Section 9
India for Newcomers
Practical, friendly guidance for visitors, expatriates, international spouses, students and returning diaspora. India is big and varied, so treat these as starting points and ask locals; people are usually happy to help.
Your first 30 days in India
Week 1: Settle in
- Get a local SIM. Bring your passport, visa and a photo; activation can take a day.
- Install a ride app, a maps app and a food-delivery app.
- Save emergency numbers: 112 (all emergencies), 108 (ambulance in most states).
- Rest and drink bottled or filtered water while your body adjusts.
Week 2: Paperwork
- Foreign nationals on long-term visas usually must register with the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) online within a set period. Check your visa conditions.
- Get a PAN card if you'll earn income or open a full bank account.
- Keep copies of your passport, visa and rental agreement.
Week 3: Daily life
- Find a local market, pharmacy and clinic.
- Learn 10 words of the local language: hello, thank you, how much, left, right, stop, water, food, help, sorry.
- Learn how domestic help, drivers or building security work in your area, if relevant.
Week 4: Connect
- Join an expat or community group, a temple, gurdwara, church, mosque or cultural society.
- Accept an invitation home. Indian hospitality is famous!
- Visit one heritage site and one local festival.
Etiquette and cultural awareness
Greetings
"Namaste" with palms together works almost everywhere. Handshakes are normal in business, but some people, especially women and religious elders, may prefer not to shake hands; follow their lead. Add "ji" to names for respect (e.g. "Sharma-ji").
Hands and feet
Eat, give and receive with your right hand. Remove shoes before entering homes and places of worship. Don't point your feet at people or touch books or idols with your feet. If you do by accident, a quick touch to the forehead says "sorry."
Dress
Cities are relaxed, but covering shoulders and knees is wise in smaller towns and essential at religious sites. Carry a scarf for gurdwaras, dargahs and some temples.
Food and homes
Bring a small gift (sweets, fruit, flowers) when visiting. Hosts may insist you eat more; a polite "bas, bahut accha tha" (enough, it was great) works. Many households are vegetarian; ask before bringing meat or alcohol.
Communication
People may avoid a direct "no." "I'll try" or "let's see" can mean "unlikely." The famous head-wobble usually means "yes," "okay" or "I'm listening."
Personal questions
Questions about marriage, children, salary or religion are often just friendly curiosity. Answer as much as you're comfortable with.
Transport guide
- Trains: Indian Railways is one of the world's largest networks. Book on the official IRCTC site or app. Classes range from unreserved to AC First Class. AC 3-tier (3A) and AC Chair Car are comfortable and good value. Vande Bharat trains are fast and modern. Book early around festivals.
- Metro: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and many other cities have clean, cheap metros, many with women-only coaches.
- Ride apps: App-based cabs, autos and bike-taxis are widely available in cities and avoid fare haggling.
- Auto-rickshaws: Ask for the meter or agree the fare before you start.
- Flights: A large domestic network links most cities cheaply. Carry ID for airport entry.
- Driving: Traffic is dense and the horn is used to communicate. Many newcomers hire a driver at first. An International Driving Permit is valid for a limited period.
- Safety tips: Share your ride details with someone, sit in the back seat, and use prepaid taxi counters at airports and stations.
Banking and payments
- Currency: Indian Rupee (₹, INR). Small shops and autos may not have change for ₹500 notes, so keep some smaller notes.
- UPI: India's instant payment system is used everywhere, from malls to street stalls, by scanning a QR code. Residents link UPI apps to an Indian bank account. Some banks now let NRIs use UPI with international mobile numbers, and short-term visitors at some airports can use prepaid UPI wallets. Check the current options before you travel.
- Cards: Accepted in cities, hotels and larger stores; tell your bank you're travelling.
- Bank accounts: Resident foreigners usually need a passport, visa, residence proof, PAN and sometimes FRRO registration. NRIs and OCI holders typically use NRE/NRO accounts.
- Tipping: Around 5–10% in restaurants if no service charge is added. Small tips for porters, drivers and delivery staff are appreciated.
- Bargaining: Normal at street markets, not at fixed-price shops or malls. Smile and keep it friendly.
Healthcare guide
- Emergencies: Dial 112. Ambulance 108 (most states). Large private hospitals in cities have 24-hour emergency departments.
- Hospitals: India has excellent private hospitals in major cities, and many doctors speak English. Government hospitals are low-cost but busy.
- Pharmacies ("chemists" or "medical stores") are everywhere, and many deliver.
- Insurance: Get health insurance that covers India before arriving; private care is affordable by global standards but adds up.
- Before you travel: Ask a travel-health clinic about vaccinations and malaria or dengue risk for your region and season.
- Everyday tips: Drink sealed or filtered water. Street food is delicious, so pick busy stalls where food is cooked hot. In summer, protect against heat and stay hydrated. Watch air quality in north Indian cities in winter.
Festivals and public life
Festivals change the rhythm of daily life. Offices and banks close on gazetted holidays. Markets are crowded before Diwali, Eid and Durga Puja. Trains and flights sell out. Roads may close for processions. Diwali nights are loud with firecrackers.
- Join in! Neighbours often welcome newcomers to pujas, iftars, Christmas meals and Holi.
- Learn the greeting: "Happy Diwali," "Eid Mubarak," "Shubho Bijoya," "Happy Pongal."
- Expect sweets to be exchanged; it is kind to return the gesture.
- On "dry days" (some national and religious holidays), alcohol isn't sold.
See the Festivals Compass for the month-by-month guide.
Regional customs: short guides
North India
Greeting: Namaste / Sat Sri Akal. Food: wheat breads, paneer, generous hospitality. Tip: Delhi winters are cold and smoggy, while summers are very hot.
South India
Greeting: Vanakkam / Namaskaram. Food: often eaten by hand on banana leaves. Tip: Learn a few words of the state language, since Hindi is less widely spoken. Temples may have dress codes, such as a dhoti for men in some Kerala temples.
East India
Greeting: Nomoshkar. Food: fish, rice and famous sweets. Tip: Kolkata comes alive for Durga Puja, and adda (long, lively conversation) is a way of life.
West India
Greeting: Namaskar / Kem cho. Food: Gujarat is largely vegetarian, and Gujarat has prohibition (permits exist). Tip: Mumbai runs fast, and local trains are crowded at rush hour.
Northeast India
Greeting: varies by community. Food: fermented, smoked and bamboo-shoot dishes. Tip: Some states need an Inner Line Permit (for Indian citizens) or a Protected Area Permit (for foreigners); check before you go.
Himalayan regions
Greeting: Julley (Ladakh), Tashi Delek (Sikkim). Tip: Acclimatise for a day or two at high altitude, and walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas and prayer wheels.
Business culture
- Relationships first: Small talk over chai about family, cricket or travel builds trust before business.
- Hierarchy: Seniority matters. Address people by title and surname until invited otherwise, and decisions may go up the chain.
- Meetings: Be on time, but be flexible, since meetings can start late or run long. Follow up in writing.
- Communication: Indirectness is common; read between the lines and ask open questions.
- Working week: Many firms work Monday to Friday, though some (and many government offices) work some Saturdays.
- Meals: Offer vegetarian options. Don't assume colleagues drink alcohol.
- Gifts: Diwali is the big season for corporate gifts like dry fruits and sweets. Check company policy.
- Dress: Business formal in finance and law, smart casual in tech. Indian formal wear, such as a kurta or a sari, is welcome at festive events.