Landing Permits
Landing permits should not be considered as an alternative to obtaining a VISA. Even in cases that may seem genuine, the Immigration officials at the point of entry should be fully satisfied by the reasons for such permit request and the credibility of the traveler. These are granted at the sole discretion of the Immigration officials.
Temporary Landing Permits (TLP)
Temporary Landing permits are issued to Foreigners arriving by air or sea without an Indian VISA only in extraordinary and emergent conditions (Death of a family member, emergency landing, health conditions on board, etc)
If the officials are satisfied, a Landing permit for a maximum of 72 hours may be issued. Moreover, a fee of 40$ or it’s equivalent in Indian currency is charged per passenger (Children are also charged an equal fee). An exception here could be that of Tibetans holding an ‘Indian Certificate of Identity arriving without an Indian Visa’ may be granted a GRATIS TLP.
If the TLP is issued, the immigration officials would make a special mention on the foreigner’s passport about the TLP and its duration (along with Arrival Stamp).
These are not issued to passengers who are nationals of Prior Reference Category (PRC) countries: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, China, Ethiopia, and foreign nationals of Pakistan Origin
They are not issued to Foreigners arriving India by Land.
These are not issued to foreigners who are on Indian or International blacklists or any other restrictive lists as the Indian Immigration Authorities may see appropriate.
They are not issued to stateless persons holding Identity certificates.
Crew Landing Permits (CLP)
These are granted to crew members of scheduled or non-scheduled flights of Scheduled operators as approved by the ministry of civil aviation from time to time. They may be granted a CLP free of charge up to 7 days.
Similarly, seamen arriving by ship and leaving India by another ship or by flight (not land) within 7 days may also be granted CLP up to 7 days without charging any fee.
However in both the cases mentioned above, if the stay exceeds beyond 7days, the usual fee of $40 or equivalent in Indian currency is charged
In cases of flights operated by non-scheduled operators or chartered flights and purposes being a technical failure, medical emergency, diversions, relief flights, etc. the crew may be granted landing permits for a charge of 40$ per crew member subject to usual checks and clearances.
In cases of VIP flights, Cargo flights, and private aircraft of businessmen on business trips, the crew of non-PRC countries may be granted landing permits for a charge of 40$ per crew member subject to usual checks and clearances.
Group Landing Permit/Collective Landing Permit
This is of rare occurrence and available only at select Airports and seaports. This may be provided to groups of 4 or more collectively. This kind of landing permit is possible only with the prior intervention and due intimation to the authorities concerned by the sponsoring travel agency which is approved by the Ministry of Tourism. A Landing permit for up to a maximum of 60 days and allowing multiple entries may be granted in this case. Nationals of PRC countries are not granted this kind of landing permit. For more details about Group/Collective Landing Permit and for a list of Airports and seaports this facility is available at, contact your sponsoring tourist agency and refer to the original text of the rules on Landing Permits.