Mumbai International Transit
 

Hi
I am trying to get a definitive answer regarding the International transit procedure in Mumbai. To date nearly every answer is different. I arrive from London with BA and depart three hours later to Colombo with Sri Lankan. Unfortunately these are separate tickets and our bags are not checked through to CMB.
In theory we have to clear customs to collect our luggage before checking in for the Colombo flight. Do we need a visa for this? Some say yes and some say no.
There is nothing on the Mumbai airport website for Int'l - Int'l transit that is actually useful.
I do not want to spend £100+ for a visa to spend three hours in an airport if I don't have to.

Separate ticket necessitate a transit visa. BA will probably not interline your luggage to UL.

you have to get a visa....the options would be a transit visa or a visa on arrival, depending on your citizenship....you have to apply for one atleast 4 days before you leave though....

Thanks for the replies.
However, we are actually stopping in Mumbai on the return journey so the visa on arrival would be no good as it is single entry. The transit visa is an option but we would still need another visa for when we return. These would cost as much as a full multi-entry tourist visa.
I cannot believe that you cannot get a 24 hour temporary stamp in your passport to allow for transiting as you do in China.