Last verified October 2026. Entry procedures, health forms and metro timetables change, so treat this as general information and check the official links in Sources before you fly.
What should you sort out before you land?
Most of the stress of a Delhi arrival comes from things that could have been done on the plane or at home. The airport itself is large, signed in English and Hindi, and used to first-timers. What catches people out is arriving without a visa approval they can show, a dead phone, no plan for the first night, or an unfilled health form.
Have these four things reachable in your carry-on, not the checked bag: your passport (with at least six months of validity, which is the usual airline check), your visa approval, the address of your first hotel in writing, and a charged phone. If you are travelling on an electronic visa, our e-Visa guide for US citizens covers which approval document to carry and the arrival-airport details you enter on the application. That guide also mentions the separate online arrival card travellers may be asked to complete, so check whether it applies to you before you fly.
Set up connectivity early too. An eSIM can be installed at home and switched on after landing, which saves a queue at the airport counter. The options are laid out in the SIM card guide for tourists.
What is the Air Suvidha form and do you need it?
Air Suvidha 2.0 is an online self-declaration portal run with the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It was launched on 25 June 2026 as part of health screening for international arrivals, after the World Health Organization declared an Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in May 2026. The Indian government has asked all international passengers to fill it in.
As reported at launch, the form asks for your travel history over the previous 21 days, any possible exposure and any symptoms. You can submit it up to 24 hours before arrival, and the guidance is to do it before boarding or during web check-in. On arrival you show the downloaded form at the International Travel Health Desk or at the immigration counter. The portal is at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in.
Two cautions. First, the official notices we found give no end date, and this kind of requirement can be lifted or tightened quickly, so open the portal or check with your airline in the week of departure. Second, only use the official portal address. Look-alike sites that charge a fee for a free government form are a standard travel annoyance. If the form is not required by the time you fly, you lose nothing by having read this section.
What happens between the aircraft door and the exit?
Most international flights into Delhi use Terminal 3, and the sequence is the same whichever airline you arrive on. Signs lead you through it, and you rarely need to ask for directions, but knowing the order removes the guesswork.
| Step | What happens | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Walk to arrivals | Follow the arrivals and immigration signs. Health screening or a health desk may sit on the way. | Air Suvidha form, if required |
| 2. Immigration | Queue at the foreign passport counters. The officer checks passport and visa, and takes a photo and fingerprints. | Passport, visa approval, address of first stay |
| 3. Baggage reclaim | Find your flight on the screen and the right belt. Checked bags can take a while. | Baggage tag |
| 4. Customs | Walk through the green channel if you have nothing to declare, or the red channel if you do. | Currency declaration form, if over the limits |
| 5. Arrivals hall | Exchange counters, ATMs, SIM counters, prepaid taxi desk, metro signs and ride-hailing pickup. | Phone, some cash |
Realistic timing: if the flight lands at a quiet moment you can be out in about 90 minutes. If several long-haul flights land together, immigration alone can take an hour or more. Do not book a connecting train on the same afternoon without a generous buffer.
How does immigration work for e-Visa travellers?
At the counter, the officer looks at your passport and visa, asks a few simple questions (how long you are staying, where you are staying first) and records your photo and fingerprints. Answer plainly and keep the answers consistent with what you wrote on the visa application.
Delhi has been adding biometric self-service kiosks for e-Visa holders. A September 2026 press report describes the steps: scan your passport, have a photo taken, register your fingerprints, collect a slip, then take the slip and passport to the immigration officer, who still completes the final check. The reporting says the officer step can be under a minute once enrolment is done. Treat this as something you might see, not something guaranteed, and follow the signs and staff on the day.
- Use the line marked for foreign passports, not the Indian passport line.
- Take your hand luggage and any bag you were carrying with you to the counter, and keep the visa approval open on your phone or printed.
What do you need to know about Indian customs?
After you collect your bags, you pass customs. The Green Channel is for travellers with nothing dutiable, and the Red Channel is for anyone carrying dutiable goods, items above the allowance, or restricted items that need declaring. If you are unsure, use the red channel and ask. Declaring is cheap and getting it wrong is not.
According to Indian Customs passenger guidance, the duty-free allowance for foreign tourists is Rs 15,000 in value of goods, assessed per person. Personal items such as clothes, a phone, a camera and a laptop for your own use are normal for tourists. Allowances can be revised, so check the current figure on the customs website before you rely on it.
Items that are prohibited or tightly restricted include drugs, firearms and ammunition, drones, satellite phones (they need a licence), and wildlife products. Fresh meat, dairy, plants and seeds are also on the restricted list. The practical rule for a first-timer: do not carry a drone, do not carry anything you cannot identify that someone gave you, and if you have prescription medicine, bring it in its original packaging.
For money, there is no cap on bringing foreign currency, but you must complete a Currency Declaration Form if currency notes exceed US$5,000 or total foreign exchange exceeds US$10,000, or the equivalent. We cover that with the rest of the money rules in how to pay in India as a tourist.
How do you get cash and a working phone?
Do not feel you must solve everything in the arrivals hall. A small amount is enough to get you to the hotel. Withdraw a modest sum from an airport ATM or exchange a small amount, then sort out the rest in the city where rates and options are wider. The comparison of ATMs, money changers and cards is in the payment guide above, and the currency converter helps you sanity-check what a quoted rate means in dollars or pounds.
For your phone, either activate the eSIM you installed before leaving or visit an operator counter. Counters need your passport and visa details and sometimes a photo, and activation can take a few hours. That delay is why many travellers keep an offline map of Delhi saved and arrange hotel pickup for the first night.
What is the best way from the airport to your hotel?
There are three sensible options, and the right one depends on the hour, your luggage and where you are staying.
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Express Metro | Central Delhi (New Delhi station), daytime and evening arrivals, light luggage. Fixed, quick and not affected by road traffic. | Late arrivals can miss the last train. Check the current timetable and fare on the DMRC app or station boards. You usually still need a short ride from the station to the hotel. |
| Prepaid taxi | Late night, heavy bags, first-time arrivals who want a fixed price before they sit down. | Use the official prepaid counter inside the terminal, pay there, and walk to the cab with the slip. Ignore anyone offering a lift in the hall. |
| Ride-hailing app | Direct drop at an address you already have, with a trackable trip. | You need working data, and the pickup point at the terminal can be a walk. Confirm the plate number and name before you get in. |
| Hotel pickup | The first night, a late landing, or a family with children. | Arrange it beforehand and get the driver name and number. Agree whether waiting time is included. |
Pick the option before you land. The decision is easier at your seat than in a crowded hall at midnight. For a longer view of getting around once you are in the city, see our safety guide for tourists, which also explains the usual taxi and rickshaw problems. And if Delhi is the start of a longer trip, the Delhi destination guide and the itinerary planner show how to link the capital to Agra and beyond.
What if you land late at night?
Delhi receives many international flights in the small hours. That is manageable, but plan for it. Book the first night in advance rather than hunting for a room, ask the hotel for a pickup, and share the booking address with someone at home. Do not agree to go to a different hotel because a driver tells you yours is closed or full. That story is one of the most commonly reported tourist-area tricks, and a phone call to your hotel settles it in a minute.
If you are tired and arriving after a long flight, the first day should be light. Many first-timers find the jet lag and the heat harder than the sights. Start with water, a simple meal and sleep, and begin sightseeing the next morning. Clothing for the first day is covered in what to wear in India.
Which first-day mistakes are worth avoiding?
- Arriving without a written address and phone number for your first hotel.
- Taking a ride from someone who approaches you in the arrivals hall instead of the official counter or an app booking.
- Changing a large amount of cash at the first booth you see. Small amounts only, until you know the going rate.
- Packing medicines in the checked bag. Keep prescriptions and essentials in your hand luggage. Health preparation, including routine vaccinations, is covered in the vaccinations and health prep guide.
- Booking an onward train or domestic flight for the same afternoon. Give yourself at least a night or a generous buffer.
If you want the wider planning picture, the Start Here page links the visa, money, season and itinerary pages in a sensible order, and the trip budget calculator is useful for working out what your first week will cost.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fill in a form before landing in Delhi?
Official notices from mid-2026 ask international passengers to complete the Air Suvidha 2.0 self-declaration, up to 24 hours before arrival. Check the official portal and your airline before you fly, since requirements can change.
How long does immigration at Delhi airport take?
It varies a lot. In quiet periods it can be around half an hour. When several international flights land together it can be an hour or more, so allow a generous buffer before onward travel.
Which terminal do international flights use?
Most international flights arrive at Terminal 3. Your airline or boarding pass will confirm the terminal, and the airport website lists current arrivals.
Can I take the Metro from the airport to central Delhi?
Yes. The Airport Express line connects the airport with New Delhi station. Check the current timetable and fare on the DMRC website or app, and plan an alternative if you land late at night.
How much can a tourist bring in duty free?
Indian Customs guidance gives foreign tourists a duty-free allowance of Rs 15,000 in goods, per person. Personal effects are normal. Check the current rule on the customs website.
Is it safe to arrive in Delhi at night?
Many travellers do. Reduce risk by booking your first night, arranging a pickup or using the official prepaid counter, and not accepting rides or hotel changes offered by strangers in the hall.
Sources
- Air Suvidha 2.0 official portal
- DD News: Centre launches Air Suvidha 2.0 portal (25 June 2026)
- High Commission of India: Air Suvidha self-declaration notice (20 July 2026)
- Indian Customs (Chennai): passenger clearance FAQ
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
- Delhi International Airport official site
- Indian Visa Online (official e-Visa portal)
- VisasNews: biometric kiosks for e-Visa travellers (trade press report, September 2026)
General information only. This is not legal, immigration or medical advice. Rules are set by the Government of India and your own government and can change without notice.