Just Landed in India? Your First 7 Days

Mobile data in India is among the cheapest anywhere in the world, and 4G is near-universal in cities with 5G now widely rolled out across metros. Buy a prepaid SIM with eKYC using your passport, visa, a passport photo and a local address. Activation for foreigners is slower than for locals and can take several hours to a full day, so do not depend on it the moment you land.

Typical cost: Around 200-400 rupees per month for a prepaid plan bundling roughly 1.5-2 GB of data per day, unlimited calls and a modest SMS allowance; annual plans work out cheaper still.

India runs on two payment rails at once: physical cash for small vendors, autos and tips, and UPI, an instant phone-to-phone transfer system, for almost everything else. Card acceptance is widespread in malls, chain restaurants and hotels but patchy with street vendors and small shops. Foreign cards attract dynamic currency conversion at some terminals, so always choose to be charged in rupees.

Opening an account: Foreigners can open a resident or NRO account at HDFC, ICICI, Axis, SBI or Kotak Mahindra with a passport, valid visa, FRRO registration where applicable and proof of local address. The process is done in person, requires KYC verification and typically takes a few days to a couple of weeks. Ask specifically for a UPI-enabled account and a debit card, as the account is what unlocks the app-based economy.

Cash: Keep a running float of cash for autorickshaws, kirana shops, tips, temple donations and market stalls. Once you have an Indian bank account and phone number, UPI apps like Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm become the default for nearly all payments, with QR codes displayed even at the tiniest tea stalls. Small notes matter: hoard 10, 20, 50 and 100 rupee notes because drivers and vendors often claim to have no change.

Tipping: Tipping is customary but modest and not rigidly expected. Leave roughly 5-10 percent in sit-down restaurants if no service charge has already been added, round up or add 20-50 rupees for taxi and auto drivers, and hand 20-50 rupees to porters, valets, hotel staff and delivery riders. In everyday transactions there is no obligation to tip.

Most foreigners holding a visa valid for more than 180 days, including employment, student, research, medical and some entry visas, must register in person with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in major cities or the district Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) elsewhere. Tourist and short-stay visa holders generally do not register. The exact requirement and which documents are needed depend on your specific visa category, so read the conditions printed on your visa and any letter issued at immigration. Registration is a legal obligation and skipping it can lead to fines and difficulty when you leave the country.

Deadline: Within 14 days of your first arrival in India for applicable long-stay visa categories.

Where: Online through the e-FRRO portal (indianfrro.gov.in), where you complete the application and upload documents, followed by an in-person appointment at the FRRO or district FRO in your city to verify originals and collect your registration certificate.

Major cities have modern, air-conditioned metro systems, notably in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata, that consistently beat road traffic during peak hours. Autorickshaws, app-based cabs and bike taxis fill the gaps for shorter or door-to-door trips. Always insist on the meter in a metered auto or accept a fixed app fare; negotiating a price before boarding an auto is normal, but agree it clearly before you set off.

From the airport: From Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (DEL), the Airport Express Line (Orange Line) metro runs from Terminal 3 to New Delhi railway station in about 20 minutes for roughly 60 rupees, connecting onward to the wider metro network. Alternatively book an Uber or Ola from the app-cab zone, or pay a fixed fare at the official prepaid taxi booth. In Bengaluru and Hyderabad the airports sit far outside the city, so budget 60-90 minutes and a higher fare by cab or the official airport bus.

Most newcomers rent through brokers or platforms such as NoBroker, MagicBricks, Housing.com and 99acres; furnished flats and gated societies with security, power backup and amenities are common in metros. Leases usually run for 11 months, deliberately kept under the 12-month threshold that triggers stricter tenancy protections, and brokers typically charge one month's rent as commission. Register the agreement and read the exit and notice-period clauses before signing.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat runs roughly 15,000-30,000 rupees per month in mid-tier neighbourhoods, and 35,000-70,000 rupees or more in prime areas of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi or Gurugram. Mumbai is markedly the most expensive city; smaller cities and outer suburbs are considerably cheaper.

Deposit norm: Security deposits are steep and vary hugely by city: commonly 2-3 months' rent across much of India, but historically 6-10 months in Bengaluru, though this has softened somewhat. Get the exact deposit amount, deductions policy and refund timeline written into the registered rental agreement, and photograph the flat's condition when you move in.

India runs a two-tier system: heavily overstretched public hospitals and a large network of good private hospitals such as Apollo, Fortis, Manipal, Max and Narayana Health, where most expats and middle-class Indians go. Private care in cities is high quality and inexpensive by Western standards, but it is paid up front or settled cashless only if you have insurance. Keep a card of your nearest good private hospital saved on your phone.

How to access it: For non-emergencies, book directly at a private hospital or clinic, or through apps like Practo and Apollo 24|7 that offer teleconsults and appointment booking. Pharmacies are plentiful and many medicines sold on prescription elsewhere are available over the counter, though you should still use a doctor. For emergencies dial 108 for an ambulance, but be aware that in dense city traffic a private hospital's own ambulance or even a taxi can arrive faster.

Insurance: There is no automatic public health cover for newcomers, so you must carry private or employer-provided health insurance from day one. Buy an India-based policy or an international plan that settles cashless at network hospitals; without it you pay out of pocket, which is affordable for routine care but can be significant for surgery or hospitalisation. Check that your policy covers your city and pre-existing conditions.

• Remove your shoes before entering homes and temples, and dress modestly at religious sites, covering shoulders and knees.
• Eat, pass items and give or receive money with your right hand; the left hand is traditionally considered unclean.
• A friendly 'namaste' with palms pressed together is always welcome, and adding 'ji' after someone's name shows respect.
• Ask before photographing people, religious ceremonies, or military and government buildings, and never photograph inside temple sanctums where it is prohibited.
• Accept offers of tea, food or hospitality graciously, as refusing outright can seem cold; a small taste is enough if you cannot eat much.
• Dress a little more formally than you might at home for offices and family visits, and greet elders first as a mark of respect.
• When visiting someone's home, a small gift of sweets, fruit or flowers is appreciated but never expected.

• 'Yes' and a side-to-side head wobble often mean 'I hear you' or 'maybe' rather than firm agreement, so confirm important details explicitly and in writing.
• Public displays of affection are frowned upon in many places, though attitudes are more relaxed in metro nightlife and cafe districts.
• Bureaucracy runs on paper: carry several passport photos and photocopies of your passport and visa everywhere you go for formalities.
• Punctuality is flexible socially but strict professionally; clarify whether a stated time is firm or approximate.
• Bargaining is expected in markets and with autos but not in shops with fixed prices, restaurants or hospitals.