9 Indian Airports Offer Visa on Arrival for UAE travellers
India has made it easier for people from the UAE to visit India. The Indian government has added Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad to its visa-on-arrival network for Emirati visitors. These join New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, so nine airports now give this quick visa entry option.
Where UAE travellers Can Use Visa on Arrival
The nine airports are New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad. This covers many key gateways in South, West, and North India. It suits trips for family visits, short breaks, business meetings, and medical care.
The move comes as flights between the two countries stay very busy. Large Indian communities live in the Gulf, and more Emiratis visit for holidays, trade fairs, and medical treatment. Officials say the step will deepen people's links in the UAE-India corridor and support fast-growing air traffic.
Who Can Get This Visa At The Airport
This facility is not for every traveler from the UAE. UAE nationals must already hold an Indian e-visa or regular paper visa, even if they did not use it before. First-time visitors must still apply online for an e-visa before they fly. Their passport must be valid for at least six months and have two blank pages.
The visit can last up to 60 days. The visa on arrival allows two entries in that 60-day period, which helps if a traveler needs to step out to another country and come back. The stay covers tourism, business, conferences, and medical treatment. The visa is not extendable and not convertible to another type. There is no yearly limit on how many times a person can use it.
However, the scheme does not apply to any UAE national whose parents or grandparents were born in, or are permanent residents of, Pakistan. Such applicants must use the normal embassy route in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai.
Fees, Forms, And On-Arrival Steps
The fee for this visa is Rs 2,000 per passenger, including children, paid in rupees or equal foreign currency at the airport counter.
On landing, travelers fill Annexure-A and the disembarkation card and hand both to the visa desk. Many passengers now use the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app or the official visa site to fill these forms in advance, which cuts time in the queue.
Additionally, officers may also ask for proof of money for the stay, hotel, or other stay details, and a return or onward flight ticket.
Indian Rupee And UAE Dirham
Recent market data shows that 1 UAE dirham has traded around 24 Indian rupees. At that rough rate, Rs 2,000 equals about 82 to 85 dirhams. The exact amount in dirhams will change with the daily exchange rate, so travellers should check live rates before they fly or pay.
What This Means For UAE-India Travel
For many regular visitors, this change turns last-minute plans into a simple task rather than a long process. Weekend breaks to Kochi’s backwaters, business trips to Ahmedabad, or medical checks in Hyderabad now need less planning time. If you are a UAE national with a past Indian visa in your history, and your papers match the rules above, the airport queue just got shorter.
