The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updated its India travel advice on 25 September, reiterating its warning against all travel within 10 km of the India–Pakistan border except at Wagah, and adding new guidance on accessing visa-support services during localised disruptions. The notice points British nationals to India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) system—now fully online—and reminds travellers that e-Visa processing can take up to 72 hours during peak periods. The advisory also references India’s new electronic Overseas Citizen of India card (e-OCI) introduced in June 2026, which eliminates the need to carry a physical booklet. While the substance of the border warning is unchanged, the refreshed bulletin comes amid heightened security around the G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit in Delhi (29 September–2 October). Corporate security teams should ensure that employees operating near Amritsar, Jammu or Gujarat’s border districts have robust journey-management plans and emergency evacuation insurance. The FCDO retains its standard guidance on health, air pollution and cash availability, but the added emphasis on consular visa assistance suggests a rise in demand following recent flight and rail disruptions. UK firms sending personnel to India this autumn should double-check passport validity and factor extra time into visa applications.
Source: UK Government (GOV.UK)
