New to India?
Moving to India can be exciting and challenging. There is a very small Irish community. The expatriate community is mainly based in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.
The small Irish community in India is based mainly in Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Before leaving Ireland please consult our current travel advice for India and check that you have:
- Valid passport
- Valid visa for India
- Long Form Birth Certificate (with the Hague Apostille stamped on it by the Consular Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to prove its authenticity)
- Educational documents, if you will be employed in India (with the Hague Apostille stamped on it by the Consular Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to prove its authenticity)
- Adequate funds to maintain you while you establish yourself
- Private comprehensive medical insurance, which includes repatriation cover
The Embassy recommends that you ensure your passport is up to date and shows next-of-kin details on back of passport. You should also keep your family informed of your address and contact details in India at all times.
Indian visa regulations are very strict. You can be fined, imprisoned and/or deported for breaching Indian visa regulations.
We recommend that you always carry some proof of identity.
The signature on your passport should match your current signature. This will make it easier to open a bank account and issue cheques in India.
We recommend that you inform your bank before moving so that your bank cards are not blocked.
We recommend that Irish citizens travelling or living abroad register their contact details with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The information will allow us to contact you, and provide assistance, if necessary and possible, if there is an unforeseen crisis such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or if you have a family emergency while you are overseas.
The following information may help you when living and working in India
Visas
Foreigner Regional Registration Office: https://mha.gov.in/MHA1/ForeigHome.html
International Schools
There are American, British, French and German schools in Delhi. There are American and German schools in Mumbai. There are international schools in most cities but quality can vary. Education can be extremely expensive.
Medical care
Even with comprehensive medical insurance, you should expect to pay in advance for medical care before receiving treatment. If the bill is very large, then a deposit will be expected.
Importation of goods
India has strict custom regulations which must be obeyed. It is advisable to use a shipping company who is very familiar with Indian regulations.
Accommodation
It can be difficult to find suitable accommodation in India. In major cities, it can be significantly more expensive than Ireland. Accommodation is normally unfurnished. Water supply can be 24 hour or restricted to certain hours of the day. A generator is recommended for an uninterrupted electrical supply. Security arrangements should be checked. It is common to have a fulltime security guard.
International community
The Irish community in India is very small. Internations is a useful website to connect with other expatriates. In Delhi, Delhi Network is useful for making contacts. A similar group is based in Gurgaon, called Gurgaon Connection.