Tourist visas are issued either for one month or for six months. Entry into India has to be within one month from the date of issue for the one month visa and the six month visa is issued for six month from the date of issue. Fees for both the categories are same. It is advisable to take the six month Visa only if you are planning to visit the neighbouring countries.

Tourist Visas can be extended by three months at the foreigners' registration office at New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta. The Superintendent of police at the district headqaurters can also extend the visa. Four passport size photographs are required to obtain the extended visa. If the stay in the country exceeds 180 days, then tourists are required to get tax clearance certificate available at the foreigners' section of the income tax department at every major city. It is advisable to keep the bank reciepts to show that the money has been changed legally.

Visa extensions can be got by applying to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, (Ph: 4693334 ,4612543 and 4617649) The letter should be handed over at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office at Hans Bhavan, Tilak Bridge, near ITO. (Ph: 3319489/8179). It is open from 0930 hrs to 1330 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1600 hrs. (It is closed on weekends and national Holidays) Those wishing to visit a neighbouring country like Sri Lanka or Nepal, and then coming back to India, should obtain a double/multiple entry Visa.

All foreigners are required to get themselves registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office(FRRO) which is situated in Hans Bhavan, Tilak Road, near the Income Tax Office(ITO). The building is very close to India Gate

On arrival, a TBRE (tourist baggage Re-export form) is to be shown with the entered articles to Customs for verification at the time of departure

Landing Certificate is required if you are expecting unacompained baggabge as also for mishandled baggage.

Those without any dutiable goods or high value articles or foreign exchange more than US $2,500 or unaccompained baggage which need to be declared, can walk through Green Channel. All others need to pass through the Red Channe. Goods upto Rs 750 (Rs. 12,000 for persons of Indian origin) for personal use or as gifts are exempt from duty. Beyond the free baggage limit, the duty rate is 52% plus 2% special duty.

Bringing in Any amount in the form of currency, travellers cheques and the like can be brought in and the same amount can be taken back. In case the amount exceeds US $10,000 in the form of currency notes, travellers cheques or bank notes / or currency notes alone of more than US $2,500, they have to be declared on arrival on the Currency Declaration Form (CDF), duly attested by the Custom Officer.

No Indian currency can be brought in or taken out, and while remitting money to India the full address of the bank should be given.

The unit of currency is the RUPEE and all money should be changed with authorised money changers available at various places. You should insist on a receipt which will help in reconverting the money whenever you desire so. It is better to avoid touts who may offer higher sums than the prevailing value.

All articles brought in can be taken back. from India one can take back souveniors worth Rs 1,00,000 in value and more than that after getting permission from the Reserve Bank of India. Jewellery or precious stones of high value need an advance RBI permit as also appraisal by the Customs Appraiser at the airport in advance

Restrictions exist on art objects more than 100 years old. Any doubts should be got cleared from Director Antiquities, Archaeological survey of India, Janpath. Export of wildlife items is prohibited and in some cases regulated

The standard time for India is calculated from Allahabad and is common to all cities. Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London, 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Paris, about 10 hours 30 minutes behind New York, 3 hours and 30 minutes behind Tokyo and 4 hours and 30 minutes behind Sydney.

Master Card, Visa, American Express and Diners Club credit cards are generally accepted by large establishments including hotels, shops, and airlines.