Travelling to India from Singapore? Here’s what you need to know
Plan on travelling to India from Singapore, for work or leisure? You’re probably wondering what the India entry rules and requirements are now, and whether there are still covid restrictions to worry about. This guide walks through the situation as it stands, including covid, visas and more.
So: can I travel to India from Singapore now? Read on for all the answers, plus we’ll touch on Wise as a smart way to spend when you’re overseas, in India or wherever else your travels take you.
What happened to VTL flights from India to Singapore?
When Singapore was navigating the worst of the covid pandemic, travel was more or less impossible. As vaccination rates rose globally, VTLs (Vaccinated Travel Lanes) were introduced to allow essential travel on designated flights, to destinations considered relatively covid safe. As the world has opened up its borders more and more, and since Singapore removed most covid related entry requirements, VTLs are no longer needed.
The good news is that this means you don’t need to look for specific VTL flights to India - just pick a route and a carrier that suits your itinerary and your budget, and you’re good to go.
Of course, there are still entry rules you’ll need to follow to travel to India - plus some considerations when it’s time to come home to Singapore. We’ll cover these points in more detail, next.
Singapore to India travel restrictions (covid)
Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises that travellers to India should preferably be fully vaccinated, quoting from a February 2023 notice issued by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
This guidance states that travellers are preferred to hold fully vaccinated status, and all arrivals in the country will undergo random covid testing on arrival. This means that airlines will pick out 2% of passengers to have covid tests at the airport, as well as ensuring any traveller displaying covid symptoms is tested. Passengers who have been randomly tested are free to leave the airport after the test is taken, and will be contacted with advice if their test comes back positive.
Although it may not be strictly required, carrying proof of vaccination status is probably a smart move, when headed to India or anywhere else overseas.
Naturally, if you’re feeling unwell, you won’t want to travel anyway - plus, as we all know that travel rules can change dramatically and abruptly, it’s worth double checking all the guidance before you set out for your flight, just in case.
Travel to India from Singapore: visa and documents
If you’re travelling to India from Singapore, requirements include having a valid passport with at least 6 months left on it at the date of departure, and a valid visa. The visa requirement may be waived if you’re an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and hold a valid OCI card. In this case you’ll be asked to present your passport and OCI card on arrival rather than a visa.
For tourist purposes, the most common visa for Singaporean citizens is the electronic visa which allows entry from over 200 airports. You can apply for this e-visa online before you travel, and then go to the Visa on Arrival desk at the airport to have your passport stamped. Apply for your e-visa on the India Visa Online website - the Singapore government warns that there are scam sites which purport to provide visas for India, but you’ll need to stick to official channels to avoid being ripped off.
If you’re going to India for a longer period of time, or for work, you’ll likely need to apply for a different visa type. In this case, there are details of the process on the High Commission of India in Singapore’s website. The High Commission doesn’t normally process visa applications, so you’ll have to apply at one of their service centres which are run by BLS. Details are online, including maps and bus routes so you can pick the most convenient application centre for your needs.
Plan ahead, and expect to arrive early as visa processing lines can run pretty long at peak periods. Generally BLS fees must be paid in cash, too - so if you’re usually out and about with nothing but your phone for mobile payments, you’ll need to dig out your wallet and hit an ATM before you arrive.
India customs and entry rules
All travellers arriving in India are subject to customs checks. It’s worth reading up on the customs rules for India so you’re prepared. You’ll need to complete a disembarkation card when you arrive in India, and can be subject to random checks on your baggage, even if you’re passing through the Green Channel. As with all countries, there are pretty strict rules regarding restricted and prohibited items for import, which can vary based on your residence and nationality, so do double check all the guidance in advance to stay on the right side of the law.
Returning to Singapore
Once you’ve got your visa lined up, you’re ready to head off for your trip to India. Before you go, make sure you’ve got the link handy to complete the SG arrival card before coming back to Singapore. You can fill out this document online up to 3 days before you travel back, and getting it all done in advance should mean getting through the airport smoothly and without delay.
India to Singapore flight options
Unsurprisingly with such a large country - and with such strong cultural and business links between India and Singapore - there are plenty of ways to travel from here, depending on your specific destination.
Singapore Airlines alone offers routes from Changi to over 10 cities in India, with some routes also covered by Scoot for budget cost flights. Options include Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Kochi, Bengaluru and Chennai, so whether you’re off for a work trip, planning a safari vacation, looking for culture, or planning to kick back on the beach, you’re covered.
Travelling to India? Get the Wise card to spend INR without losing on exchange rates and foreign transaction fees
Set up a Wise account and order your card before you head off to India, to make it convenient to spend rupees, with low fees and the mid-market rate every time you need to exchange SGD.
You can open your Wise account easily online or in the Wise app, to hold and exchange 50+ currencies including both INR and SGD. For convenience you can just add money to Wise in SGD, and spend seamlessly in INR when you get to India - your money will be converted automatically with the mid-market rate and the lowest available fees based on the currencies you hold in your account.
Prefer using cash in India? Paying by card isn’t always an option, but you can make easy cash withdrawals with Wise, too. Get some fee free withdrawals every month¹, with low, transparent fees after that, for convenient spending even where card payments aren’t supported.
| Want to see how Wise compares with other travel cards like YouTrip and Revolut? Compare here |
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Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
- Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
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