British Indian Ocean TerritoryIndia: e-Visa

British Indian Ocean TerritoryIndia

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for India?

e-Visa

Yes. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for India, available online as an e-visa before travel.

An e-visa must be applied for and approved online before travel.

Source: indianvisaonline.gov.in (checked July 18, 2026).

Requiremente-Visa

Maximum stay30 days

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-14

Visa-free access to India2 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? India passport holders visiting British Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required.

India drives on the left, the opposite side to British Indian Ocean Territory. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

Visa-free alternatives near India

British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders can visit these nearby destinations without a visa in advance:

Other visa-free destinations for British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders

See all British Indian Ocean Territory destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for India?

Yes. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for India, available online as an e-visa before travel.

How long can British Indian Ocean Territory citizens stay in India without a visa?

Up to 30 days, for tourism, ordinary passport.

What currency is used in India?

Indian rupee (INR).

What is the emergency number in India?

100 / 101 / 102 / 108 / 112.

Does India drive on the same side of the road as British Indian Ocean Territory?

India drives on the left, the opposite side to British Indian Ocean Territory. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

What time zone is India in?

Kolkata (UTC+5:30).

What is the nearest airport to New Delhi?

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), about 15 km away.

How many countries can enter India without a visa?

2 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter India visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

What nearby countries can British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders visit without a visa instead of India?

Nepal, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, United Arab Emirates.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.2°C	404mm	268h
February	28.3°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	257mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.3°C	121mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.8°C	211mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.5°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.3°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	88mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.8°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.4°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.

About India

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's seventh-largest country by area and the largest by population. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is near Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

CapitalNew Delhi

RegionSouthern Asia

Population1.5B

Area3,287,590 km²

CurrencyIndian rupee (1 USD ≈ 95.16 INR)

LanguagesEnglish, Hindi, Tamil

Calling code+91

Drives on theleft

TimezoneKolkata (UTC+5:30)

Nearest airportIndira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), 15 km

Emergency number100 / 101 / 102 / 108 / 112

UNESCO sites51

Income levelLower middle income

GDP per capita$2,702 (2025)

Tourist arrivals17.9M (2019)

Climate in New Delhi

Warmest June, coolest January, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for New Delhi, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	18.2°C	8°C	66mm	261h
February	22.2°C	10.2°C	34mm	285h
March	25.7°C	14.5°C	73mm	315h
April	33.4°C	20.2°C	11mm	331h
May	37.6°C	24.2°C	24mm	328h
June	37.1°C	27.3°C	9mm	337h
July	34.8°C	27.1°C	111mm	329h
August	32.4°C	26.5°C	192mm	288h
September	34.2°C	25.6°C	50mm	333h
October	32.5°C	18.3°C	0mm	339h
November	26°C	12.4°C	16mm	298h
December	21.8°C	8.7°C	1mm	299h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

India, the largest country in South Asia, has many of the world's highest mountains, most populated cities, and longest rivers. As one of the great civilisations of the ancient world, once revered as 'the golden bird', India's heritage and culture are a rich amalgam of the past and present. This vast rapidly developing country, the most populous in the world, offers the traveller a view of fascinating religions and ethnography, a smorgasbord of languages, diverse food, and architectural masterpieces that were built millennia ago and remain intact today. As the nation opens up to a globalised world, India still has a depth of history and intensity of culture that awe and fascinate the many who visit there.

Full source list on About.