Travel Guidelines

1. Travel Documents

Passport

• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. Most airlines and immigration counters enforce this strictly.
• Ensure your passport has at least 2 blank pages for entry/exit stamps and visa stickers.
• Carry a digital and physical photocopy of your passport's data page and store separately from the original.
• If your passport is damaged (torn, wet, missing pages) — even if technically valid — get it renewed before travel. Immigration officers have discretion to refuse entry.

Visas

• Check visa requirements for your specific Indian passport category (ordinary, diplomatic, service). Do not rely on advice from non-official sources.
• Apply well in advance — processing times vary from 1 day (e-Visa destinations) to 6 months (USA interview appointments).
• For multi-country itineraries, check if each country requires a separate visa and whether a visa for one country exempts you from another (e.g., a valid US/UK/EU/Australian visa may grant visa-free or VOA access to certain countries).

Other documents to carry

• Travel insurance policy with emergency helpline number
• ORVI booking confirmation and hotel vouchers (printed and digital)
• Emergency contacts list — ORVI travel desk, family contacts, nearest Indian Embassy in destination
• Any required medical prescriptions (in English, stating generic drug names)
• International driving licence (if planning to self-drive)

2. Health and Vaccinations

Routine vaccinations (ensure up to date)

Travel-specific vaccinations (destination-dependent)

Vaccine	Relevant destinations	Mandatory?
Yellow Fever	Sub-Saharan Africa, South America	Yes (mandatory entry requirement in many countries)
Typhoid	South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa	Recommended
Hepatitis A	All developing world destinations	Recommended
Hepatitis B	All international travel	Recommended
Japanese Encephalitis	Rural Southeast Asia, parts of India	Recommended for extended stays
Rabies	Adventure travel, animal-exposure risk destinations	Recommended for adventure travel
Meningitis ACWY	Hajj/Umrah (Saudi Arabia mandates), parts of Africa	Mandatory for Saudi Arabia pilgrimage

Malaria prevention

Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for rural parts of India (Rajasthan, Odisha, Northeast), sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia. Your travel medicine doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication. Start the course as directed — most require 1–2 weeks pre-travel initiation.

3. Money, Currency and ATMs

FEMA regulations for Indian travellers

• Under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, Indian residents may remit up to USD 2,50,000 per financial year for travel under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS).
• Carrying foreign currency in cash: up to USD 3,000 equivalent per person per trip without declaration. Above this amount, declare at customs on departure.
• Any Indian currency in excess of ₹25,000 must not be taken abroad (it is not accepted internationally anyway, but the rule applies to the act of export).
• Forex cards (Niyo, BookMyForex, Thomas Cook) are the most cost-efficient method for international travel — better exchange rates than airport counters, works globally.

Practical tips

• Inform your bank before travel to avoid card blocks on international transactions.
• Carry two cards from different networks (Visa and Mastercard) — some ATMs or merchants accept only one.
• Withdraw local currency from airport ATMs on arrival rather than exchanging at the airport counter (better rates).
• Keep emergency cash (USD 100–200 equivalent) separately from your main wallet.

4. Customs and Prohibited Items

Indian Customs (on departure)

• Antiques: objects more than 100 years old may not be exported from India without a No Objection Certificate from the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Wildlife products: do not purchase or carry products made from protected animals — ivory, tortoise shell, snakeskin, certain feathers — even if sold legally in the destination country. Indian Customs enforces the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Satellite phones: require prior permission from the Department of Telecommunications before taking outside India.
• Drone cameras: most countries require import declaration and may require operating permits. Check destination-specific regulations.

General international customs (varies by country)

• Do not carry food items (fresh fruit, meat, dairy) across international borders — most countries have strict agricultural import controls.
• Declare all currency exceeding your destination country's threshold. Failure to declare is a criminal offence in most jurisdictions.
• Medicines: carry only the quantity required for your trip; carry the original prescription for all prescription medicines. Some common Indian medications are controlled substances in certain countries.

5. Safety Guidelines

• Register with the Madad portal (Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India) before travelling abroad — it enables faster consular assistance in emergencies.
• Keep the contact number of the nearest Indian Embassy / High Commission saved on your phone.
• Check the MEA Travel Advisory for your destination before departure. ORVI will proactively communicate if a destination you have booked receives a caution or restriction advisory.
• Do not leave luggage unattended in public spaces, particularly in European airports and tourist areas (terrorism-related package abandonment concerns).
• For adventure activities (trekking, rafting, scuba diving), ensure your guide is certified and your insurance covers the specific activity.
• Emergency numbers: memorise 112 (India universal emergency), 999 (UK), 911 (USA), 17 (France police), 1 (Canada/USA fire/police).

6. Cultural Etiquette

General principles

• Dress modestly at religious sites everywhere in the world — regardless of local norms outside the site. This means covered shoulders and knees as a minimum.
• Remove footwear before entering all Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh and most Muslim religious sites.
• Ask before photographing people, especially in rural, tribal or indigenous communities. "No" means no.
• Public display of affection is inappropriate in conservative Islamic and many South Asian contexts — be guided by local norms.
• Tipping culture varies — in India and Southeast Asia it is welcome but not obligatory; in Japan it is considered rude; in the USA it is effectively mandatory.

Destination-specific notes

Destination	Key etiquette note
Japan	No tipping; remove shoes at ryokan entrance; no eating while walking in public
UAE / Saudi Arabia	Strict dress code in public (including beaches); no alcohol in Saudi Arabia; Ramadan fasting hours must be respected publicly
Southeast Asia (Bali, Thailand)	Never touch a person's head (considered sacred); cover shoulders and knees at temples; remove shoes at temple entrances
India (all regions)	Remove shoes at temple, mosque, gurudwara, and church entrances; cow is sacred in Hindu areas — do not comment disparagingly; seek permission at cremation ghats
Morocco / North Africa	Cover up in medinas; bargaining is expected in souks; no photography of women in traditional dress without permission

7. ORVI On-Trip Support

Every ORVI customer travelling on a confirmed package has access to our 24/7 emergency travel desk: