Arriving
Visas & Arrival, Settling In, Flights & Connections. 9 min read.
01Visas & Arrival
Visas and registration
India's visa rules are the same whichever city you fly into. From Terminal 2 at Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), every major neighbourhood is within 90 minutes, and so is the FRRO office in Shanthinagar. Your employer and IKAN run the whole process for you, from the day you accept your offer.
Visa Types
Employment Visa
For foreign nationals employed by an Indian company or the Indian branch of a multinational. Requires an employment contract showing salary of approximately USD 25,000 per year equivalent in Indian rupees. Valid for up to 5 years or contract duration. Multiple entry. Most expats to India arrive on this visa.approximately USD 25,000 per yearup to 5 years
Business Visa
For board attendance, establishing operations, due diligence and short pre-relocation visits to scout schools and homes. Valid up to 180 days per visit.up to 180 days per visit
e-Tourist Visa
This is a fully online visa that lets travellers from eligible nationalities visit India for tourism, visiting family, short yoga courses, or medical treatment. Ideal for preview trips, visiting international schools and housing options.
Dependent Visa
For accompanying spouses and children of an employment visa holder. Requires proof of relationship and the primary visa holder's employment documentation. Employment is not permitted on a Dependent Visa, a spouse who wishes to work must obtain their own Employment Visa.
Research / Project Visa
For researchers attached to IISc, ISRO ecosystem partners, R&D centres, or specific multi-year projects. Issued for the duration of the research or project.
Nationality Rules
Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar and certain other nationalities face additional security clearance requirements and processing times of 4 to 6 weeks beyond standard. Your IKAN consultant will advise on country-specific requirements at your pre-arrival briefing.
Note: There are no Visa or FRRO requirements if you are a returning Indian national or an OCI card holder. Please consult your IKAN relocation advisor for country-specific guidance.
FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) Registration · Bengaluru
FRRO Bengaluru
The FRRO Deadline is Non-Negotiable: If your visa carries a registration endorsement (employment, student, dependent, research and medical visas usually do), registration within 14 days of arrival is mandatory and legally binding. Other long-stay visa holders (over 180 days) must register before completing 180 days in India; when in doubt, treat 14 days as your deadline. Missing it creates complications and attracts penalties that can escalate beyond fines to criminal prosecution (up to 3 years and/or a ₹3 lakh fine). Do not prioritise property hunting or school visits over FRRO registration. IKAN schedules the FRRO appointment as Day 3 to 4 immediately on your arrival, before everything else.
Location: 5th Floor, TTMC Building (BMTC Bus Stand), Koramangala, Bengaluru, 560095. Portal: indianfrro.gov.in, most steps are now online through the e-FRRO portal, with in-person follow-up where required.
Location: 5th Floor, TTMC Building (BMTC Bus Stand), Koramangala, Bengaluru, 560095. Portal: indianfrro.gov.in, most steps are now online through the e-FRRO portal, with in-person follow-up where required.
Arriving at BLR T2
- Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Terminal 2 handles all international arrivals plus full-service domestic carriers
- T2, the SOM-designed "Terminal in a Garden", is widely considered India's most architecturally striking airport terminal
- Immigration queues: 25 to 55 minutes peak; e-Visa and OCI lanes are faster
- Distance to MG Road / Indiranagar / Koramangala: 40 km / 60-90 min (variable with peak traffic on NH-44)
- Distance to Whitefield: 50 km / 80-110 min via Outer Ring Road
- Use the BMTC Vayu Vajra premium AC bus for fixed-fare transfers; Namma Metro Airport Line reaches the airport from June 2027 on current plans
- Pre-book your transfer, Hebbal Flyover and the Outer Ring Road (ORR) can gridlock at peak
Your Arrival Sequence
1
Embassy Visa Application
YouApply at the Indian Embassy or High Commission in your home country. IKAN guides you through the documentation checklist. Processing: 3 to 10 working days for standard applications, longer for sensitive-nationality cases.
2
onDay 3 to 4
FRRO Registration · Day 3-4
IKANIKAN accompanies you to FRRO Bengaluru in Shanthinagar within your 14-day window. Complete the e-FRRO online application first at indianfrro.gov.in. Bring passport, visa, rental agreement, and passport photos. IKAN helps negotiate and prepare your Leave & License to ensure FRRO compliance.
3
Indian SIM
YouBring passport and visa to any Jio or Airtel store. Both offer eSIM in Bengaluru. Jio is best value for data; Airtel has stronger signal in central neighbourhoods. SIM activation takes 4 to 24 hours: register as soon as possible after landing, as a local number is needed for UPI, banking, and verification.
4
PAN (Income Tax ID) Card Application
YouApply on the Protean (formerly NSDL) portal with Form 49AA soon after arrival; your passport serves as proof of identity and address, so you need not wait for FRRO registration. Required for banking, investments, and tax compliance. Takes 10 to 15 working days. Aadhaar is not required for foreign nationals, PAN is sufficient.
5
Bank Account Opening
YouOpen a resident savings account at HDFC, HSBC, or Axis Bank (NRE/NRO accounts are for non-resident Indians, not for a foreign national working in India). Bring passport, visa, FRRO acknowledgment, PAN, employer letter, and rental agreement. Takes 3 to 7 working days. Essential for salary, UPI, and all local transactions.
6
Arrange Permanent Transport
EmployerMost companies arrange a long-term car and chauffeur for their expats. Also set up Uber / Ola / Rapido / Namma Yatri (Bengaluru's open-source auto app) for accessing public transportation like taxis and autos (tuk-tuk).
7
International Health Insurance
YouEnsure comprehensive international cover is activated before your first medical need. Confirm your policy covers Manipal HAL, Apollo Bannerghatta, Fortis Bannerghatta, Aster CMI and Sakra World with cashless facility.
Relocating With Pets
India permits the import of up to two pets (dogs/cats) per family. You will need an import permit from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service (AQCS), applied for via AQCS/DGFT before travel, plus an ISO-standard microchip, a current rabies vaccination (and other required vaccinations), and a veterinary health certificate from the origin country. Pets are inspected by AQCS on arrival; with complete paperwork, home quarantine is generally not required. Rules change: confirm current requirements with AQCS and your IKAN consultant before booking travel.
02Settling In
Your first 30 days
Do these steps in this order. IKAN handles the ones with deadlines, so none of them is missed.
1
byDay 14
FRRO Registration · Within 14 Days
IKANIKAN accompanies you to FRRO Bengaluru in Shanthinagar within your 14-day legal window. Complete e-FRRO online application at indianfrro.gov.in first. Bring passport, visa, rental agreement, and passport photos. This is the highest-priority item, do not let it slip behind property searches or school visits.
2
Indian SIM
YouBring passport and visa to any Jio or Airtel store. Both offer eSIM in Bengaluru. Jio is best value for data; Airtel has stronger signal in central neighbourhoods. Both offer international roaming add-ons. SIM activation takes 4 to 24 hours: register as soon as possible after landing.
3
PAN (Income Tax ID) Card Application
YouApply on the Protean (formerly NSDL) portal (onlineservices.proteantech.in) with Form 49AA soon after arrival; your passport serves as proof of identity and address, so you need not wait for FRRO registration. Required for banking, investments, salary credits, and tax compliance. Takes 10 to 15 working days. Aadhaar is not required for foreign nationals, PAN alone is your financial identity in India.
4
Bank Account Opening
YouOpen a resident savings account at HDFC, HSBC, or Axis Bank (NRE/NRO accounts are for non-resident Indians, not for a foreign national working in India). Bring passport, visa, FRRO acknowledgment, PAN, employer letter, and rental agreement. Takes 3 to 7 working days. Essential for salary, UPI, and all local transactions. HSBC has international client desks in UB City and Indiranagar with dedicated relationship managers for expat accounts.
5
UPI & Digital Payments
Once your bank account is active, set up UPI on GPay, PhonePe (founded in Bengaluru), or Paytm. India's UPI is the world's best peer-to-peer payment system, usable at every street vendor and shop. UPI auto-payments for utilities, gym, and household staff make month-end painless.
6
Arrange Permanent Transport
EmployerMost companies arrange a long-term car and chauffeur for their expats, monthly arrangements run ₹25,000 to 40,000 for an English-speaking driver. Also set up Uber / Ola / Rapido / Namma Yatri (Bengaluru's open-source auto app) for taxis and autos (tuk-tuk), and download the Namma Metro BMRCL app.
Transport Setup
Bengaluru Mobility
Company-arranged full-time chauffeur · Uber / Ola Corporate · Namma Metro Purple Line + Yellow Line · Namma Yatri for autos · Yulu for last-mile. Most expat households keep a chauffeured car given ORR and tech-corridor traffic.
Air & Water Setup
Indoor Quality Kit
RO + UV filtration for drinking water (Aquaguard, Kent, Pureit, ₹15,000 to 40,000) · HEPA air purifier for the bedroom (Dyson, Mi, ₹20,000 to 70,000), sensible for the dry Dec-Mar months · Tanker-water arrangements clarified upfront with landlord / Society manager.
Expat Community
Build Your Network
InterNations Bangalore, largest expat group, monthly meets · Overseas Women's Club of Bangalore (OWC) · British Council Bangalore · TISB / Stonehill / CIS parent networks · Bangalore International Centre (BIC) for cultural events · IKAN's quarterly expat dinners
Key Portals
Essential Links
FRRO: indianfrro.gov.in · PAN: onlineservices.proteantech.in · BESCOM: bescom.org · BWSSB: bwssb.gov.in · Namma Metro: bmrc.co.in · IRCTC: irctc.co.in · Karnataka state services: karnataka.gov.in · Bengaluru Police: ksp.gov.in
03Flights & Connections
Flights from Bengaluru
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) is India's 3rd-busiest by passengers. Its Terminal 2, the "Terminal in a Garden" designed by SOM, opened in 2022, and many call it India's most beautiful airport terminal. Direct long-haul flights to London, Frankfurt, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai and San Francisco (one of the world's longest flights) make Bengaluru a primary node for internationally mobile professionals.
| Destination | Airlines | Frequency | Duration | Approx Fare (Economy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow | Air India, British Airways | Daily | 10h 30m | ₹60,000 to 95,000 |
| Frankfurt | Lufthansa | Daily | 10h 30m | ₹55,000 to 90,000 |
| Singapore | Singapore Airlines, IndiGo | Multiple daily | 4h 30m | ₹22,000 to 45,000 |
| Dubai | Emirates, IndiGo | Multiple daily | 4h 00m | ₹18,000 to 35,000 |
| San Francisco | Air India via Delhi (the non-stop ended in February 2026) | Daily, 1-stop | 2h 45m + 16h 00m | ₹1,10,000 to 1,90,000 |
| Tokyo Narita | Japan Airlines | Daily | 9h 00m | ₹55,000 to 95,000 |
| Doha | Qatar Airways | Multiple daily | 4h 30m | ₹22,000 to 42,000 |
| Sydney | Singapore Airlines (1-stop); Qantas non-stop again from 25 October 2026 | Daily 1-stop | 13h 00m | ₹75,000 to 1,30,000 |
Domestic
Bengaluru → Mumbai
1h 50m
IndiGo, Air India · 30+ daily
Domestic
Bengaluru → Delhi
2h 45m
IndiGo, Air India · 25+ daily
Domestic
Bengaluru → Goa
1h 10m
IndiGo, SpiceJet · 8+ daily
Domestic
Bengaluru → Hyderabad
1h 15m
IndiGo, Air India · 15+ daily
BLR Terminal 2
About Your Airport
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Terminal 2 (the SOM-designed "Terminal in a Garden") opened November 2022 and handles international arrivals + select domestic. Terminal 1 handles most domestic. Distance to MG Road / Indiranagar: 40 km / 60 to 90 min on NH-44 via Hebbal Flyover. The Namma Metro Airport Line (KR Puram-BLR) is under construction, with Hebbal to the airport targeted for June 2027 and the full line for March 2028. Pre-immigration fast-track is available for Business Class on most major carriers. Arrive 3 hours early for international departures, CISF security is thorough. The Vande Bharat from KSR Bengaluru reaches Mysore in 2.5 hours.
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