India expands Visa-on-Arrival for UAE citizens to three new airports/Representative Image
India is opening its doors wider to UAE travelers. The visa on arrival (VoA) program now includes three new airports – Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad, joining six existing hubs such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This expansion gives UAE nationals easier, faster access to India for tourism, business, conferences, and medical visits, reflecting growing travel ties and people-to-people connections between the two nations.
Expanded visa on arrival access
With this update, UAE citizens can now obtain a Visa-on-Arrival at nine major Indian airports:
- New Delhi
- Mumbai
- Kolkata
- Chennai
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Kochi
- Calicut
- Ahmedabad
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the VoA facility is available exclusively to UAE nationals who have previously obtained an Indian e-Visa or a regular paper visa.
Eligibility and entry requirements
UAE travelers planning to enter India under the Visa-on-Arrival scheme must comply with the following rules:
- Application form: Complete Appendix A upon arrival and submit it to the visa office at the airport.
- Purpose of visit: Allowed for tourism, business, conferences, or medical treatment only.
- Duration of stay: Maximum of 60 days.
- Passport validity: Must hold a passport valid for at least six months.
- Additional proof: Travelers may be asked to show proof of funds, accommodation, and return or onward travel.
- Entry limit: Allows double entry within the 60-day period.
- Exclusions: Not available to UAE nationals whose parents or grandparents were born in or are permanent residents of Pakistan.
- Visa fee: 2,000 INR (DH83) or equivalent in foreign currency per passenger, including children.
- Frequency: No limit on the number of times a UAE citizen may use the facility in a year.
Purpose and impact
The expansion to Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad aims to streamline travel for UAE nationals while enhancing accessibility across India’s regional airports.Officials highlight that the move supports India’s broader goal of strengthening people to people connections and facilitating growing travel between the two countries for tourism, business, and medical purposes. By covering nine major airports, India offers UAE travelers more options, convenience, and flexibility than ever before.
