Rohan Mehta · 5 min read · 26 October 2026
A few practical things are worth sorting out before you land in Delhi, and a few are genuinely easier to handle after arrival. Here's a straightforward breakdown.
Most nationalities can apply for an Indian e-Visa online rather than visiting an embassy in person. Applications are usually processed within a few days, but we'd recommend applying at least a week before departure to allow for any delays or requests for additional information. You'll need a digital passport-style photo and a scan of your passport's biodata page. Print a copy of the approval to bring with you — immigration staff sometimes ask for it even though it's technically searchable electronically.
Double-check your specific nationality's requirements before relying on general advice, since eligibility and process occasionally change — your trip designer can point you to the current official source if you're unsure.
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi has prepaid SIM counters for international arrivals, typically requiring your passport, a passport photo, and (for most providers) your visa details. It's straightforward but can involve a short queue. An eSIM arranged before you travel is worth considering if your phone supports it — it avoids the airport queue entirely and activates the moment you land, though local data SIMs are usually cheaper for a longer stay.
Currency exchange counters exist at the airport but typically offer worse rates than ATMs or city exchange counters. We'd suggest withdrawing only what you need for the first day or two — taxi, tips, incidentals — at the airport, and doing any larger exchange once you're settled, where rates are generally better.
A few things are easier handled on the ground than pre-arranged: local SIM top-ups, most currency exchange beyond the first day, and anything involving a physical queue that moves faster in person than online. Over-preparing for these specifically tends to waste time rather than save it.
Immigration at Delhi airport can take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour depending on the time of day and how many flights have landed at once — arriving on an evening flight when several long-haul services land together tends to mean the longest queues. If you've arranged a private pickup, your driver will typically be waiting with a name board just past the arrivals exit, tracking your flight so they know if it's delayed.
Tipping isn't legally required anywhere in India but is customary for guides and drivers on private tours — there's no fixed rule, but a rough guide many travellers use is a small daily amount per traveller for drivers, and a similar or slightly higher amount for guides, adjusted for trip length and how many days you spend with the same person. Your trip designer can give a more specific suggestion if you'd find that useful before you travel.
In order: clear immigration, collect luggage, find your driver or arrange a SIM and some cash, get to your hotel, and leave anything more complex than that until you've had a night's sleep. Jet lag makes even simple admin harder than it needs to be — there's no advantage to front-loading everything into the arrival day itself.
