Hi All,

I hope everyone is well as can be.

I've been through this very helpful forum but have noticed the situation I have doesn't seem to have been experienced by anyone else. I'm after some advice please. My situation is, I have a British passport that expires on the 12/02/2026. I'm looking to travel to India at the beginning of August (next month). I'll be arriving in India roughly around the 8th/9th/10th or 11th of August next month and I'll be leaving latest by 31/08/26. I have viewed the guidance on Ministry of Home Affairs India page which advises of the following: "Period of validity of passport and visa Passport should have at least six months validity at the time of making application for grant of visa. It should have at least two blank pages for stamping by the Immigration Officer. The validity of all visas will commence from the date of issue of visa." I have also viewed the guidance on the UK foreign travel advice India entry-requirements page which advises the following: "Passport validity requirements To enter India, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 2 blank pages. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen."

If my interpretation of the guidance/advice at the two websites above is correct my passport would be valid at the point of applying for a 30 day e-visa and would be valid after the date I arrive in India as per India's 6 month validity rules. However, by the time I depart from India, there would be less than 6 month's left on my passport. I don't have an OCI and I'm yet to apply for the 30 day Indian e-visa (but when I do, I would still have 6 months left on my passport). Does anyone know if I would meet the 6 months passport validity rule in this case please? I have been unable to find any information online to suggest that 6 months passport validity should be there at the point of departure from India. I've phoned the Indian embassy in London and they were not able to confirm.

Any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Raj