Visa for transit in India en route to Sri Lanka

Hi there,

I’ve been reading conflicting info about whether an Indian visa might be required for a few-hour layover in Mumbai.

Do we need anything besides the Sri Lankan ETA if we’re just transiting through India without leaving Terminal 2 at the airport? We’re flying from Brussels via Frankfurt and then Mumbai with Lufthansa.

Thanks so much—I’m totally lost here! 😅

Hi there,

... I’ve read conflicting info about whether an Indian visa might be required for a few-hour transit in Mumbai. Do we need anything besides the Sri Lankan ETA if we don’t leave Terminal 2 at the airport? Flying from Brussels via Frankfurt then Mumbai with Lufthansa ...

Some details on this page. To avoid needing an Indian visa, you must have a single ticket (with automatic baggage transfer to your final destination). Otherwise, get a 30-day E-visa here instead of a Transit Visa (another link).

Thanks for your reply.

I have a single booking with Lufthansa, but from India onward it’s Sri Lankan Airlines that takes over. I’m traveling with carry-on luggage only, so nothing to check in or collect.

For peace of mind and since it’s “only” 25 €, I’d go ahead and get the visa anyway—but then I’d just put any hotel near the airport as the place I’m staying (since they ask for that, plus a contact person and a phone number) 😄

...I have a single booking with Lufthansa but from India onward it’s SriLankan Airlines that takes over...

Do you then have 2 tickets (i.e., 2 booking codes or PNRs)?

...For peace of mind and since it’s "only" 25 €, I’d go ahead and get the visa anyway—but then I’d just put any hotel near the airport as the place to stay...

For example, a hotel located in the Aerocity area

No, just one since it was booked on the Lufthansa website, but 3 flights: Brussels-Frankfurt → Frankfurt-Mumbai → Mumbai-Colombo.

For some people it goes through, and others get turned away, even with a PNR and booking via Lufthansa too 😅. It’s enough to drive you crazy—nothing is clear at all.

... only one since booked on the Lufthansa website, but 3 flights: Brussels Frankfurt - Frankfurt Mumbai - Mumbai Colombo ....

According to the TIMATIC tool provided by IATA for airlines (and individuals), you don’t normally need an Indian visa for this itinerary (see text at the bottom of the image).

Thanks again! 😊 That’s the info I had too, but apparently a few people ran into issues (I stumbled on a Sri Lanka Facebook page by chance, chatted with someone who had the problem, and nothing explained why they had to show their India visa).

... but apparently a few people have had an issue (I stumbled upon it by chance on a Sri Lanka Facebook page, I talked to the person who had the case and nothing indicated why they had to show their Indian visa).

Sure enough, at the Lufthansa departure counter as well as during transit in Germany, they can ask you if you hold an Indian visa: see this discussion on another forum

I played it safe and applied for my visa online 😊

I played it safe and applied for my visa online 😊

Wise precaution, as Lufthansa counter staff might go overboard and deny you boarding, unilaterally deciding that your final leg (Mumbai > Colombo) with another airline requires an Indian visa (transit or otherwise). This has already happened to Air France passengers

Visa in hand 😊

Visa in hand 😊

have a good trip

Thanks 😊 and thanks for your research 😊

Visa in hand 😊

Transiting through Mumbai in less than 30 days?

Yes

It was the denied boarding reported yesterday and experienced by member SINGERS that led me to ask you one last question about the validity of your visa during transit in Mumbai

I land at 1 a.m. in Mumbai, so I put the day after my departure from Brussels as the arrival date. Is that okay? I’m not entirely sure I understood the whole Singer’s issue 😅

Got it! 😊

Got it 😊

You need to transit through Mumbai in INDIA no later than the expiration day of the ETA you were granted: see the "Date of expiry of ETA" on around the 10th line of the attached image.

Yes, I’ve got until March 10th, so it’s all good 😊 Thanks for your help 🙏