India - Facts

India FAQs

Pre-Arrival - Boat:  All yachts entering Indian waters are now required to provide a Pre-Arrival Notification of Security (PANS), which must be sent by the skipper/captain or through an appointed agent at least 96 hours prior arrival at a Port of Entry. Use of an agent is now mandatory. See Clearance for more information.
Pre-Arrival - Crew:  Visitors from all countries must obtain a tourist visa in advance if planning on visiting India or the Andaman Islands. More details in Immigration.
Where can I enter?:  Cochin (Kochi) in SW India, Kerala, is a popular clearance port for vessels heading to or from the Red Sea and the most yacht-friendly entry port. See Main Ports in the blue Country drop down for a list of all Ports of Entry.
Are fees high to enter by yacht?  Clearance fees charged often depend on where you clear in to the country. See Fees for details.
What security concerns should I know about?  UK, USA and Australia government websites indicate that visitors to India should exercise a high degree of caution overall due to the threat of terrorism and crime and the risk of civil unrest. Higher levels apply in some areas and there have been a number of recent (September 2024) bomb threats at airports and on flights to and from India. See Security for more details.

India Facts for Sailors

• Cochin (Kochi) is conveniently placed close to the Red Sea route and as cruising along the coast offers limited attractions, those who are short of time would do better to use Cochin as a base and tour inland from there. India's first marina opened here on Bolgatty Island, April 2010, but facilities are basic.
• Bombay (Mumbai) is conveniently places if wishing to travel inland.
• The Andaman Islands are an archipelago of some 200 islands lying west of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Yachts are now welcome to stop here (with an Indian visa and Andamans as the destination) and the islands are becoming a popular area for boats from Phuket, especially those on their way to the Red Sea. There is a rally for these islands which makes entry and cruising easier. See Events for details.
• North Sentinel Island in Eastern India, which lies to the west of the southern part of South Andaman Island, has a 3 mile exclusion zone around it. The Sentinelese people who live on this small island actively and violently reject contact and are considered the most isolated people in the world.
• The east coast is not normally visited by yachts, although Madras (Chennai) is a port of entry.
• There are small workshops capable of simple repairs, but spare parts are almost unobtainable, so you should have all essentials on board. There are several boatyards with slipways, but they are not used to dealing with keeled yachts so should only be used if absolutely necessary.