Do Kids Need Visas or Vaccinations for India? What Parents Must Arrange Before Travel
Do kids need visas or vaccinations for India? A practical guide for parents covering travel vaccines, visas and pre-trip health planning.
INDIAASIARESOURCES
4/2/20266 min read
If you’re planning a family trip and wondering do kids need visas for India as UK families, or what vaccinations children need before travelling, this is one of the first (and most important) things to get clear.
India is an incredible destination for children — but the family travel India entry requirements, including visas and vaccinations, are slightly different from many other holidays and can feel confusing at first.
Quick Answer: Do Kids Need Visas and Vaccinations for India?
Yes — all children need a visa to travel to India, even if they’re included on a parent’s booking.
Vaccinations aren’t always mandatory, but some are recommended depending on your itinerary and current health guidance, so it’s worth checking early.
We went through this ourselves as a family before travelling to India, and it’s one of those areas where getting it sorted early removes a huge amount of stress later on. The good news is that once you understand what’s required, everything is fairly straightforward to arrange.
This guide is for families looking for straightforward advice on:
India visa requirements for families with kids
whether children need vaccinations for India travel
and what you actually need to arrange before you go
Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only include services and providers we’ve used ourselves or would recommend for family travel.
Do Kids Need a Visa for India?
Yes — children need their own visa to enter India, just like adults.
India does not allow children to travel on a parent’s visa, so every traveller must have an approved visa before arrival. For most family trips, the easiest option is the India e‑Tourist Visa (eVisa).
Key Points for Families
each child must complete their own application
visas are linked to the individual passport
you’ll need to upload a passport photo and passport scan
approval usually takes 3–5 days (apply earlier to be safe)
The eVisa is valid for entry through major airports, including Delhi. We applied online before our trip and it was straightforward.
Important Visa Timing Mistake to Avoid
One detail that can easily catch families out is the visa start date.
Your eVisa becomes valid from the arrival date you enter in the application, not your flight departure date.
We nearly made a costly mistake here. Our flight landed just before midnight, but if it had been delayed and we’d passed through immigration after midnight, our visa would technically have been invalid.
In the end, we reapplied with the correct date — frustrating, but far safer.
The key takeaway: double-check your arrival date carefully, especially with late-night flights
How Much Do India Visas Cost?
For UK families, India eVisas are typically around:
£25–£30 per person
For our family of three, that came to around £75 total.
If you’re budgeting your trip, you can see how this fits into overall costs in How Much a 10‑Day Golden Triangle Family Trip Costs
Do Kids Need Vaccinations for India?
No — there are no mandatory vaccinations for most UK families travelling to India.
However, travel clinics usually recommend checking routine vaccinations and may suggest additional protection depending on your plans.
Common recommendations include:
tetanus
hepatitis A
typhoid
sometimes hepatitis B
This depends on:
trip length
where you’re travelling (cities vs rural)
current vaccination history
Should You Speak to a GP or Travel Clinic?
Yes — ideally several weeks before travel.
In our case:
Joshua’s vaccinations were arranged through our GP
we used the Superdrug Travel Clinic for adults (we paid around £300 in total)
A clinic can also advise on malaria. For the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), risk is usually considered low, but it’s still worth checking.
Travel Insurance: Don’t Skip This
Travel insurance is just as important as visas or vaccinations.
Medical care in cities like Delhi is excellent, but it can be expensive without cover.
We look for policies that include:
emergency medical cover
cancellation protection
repatriation
A typical family travel insurance policy usually costs around £80–£150 depending on coverage. We recommend Just Travel Cover because it allows you to compare multiple insurers in one place and select the level of cover that suits your trip.
The platform also makes it easy to adjust policies based on destination, trip length and any medical conditions, which helped us feel confident we had the right level of protection before travelling.
For other safety related advice, see:
Other Health Preparations Families Should Consider
Beyond vaccinations, a few simple steps can make travelling in India much easier with children.
Food and Water Safety
Most stomach issues travellers experience in India relate to water or food hygiene rather than illness.
Basic precautions include:
drinking bottled or filtered water
avoiding ice from unknown sources
eating in reputable restaurants or hotels
For a practical look at how children handle food in India, see: Food Safety in India
Pack a Small Travel Medical Kit
Families often find it useful to carry:
rehydration sachets
children’s paracetamol
antihistamines
hand sanitiser
anti diarrhoea tablets
travel sickness pills
Pharmacies exist in India, but having basics with you is convenient.
For a deeper look at what to pack for India with kids, see:
What to Pack for India with Kids: A Practical Family Checklist
Final Answer: What Do Families Need to Arrange Before Travelling to India?
For most UK families travelling to India:
visas are required for all children
vaccinations are recommended, not mandatory
insurance is essential
Once those are sorted, the rest of the planning becomes much more straightforward.
FAQs: Visas & Vaccinations for Kids Travelling to India
Do kids need a visa for India from the UK?
Yes — all children need their own visa to enter India, regardless of age.
There’s no option to include children on a parent’s visa, so each child must have an approved eVisa linked to their passport before travel.
How long does it take to get an India visa for children?
Most India eVisas are approved within 3–5 days, but it’s best to apply at least 1–2 weeks in advance.
From our experience, applying early avoids unnecessary stress — especially if you need to reapply or correct any details.
What happens if your visa dates are wrong?
If your visa start date doesn’t match your arrival date, you could be refused entry at immigration.
We nearly got caught out by this with a late-night flight, so it’s important to:
double-check your arrival date
allow for delays if flying close to midnight
Do children need vaccinations to travel to India?
No — there are no mandatory vaccinations for most UK travellers, including children.
However, travel clinics usually recommend:
staying up to date with routine vaccinations
considering additional protection depending on your itinerary
What vaccinations are recommended for kids travelling to India?
Common recommendations often include:
tetanus
hepatitis A
typhoid
These vary depending on:
where you’re travelling
how long you’re staying
your child’s vaccination history
Should you visit a GP or travel clinic before going to India?
Yes — it’s best to speak to a GP or travel clinic several weeks before travel.
In our case:
children’s vaccines were handled through our GP
we used a travel clinic for adults
This also helps with advice on malaria and general health precautions.
Is travel insurance necessary for India with kids?
Yes — travel insurance is essential.
It should cover:
medical emergencies
cancellations
repatriation
We use Just Travel Cover to compare policies and make sure we’ve got the right level of protection for each trip.
What’s the biggest mistake families make with visas or vaccinations?
Leaving it too late or assuming it will be simple.
From our experience, the biggest issues come from:
incorrect visa dates
last-minute applications
not checking health advice early enough
A bit of preparation upfront saves a lot of stress later.
What else should families prepare before travelling to India?
Beyond visas and vaccinations, it helps to plan for:
food and water safety
basic medical supplies
general travel safety
If you’re deciding whether India is the right destination, Is India Safe to Travel With Kids? gives a full picture from a family perspective.
plan your TRIP TO india with kids
If you’re planning your family trip to India, these guides will help you pull everything together:
About Plan Family Escapes
We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.
Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.
