellations, and tells travellers to check with their airline or tour operator before setting off.
Drivers need both the 1949 version of the international driving permit and their UK licence, and the FCDO notes the permit cannot be bought outside the UK. India also has strict customs rules, and anything that may be prohibited or liable to duty must be declared on arrival.
Scams and safety
The FCDO says cybercrime, card skimming and confidence scams are common, and that criminals sometimes use the details of British High Commissions and Embassies. Victims are told to report to local police and get a copy of the report for insurers, and cybercrime can be reported on India's national helpline, 1930.
The advice also warns against accepting food or drinks from strangers, after reports of spiked drinks and food involving British nationals, and repeats that thefts of passports and valuables are common on trains.
The pages still list areas where the FCDO advises against all travel or all but essential travel, including within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border. That matters for insurance, which can be invalidated by travel against FCDO advice, so it is worth reading the warnings page before booking side trips.
A quick checklist
Check your visa or OCI status, file the e-arrival card within 72 hours of landing, submit the Air Suvidha form within 24 hours, apply early for any permits and confirm which airport you are using. Arriving back in the UK, Indian passport holders in the family should note who can use the new contactless eGates. Visitors coming the other way can check the current UK visa fees.
