Includes information on acceptable business etiquette, dress, business cards, gifts, etc.
Last Published: 8/5/2019

Business Customs
There is no single way to understand a country as vast and diverse as India.  What is true in one place might not be in another.  That said, business visitors may find the following useful:

Meeting times or schedules are not always followed as strictly as in the United States.  It is not uncommon in India for people to show up late for business events.  Many Indians are aware of Americans’ more rigorous adherence to time schedules and will be accommodating, but it is important to build flexibility into your plans.

A handshake is typical upon meeting someone, although some Indians may use the pranam: a common greeting involving pressing your palms together with fingers pointing upwards and accompanied by a slight bow.  Small talk at the beginning of a business meeting is common and may include questions about family.  At meals, it is considered polite in India to inquire about dietary preferences, since Hindus typically abstain from beef, Muslims typically abstain from pork, and Indians of many religions are vegetarians. 

The business card ritual is not so formal as in China or Japan, but it is a good idea to carry presentable cards with you.  When offering your card, both hands should be used.  Receive cards with your right hand.  Cards in English only are fine, so you do not need to print them in local languages. 

Travel Advisory
The U.S. Department of State consular information sheet for India can be found at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html

All U.S. citizens visiting or residing in India are strongly encouraged to register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/step/.  This is a free service that allows U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  STEP will then automatically provide you important information about safety conditions in the country.  Enrollment also helps the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency and can help family and friends contact you in an emergency as well.  If you are a Facebook user, you may also wish to “like” our page to receive additional information about American Citizen Services in India.

Visa Requirements
All U.S. citizens need a valid passport and valid Indian visa to enter and exit India for any purpose.  Please ensure you have the correct type of visa for your planned activity in India.  Many visitors, including those on official U.S. government business, must apply for visas at an Indian embassy or consulate abroad before entering the country.  If you have the incorrect visa you may be refused entry, and typically will not be permitted to change your immigration category (e.g., from tourist to work visa) once you have entered the country.  Indian visa regulations can change with little notice.  Please note, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in India cannot assist you if you arrive without proper documentation. 

Many Indian visas may be obtained in the United States through Cox & Kings Global Services, the Government of India’s visa contractor.  You may review the information on the Cox & Kings Global Services website to determine your purpose for travel and the most appropriate visa category.  Entry requirements are also described on the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section on the Indian Bureau of Immigration website.

For the most current information on entry and exit requirements, contact the Embassy of India at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 939-9806 or the Indian Consulates in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, or Houston.  Outside the United States, inquiries should be made at the nearest Indian embassy or consulate.  General information regarding Indian visa and immigration rules, including the addresses and telephone numbers for the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) offices, can be found at the Indian Bureau of Immigration website.

Please carry photocopies of the bio-data page of your U.S. passport and the pages containing the Indian visa and Indian immigration stamps.  If your passport is lost or stolen, copies will help you apply for a replacement passport and an exit visa. 

U.S. citizens of Pakistani origin or descent are subject to administrative processing and should expect additional delays when applying for Indian visas.

Tourists: U.S. citizens seeking to enter India solely for tourist purposes, and who plan to stay no longer than 60 days, may apply for an electronic travel authorization at least four days prior to their arrival in lieu of applying for a tourist visa at an Indian embassy or consulate.  Please visit the Indian government's e-Visa website for additional information regarding the eligibilities and requirements for this type of visa.  Without the electronic travel authorization, visas are not available upon arrival for U.S. citizens.  If you do not have a valid passport and visa you may be denied admission.

Diplomatic and Official visas: Applications for official visa categories are accepted directly at the Indian Embassy and Consulates in the United States.  All U.S. government employees, including military personnel, must obtain country clearance for travel to India.  Once you have received your visa, check it carefully to ensure that the type of visa and number of entries is appropriate for your travel plans.       
                                           
Foreigner Registration Requirements: In addition to having the appropriate visa upon arrival, all foreigners visiting India for more than 180 days, or those on Student, Medical, Research or Employment Visas, are required to register with the closest Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival.  A FRRO office contact list is available online listing local offices.  General instructions for registration by foreigners in India are available at the Indian Bureau of Immigration website.

Overstay & Visa Violations:  If you overstay your Indian visa, or otherwise violate Indian visa regulations, you may require clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs to leave the country.  Generally, you will be fined and, in some cases, may be jailed for months.  Visa violators seeking an exit clearance are requested to schedule an online appointment at the Ministry of Home Affairs website before visiting the Visa Facilitation Center at The Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Division, NDCC-II Building, Sai Singh Road, New Delhi 110001 (tel.  91-11-2343-8037).  Processing of an exit visa under these circumstances can take up to 90 days and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

Currency
The currency used in India is the rupee and other currencies are not commonly accepted.  There are Authorized Foreign Exchange dealers in most big cities, and banks will also change your currency if you have time for the paperwork.  ATMs are widely available and virtually all will accept a card from any of the major U.S. ATM networks.
Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit and debit cards are widely accepted.  However, transactions with taxis, markets, and similar situations may require cash.  You may find it useful to have some cash rupees available and to know where the nearest ATM is if more is needed.
Traveler’s checks are cashed at almost all money exchange counters, hotels, and airports.

Telecommunications/Electronics
Cell Phones: The cellular phone technology predominately used in India is GSM; however, CDMA network service is available.  So, if your current U.S. cell phone is enabled with international calling, you can take it and use it in India.  Contact your cellular service provider before departure to ask about options available in India.

SIM Cards: If your U.S. cell phone is “frequency unlocked” (ask your service provider), then you can also use your U.S. cell phone by replacing its SIM card for one serviced by a local operator.  Prepaid packages are affordable, but the process can be bureaucratic and somewhat difficult.  You may need to provide things like a copy of your passport, visa, a passport sized photo, and wait 24 to 48 hours for the card to be activated. 

Satellite Phones & Other Restricted Items: Possession and import of satellite-based communication devices is unlawful in India.  Do not bring a satellite phone to India.  It is advisable to contact the Embassy of India in Washington or one of India's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding this and other customs restrictions. 
More information is available from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs.

Wi-Fi: Although speeds vary, virtually all hotels are equipped with internet and Wi-Fi.

Voltage: Voltage in India is 220 volts and plugs are Type C and D.  You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter to use U.S. appliances.

Phone Dialing: While telecommunication service is generally adequate in India, knowing what digits to dial can be a little complicated, especially between landlines and cell phones, and when making international calls.   The following dialing instructions are worth keeping handy:

AC = area code
CC = country code

Caller in USA to Local Cell Phone    [011] + 91+Local Cell number
Caller in USA to Local Landline    [011] + 91+AC+Number
Local landline to international number        00+CC+AC+Number
Local landline to local long distance              0+AC+Number
Local Landline to Local Cell Phone   Local cell number
Local Cell to India Landline   0+AC+number
Local Cell to Local Cell    Local   cell   number
Local Cell to Local Cell (in another city)   0+Cell number
Local Cell to International long distance  00+CC+AC+Number

The country code for India is 91
Major Indian city area codes:
Ahmedabad        79
Bangalore           80
Chennai               44
Delhi                     11
Hyderabad          40
Kolkata                33
Mumbai               22
Pune                     20

Transportation

To and From India
There are direct flights between the United States and India on Air India and United Airlines that go to either New Delhi or Mumbai.  Flight times are 14-16 hours.  Getting to South or East India from the United States requires a connection, with the most and (often) fastest options through Europe.  Travelers from the West Coast might consider going through Bangkok or Singapore.

Within India
Traffic in India moves on the left.  It is important to be alert while crossing streets and intersections—especially after dark—as traffic is coming in the “wrong” direction (i.e., from the left).  You should exercise extreme caution when crossing streets, even in marked pedestrian areas.

When regular transport is needed, many foreign visitors to India hire a car and driver.  This is highly recommended over driving one’s self.  A wide range of car services are available in India.  Car services like Uber and its Indian counterpart, Ola, are widely available, and some car services provide cars chauffeured by women.  To drive in India, either a valid Indian drivers’ license or a valid international drivers’ license is required.

Road travel in India can be hazardous, especially at night.  Several U.S. citizens have suffered fatal traffic accidents in recent years. On Indian roads, the safest driving policy is always to drive conservatively and assume that other drivers may not respond to a traffic situation in the same way drivers would in the United States.  Be prepared for vehicles that run red lights and merge directly into traffic at yield points and traffic circles.  Use your horn or flash your headlights frequently to announce your presence.  It is both customary and wise. 

Buses, patronized by hundreds of millions of Indians, are convenient in that they serve almost every city of every size.  However, they are usually driven fast and without due consideration for official rules of the road.  Accidents are common.

Heavy traffic is the norm and includes (but is not limited to) overloaded trucks and buses, scooters, pedestrians, bullock and camel carts, horse or elephant riders on the way to weddings, and free-roaming livestock. 

If a driver hits a pedestrian or a cow, the vehicle and its occupants are at risk of being attacked by passersby.  Such attacks pose significant risk of injury or death to the vehicle's occupants or risk of incineration of the vehicle.  It could be unsafe to remain at the scene of an accident of this nature, and drivers may instead wish to seek out the nearest police station. 

Protestors often use road blockage as a means of publicizing their grievances, causing severe inconvenience to travelers.  Visitors should monitor local news reports for any reports of road disturbances.

Language
English is quite common in India, which boasts dozens of languages and thousands of dialects.  Most business people will speak English quite fluently.  However, during your stay you should expect to encounter many who speak limited English or none.  Even for those who do speak English, the American accent can be difficult for some Indians to understand, and Americans sometimes also struggle with the Indian accent.  Patience, a sense of humor, and rephrasing what you want to say slowly and clearly can often overcome such difficulties.

Most official signs are trilingual in the local language (if not Hindi), Hindi and English.  One exception is Tamil Nadu, where signs are in Tamil and English.

Health
The quality of medical care in India varies considerably.  Adequate private medical care that meets many international standards is available in major cities, but elsewhere adequate medical care is can be limited or unavailable. 

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as food and water safety, insect bite protection, and malaria information may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web-site at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/india.htm. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/countries/ind/en/.

Emergencies: Highly specialized cases or complex emergencies may require evacuation.  Singapore and Bangkok, Thailand are frequent destinations.  For a public ambulance anywhere in the country, call 102. The national emergency number is 112.  Private ambulance services are also often available.  Because of ambulance delays due to traffic congestion, taxi or private car may be necessary.  For foreigners, upfront payment by cash or credit card is often required by hospitals prior to services or treatment.  But upfront payment of other than a modest deposit may be waived by hospitals that have existing cashless agreements with at least some major international insurance providers.  Regardless of the ability to pay, all hospitals are required to provide emergency stabilization.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.  Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments.  See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.  Supplemental insurance  to cover medical evacuation is strongly encouraged.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  If you transit through any part of sub-Saharan Africa, even for one day, you are advised to carry proof of yellow fever immunization.  For those arriving from Sub-Saharan Africa or other yellow-fever areas, Indian health regulations require evidence of vaccination against yellow fever.  If you do not have such proof, you could be subjected to detention and quarantine. 

Malaria risk varies depending on the time of year and areas visited.  Transmission occurs throughout the year and is highest following the monsoon season that typically spans from June through September.  Please consult the CDC website for more information. 

Dengue fever presents significant risk in urban and rural areas. The highest number of cases is reported from July to December, with cases peaking from September to October. Daytime insect precautions such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and mosquito repellent are recommended by the CDC.

Dogs and bats create a high risk of rabies transmission in most of India.  Vaccination is recommended for all prolonged stays, especially for young children and travelers in rural areas.  It is also recommended for shorter stays that involve occupational exposure, locations more than 24 hours from reliable sources of rabies treatments, adventure travelers, hikers, cave explorers, and backpackers.

Avoid feeding monkeys, as they can also transmit rabies and other serious diseases.  If bitten, immediately soak and scrub the bite for at least 15 minutes and seek urgent medical attention.

Air Pollution: Air quality is a significant problem in many major cities in India.  Consider consulting your doctor prior to travel regarding how seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may affect you.  The air quality is typically at its worst in the winter.  Anyone who travels where pollution levels are high is at risk, but those at greatest risk include:

  • Infants, children, and teens
  • People over 65 years of age
  • People with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
  • People with heart disease or diabetes
  • People who work or are active outdoors


Current air quality data can be found on the Embassy’s Air Quality page. The data on this site are updated hourly.

Food and Drink:  It is safest to not drink hotel or restaurant water and to order drinks without ice.  Only bottled water, soft drinks, beer, wine, hot tea and coffee are considered safe.  Generally, avoid eating undercooked food, unpeeled fruit and vegetables, or food where kitchen practices are uncertain.  Consult your doctor about being prepared with drugs to alleviate the symptoms of diarrhea, like Imodium (loperamide).

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
Despite its geographic size, India has adopted one-time zone, five and one-half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  It has not adopted daylight savings time and uses standard time countrywide throughout the year.  Therefore, the time difference between India and the United States varies depending on the time of year.  India is nine hours and 30 minutes ahead of Washington, D.C., during daylight savings time and 10 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Washington, D.C., during standard time.

The standard six-day working week is Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m.  to 5:30 p.m., with a half-day on Saturday.  Normally lunch is for one hour, between 1:00 p.m.  and 2:00 p.m.  However, in some large cities such as Mumbai, businesses start working earlier to avoid congested traffic while commuting.

Central government offices are closed on Saturdays.  Banking hours are 10:00 a.m.  to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturdays.  In major metropolitan cities, several foreign and Indian-owned banks provide 24-hour banking services.

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
All goods entering India are subject to Customs inspection and clearance.  An individual must be in India and is usually required to be present during the Customs clearance process.  Most household goods and personal effects are granted tax and duty-free entry provided they have been used and in the individual’s possession for a minimum of six months.

Indian customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes.  ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States.  For additional information call (212) 354-4480, or email USCIB for details.

Before traveling to or from India, you are urged to inspect all bags and clothing thoroughly to ensure they do not inadvertently contain prohibited items.  U.S. citizens have been arrested or detained when airport security officials discovered loose ammunition (even spent individual bullets, casings, or souvenirs) or weapons in their luggage.  If you are found to have loose ammunition or bullets on your person or in your bags, you could be charged with violation of the Indian Arms Act, incarcerated, and/or deported from India.  Consult the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs website for more information.

Travel Related Web Resources
Department of State     https://www.state.gov/
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  https://step.state.gov/step/
Indian Embassy      http://www.indianembassy.org/
Cox & Kings Global Services    http://www.in.ckgs.us/
FRRO contact list     https://boi.gov.in/content/frro-contact-list
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs  http://www.cbic.gov.in/
Government of India’s electronic travel authorization (e-visa)
• https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html
General Instructions for Registration by Foreigners  
• https://boi.gov.in/content/general-instructions-registration-foreigners
Department of State: Travel Advisory
• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html
Center for Disease Control – Traveler Resources
• http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/vaccinations.htm
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India – Air Quality Data
• https://in.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/new-delhi/air-quality-data/
Insurance Providers for Overseas Coverage
• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/your-health-abroad/insurance-providers-overseas.html

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