India Essentials
Guide2 min read

Quick Reference Card

Everything that matters in your first days, on one card, emergency numbers, the landing sequence, the deadlines you cannot miss, and where to find the rest. The one page to keep close.

Download the PDF

In short

  • Photograph your entry stamp, its date starts your FRRO clock (14 days on most work visas)
  • Overstaying draws tiered penalties (from ₹10,000); non-registration or overstay is an offence under the Immigration & Foreigners Act 2025, up to 3 years' imprisonment, a ₹3,00,000 fine, or both.
  • SIM at the airport kiosk (~₹999; cheaper in city stores), the master key for UPI & OTPs
Emergency & safety
112All emergencies (police/fire/ambulance)
108Ambulance (102 in Delhi) · 102 maternity
100Police · 101 Fire
1091Women's helpline · 1098 Childline
1930Cyber-fraud, call FAST if money is taken
·Your embassy 24h line: ____________
First 72 hours, in order
  1. e-Arrival Card submitted (≤72h before landing); QR saved offline
  2. Photograph your entry stamp, its date starts your FRRO clock (14 days on most work visas)
  3. SIM at the airport kiosk (~₹999; cheaper in city stores), the master key for UPI & OTPs
  4. Cash + UPI One World wallet, pay before your salary account exists
  5. PAN application (Form 95), it gates your bank account
  6. Start FRRO at indianfrro.gov.in, don't wait for the perfect address
Hard deadlines
FRRO within 14 days (most work visas)
Counted from your entry-stamp date on any visa valid for more than 180 days (employment and dependant visas are). On a short or capped visa, register before day 180 if you will stay longer (June 2026 amendment); when in doubt, treat 14 days as your deadline. Overstaying draws tiered penalties (from ₹10,000); non-registration or overstay is an offence under the Immigration & Foreigners Act 2025, up to 3 years' imprisonment, a ₹3,00,000 fine, or both. The #1 task of your move, we file it with you.
e-Arrival Card · 72h before landing (all foreign nationals, incl. OCI)
Tax residency · day-count begins on arrival (the 182-day line)
Money & pay
UPI is how India pays, it needs an Indian SIM first.
Dependency chain: SIM → PAN → Bank account → UPI (UPI One World works before the bank account).
Tell your home bank you've moved (avoid a card freeze).
Rent over ₹50,000/mo? You deduct 2% TDS (Form 141, the old 26QC).
Key official links
e-Arrival, indianvisaonline.gov.in / Su-Swagatam app
FRRO, indianfrro.gov.in
PAN, tinpan.proteantech.in
Tax e-filing, eportal.incometax.gov.in
Day-one apps
WhatsAppUber / OlaGoogle Maps (offline)PhonePe / Google Pay Blinkit / ZeptoSwiggySu-SwagatamMyJio / Airtel ThanksPracto / Apollo 24|7
My key numbers
FRRO file no. ____________________
PAN ____________________
Bank a/c & UPI ____________________
Landlord ____________________
Company buddy / HR ____________________
Your IKAN contacts
Relocation coordinator ______________
24h support line ______________
Local city contact ______________
enquiry@ikan.com · +91 11 4049 0000 · ikan.com
Where expertise meets empathy. Each item links to a deep guide in your India Essentials pack; this card never re-explains, it just keeps the load-bearing facts in one place. Numbers current as of 2026.