Canada
Exercise a high degree of caution
Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.
India
India’s scale and diversity unfold across languages, landscapes, states, and metros, rewarding planners who seek regional depth.
Overview
From the peaks of the Himalayas to southern coasts, India’s federal structure and linguistic variety—Hindi, English, and many regional languages—create a mosaic of local experiences. Each metro and state offers its own blend of traditions, cuisines, and planning considerations, making comparative research essential for relocation.
At a glance
Language
- Hindi(Official)
Population1,326,093,247
CurrencyIndian Rupee (INR)
1 INR = 0.0105 USD
1 USD = 95.3592 INR
Cost of living
Numbeo publishes these source indexes relative to New York City.
Cost of LivingPotentially much less expensiveSource category: All | 2026
RentPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Rent | 2026
GroceriesPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Grocery | 2026
RestaurantPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Restaurant | 2026
Local Purchasing PowerWeaker local purchasing powerSource category: Purchasing Power | 2026
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Quality of life
Quality of LifeStrongSource category: Quality Of Life | 2026 | Overall quality of life index
SafetyMixedSource category: Safety | 2026 | Safety index (100 = safest)
HealthcareGenerally favorableSource category: Healthcare | 2026 | Healthcare quality index (100 = best healthcare)
PollutionElevatedSource category: Pollution | 2026 | Pollution index (100 = most polluted)
TrafficHighSource category: Traffic | 2026 | Overall traffic index (considers time + inefficiency + CO2)
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Entry requirements
Visa and residency reference data is available for Citizenship, Work (Employer-Sponsored), Diaspora / Heritage, and 1 more.
Citizenship
- Citizenship by Naturalization
Naturalization route under section 6(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The official Form VIII requires 12 months of continuous residence in India immediately before application and an aggregate of at least 11 years of residence during the preceding 14 years, along with evidence of knowledge of an Indian language, character affidavits, and a declaration that India will become the applicant's permanent home and that prior citizenship will be renounced if the application is approved.
Work (Employer-Sponsored)
- Employment Visa
Employment visa for foreign nationals taking up skilled work in India. The source states a general salary floor of Rs. 16.25 lakhs per annum, with listed exemptions.
- Employer-sponsored only
Diaspora / Heritage
- Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card
OCI cardholder registration for former Indian citizens, eligible descendants, and qualifying spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders.
Tourist / Visa Waiver
- e-Tourist Visa (5 Year)
Electronic tourist visa option with 5-year validity. The source states e-Visa is non-extendable and non-convertible.
- 5 years
- No work rights
Languages
- Hindi(Official)
- Assamese(Regional)
- Bengali(Regional)
- Gujarati(Regional)
- Kannada(Regional)
- Kashmiri(Regional)
- Maithili(Regional)
- Malayalam(Regional)
- Marathi(Regional)
- Meitei(Regional)
- Nepali(Regional)
- Odia(Regional)
- Punjabi(Regional)
- Sanskrit(Regional)
- Santali(Regional)
- Sindhi(Regional)
- Tamil(Regional)
- Telugu(Regional)
- Urdu(Regional)
Sources
- Country language reference
Safety
3 source-backed travel advisories are available for India.
United Kingdom
FCDO advises against all travel; FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). India-Pakistan border area. FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border. The Wagah-Attari border crossing is closed. Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
FCDO advises against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, the city of Srinagar and the Jammu-Srinagar national highway), except for:
- travel by air to and from the city of Jammu
- travel within the city of Jammu
Manipur. FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur including the capital, Imphal. Curfews and restrictions continue in parts of Manipur following violent ethnic clashes that broke out in 2023. Intermittent violence continues, including during May to July 2025.
United States
Level 2Exercise increased caution
Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Violent crime and terrorism occur in India.
- Rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India
- Violent crimes, including sexual assault, happen at tourist sites and other locations
- Terrorists may attack with little or no warning
They target:
- Tourist locations
- Transportation hubs
- Markets and shopping malls
- Government facilities
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas.
- These areas stretch from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal
- Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in India must obtain special authorization to travel to these areas
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