6 h
Stay airside
- With the queues at immigration and security, six hours is too short to see Delhi.
- Rest in a lounge or the transit hotel.
New Delhi layover: can you leave Indira Gandhi International Airport?
Most foreign passports need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online at least four days before, to leave Delhi airport. Japanese and Korean travellers can get a visa on arrival, Nepali citizens need no visa at all, and the Airport Express metro reaches New Delhi station in about 20 minutes.
Rules researched 28 Oct 2026. Always confirm with the official source and your airline.
Can you leave? Rules by passport
| Passport | Can you leave? | What to know | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival. Use only the official site, indianvisaonline.gov.in. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| United Kingdom | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Germany | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| France | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Italy | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Spain | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Netherlands | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Other EU / Schengen country | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Australia | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Canada | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. The e-Visa is open to Canadians again (it was paused for two months in 2023). Apply online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Mann Travel: India e-Visa for Canadians (updated Oct 2026) |
| New Zealand | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Japan | Yes, with conditions | Visa on arrival. Visa on arrival at Delhi for up to 60 days, Rs 2,000. Bring an onward ticket and passport valid for 6 months. The e-Visa also works. | Indian Visa Online: Visa on Arrival |
| South Korea | Yes, with conditions | Visa on arrival. Visa on arrival at Delhi for up to 60 days, Rs 2,000. Bring an onward ticket and passport valid for 6 months. The e-Visa also works. | Indian Visa Online: Visa on Arrival |
| Singapore | Only with a visa arranged before you fly | e-Visa needed before you fly. Apply for an Indian e-Visa online at least 4 days before arrival, on the official site only. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| India | Yes, you can leave | You're home. Indian citizens walk straight out. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
| Nepal | Yes, you can leave | No visa needed. Nepali citizens don't need a visa for India. Carry your Nepali passport through immigration. | Indian Visa Online (official) |
Other passport? Check the official source above, then use the checker for the time maths. Spotted a change? Tell us.
Just changing planes? Do you need a visa at DEL?
International-to-international connections at Terminal 3 stay airside with no Indian visa, as long as both flights are on one booking (one PNR), your bags are checked through and you stay in the transit area. Follow the "International Transfers" signs and go through transfer security.
Full guide: Delhi airport transit: do you need a visa to change planes or terminals?
Changing terminals
All international flights use Terminal 3, so an international connection doesn't change terminal. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 aren't connected airside: getting to T1 or T2 means clearing immigration and taking the free landside shuttle (25–40 minutes) or the metro. An airside shuttle for single-ticket passengers has been reported but not confirmed, so don't rely on it.
Going on to a domestic flight
Connecting to a domestic flight in India means clearing immigration and customs at Delhi and collecting your bags, even on one ticket. You need an Indian visa or e-Visa for this. Indian and Nepali citizens don't.
Separate tickets (self-transfer)
On separate tickets you have to collect your bags and check in again, which means passing immigration and entering India. You need an Indian visa (an e-Visa, or a transit visa from an Indian mission, usually valid up to 3 days), even if you never leave the building.
How long to allow
Allow at least 2 hours international to international, 3.5 hours international to domestic, and 5 hours or more on separate tickets.
Airport transit visa by passport
None of the 16 passports we cover needs a visa to change planes airside at DEL, on one booking with your bags checked through. Entering the country, for a terminal change through immigration, a domestic flight or separate tickets, follows the rules in the table above.
Sources: Embassy of India, Prague: transit visa rules 2026 · Trip.com: Delhi airport transit guide · DelhiGPT: Delhi airport terminal transfer guide 2026
How much time will you really have?
60 minto get through immigration and out
40 mineach way to the main sights
2 hback at the airport before departure
6 hminimum layover for 90 minutes outside
Immigration queues at Terminal 3 can be slow. Use the metro for the return trip whenever you can.
Getting to New Delhi
| Option | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi Airport Express metro (Orange Line) from Terminal 3 | About 20 min to New Delhi station | Around Rs 60 | Every 10–15 min, roughly 5 am to 11:30 pm. Change at New Delhi or Shivaji Stadium for Connaught Place. |
| Prepaid taxi or app cab | 35–60 min to Connaught Place, longer at rush hour | Around Rs 500–900 | Use the prepaid booth or Uber/Ola. Traffic is the risk on the way back. |
At the airport
- Left luggage at Terminal 3 arrivals.
- Airside lounges and a transit hotel in Terminal 3.
Layover plans for New Delhi
Times assume you can leave the airport with your passport. Pick the plan that fits your layover, not your hopes.
10 h
India Gate and Connaught Place
- Airport Express to New Delhi, then metro to Rajiv Chowk.
- Lunch around Connaught Place.
- Auto-rickshaw to India Gate and Kartavya Path.
- Metro back from New Delhi.
16 h
Add Humayun's Tomb or Old Delhi
- Everything in the 10-hour plan.
- Humayun's Tomb, or Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk by metro.
- Dinner before heading back.
24 h
A night in Delhi
- Hotel near Aerocity or Connaught Place.
- Qutub Minar and Lodhi Garden in the morning.
Stopover packages. Air India doesn't run a formal stopover scheme. Aerocity, next to the airport, has many hotels for a short overnight.
New Delhi layover questions
Can I leave Indira Gandhi International Airport on a layover?
It depends on your passport. United States: only with a visa arranged before you fly; United Kingdom: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Germany: only with a visa arranged before you fly; France: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Italy: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Spain: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Netherlands: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Other EU / Schengen country: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Australia: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Canada: only with a visa arranged before you fly; New Zealand: only with a visa arranged before you fly; Japan: yes, with conditions; South Korea: yes, with conditions; Singapore: only with a visa arranged before you fly; India: yes, you can leave; Nepal: yes, you can leave. Check the table on this page and the official source before you fly.
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport in New Delhi?
About 6 hours or more. You need around 60 minutes to get out, 40 minutes each way to the main sights, and should be back 2 hours before departure.
How do I get from DEL to New Delhi city centre?
Delhi Airport Express metro (Orange Line) from Terminal 3: About 20 min to New Delhi station, Around Rs 60. Prepaid taxi or app cab: 35–60 min to Connaught Place, longer at rush hour, Around Rs 500–900.
Do I need a transit visa for New Delhi (DEL)?
International-to-international connections at Terminal 3 stay airside with no Indian visa, as long as both flights are on one booking (one PNR), your bags are checked through and you stay in the transit area. Follow the "International Transfers" signs and go through transfer security. None of the passports we cover needs a visa to change planes airside here.
Do I need a visa to change terminals at Indira Gandhi International Airport?
All international flights use Terminal 3, so an international connection doesn't change terminal. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 aren't connected airside: getting to T1 or T2 means clearing immigration and taking the free landside shuttle (25–40 minutes) or the metro. An airside shuttle for single-ticket passengers has been reported but not confirmed, so don't rely on it.
Do I need a visa to connect to a domestic flight in New Delhi?
Connecting to a domestic flight in India means clearing immigration and customs at Delhi and collecting your bags, even on one ticket. You need an Indian visa or e-Visa for this. Indian and Nepali citizens don't.
Can I self-transfer at DEL on separate tickets without a visa?
On separate tickets you have to collect your bags and check in again, which means passing immigration and entering India. You need an Indian visa (an e-Visa, or a transit visa from an Indian mission, usually valid up to 3 days), even if you never leave the building.
Sources
Researched 28 Oct 2026. Rules change, so open the official page before you fly.