After almost a year of travel restrictions from India in 2020, it is time to hit the road again. With so many countries to choose from, how do you decide where to go?
Well, often travelling to visa-free countries can make it easier on you and your wallet. Check out the visa-free or visa on arrival countries that Indians can travel to and start booking your next trip abroad.
🚨 Different countries’ response to COVID is evolving as new vaccines, and variants of the virus, emerge. If you are looking to travel, ensure that you are up to date with travel restrictions or updates.
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There are 3 types of easy overseas travel for Indian passport holders:
Let’s break down the countries for each.¹
Here is the list of countries that provide e-Visas to Indian passport holders:
| Armenia | Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Barbados |
| Benin | Cambodia | Colombia | Cote d’Ivoire |
| Djibouti | Ethiopia | Georgia | Guinea |
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | Kyrgyzstan | Lesotho |
| Malaysia | Moldova | Myanmar | New Zealand |
| Papua New Guinea | Russian Federation | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent & Grenadines |
| Singapore | South Korea | Sri Lanka | Suriname |
| Taiwan | Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand |
| Uganda | Uzbekistan | Vietnam | Zambia |
For all these countries, you can go on their websites to apply for an e-Visa before you travel. You can complete the visa process online and often bring the confirmation with you on your mobile when you arrive.
The list gets slightly smaller for those countries that allow for Visa-on-arrival for Indian passport-holders, but is still extensive.
| Angola | Bolivia | Cabo Verde | Cambodia |
| Cameroon | Cook Islands | Djibouti | Ethiopia |
| Fiji | Guinea Bissau | Indonesia | Iran |
| Jamaica | Jordan | Kenya | Kiribati |
| Laos | Madagascar | Mauritania | Mongolia |
| Myanmar | Nigeria | Niue Island | Qatar |
| Rwanda | Saint Kitts & Nevis | Saint Lucia | Samoa |
| Senegal | Seychelles | Somalia | Sri Lanka |
| Suriname | Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand |
| Tunisia | Vanuatu | Vietnam | Zimbabwe |
| ⚠️ Certain countries listed above don’t require visas if you are travelling as a tourist and staying for less than 30 days |
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Last but not least, here is the list of countries, where Indian passport holders don’t need a visa at all
| Barbados | Bhutan | Dominica | Grenada |
| Haiti | Hong Kong | Maldives | Mauritius |
| Montserrat | Nepal | Niue Island | Saint Vincent & the Grenadines |
| Samoa | Senegal | Serbia | Trinidad & Tobago |
When it's time to hit the beach or explore a new city, these favorite tourist destinations for Indians can hit the mark- without needing a visa.
A popular honeymoon destination before it became the world’s leading destination in 2020, the Maldives is as beautiful as you imagine. This archipelago in the Indian Ocean is surrounded by coral reefs and has its own language of Dhivehi and currency, the Maldivian Rufiyaa. You will require a negative COVID test and submit an online Health declaration form to enter.
Thailand is a popular destination for tourists the world over for its mixture of hills, beach, city life and tropics. And let’s not forget, the draw of Thai food. Thailand Tourism Sector is officially going to open July 1, 2021, but travellers can still get to Thailand through a Special Tourist Visa and a mandatory 14 day quarantine. ³ ⁴
Indonesia, for many Indian travelers, means Bali and Jakarta. But there is a lot of other history, culture and natural beauty across the country and its islands. You will not need a visa if you are travelling for less than 30 days in Indonesia. However, tourist travel is currently on hold, and only verified business travellers can enter.⁵
Flying from India is an easy way to get to the beautiful island nation of Mauritius. Mauritius is off the southeast coast of Africa but is culturally diverse with a Hindu population. With white sandy beaches and stunningly blue water, it is perfect for a getaway. But at the moment you will require a COVID negative test and then pay for the 14 day hotel quarantine as required by the government. ⁶
Right off the east coast of the African continent, the Seychelles are a group of islands that are ideal for water sports, relaxing and outdoor adventures. Currently any and all travellers will have to show a negative COVID test results administered 72 hours before arriving. Vaccinated travellers will need to show proof of vaccination but non-vaccinated passengers will only be able to enter through a private jet transfer. ⁷
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No matter where you go for your next holiday, there are a few points to keep in mind to have a stress-free trip. Check out these pointers before you plan your next trip. And as always, the more research you do and information you have beforehand, the smoother your holiday will be.
Flights, stay, food and activities all should be factored into your overall budget for your trip. Flight costs are going to depend on how near or far you are going, which airlines and which type of seat you prefer. Skyscanner is a great way to find flights within your budget. Tripadvisor can also be a resource to see traveller reviews for places to stay, restaurants and excursions.
Each country has taken their own steps and measures to contain the Coronavirus internally and for visitors. While some countries continue to be sealed off from tourists, many countries are slowly opening up to tourists with a negative COVID results test and those with a vaccine.
For those that are open, double check online to see if the city or hotel you are staying has any restrictions themselves. Sometimes a hotel may be open but any nearby restaurants haven’t opened back up yet. It is suggested to walk through each step of your journey and get as much information as possible on availability of services.
There is nothing that can ruin a trip more than bad weather. So after you have chosen your destination, check online the best time to go. Or you can flip it and find the best place to go in a particular month. There will be plenty of resources online that will help you make the best choice for your time and destination.
Especially for tropical or beach destinations, do check when storm or hurricane season might be, as well as monsoon. You may be able to get a good deal if you travel during that time, but it also may mean you are stuck indoors the entire trip.
Some of your best memories from a trip are likely from the activities you take part in. Whether it's trekking, snorkeling, sailing, exploring a neighborhood or even just relaxing by a pool, activities can really make a big difference for your holiday.
Check out which activities are unique to the location you are travelling to. Or ways to take in local culture- even better if you can engage with activities that enrich and support the local communities. Travel websites like Fodors and Lonely Planet are great places to kick off your research, but also check out TripAdvisor or even Youtube to get in-depth information.
All sources checked as of 4 March, 2021
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