Tips for Business Travel to India

If you’re traveling to India for the first time on business, you probably have a lot of questions about how to get around, what to bring with you, and what preparations you’ll need to make before your trip. There’s a lot that goes into planning a business trip to India, and you want to ensure that you have everything ready so you are prepared and can travel with confidence.

Ready to learn more about traveling to India for work? Read on for some tips to help prepare for your upcoming journey.

Tips to Follow Before You Leave

1. Get a Business Visa

Secure any India business visas that you need at least a month before your trip, and ideally sooner. You can get a business visa that is good for multiple entries and lasts either five years or ten years, so planning ahead won’t cause you any problems. If you get down to the wire, remember that we can help you secure your India travel visa as quickly as possible. Visit our website to get the application process started.

2. Visit Your Doctor

Before leaving, visit your doctor and get any necessary vaccines. Depending upon where in India you travel, you may also want to get anti-malarial medicine. Wherever you go, bring mosquito repellent. Also remember to bring along disinfectant wipes so that you can try to stay healthy while traveling through India.

3. Book Flights

Book flights so that you arrive at least one day before any meetings, ideally two days. If you’re traveling to India from America, the time difference will be at least twelve hours. You’ll want some time to get adjusted once you arrive, so be sure to prepare accordingly. Failing to do so could lead to some bad jet lag.

4. Book Transportation

Book a car from the airport to your hotel. You’ll be glad after hours upon hours of flying to have a car waiting for you that you know you can trust to get you to your hotel without any hassle. You can also rent a car or a motorcycle, but driving in India might be an overwhelming experience.

5. Prepare For Any Meetings

Take some time to sit down and prepare for any meetings that you’ll be attending. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel. Additionally, learn the names of the people you’ll be meeting with. Make sure you have the pronunciation correct, and if you’re not very good with names, practice saying them out loud several times so that you can make a good first impression.

Tips to Follow When You Arrive

1. Don’t Drink the Tap Water

Don’t drink water out of a tap. Even if you’re staying in a nice hotel, it’s recommended that you always drink bottled water in India. The last thing you need is to get sick during your business trip in a foreign country.

2. Go Sightseeing

Take time to see the sights. India is one of the most beautiful, culturally rich countries in the world. It would be a shame to travel that far and only go from conference room to conference room. Take the time to book a tour or enjoy the local attractions wherever you are staying.

3. Keep Your Valuables Safe

Always be aware of your valuables and keep them in a safe and secure spot. If you are carrying them around, put them inside a bag that’s theft-proof or inside a zipped pocket. Keep your passport and wallet on you in a money belt, and place your items inside the hotel room safe when you leave.

4. Be Mindful of What You’re Eating

Avoid spicy foods or foods that you think may not agree with your stomach before any big meetings. You can always be adventurous once your business dealings are done, but until then, try to stick to more bland foods if possible. The last thing you need is to feel sick while traveling for business!

5. Stay Hydrated

The best way to fight jet lag is with good sleep and water. Start by drinking lots of water on the flight over and keep up the habit with big bottles every day you’re there. Buy a pack of water at a local market to save some money, and keep it with you in your hotel room. Try to take a bottle along with you whenever you leave the hotel to ensure that you have water on hand if needed.

Following these tips will help you have a successful business trip to India. If you need to procure your travel documents for your business trip, Swift can help! Our team has years of experience helping businesses travelers obtain passports and visas, and would love to assist you, too. Please visit our website to get the application process started, and if you have any questions along the way, please contact us. We look forward to getting you to your destination.