Country guide

India

Destinations

Visa & entry

eu passport	e-Tourist Visa (ETA-style, apply online) required before travel; complete within 72h of arrival. 166 countries eligible incl. EU. 30-day e-Visa ~US$25 standard (promo US$10 Apr-Jun per one 2026 source, unverified/contradiction). 1-year and 5-year e-Visa options also exist.
us passport	e-Tourist Visa required. Fees are reciprocal by nationality; one 2026 source states US citizens pay US$160 (unclear if this is the 5-year/multi-entry tier or a flat reciprocal rate - source wording ambiguous, see contradictions).
uk passport	e-Tourist Visa required. Same 2026 source states UK passport holders pay US$484 reciprocal fee (notably higher than US/EU - plausible given India's historical reciprocal-fee practice with the UK, but not cross-verified against a second source).
digital nomad visa	None found; India has no dedicated digital-nomad visa as of this research pass.
tax residency days	Commonly cited as 182 days in a financial year (general knowledge; not verified via search this session).
notes	e-Visa application must be completed within 72 hours before arrival. Not eligible if applicant has current/former defence, military, security or police background, or holds a diplomatic/official/laissez-passer document. Fee list cited as 'Bureau of Immigration, updated 20 Feb 2026' by secondary source - not accessed directly.

Money

currency	Indian Rupee (INR)
local instant payment	UPI (Unified Payments Interface) via 'UPI One World' - NPCI product letting foreign tourists from G20 countries use UPI through a Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) wallet without an Indian bank account. Requires passport + visa for KYC; easiest setup at Airport Arrival Kiosks in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru (not confirmed available at smaller airports serving Rameshwaram, e.g. Madurai).

SIM & internet

id required for sim	Passport + visa copy plus local photo typically required for foreigner SIM KYC (general knowledge; not verified via search this session for current rules).
notes	Not specifically researched for Rameshwaram/Tamil Nadu coastal coverage - open question.

Insurance

kite excluded by standard policies	Generally yes - kitesurfing is typically classed as an extreme/adventure sport and excluded from standard travel policies, requiring an add-on rider (industry-standard practice; not re-verified via search this session due to search budget exhaustion).
evacuation note	Rameshwaram is remote from major trauma centers (nearest large hospital likely Madurai, ~170km, unverified); evacuation cover worth checking specifically - open question.

Health

vaccines	Hepatitis A and Typhoid recommended for most travelers (food/water-borne illness common outside hotel kitchens). Hepatitis B also commonly recommended. Japanese Encephalitis vaccination recommended for Tamil Nadu specifically; JE season peaks roughly May-Nov.
mosquito disease seasons	Malaria present across India except elevations above ~6,500 ft / ~2,000m (covers little of coastal Tamil Nadu, so Rameshwaram - sea level - is in the malaria zone per general guidance, though risk is described as low). Dengue present, transmitted by day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes; no vaccine or prophylaxis exists, prevention is behavioral (repellent, covering up).
tap water	Not safe for travelers - avoid tap water and ice; drink only bottled water with intact seal or boiled water.

Driving

Regulation

kite rules national	No national kite-specific law found. Locally in Rameshwaram, a permit is required to kitesurf; kite schools handle this for students/renters.
protected areas	Rameshwaram falls under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules administered by the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA), which regulates activity in the coastal zone under CRZ Notification 2011. Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is nearby - proximity/overlap with kite launch areas not confirmed.

Calendar & costs

currency	INR

airline: Qatar Airways
policy: Kite gear accepted as part of standard free checked baggage allowance in place of a regular suitcase; can also be pre-paid online at a discounted Sports Equipment rate if it's an additional piece (online prepay only, not available at airport).
fee: Included in checked allowance if within it; discounted online sports rate if extra piece (amount not specified in source).
limits: Max 23 kg / 50 lb for kite gear as part of allowance.
year: 2026
source: https://www.qatarairways.com/en/baggage/sports-baggage.html ; https://www.airline-baggage-fees.com/sports/kitesurfing/qatar-airways.html
airline: Emirates
policy: Considered one of the more kite-friendly carriers; kitesurfing equipment accepted as part of standard checked baggage allowance.
year: 2026
source: https://www.airline-baggage-fees.com/sports/kitesurfing/

e-Visa fee reporting is internally ambiguous: one 2026 secondary source lists a standard 30-day fee (~US$25, or US$10 promo Apr-Jun) alongside a separate claim that 'US citizens pay US$160' and 'UK passport holders pay US$484' as 'reciprocal rates' - it is unclear whether these reciprocal figures apply to the 30-day e-Visa, the 1-year, or the 5-year tier. Needs verification against the official Indian e-Visa portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in) before publishing a specific number.

Open questions

Confirm exact e-Visa fee by passport nationality and validity tier on the official Indian government e-Visa portal.
SIM/eSIM operator coverage specifically for the Rameshwaram/Mandapam coastal area.
Nearest hospital with trauma/evacuation capability to Rameshwaram.
Whether IDP is required/enforced for foreign tourists driving/riding in Tamil Nadu.
Drone rules applicable to Rameshwaram (DGCA Digital Sky registration is India's general framework but not confirmed for this location).
India emergency number (112 is India's general unified emergency number per common knowledge but not verified via search this session).