Photo: Jovyn Chamb / Unsplash
Practical info for India
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British High Commission New DelhiEmbassy
- Address
- Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110021, India
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-high-commission-new-delhi
- British Deputy High Commission BengaluruEmbassy
- Address
- 5th Floor, North TowerSafina Towers#3 Ali Asker Road, Bengaluru, 560052, India
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-deputy-high-commission-bengaluru
- British Deputy High Commission MumbaiEmbassy
- Address
- Naman Chambers,C/32 G Block Bandra Kurla ComplexBandra (East), Mumbai, 400 051, India
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-deputy-high-commission-mumbai
- British Deputy High Commission ChennaiEmbassy
- Address
- 20 Anderson Road, Chennai, 600 006, India
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/india/british-deputy-high-commission-chennai
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 07/10/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country.
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border.
FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for:
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur including the capital, Imphal.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Indian rupee (INR).
ECB reference rate on 26/10/2026: €1 = 106.4935 INR.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+05:30, +5 h 30 compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You’ll need to have both the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Aircel Digilink India (Sirocco); AirTel (Sirocco); Airtel Uttar Pradesh (Sirocco); Barakhamba Sales & Serv. (Sirocco); Bharti Airtel Limited (Delhi) (Sirocco); Bharti Airtel Limited (Karnataka) (India) (Sirocco); Escorts Telecom Ltd. (Sirocco); Escotel Mobile Communications (Sirocco).
eSIM prices for India
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in India?
Single emergency number: 112 ; Police: 100 ; Medical emergencies: 102 ; Fire brigade: 101
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in India?
British High Commission New Delhi, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110021, India ; British Deputy High Commission Bengaluru, 5th Floor, North TowerSafina Towers#3 Ali Asker Road, Bengaluru, 560052, India ; British Deputy High Commission Mumbai, Naman Chambers,C/32 G Block Bandra Kurla ComplexBandra (East), Mumbai, 400 051, India ; British Deputy High Commission Chennai, 20 Anderson Road, Chennai, 600 006, India. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for India?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 07/10/2026.
What is the travel advice for India?
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all travel to parts of the country. Areas where FCDO advises against travel FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for: FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur including the capital, Imphal.
What currency is used in India?
Currency: Indian rupee (INR). ECB reference rate on 26/10/2026: €1 = 106.4935 INR.
What is the time difference in India?
Local time: UTC+05:30, +5 h 30 compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in India?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You’ll need to have both the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.”
Which mobile networks operate in India?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Aircel Digilink India (Sirocco); AirTel (Sirocco); Airtel Uttar Pradesh (Sirocco); Barakhamba Sales & Serv. (Sirocco); Bharti Airtel Limited (Delhi) (Sirocco); Bharti Airtel Limited (Karnataka) (India) (Sirocco); Escorts Telecom Ltd. (Sirocco); Escotel Mobile Communications (Sirocco).