• The traveler has confirmed airline tickets to a third country
• Scheduled layover time at an Indian airport is less than 24 hours
• The traveler does not leave the designated transit zone of the airport.

1. Microchip of a pet

To enter India, your pet must be microchipped ISO 11784/11785, which consists of 15 digits and is not encrypted. If your pet's microchip does not meet the ISO 11784/11785 standard, you can bring your own microchip scanner .

2. Import permit

An import license issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade of India is required for cats or dogs entering India on a temporary visit. Cats or dogs entering India due to a change of ownership require a 30-day quarantine at an approved quarantine facility in the country of origin. All pets entering India with their owners must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Animal Quarantine Station in India, whether accompanied or unaccompanied, before entering India. The NOC must be issued in person by the owner, owner's representative or agent.

3. Vaccination

Your dog or cat must be vaccinated against rabies at least 31 days before entry, if not vaccinated now. Vaccination against rabies for a period of three years is recognized. Dogs should be vaccinated against distemper, leishmaniasis, parvovirus and leptospirosis, especially if they are entering India from a country with a high rate of rabies. Cats must be vaccinated against FVRCP, including feline enteritis and feline pan-leukopenia, between 30 days and 12 months prior to entry into India. Dogs must be free of any clinical signs of any disease, including rabies, distemper, parvovirus infection, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis, mange and leishmaniasis.

4. Test for rabies

A rabies test is not required to enter India from any country.

5. Veterinary certificate and other forms

If you are traveling from the US or Canada, your animal must have a veterinary certificate for India for USDA or CFIA approval. If you are not traveling from one of these countries, the forms must be certified by your country's governing body responsible for the import and export of animals. All documents must be in English. The medical certificate is valid for 30 days upon entry from the USA. For the rest of the countries, the form must be issued within 10 days after the trip. It is necessary to provide a notarized declaration on the change of residence, as well as an employment contract, a letter of appointment to a position or a company certificate.

6. Commercial transportation

Pets imported into India must be related to their owner's move to that country. Importation of dogs into India for breeding or commercial purposes is prohibited. Pets imported for show or breeding must be licensed by the Director General of Foreign Trade.

7. Quarantine

All pets imported into India as part of a residence permit may undergo a 14-day government-supervised quarantine or a 30-day home quarantine depending on your pet's health at the time of inspection or compliance with all import regulations. Usually, if all the rules are followed, home quarantine is imposed. All dogs and cats visiting India are exempt from quarantine unless import regulations are met.

8. Entry to India by plane

Your pet can enter India as checked baggage (accompanied cats or dogs) in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, or Kolkata or as air cargo (unaccompanied cats and other animals) in New Delhi and Mumbai . Pets must arrive within 30 days of the owners. No more than 2 dogs or cats can enter India per person. More than 2 pets per person may be imported only with a license from the Director General of Foreign Trade. All dogs and cats must arrive in the country within 30 days of the first immigration stamp placed in their owner's passport after obtaining the appropriate work visa or spouse/dependent visa. If the dog is traveling unaccompanied, it must enter the country 7-14 days after its owner. The original passport of the owner must be presented and kept until the animal passes customs control. Pets must arrive in the country between 5:00 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday. It is not recommended to import the animal at any other time. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of signs of human-transmissible disease when inspected at the port of entry into India. If your dog or cat is not completely healthy, an additional examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

9. Puppies and kittens

Unvaccinated puppies or kittens are not allowed to be imported into India. Puppies and kittens must be microchipped , then vaccinated against rabies no earlier than 3 months of age and wait 30 days before entering India.

10. Prohibited breeds

India does not publish a list of banned breeds.

11. Export of pets

Within 7 days after the export of dogs and cats, it is necessary to obtain a health certificate from a veterinarian, as well as an animal health certificate from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service, as well as all documents required for the country of destination.

12. Other animals

Only dogs and cats are considered pets for the purpose of import into India. Invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, mammals such as rodents and rabbits can be imported into India as air cargo with a DGFT license if they are not classified as endangered under CITES. (see step 8 to search) If your animal falls under CITES regulations, it is subject to a 30-day quarantine in the country of origin and will be subject to a 30-day quarantine in India. At present, birds are not allowed to be imported due to bird flu.

13. CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should make sure that it is not protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In this case, you will have to apply for additional permissions. More than 180 countries participate in and enforce the CITES Convention.

Foreign nationals can drive any vehicle in India if they have an international or Indian license. International Driving Permits in India are valid for 1 year from the date of issue and can be obtained from any Regional Transport Office (RTO) in India.

A valid passport, valid Indian visa (if required), birth certificate, proof of address and driving license from home are required to apply for an international driving license in India, which will take 2 to 7 working days for processing.

While those visiting the country for a short stay on an Indian tourist or business visa can use an international license to drive in India, travelers planning to stay for more than a year must apply for an Indian driver's license. Like international driving licenses, an Indian driving license can be obtained from an RTO, but it can also be obtained from a driving school in India.

To apply for an Indian driving license you must provide the following:

• Completed Indian driver's license application form
• A copy of the applicant's residence permit in India
• Current address confirmation
• Passport size photograph of the applicant
• Certificate of medical compliance issued by a doctor.

After completing the driving courses in India, the applicant is issued a learner's license for a period of 3 months. After 3 months of test driving on a learner's license, the driver will be issued with a full Indian driving license valid until the expiry of the Indian residence permit.

What are the driving rules in India?

It is important for foreigners to be aware of the following driving rules in India:

• In India, traffic is on the left side of the road
• The minimum driving age in India is 16 years for 50cc motorcycles or less, and 18 years for all other vehicles.
• The national speed limit in India is 140 kilometers per hour for cars and 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph) for motorcycles.
• Seat belts are required by law in cities, but seat belts are only recommended elsewhere
• The maximum blood alcohol level for driving in India is 0.03%, and drivers who exceed this face a fine of around 10,000 rupees (140 American dollars). Repeat offenders face a prison sentence of up to 6 months.

All passengers arriving in India must go through customs.

The first step is to fill out the customs declaration issued by the airline before disembarking from the plane.

Be sure to complete and sign the declaration and hand it to the immigration officer at the Indian airport.

There are 2 customs clearance channels – the Red channel and the Green channel. Here's how they differ:

Red Channel

The red corridor is intended for passengers who carry prohibited items in their luggage, or the number of which exceeds the free allowance.

Free rate is the amount of certain items allowed to be transported without paying duties.

The list of prohibited or taxable items includes:

• Transportation of more than 100 cigarette
• Transportation of more than 25
• Tobacco more than 125 grams
• More than 2 liters of alcohol or wine
• Any form of gold or silver other than jewelry or ornaments
• TVs with a flat screen, liquid crystal display, light emitting diode or plasma TV
• Everything that exceeds the amount of the free rate

Green Channel

The green corridor is reserved for passengers who do not have dutiable items or prohibited items in their luggage.

If you are transporting prohibited items but pass through the "green corridor", you may be prosecuted and fined, and your items may be confiscated.

What can be imported into India?

Here is a short list of permitted items that you can bring into India:

• Private things
• Tourist souvenirs
• Liquor, wine or beer with a total volume of up to 2 liters
• Silver weighing less than 10 kg
• Up to 2 pets eg dogs and cats with all relevant tests and vaccinations.
• Apart from personal items, items worth up to ₹15,000-50,000 depending on your background
• Indian residents arriving after staying abroad for more than 1 year can import jewelery worth 100,000 for women and 50,000 for men.
• Plants and seeds are allowed
• Laptop or computer within the amount of free shipping

What is the currency limit at Indian customs?

Foreign currency – up to 5,000 dollars, greater amount must be declared, or traveler's checks up to 10,000 dollars.

1. Check the transportation schedule.

If you are traveling by bus, you need to know the bus schedule. For example, some buses are for women only, and some are express buses that don't make all the stops.

Of course, cars (tuk-tuks) and hitchhikers can be booked online, but sometimes they may not accept nightly rates or travel too far, so plan ahead.

2. Be aware of and follow local customs.

No matter where you travel, it's important to remember that there are many local and regional customs in India, and while you don't have to know all the customs, it's helpful to at least be aware of them. Some of them that apply across the country include the following:

• Never wear shoes in the temple.
• Never wear shoes in someone else's home.
• Eating with your hands is acceptable and very common.
• Avoid public displays of affection.

3. Learn to bargain and barter.

You will have to learn how to bargain if you plan to buy something in India, especially in popular tourist destinations or in well-known markets;

This also applies to cars and taxis. You should be prepared to argue for a lower price and even insist on reducing the price by up to half. Keep in mind that you are not given the true price and that it will most likely be a markup. If you are shy about bargaining, take a local with you who can help you.

4. Carry bottled water with you.

This is due to the heat and the fact that Indian tap water is not safe to drink. Do not try to filter tap water and try to avoid asking for water in restaurants if you are not sure where it came from.

Instead, always carry safe bottled water with you. In India, it is called mineral water and can be purchased at most stores, restaurants, and pharmacies.

By Author Nomad Paradise

Published: June 11, 2023

Source:https://nomadparadise.com

India's embassies in various countries can be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/india