essay unusual job

41 Unusual Jobs (Bizarre Careers That Actually Pay) 2024

Are you intrigued by the peculiar? Fascinated by the extraordinary?

Well, brace yourself for a thrill!

Today, we’re exploring a list of the most unusual jobs in existence.

From professional sleepers to snake milkers. Each one is an ideal fit for those who crave a life less ordinary.

Imagine delving into an eccentric profession. Day in, day out.

Sounds like an adventure, right?

So, buckle up.

And get ready to uncover your dream unconventional occupation!

Pet Food Taster

Average Salary: $30,000 – $40,000 per year

Pet Food Tasters evaluate the quality, nutritional value, and palatability of pet food products, ensuring they meet standards for animal consumption.

This job is perfect for those who have a keen interest in animal health and nutrition, and who are willing to put their taste buds to the test for the sake of pet well-being.

Job Duties:

• Tasting Pet Food : Assess the texture, smell, and flavor of pet food products to ensure they are appealing to pets.
• Nutritional Analysis : Help determine if the pet food meets the dietary requirements of different animals.
• Quality Control : Monitor the consistency and overall quality of pet food, reporting any issues to the manufacturers.
• Product Feedback : Provide detailed feedback on the pet food products, suggesting possible improvements or changes.
• Participating in Focus Groups : Work with pet owners and their animals to gauge reactions to new products and gather additional data.
• Staying Informed : Keep up with the latest trends and developments in animal nutrition and pet food regulations.

Requirements:

• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science, Animal Science, Food Science, or a related field is beneficial.
• Sensory Skills : Refined taste and smell senses, with the ability to distinguish subtle differences in pet food products.
• Attention to Detail : Keen observation skills to detect minor changes in flavor, texture, and ingredients.
• Communication Skills : Ability to clearly articulate the taste experience and provide constructive feedback.
• Animal Love : A genuine passion for animals and their dietary health is essential.

Career Path and Growth :

Being a Pet Food Taster opens up opportunities to become a specialist in animal nutrition and influence the development of healthier, more delicious pet food options.

With experience, one could take on roles such as Quality Control Supervisor, Product Development Manager, or even work towards becoming a Veterinary Nutritionist.

Professional Sleeper

Average Salary: $15,000 – $40,000 per year

Professional Sleepers are hired to test the comfort of beds, mattresses, and other sleep-related products, or participate in sleep studies and research.

This role is ideal for individuals who can sleep in various environments and have a keen interest in helping improve sleep quality and products.

• Testing Sleep Products : Assess the comfort, support, and overall sleep quality provided by mattresses, pillows, and bedding.
• Participating in Sleep Studies : Engage in scientific research to gather data on sleep patterns, disorders, and the effects of sleep on human health.
• Providing Detailed Feedback : Offer comprehensive feedback on sleep experiences to researchers or product manufacturers.
• Adhering to Study Protocols : Follow strict guidelines for sleep studies, including pre-sleep routines and specific sleeping schedules.
• Writing Reviews : Create content such as reviews or blog posts about sleep experiences with various products.
• Staying Informed : Keep up-to-date with the latest sleep research and advancements in sleep technology.
• Flexibility : Ability to sleep in different environments and under varying conditions.
• Attention to Detail : Keen observational skills to notice subtle differences in sleep quality and to provide accurate feedback.
• Reliability : Dependability in maintaining sleep schedules and adhering to study parameters.
• Good Health : A clean bill of health, as some sleep studies may require specific health standards.
• Communication Skills : Good written and verbal communication skills to articulate sleep experiences effectively.

A Professional Sleeper can offer valuable insights to improve products and contribute to health research.

With experience, they may be sought after by high-end product companies or become consultants for sleep studies.

There are also opportunities to work with health practitioners specializing in sleep disorders or to become a sleep coach or educator.

Water Slide Tester

Average Salary: $30,000 – $60,000 per year

Water Slide Testers are responsible for trying out new water slides and evaluating them based on various criteria to ensure safety and fun for future guests.

This role is perfect for thrill-seekers who love water parks and are eager to give firsthand feedback on the water slide experience.

• Testing Water Slides : Ride new water slides and assess their performance, including speed, water quantity, safety, and fun factor.
• Reporting Findings : Provide detailed feedback on the overall slide experience, suggesting improvements and noting any safety concerns.
• Ensuring Safety Standards : Verify that slides comply with industry safety standards and regulations.
• Quality Assurance : Help maintain the reputation of the water park by ensuring all slides provide an excellent guest experience.
• Public Relations : Occasionally participate in media events or promotional activities to showcase new attractions.
• Staying Informed : Keep up-to-date with trends in water park attractions and safety protocols.
• Physical Fitness : Good health and physical condition to endure repetitive slide testing and evaluate the physical impact.
• Attention to Detail : Keen observation skills to notice subtle aspects of the slide experience and potential safety issues.
• Enthusiasm for Water Parks : A genuine love for water parks and an understanding of what makes a water slide enjoyable.
• Communication Skills : Clear and concise reporting abilities to provide actionable feedback to designers and engineers.
• Swimming Skills : Proficiency in swimming to safely test water slides and handle water-based environments.
• Adaptability : Willingness to test a variety of slides, including extreme and family-friendly options, and adapt to different water park environments.

The role of a Water Slide Tester offers unique opportunities to influence the design and safety of water park attractions.

With experience, testers can move into consultancy roles, advising on water slide designs, or transition into management positions within the water park industry, overseeing safety and guest satisfaction.

Golf Ball Diver

Average Salary: $30,000 – $100,000 (depending on the number of balls retrieved and contracts with golf courses) per year

Golf Ball Divers are specialized professionals who retrieve lost golf balls from water hazards on golf courses.

This role is ideal for those who love the outdoors and have a passion for diving and golf.

• Underwater Retrieval : Dive into water hazards, ponds, and lakes on golf courses to collect lost golf balls.
• Sorting and Cleaning : After collection, sort the golf balls by brand and quality and clean them for resale or recycling.
• Inventory Management : Keep track of the number and condition of balls collected to manage inventory and sales.
• Equipment Maintenance : Maintain diving equipment and ensure it meets safety standards for each dive.
• Building Relationships : Work with golf course managers to establish retrieval agreements and schedule dives.
• Environmental Stewardship : Follow eco-friendly practices to minimize the impact on aquatic ecosystems during dives.
• Certification : A professional diving certification, such as PADI or NAUI, is typically required.
• Physical Fitness : Good physical condition to handle the demanding nature of diving and handling equipment.
• Knowledge of Golf : Understanding of golf course layouts and where balls are most likely to be lost can be beneficial.
• Self-Motivation : Ability to work independently and set personal goals for collection targets.
• Environmental Awareness : Knowledge of local wildlife and ecosystems to dive responsibly.

Golf Ball Diving can be both a profitable venture and a way to support the recycling and reusing of golf equipment.

Experienced divers may establish their own retrieval businesses, expand to service multiple golf courses, or develop partnerships with golf ball manufacturers for recycling programs.

With the growing emphasis on sustainability, proficient divers can become consultants on environmental best practices in golf course management.

Train Pusher

Average Salary: $25,000 – $35,000 per year

Train Pushers, also known as Oshiya, are responsible for ensuring that commuters are safely and efficiently boarded onto crowded trains during peak hours, especially in densely populated cities.

This role is ideal for individuals who have a strong sense of responsibility and can maintain order in fast-paced environments.

• Maintaining Order : Ensure that passengers board the trains in an orderly fashion, respecting lines and personal space as much as possible.
• Maximizing Capacity : Strategically assist passengers in finding space inside the train, utilizing all available room to fit more people on board.
• Ensuring Safety : Monitor the boarding process to prevent accidents or injuries, and assist any passenger who may need help.
• Communicating with Staff : Work closely with station staff and train conductors to coordinate efficient boarding and departure of trains.
• Handling Emergencies : Be prepared to respond to emergency situations and guide passengers to safety if necessary.
• Public Service : Provide a positive experience for commuters by being courteous and professional at all times.
• Physical Fitness : Good physical condition to endure standing for long periods and to manage pushing through crowds safely.
• Attention to Detail : Keen observation skills to identify when and where assistance is needed in the boarding process.
• Communication Skills : Clear communication abilities to give instructions to passengers and to coordinate with other staff.
• Stress Management : Capability to remain calm and efficient in high-pressure and crowded situations.
• Customer Service : A polite and helpful demeanor to enhance the commuting experience for passengers.

As a Train Pusher, there are opportunities to advance to supervisory roles within the transit authority, manage larger teams, or transition into other areas of public transportation services where organizational skills and a strong sense of duty are valued.

With the expansion of urban transit systems, the demand for experienced and reliable Train Pushers may continue to grow, providing a clear pathway for career development.

Bicycle Fisherman

Average Salary: $20,000 – $30,000 per year

Bicycle Fishermen are unique environmental stewards who combine cycling and fishing to clean up waterways while engaging in recreational fishing.

This role is perfect for those who have a passion for the environment, cycling, and fishing, and want to make a difference in preserving aquatic ecosystems.

• Cleaning Waterways : Use a bicycle equipped with special gear to reach fishing spots and remove litter and debris from water bodies while fishing.
• Educational Outreach : Teach the public about the importance of clean waterways, responsible fishing practices, and the impact of pollution on aquatic life.
• Recording Data : Log information about the type and amount of waste collected, as well as any notable changes in the fish population or water quality.
• Developing Community Programs : Work with local organizations to create initiatives that promote environmental awareness and water conservation.
• Advocacy : Advocate for environmental policies and practices that contribute to the health of local waterways and the broader ecosystem.
• Equipment Maintenance : Maintain and upgrade fishing and cycling equipment to ensure efficiency and safety during cleanup efforts.
• Environmental Passion : A strong commitment to environmental conservation and a love for outdoor activities like cycling and fishing.
• Physical Fitness : Good physical condition to manage cycling and fishing equipment, often in various weather conditions.
• Knowledge of Local Ecology : Understanding of the local aquatic ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.
• Communication Skills : Ability to engage with the community and convey the importance of clean waterways and ecosystems.
• Self-motivation : A proactive approach to finding and cleaning up polluted areas, and the ability to work independently.

Starting as a Bicycle Fisherman offers a unique opportunity to combine hobbies with environmental activism.

With experience, individuals can become leaders in local conservation efforts, develop larger-scale environmental programs, or work with governmental agencies to influence environmental policy and resource management.

Ash Portrait Artist

Average Salary: $30,000 – $55,000 per year

Ash Portrait Artists create meaningful, commemorative art pieces by incorporating the ashes of deceased loved ones into their artwork.

This role is perfect for individuals who have a deep appreciation for art and a desire to provide comfort and a lasting memory to those who are grieving.

• Creating Custom Artwork : Craft unique portraits or other art pieces that respectfully integrate a person’s ashes, ensuring each piece is handled with care and sensitivity.
• Client Consultations : Discuss with clients their wishes and the vision they have for the memorial piece, ensuring their loved one is honored according to their preferences.
• Material Handling : Safely and respectfully manage the ashes provided by clients, using them to create a textured medium for the artwork.
• Artistic Innovation : Explore and develop new techniques for incorporating ashes into various art forms, while maintaining the integrity and sentiment of the piece.
• Providing Emotional Support : Offer a compassionate presence and understanding to clients during a difficult time.
• Maintaining a Portfolio : Keep a collection of past works to show potential clients the range of styles and options available.
• Artistic Ability : Proven experience in creating portraits or fine art, with a portfolio showcasing your work.
• Sensitivity and Compassion : The ability to work with clients who are going through grief and handle their loved one’s ashes with the utmost respect.
• Communication Skills : Strong interpersonal skills to discuss sensitive subjects with clients and understand their vision for the artwork.
• Detail-Oriented : An eye for detail to ensure that every piece is created with precision and to the client’s specifications.
• Adaptability : Ability to work with different mediums and adapt artistic techniques to incorporate ashes into the artwork.

As an Ash Portrait Artist, there is the opportunity to gain a reputation for creating touching and personalized memorials.

With time and experience, artists can establish a prominent business, receive commissions from around the world, and even train others in this unique form of artistry.

Artists may also expand into other forms of memorial art, such as sculptures or mixed-media installations, broadening their scope and impact.

Lego Sculptor

Lego Sculptors, also known as Lego Master Builders, create intricate models, statues, and displays entirely out of LEGO bricks.

This role is perfect for those who grew up loving LEGO and have a passion for turning these iconic bricks into stunning works of art.

• Designing LEGO Models : Develop original designs or follow specific blueprints to create intricate LEGO sculptures and displays.
• Building Complex Structures : Assemble LEGO pieces to craft detailed models that may range from small-scale figures to life-sized statues.
• Restoration and Repair : Maintain and repair existing LEGO sculptures to ensure they are always display-ready.
• Collaborating on Projects : Work with a team of builders on larger projects, often under tight deadlines for events or exhibitions.
• Engaging with the Public : Participate in live building demonstrations and interact with fans at LEGO events, conventions, or in LEGO stores.
• Staying Current : Keep up to date with LEGO trends, new sets, and building techniques to continuously improve and innovate in your craft.
• Artistic Ability : A strong sense of design, color theory, and spatial awareness to create aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound sculptures.
• LEGO Experience : Extensive experience building with LEGO bricks, either professionally or as a passionate hobbyist.
• Detail-Oriented : Keen attention to detail to accurately piece together complex LEGO models.
• Problem-Solving Skills : Ability to troubleshoot and solve structural challenges during the building process.
• Teamwork : Comfortable working as part of a team, sharing ideas, and collaborating on large-scale projects.

As a LEGO Sculptor, there are opportunities to advance to lead builder positions, oversee large-scale projects, or even design new LEGO sets.

With creativity and expertise, LEGO Sculptors can become recognized artists in the field, contributing to global exhibitions and potentially influencing future LEGO product designs.

Foley Artist

Average Salary: $30,000 – $100,000 per year

Foley Artists create the everyday sound effects that are added to films, video games, and other media in post-production to enhance audio quality.

This role is ideal for those who have a keen ear for sound and a love for storytelling through audio.

• Creating Sound Effects : Use an array of props and techniques to emulate sounds that match the action on-screen, such as footsteps, door creaks, and fabric movement.
• Synchronizing Sounds : Carefully sync the produced sound effects with the visual elements to ensure they match perfectly with the timing and actions.
• Collaborating with Audio Teams : Work closely with sound editors, mixers, and directors to achieve the desired audio effect for the final product.
• Recording Quality Sounds : Record high-quality sound effects, sometimes in unique or unconventional ways, to create a realistic sound palette.
• Sound Editing : Edit and adjust recorded sounds to fit the context of the scene and the overall sound design.
• Research and Innovation : Continuously discover and implement new techniques and tools to create and capture unique sound effects.
• Sound Design Experience : A background in sound design, audio engineering, or a related field is beneficial.
• Creativity : A creative mindset and the ability to think outside the box to produce innovative and convincing sound effects.
• Attention to Detail : Keen attention to detail for syncing audio perfectly with corresponding visual elements.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency with audio recording and editing equipment and software.
• Collaboration : Ability to work effectively as part of a team, often under tight deadlines.

As a Foley Artist, you have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, from independent films to major Hollywood productions.

With experience, you could become a Foley Supervisor or Lead Foley Artist, overseeing the sound effects department.

The role also offers the potential to become a specialist in a particular type of sound creation or to branch out into broader areas of audio production and sound design.

Professional Mourner

Professional Mourners provide a unique service by attending funerals and memorial services to grieve for the deceased, often for clients who wish to ensure a well-attended and respectful farewell.

This role is ideal for empathetic individuals who can exhibit genuine sorrow and provide comfort to others during times of loss.

• Attending Funerals : Discreetly attend funerals and memorial services as a grieving friend or family member of the deceased.
• Displaying Sorrow : Exhibit appropriate levels of grief and mourning to support the atmosphere of the service.
• Providing Comfort : Offer condolences and emotional support to the bereaved family and friends, helping to create a sense of community and shared mourning.
• Learning Backstories : Understand and memorize details about the deceased’s life to provide authentic and respectful mourning.
• Participating in Rituals : Engage in funeral customs and traditions as requested by the client, which may vary by culture and religion.
• Adapting Performance : Tailor mourning practices to suit the tone and scale of different funerals and memorial services.
• Educational Background : No specific degree required, but courses in psychology, acting, or bereavement can be helpful.
• Emotional Intelligence : High emotional intelligence and the ability to display grief authentically and sensitively.
• Discretion and Professionalism : Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism, respecting the privacy of clients and the solemnity of the occasion.
• Understanding of Funeral Etiquette : Knowledge of various funeral practices and customs, with respect for different cultural and religious traditions.
• Adaptability : Capability to adapt to different emotional environments and provide a consistent level of service.

The role of a Professional Mourner is often independent, with opportunities to work for a variety of clients and services.

With experience, Professional Mourners may develop a reputation for their services, leading to higher demand and possibly the establishment of their own agency.

They may also transition into roles that require strong emotional intelligence and sensitivity, such as grief counseling or end-of-life care services.

Odor Tester

Average Salary: $19,000 – $52,000 per year

Odor Testers are professionals who assess and analyze the smell of products, such as perfumes, foods, beverages, and personal care items.

This unique role is ideal for individuals with a keen sense of smell and an interest in ensuring the olfactory quality of consumer products.

• Assessing Product Fragrances : Evaluate the scent of various products, providing detailed feedback on the quality and characteristics of the odors.
• Quality Control : Ensure that the smell of products meets the required standards and specifications before they hit the market.
• Documenting Findings : Record observations and test results accurately for use in product development and improvement.
• Participating in Product Development : Work with product developers to refine scents based on testing feedback and consumer preferences.
• Odor Sensitivity Training : Maintain and enhance your sense of smell through ongoing training and exposure to a wide range of scents.
• Collaborating with Teams : Work alongside researchers, chemists, and marketing teams to communicate findings and influence the final product scent.
• Educational Background : A high school diploma is often sufficient, though a background in chemistry or a related field can be beneficial.
• Olfactory Acuity : An exceptional sense of smell and the ability to distinguish between subtle differences in scents.
• Descriptive Ability : Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the talent to articulate the nuances of different odors.
• Attention to Detail : Keen observational skills and attention to detail when assessing products and providing feedback.
• Consistency : The ability to maintain a consistent sense of smell and provide reliable assessments over time.
• Neutrality : Avoidance of personal fragrance use that could interfere with scent assessment.

As an Odor Tester, you have the opportunity to influence the success of a product through your assessments and recommendations.

With experience, Odor Testers can advance to lead tester roles, work as consultants for multiple companies, or even become involved in the research and development of new scent technologies.

Your highly specialized skill set may also offer opportunities to participate in training programs for new testers.

Snake Milker

Snake Milkers are specialized professionals who extract venom from snakes for use in medical research and antivenom production.

This role is ideal for individuals who are fascinated by herpetology and are interested in contributing to life-saving medical treatments.

• Extracting Venom : Safely handle various snake species to collect venom, a process critical for creating antivenoms and conducting research.
• Snake Handling : Utilize expert handling techniques to manage snakes during the milking process while ensuring the safety of both the snake and the handler.
• Maintaining Snake Health : Oversee the health and well-being of the snakes, including their feeding, habitat maintenance, and monitoring for any signs of distress.
• Record Keeping : Document the details of venom extraction, including the type of snake, amount of venom collected, and date of extraction.
• Public Education : Inform the public about the importance of snakes in the ecosystem and the role of venom in medical science.
• Continuing Education : Stay up-to-date with herpetology practices, venom research, and advancements in antivenom production.
• Educational Background : A degree in Biology, Herpetology, or a related field is often preferred.
• Snake Handling Skills : Proficiency in safely handling venomous snakes is essential.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail is required for accurate venom extraction and record-keeping.
• Calm Demeanor : The ability to remain calm and composed when working with potentially dangerous animals.
• Commitment to Animal Welfare : A strong commitment to the ethical treatment and welfare of the snakes.

A career as a Snake Milker provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the medical field while working closely with some of nature’s most misunderstood creatures.

With experience, Snake Milkers can advance to senior research roles, work in venomous snake conservation, or lead educational programs on snake safety and the importance of venom in pharmaceuticals.

Crime Scene Cleaner

Average Salary: $35,000 – $75,000 per year

Crime Scene Cleaners are responsible for the meticulous cleaning and sanitization of sites where crimes, particularly violent crimes, have occurred.

This role is ideal for individuals who are detail-oriented, can handle working in potentially distressing scenarios, and have a strong stomach.

• Site Decontamination : Clean and sanitize crime scenes to remove blood, bodily fluids, and other hazardous materials, ensuring the area is restored to a safe state.
• Proper Disposal : Safely dispose of biohazardous waste in compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Odor Removal : Utilize specialized equipment and techniques to eliminate unpleasant odors that result from crime scenes.
• Providing Closure : Work diligently to help families and property owners by restoring environments to their pre-incident conditions.
• Use of Protective Gear : Employ personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure to hazardous substances.
• Compassionate Service : Interact with clients who may be grieving or in shock with sensitivity and professionalism.
• Training and Certification : Completion of a professional crime scene cleaning training program and certification in bloodborne pathogen handling.
• Physical Fitness : The ability to perform physically demanding tasks, often for extended periods.
• Attention to Detail : Keen attention to detail to ensure thorough cleaning and decontamination of crime scenes.
• Emotional Resilience : Capacity to work in emotionally challenging environments and cope with the nature of the job.
• Reliability : A dependable nature, with the ability to be on call and respond at any hour.

Crime Scene Cleaners play a critical role in the post-crime recovery process, providing an essential service to society.

With experience, individuals in this field may progress to supervisory roles, start their own crime scene cleaning business, or specialize in areas such as hazardous waste management or forensic cleaning services.

Dog Surfing Instructor

Average Salary: $30,000 – $45,000 per year

Dog Surfing Instructors teach and assist dogs (and their owners) in the art of surfing, often leading to participation in dog surfing competitions.

This role is perfect for those who love combining their passion for dogs, surfing, and the ocean.

• Conducting Surfing Lessons : Guide dog-and-owner pairs through the basics of surfing, ensuring safety and fun for both parties in the water.
• Assessing Abilities : Evaluate the comfort level and physical capabilities of the dogs to tailor the surfing lessons to each canine student.
• Answering Questions : Provide advice and answers to owners regarding dog safety, surfboard selection, and surfing techniques suitable for dogs.
• Developing Training Programs : Create structured lesson plans that build a dog’s confidence and skill on the surfboard over time.
• Event Participation : Organize and participate in dog surfing events, competitions, and demonstrations to showcase the skills of the surfing pups.
• Staying Informed : Keep up-to-date with best practices in dog training, water safety, and surfing techniques to ensure the highest quality instruction.
• Educational Background : While formal education isn’t strictly necessary, a background in dog training, veterinary science, or marine biology can be beneficial.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to instruct and motivate both dogs and their owners.
• Enthusiasm for Dogs and Surfing : A strong passion for working with animals and a love for surfing and the ocean.
• Patience and Adaptability : Patience in working with dogs of varying temperaments and abilities, and adaptability in teaching methods to cater to individual needs.
• Physical Fitness : Good physical condition to handle the demands of surfing and assisting dogs in the water.

This unique role offers the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of dogs and their owners by combining physical activity with the therapeutic effects of the ocean.

With experience, Dog Surfing Instructors can expand their services to include advanced surf training, start their own dog surfing schools, or become judges at dog surfing competitions.

They may also become advocates for ocean conservation and pet safety in aquatic environments.

Average Salary: $55,000 – $120,000 per year

Flavorists are specialized chemists who create and replicate flavors for the food and beverage industry.

This role is ideal for individuals who have a passion for taste and aroma and enjoy the challenge of crafting unique flavor experiences.

• Creating New Flavors : Develop innovative and delicious flavors for a variety of food products and beverages.
• Replicating Natural Flavors : Use chemical analysis to mimic natural flavors in the laboratory, ensuring consistency and quality.
• Conducting Sensory Evaluations : Work with sensory panels or use analytical instruments to assess the taste and smell of new flavor creations.
• Collaborating with Food Scientists : Partner with food technologists and culinary experts to ensure flavors work within final products.
• Ensuring Safety and Compliance : Adhere to food safety regulations and standards in flavor development and testing.
• Staying Current : Keep up-to-date with industry trends, new ingredients, and technological advancements in flavor chemistry.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Food Science, or a related field is essential. Advanced degrees or specialized training in flavor chemistry is highly advantageous.
• Attention to Detail : Precise and meticulous approach to flavor creation and testing.
• Creative and Analytical Skills : A balanced blend of creativity for flavor innovation and analytical skills for flavor replication and quality control.
• Knowledge of Ingredients : Familiarity with a wide range of natural and synthetic flavor ingredients.
• Communication Skills : Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate findings and developments.

The role of a Flavorist offers a unique opportunity to impact the food industry and consumer tastes worldwide.

With experience, Flavorists can progress to lead research and development teams, become flavor experts for specific product lines, or work as independent consultants.

Their expertise is often sought after by major food companies and can lead to international opportunities in flavor houses and ingredient supply companies.

Seed Banker

Average Salary: $40,000 – $60,000 per year

Seed Bankers are responsible for the collection, storage, and preservation of seeds to ensure biodiversity and support future agricultural needs.

This role is ideal for individuals with a keen interest in botany, conservation, and sustainable agriculture.

• Collecting Seeds : Travel to various locations to collect seeds from different plant species, ensuring a wide genetic variety.
• Preserving Genetic Diversity : Implement techniques for drying, storing, and cataloging seeds to maintain their viability over time.
• Database Management : Maintain detailed records of seed provenance, characteristics, and storage conditions.
• Conducting Research : Participate in research to improve seed storage methods and understand the germination process of various species.
• Outreach and Education : Educate the public about the importance of seed banks and biodiversity through presentations and informational materials.
• Staying Informed : Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in botany, climate change, and agricultural practices that may affect seed banking.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Botany, Plant Science, Agriculture, or a related field is preferred.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail for accurate seed handling, storage, and record-keeping.
• Passion for Conservation : A strong dedication to plant conservation and the goals of seed banking.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills for educational outreach and collaboration with other professionals.
• Adaptability : Ability to adapt techniques and practices to accommodate a range of species and environmental conditions.

As a Seed Banker, there is potential to make significant contributions to global food security and ecosystem restoration projects.

With experience, Seed Bankers can advance to managerial positions in seed banks, lead conservation projects, or contribute to international efforts to protect plant genetic resources.

Fortune Cookie Writer

Fortune Cookie Writers craft the wise, humorous, or prophetic sayings that are tucked inside fortune cookies.

These messages are an essential part of the dining experience at many Chinese restaurants and can range from general life advice to specific predictions.

This role is ideal for those with a knack for creating bite-sized pieces of wisdom and who enjoy impacting someone’s day with their words.

• Writing Creative Fortunes : Develop a variety of engaging, witty, or insightful fortunes to surprise and delight cookie openers.
• Cultural Sensitivity : Ensure that the messages are culturally appropriate and respectful, while adding a touch of charm.
• Editing and Proofreading : Review fortunes for spelling, grammar, and clarity, ensuring each message fits within the space constraints of a fortune slip.
• Message Categorization : Organize fortunes into different themes or categories, such as love, success, or daily inspiration.
• Trend Watching : Keep an eye on current events and societal trends to create relevant and timely fortunes.
• Collaboration : Work with manufacturers and clients to tailor fortune messages for specific occasions or branding purposes.
• Creative Writing : A strong ability to craft concise, engaging, and thought-provoking messages.
• Attention to Detail : Excellent editing and proofreading skills to ensure error-free fortunes.
• Cultural Awareness : Knowledge of different cultural norms and the sensibilities of a diverse clientele.
• Originality : A talent for coming up with fresh, unique sayings that stand out from typical fortune cookie messages.
• Adaptability : The capacity to adjust writing style for various purposes or themed fortune sets.

As a Fortune Cookie Writer, you have the opportunity to touch the lives of many with your words.

With experience and a portfolio of well-received fortunes, you could advance to lead writer positions, become an editor, or even publish a book of collected sayings.

The role could also open doors to other forms of creative writing or copywriting in advertising and marketing, where your skills at conciseness and impact can shine.

Dice Inspector

Dice Inspectors ensure the integrity and fairness of dice used in casinos and gaming establishments.

They play a crucial role in maintaining the reputation of gaming institutions by verifying that dice meet strict industry standards.

This role is ideal for individuals who have a keen eye for detail and a passion for maintaining the integrity of gaming activities.

• Inspecting Dice for Imperfections : Examine dice for any flaws or irregularities that could affect the outcome of a roll.
• Measuring Dice for Precision : Use precise measuring instruments to ensure that each side of the dice is an exact cube within tight tolerances.
• Verifying Balance : Conduct balance tests to ensure that dice are not weighted and have an equal chance of landing on any side.
• Monitoring Dice Life Cycle : Keep track of the usage and wear of dice, recommending replacement when necessary to maintain fairness.
• Ensuring Compliance : Ensure that all dice used in the establishment comply with gaming regulations and standards.
• Documentation : Accurately document inspections and maintain records of dice conditions and compliance.
• Attention to Detail : Exceptional observation skills to detect the slightest imperfections or alterations in dice.
• Manual Dexterity : Proficiency in handling delicate measuring instruments and performing precise tasks.
• Knowledge of Gaming Regulations : Understanding of the rules and regulations governing gaming equipment within the jurisdiction.
• Integrity : A strong sense of ethics and integrity to ensure fair play and trustworthiness in the gaming industry.
• Problem-Solving Skills : Ability to identify potential issues with dice and recommend appropriate solutions.

As a Dice Inspector, there are opportunities to advance within the casino operations or regulatory compliance departments.

With experience, individuals may move into supervisory roles, oversee larger quality assurance teams, or specialize in other areas of gaming regulation and inspection.

Furniture Tester

Furniture Testers rigorously evaluate the comfort, durability, and functionality of various furniture items before they hit the market.

This role is perfect for those who appreciate comfort and have a keen eye for quality in home furnishings.

• Assessing Comfort : Sit, lie, or use the furniture as intended to evaluate comfort levels for different body types and postures.
• Testing Durability : Perform repeated use simulations to test the furniture’s endurance over time and under various conditions.
• Providing Detailed Feedback : Compile comprehensive reports on the furniture’s performance, comfort, and potential areas for improvement.
• Checking Functionality : Ensure all moving parts and mechanisms, such as drawers, recliners, or sofa beds, operate smoothly and efficiently.
• Collaborating with Designers : Work directly with furniture designers and manufacturers to provide insights that could lead to product enhancements.
• Staying Informed : Keep up to date with furniture trends, materials, and ergonomics to understand the competitive landscape and user expectations.
• Attention to Detail : Ability to notice minor imperfections and articulate how they affect overall experience and quality.
• Communication Skills : Strong written and verbal communication skills to provide clear and actionable feedback.
• Sensitivity to Comfort : An understanding of ergonomics and what constitutes a comfortable piece of furniture.
• Objective Analysis : The capacity to evaluate products impartially, regardless of personal preferences.
• Physical Stamina : Able to sit, lie, or engage with furniture repeatedly and for extended periods.

As a Furniture Tester, you have the opportunity to directly impact the quality and design of future furniture products.

With experience, you might move into higher roles such as Quality Assurance Manager, Product Development Specialist, or even consult for furniture design companies.

Your insights can help shape the ergonomics and functionality of innovative furniture solutions.

Elephant Dresser

Average Salary: $25,000 – $40,000 per year

Elephant Dressers are responsible for the care and presentation of elephants for cultural festivals, ceremonies, or film productions.

This unique role is perfect for individuals who have a passion for elephants and their role in human culture.

• Grooming Elephants : Ensure that the elephants are clean and well-groomed for their appearances.
• Applying Cosmetics : Carefully apply non-toxic, safe paints or decorations to the elephants’ skin, often in traditional or ceremonial designs.
• Fitting Costumes : Dress the elephants in ornamental garb, ensuring that the animals are comfortable and that the attire is secure.
• Elephant Behavior Knowledge : Understand and work in tune with elephant behavior to ensure the safety and well-being of both the animals and the people involved.
• Public Interaction : Assist in managing interactions between the public and the elephants, maintaining a safe and respectful environment.
• Education : Educate handlers and the public on the cultural significance of the elephants and their decoration in various events.
• Animal Care Experience : Prior experience working with large animals, particularly elephants, is highly beneficial.
• Artistic Skills : A keen eye for detail and artistic ability to create intricate designs on a large canvas.
• Cultural Sensitivity : Awareness and respect for the cultural significance of elephants and their role in various ceremonies.
• Communication Skills : Good verbal communication skills to interact with event organizers, elephant handlers, and sometimes the public.
• Physical Fitness : The physical ability to work around large animals and assist in maneuvering costumes and decorations.

As an Elephant Dresser, there is the opportunity to become a specialist in the field of cultural elephant presentation.

With experience, Elephant Dressers may advance to supervisory roles, lead training programs for new dressers, or even work with conservation groups to promote the ethical treatment of elephants in cultural events.

Wrinkle Chaser

Wrinkle Chasers are skilled professionals who ensure that shoes look their best by eliminating wrinkles and imperfections from the leather during the finishing process.

This role is ideal for individuals who have an eye for detail and take pride in delivering a perfect final product.

• Ironing Out Wrinkles : Use specialized tools and equipment to smooth out any wrinkles or imperfections in shoe leather.
• Quality Control : Inspect finished shoes to ensure they meet quality standards and are free from defects.
• Working with Leather : Understand the properties of different types of leather and how to handle them to prevent damage during the wrinkle-chasing process.
• Collaboration with Production : Work closely with other production team members, such as cutters and stitchers, to identify potential issues early on.
• Machine Maintenance : Maintain and adjust the machines and tools used for wrinkle chasing to ensure they operate effectively.
• Continuous Learning : Stay informed about the latest techniques and equipment in leatherworking to improve the wrinkle chasing process.
• Educational Background : While formal education is not always required, coursework in leatherworking, textiles, or a related field can be beneficial.
• Attention to Detail : Excellent attention to detail to spot and fix imperfections in leather shoes.
• Manual Dexterity : Ability to work with hands and tools to delicately chase out wrinkles without damaging the product.
• Stamina : Physical stamina to stand for long periods and perform repetitive motions.
• Teamwork : Being a collaborative team player who can work well with others in a production line setting.

As a Wrinkle Chaser, you have the opportunity to master a niche skill set that is essential in the shoe manufacturing industry.

With experience, you may advance to supervisory roles, become a quality control specialist, or even move into other areas of leatherworking and shoe design.

There’s also potential for teaching the craft to newcomers or working as a consultant for luxury shoe brands that demand the highest level of craftsmanship.

Submarine Cook

Average Salary: $28,000 – $45,000 per year

Submarine Cooks are culinary specialists who prepare meals for crew members aboard military or research submarines.

This role is ideal for individuals who thrive in unique, high-pressure environments and want to ensure the well-being of a submarine’s crew through nutrition and food service.

• Meal Planning and Preparation : Develop meal plans that account for the limited space and storage aboard a submarine, and prepare nutritious and satisfying meals for the crew.
• Inventory Management : Maintain inventory of food supplies, ensuring efficient use of resources and minimizing waste while undersea.
• Sanitation and Safety : Uphold strict hygiene and safety standards in the submarine’s galley to prevent foodborne illnesses and accidents.
• Adapting Menus : Adjust recipes and menus to cater to the dietary restrictions and preferences of the crew, considering the prolonged underwater missions.
• Morale Boosting : Create special meals or treats to boost crew morale during extended deployments.
• Resourcefulness : Innovate with limited ingredients and equipment to provide a variety of meals, managing the challenges of submarine cooking.
• Culinary Training : Formal culinary arts training or equivalent experience, especially in environments with limited resources, is highly beneficial.
• Food Safety Certification : Knowledge of and certification in food handling and safety protocols.
• Physical Fitness : The ability to work in the confined and physically demanding environment of a submarine.
• Teamwork : Strong collaboration skills to work closely with other crew members in a high-stress, close-quarters environment.
• Adaptability : Flexibility to adapt to the dynamic conditions of submarine life, including variable mission durations and limited communication with the outside world.

Submarine Cooks play a critical role in maintaining the health and morale of the crew on board.

With experience, Submarine Cooks can advance to supervisory positions, overseeing galley operations and mentoring junior cooks.

Opportunities may also arise for specialized training in nutrition and food service management, leading to expanded roles within naval or maritime organizations.

Personal Shopper for Pets

Personal Shoppers for Pets provide specialized shopping services tailored to the needs and preferences of pets and their owners.

This role is perfect for pet lovers who enjoy curating the best products and experiences for different animals.

• Understanding Pet Needs : Develop a deep understanding of the dietary, health, and entertainment needs of various pets.
• Product Research : Stay informed about the latest pet products, from organic pet foods to innovative toys, ensuring selections meet the quality and safety standards.
• Client Consultations : Work closely with pet owners to understand their pets’ preferences and any special requirements they may have.
• Personalized Shopping : Select and purchase items that align with the pet’s needs and the owner’s budget and style preferences.
• Delivery Coordination : Arrange for the timely delivery of purchased goods, offering a convenient and stress-free experience for the client.
• Feedback and Follow-Up : Gather feedback from clients to refine future purchases and maintain a high level of satisfaction.
• Knowledge of Pet Products : Familiarity with a wide range of pet products, brands, and trends in pet care and wellness.
• Communication Skills : Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with clients and understand their needs.
• Passion for Animals : A genuine love for pets and a desire to enhance their wellbeing through quality products and services.
• Attention to Detail : Ability to pay close attention to the details of each pet’s preferences and any specific requests from owners.
• Organization : Strong organizational skills to manage multiple clients and their pets’ needs efficiently.

As a Personal Shopper for Pets, you have the opportunity to build a loyal clientele who trust your expertise in selecting the best products for their furry, feathered, or scaly friends.

With experience, you can expand your services to include personalized pet styling, nutrition consulting, or even start your own pet shopping business.

The potential for growth in this field is significant as pet owners continue to invest in the health and happiness of their pets.

Roller Coaster Designer

Average Salary: $50,000 – $100,000 per year

Roller Coaster Designers are the masterminds behind the thrilling rides and attractions at amusement parks.

This role is ideal for those who have a passion for physics, engineering, and the adrenaline rush that comes with roller coasters.

• Creating Innovative Designs : Develop original and exhilarating roller coaster concepts that are both safe and enjoyable.
• Engineering Mechanics : Apply principles of physics and engineering to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the designs.
• Collaborating with Teams : Work closely with architects, engineers, and theme park staff to bring roller coaster designs to life.
• Software Proficiency : Utilize specialized software for design and simulation to predict the behavior and performance of roller coasters.
• Prototyping : Oversee the construction of scale models and prototypes to test and refine design concepts.
• Staying Current : Keep up-to-date with the latest trends, materials, and technological advancements in the amusement ride industry.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field is typically required.
• Technical Skills : Strong grasp of physics, mathematics, and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Creativity and Innovation : Ability to conceive unique and exciting ride concepts that push the boundaries of thrill-seeking experiences.
• Problem-Solving : Aptitude for solving complex engineering challenges in the design and construction phases.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulousness in the design process to ensure all safety standards are met and exceeded.

This role offers the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the amusement park industry by creating memorable experiences for millions of visitors.

With experience, Roller Coaster Designers can advance to lead design roles, specialize in cutting-edge coaster technology, or start their own design firms.

The demand for innovative and safe roller coasters ensures that this career path has the potential for continuous professional growth and recognition.

Iceberg Mover

Average Salary: $50,000 – $70,000 per year

Iceberg Movers are specialized marine professionals who navigate and alter the course of icebergs to prevent collisions with shipping routes and offshore platforms.

This role is perfect for individuals who are fascinated by the power of nature and want to protect both maritime operations and the pristine polar environments.

• Navigation and Path Prediction : Use sophisticated tracking and prediction software to monitor iceberg trajectories and assess potential threats.
• Tug Operations : Work with tugboat teams to tow icebergs using specialized equipment and techniques, ensuring safe passage for ships and platforms.
• Environmental Monitoring : Keep a vigilant eye on the ecological impact of iceberg moving operations, reporting any concerns.
• Emergency Response : Be prepared to act swiftly in the event of an unexpected shift in an iceberg’s path that could endanger marine activities.
• Collaboration with Research Teams : Work alongside scientists studying icebergs and climate change, providing valuable field data and insights.
• Staying Informed : Continuously update your knowledge about polar regions, iceberg behavior, and advancements in marine safety technology.
• Educational Background : A degree in Marine Science, Environmental Science, or a related field is highly beneficial.
• Navigation Skills : Proficient in marine navigation and the operation of tracking technologies.
• Physical Fitness : The role can be physically demanding and requires good physical condition.
• Problem-Solving Abilities : Excellent analytical skills to assess situations quickly and develop effective movement strategies.
• Communication : Strong verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with teams and documenting procedures.
• Adaptability : Ability to work in extreme weather conditions and adapt to changing situations.

Becoming an Iceberg Mover offers the unique opportunity to directly influence the safety and efficiency of maritime operations while contributing to the preservation of marine ecosystems.

Experienced Iceberg Movers can advance to lead roles in marine operations, specialize in polar research support, or take on advisory roles in environmental policy-making regarding marine safety and climate change initiatives.

Professional Snuggler

Professional Snugglers provide comfort and warmth to clients through cuddling and embrace, creating a safe and therapeutic environment.

This role is ideal for individuals who are compassionate, enjoy physical touch as a form of connection, and wish to provide a sense of security and companionship to others.

• Offering Comfort : Provide a comfortable and safe space for clients to enjoy the benefits of human touch and closeness.
• Client Assessment : Understand the needs and boundaries of each client to create a personalized and consensual snuggling experience.
• Maintaining Professionalism : Uphold a strictly platonic service and adhere to professional standards of conduct during sessions.
• Creating a Relaxing Atmosphere : Prepare a welcoming and cozy environment for clients, often with calming music, soft lighting, and comfortable furnishings.
• Emotional Support : Listen and engage empathetically with clients, often contributing to their emotional well-being.
• Staying Informed : Keep up to date with best practices for providing comfort, understanding consent, and respecting boundaries in a professional cuddling context.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence : A natural ability to be empathetic, understanding, and sensitive to clients’ needs and emotions.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to listen actively and engage with clients in a soothing manner.
• Comfort with Physical Touch : A genuine comfort and enjoyment of cuddling and providing physical comfort to others.
• Professional Boundaries : An understanding of the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and a platonic service.
• Adaptability : The ability to adjust cuddling styles and environments to meet the varied needs of clients.

As a Professional Snuggler, you have the opportunity to provide a unique service that can make a significant difference in the lives of clients by reducing stress, combating loneliness, and promoting overall mental and emotional health.

With experience, Professional Snugglers can build a loyal client base, offer training or workshops, or even start their own cuddling agencies.

There is also the potential to specialize in working with specific populations, such as the elderly or individuals with certain health conditions, enhancing the therapeutic aspects of the role.

Ice Cream Flavor Inventor

Ice Cream Flavor Inventors create and develop new and exciting flavors for ice cream and frozen desserts.

This role is ideal for creative food enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with taste combinations and bringing joy to others through delightful treats.

• Developing New Flavors : Combine unique ingredients to craft delicious and innovative ice cream flavors that appeal to a variety of taste preferences.
• Taste Testing : Lead taste testing sessions to ensure the new flavor profiles meet quality standards and have the potential for market success.
• Researching Trends : Keep up with current food trends to inspire new flavor creations and to stay ahead of the market.
• Ingredient Sourcing : Identify and source high-quality and sustainable ingredients to be used in flavor development.
• Collaborating with Marketing : Work with marketing teams to create compelling stories and campaigns for new flavors.
• Quality Control : Monitor the production process to ensure the flavors translate well from concept to commercial-scale manufacturing.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts, or a related field is often beneficial.
• Creative Thinking : Strong creative skills with the ability to think outside the box and innovate in the realm of taste and flavor combinations.
• Sensory Skills : Acute sense of taste and smell, and the ability to discern subtle flavor nuances.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to the composition and balance of flavors.
• Collaboration : Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including marketing, production, and supply chain.

As an Ice Cream Flavor Inventor, there is the potential to become a leading expert in the field of frozen desserts.

With experience, inventors can move up to lead research and development teams, become a sensory scientist, or start their own gourmet ice cream brand.

This role allows for constant innovation and the chance to make a significant impact on the food industry.

Pet Food Tester

Average Salary: $30,000 – $75,000 per year

Pet Food Testers play a crucial role in the pet food industry by assessing the taste, texture, and nutritional value of pet foods to ensure they are enjoyable and healthy for pets.

This role is perfect for individuals who have a passion for animals’ well-being and are comfortable with the unique nature of the job.

• Taste Testing : Sample a variety of pet foods, evaluating the flavor, texture, and smell to ensure they meet quality standards.
• Nutritional Analysis : Work with veterinarians and nutritionists to assess the nutritional content of pet foods and ensure they meet dietary requirements.
• Feedback Reporting : Provide detailed feedback on the pet food products to the development team for potential improvements.
• Quality Control : Help maintain quality standards throughout the production process, from ingredients to the final product.
• Product Development : Collaborate with product development teams to create new pet food formulas that are both tasty and nutritious.
• Staying Informed : Keep up to date with the latest trends and advancements in pet nutrition and food processing technologies.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Veterinary Science, or a related field is beneficial.
• Sensory Skills : Keen senses of taste and smell and the ability to objectively assess pet food products.
• Analytical Abilities : Skills in analyzing food content and understanding the dietary needs of various pet species.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail for providing accurate feedback on pet food products.
• Animal Affinity : A genuine interest in animal health and the pet food industry.
• Communication Skills : Ability to communicate findings clearly to the development and quality assurance teams.

As a Pet Food Tester, one has the potential to significantly impact the health and happiness of pets through the improvement of pet food products.

With experience, individuals in this field may advance to senior roles in quality control, product development, or nutritional consultancy within the pet food industry.

The unique expertise gained in this role can also pave the way for opportunities in pet nutrition education or specialization in the development of dietary products for specific health conditions in pets.

Tree Planter

Tree Planters are vital to reforestation efforts and contribute to environmental sustainability by planting trees in designated areas, such as forests, parks, and urban environments.

This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy working outdoors and have a passion for environmental conservation.

• Reforestation Projects : Participate in organized efforts to replenish forests by planting a variety of tree species in designated areas.
• Seedling Preparation : Prepare and handle seedlings with care to ensure their healthy development once planted.
• Soil Assessment : Evaluate the condition of the soil to determine the optimal planting sites and techniques for different tree species.
• Planting Techniques : Utilize proper planting methods to maximize tree survival rates and promote healthy growth.
• Ecosystem Education : Inform and educate the public about the importance of trees and reforestation for ecosystem health and climate regulation.
• Physical Stamina : Maintain a high level of physical fitness to handle the demands of planting trees in various weather conditions and terrains.
• Physical Fitness : Strong physical condition to engage in labor-intensive work for extended periods.
• Knowledge of Flora : Understanding of tree species, growth factors, and environmental impact to ensure effective planting strategies.
• Environmental Passion : A strong commitment to environmental conservation and a desire to make a tangible difference.
• Teamwork : Ability to work cooperatively with a team, sharing tasks and supporting one another in challenging conditions.
• Adaptability : Flexibility to work in various locations and adapt to changing weather patterns and terrains.

Working as a Tree Planter offers the opportunity to contribute to vital environmental restoration projects.

With experience, Tree Planters can move into supervisory roles, managing reforestation projects, or transition into environmental science positions, where they can influence larger conservation strategies and policies.

Ethical Hacker

Average Salary: $70,000 – $120,000 per year

Ethical Hackers, also known as penetration testers or white hat hackers, are cybersecurity professionals who use their skills to find and fix security vulnerabilities in computer systems.

This role is ideal for those who have a keen interest in information security and enjoy the challenge of thinking like a hacker to protect organizations from cyber threats.

• Conducting Security Assessments : Perform simulated cyber attacks to identify weaknesses in computer systems, networks, and web applications.
• Reporting Vulnerabilities : Document the vulnerabilities discovered and provide recommendations to mitigate the risks.
• Staying Current with Hacking Techniques : Continuously learn and adapt to the latest hacking methodologies to anticipate and defend against potential security breaches.
• Developing Security Tools : Create and refine tools that can assist in automating the process of detecting vulnerabilities.
• Security Training : Provide training and awareness sessions for organizations to educate employees on cybersecurity best practices and threat prevention.
• Collaborating with Security Teams : Work closely with other cybersecurity professionals to enhance the overall security posture of an organization.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field is often required.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in various programming languages, operating systems, and networking technologies is critical.
• Certifications : Industry-recognized certifications such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), or similar credentials.
• Analytical Mindset : Ability to think critically and analytically to uncover hard-to-find vulnerabilities and solve complex problems.
• Discretion and Ethics : A strong sense of ethics and an understanding of the legal implications of hacking.
• Communication Skills : Capable of clearly communicating findings, risks, and recommendations to non-technical stakeholders.

Ethical hacking is a constantly evolving field, with numerous opportunities for career advancement.

Professionals can progress to senior roles such as Security Consultant, Security Architect, or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

There is also the potential to specialize in areas like forensic analysis, security compliance, or to become an independent cybersecurity consultant.

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the demand for skilled Ethical Hackers is expected to rise, making this an exciting and dynamic career choice.

Voice-over Artist

Average Salary: $35,000 – $70,000 per year

Voice-over Artists lend their vocal talents to a variety of media, such as cartoons, video games, commercials, and audiobooks.

This role is perfect for Star Wars fans who have an interest in performing and bringing characters to life with their voice, much like the iconic voices from the Star Wars franchise.

• Character Interpretation : Use vocal skills to portray characters in animations, video games, and other media, potentially including Star Wars-themed projects.
• Audio Recording : Work in a studio setting to record scripts, ensuring clear and emotive delivery that matches the tone and context of the project.
• Script Analysis : Review and interpret scripts to deliver the lines with appropriate emotion, accent, and inflection.
• Collaboration with Production Teams : Work closely with directors, sound engineers, and other professionals to achieve the desired end product.
• Vocal Care : Maintain vocal health through proper techniques and exercises to ensure a long and sustainable career.
• Marketing : Self-promote and network to secure new projects and roles, often building a personal brand as a voice-over artist.
• Training : Although formal education is not strictly necessary, voice acting classes or workshops can be highly beneficial.
• Vocal Skills : A versatile voice with the ability to perform different characters, accents, and emotions.
• Recording Experience : Familiarity with studio equipment and recording software is helpful.
• Interpretation : Strong reading comprehension and script analysis skills to bring text to life.
• Resilience : The ability to handle rejection and maintain persistence in a competitive field.

Voice-over Artists have the potential to work on a wide range of exciting projects, and Star Wars enthusiasts may find particular joy in contributing to media related to their favorite saga.

With experience and a strong portfolio, artists can move on to larger roles with higher visibility, become voice directors, or even start their own voice-over production companies.

Feng Shui Consultant

Average Salary: $30,000 – $70,000 per year

Feng Shui Consultants help individuals and businesses arrange their spaces to promote balance, harmony, and prosperity according to the principles of Feng Shui.

This role is ideal for those who have a passion for interior design, architecture, and the ancient art of Feng Shui.

• Conducting Feng Shui Assessments : Analyze environments and provide recommendations on how to improve the flow of Chi (energy) for better living and working spaces.
• Personalizing Feng Shui Solutions : Offer tailored advice on the arrangement of furniture, color choices, and the placement of elements to enhance positive energy.
• Answering Questions : Educate clients on the principles of Feng Shui and address queries related to personal and environmental harmony.
• Developing Feng Shui Plans : Create detailed plans for clients, illustrating changes and adjustments to their spaces for optimal Feng Shui alignment.
• Workshops and Seminars : Conduct workshops or seminars to teach groups about the benefits and practices of Feng Shui.
• Staying Informed : Keep up to date with the latest trends in Feng Shui practices, design, and architecture to offer the best advice to clients.
• Educational Background : A background in Feng Shui training with certification from a recognized Feng Shui institution is highly desirable.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain Feng Shui concepts clearly to clients.
• Passion for Feng Shui : A deep understanding of and belief in the principles of Feng Shui, coupled with a desire to help others achieve balance and prosperity.
• Consultative Skills : Ability to listen to clients’ needs and provide personalized solutions that align with Feng Shui philosophy.
• Detail-Oriented : Attention to detail when assessing spaces and creating Feng Shui plans.

As a Feng Shui Consultant, you can play a significant role in transforming people’s living and working environments.

With experience, you may establish your own consulting business, publish books on Feng Shui, or expand your services to include landscape Feng Shui or larger architectural projects.

There is also the potential to become a recognized authority or speaker in the field of Feng Shui.

Food Stylist

Average Salary: $33,000 – $60,000 per year

Food Stylists meticulously prepare and arrange food for photography, television, or film, ensuring that meals look aesthetically pleasing and appetizing on camera.

This role is ideal for culinary enthusiasts who have an eye for detail and a passion for creating stunning visual presentations of food.

• Preparing Ingredients : Carefully select, prepare, and cook ingredients to achieve the best possible visual result.
• Arranging Food : Artistically plate and arrange food to enhance its visual appeal for the camera.
• Collaborating with Photographers : Work closely with photographers and directors to achieve the desired shot, adjusting food elements as needed.
• Utilizing Food Styling Techniques : Employ various techniques and tricks to make food look fresh and enticing throughout long shoots.
• Adapting to Culinary Trends : Stay abreast of current food styling trends to ensure work remains relevant and appealing.
• Maintaining a Portfolio : Keep an up-to-date portfolio of work to showcase styling abilities to potential clients.
• Educational Background : A degree or certificate in culinary arts, food science, or a related field is beneficial.
• Creative Skills : Strong aesthetic sense with the ability to translate taste into a visual presentation.
• Attention to Detail : Keen eye for detail to ensure every element of the food’s appearance is perfect.
• Photography Knowledge : Understanding of photography and lighting principles to collaborate effectively with the photo or film team.
• Time Management : Ability to work swiftly and efficiently to meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.

Food Stylists can leverage their portfolio to work with larger clients, including major food brands, magazines, and television networks.

With experience, they may become art directors or set designers for food-centric media, or even branch out into teaching and consulting roles within the culinary arts realm.

Roller Coaster Engineer

Average Salary: $50,000 – $75,000 per year

Roller Coaster Engineers design, analyze, and oversee the construction of thrilling amusement park rides, including roller coasters.

This role is perfect for individuals who have a passion for physics, mechanics, and the excitement that comes with amusement park entertainment.

• Designing Thrilling Rides : Create innovative roller coaster designs that deliver excitement while ensuring safety and reliability.
• Conducting Safety Analyses : Perform rigorous safety analyses to ensure all designs meet industry standards and regulations.
• Supervising Construction : Oversee the construction process to ensure the roller coaster is built to specifications.
• Testing Prototypes : Collaborate with teams to test ride prototypes and make necessary adjustments for optimal performance.
• Maintenance Oversight : Develop maintenance schedules and procedures to ensure long-term operation of rides.
• Staying Updated with Technology : Keep abreast of the latest advancements in materials, engineering software, and safety technologies.
• Educational Background : A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related field is essential.
• Technical Skills : Proficiency in CAD software, structural analysis, and an understanding of dynamics and material science.
• Creativity : A creative mind to design rides that are not only safe but also provide unique and thrilling experiences.
• Attention to Detail : Meticulous attention to detail to ensure the safety and functionality of complex mechanical systems.
• Problem-Solving : Strong problem-solving skills to address engineering challenges that arise during the design and construction phases.

As a Roller Coaster Engineer, you have the opportunity to bring joy and excitement to thousands of people while pushing the boundaries of engineering.

With experience, professionals in this field can advance to senior design and management positions, specialize in groundbreaking coaster technologies, or become consultants for new amusement park developments around the world.

Video Game Tester

Video Game Testers rigorously test video games in development to identify bugs, glitches, and areas for improvement to ensure a high-quality gaming experience.

This role is perfect for Star Wars fans who are passionate about gaming and have an eye for detail, offering the chance to potentially work on Star Wars-themed games.

• Gameplay Testing : Play through various stages of games to identify and document gameplay issues.
• Bug Reporting : Accurately report bugs and glitches to the development team with detailed descriptions and potential steps to reproduce the issues.
• Feedback on Game Mechanics : Provide constructive feedback on game mechanics, level design, and overall player experience.
• Quality Assurance : Ensure games meet quality standards and are in line with the developer’s vision and game design documents.
• Collaboration with Development Teams : Work closely with developers, designers, and production teams to refine gameplay elements.
• Staying Current : Keep up-to-date with gaming trends, new technologies, and advancements in game testing methodologies.
• Educational Background : A High School diploma or equivalent; a degree in Game Design, Computer Science, or a related field is a plus.
• Attention to Detail : Keen observation skills to spot even the smallest inconsistencies or glitches in game environments.
• Passion for Gaming : A strong enthusiasm for video games, including an appreciation for Star Wars-themed games, is beneficial.
• Communication Skills : Effective written and verbal communication skills for clear bug reporting and collaborative work.
• Patience and Persistence : Willingness to repeatedly test game sections and work through challenging or repetitive scenarios.

Beginning as a Video Game Tester can be a stepping stone to various roles in the gaming industry.

With experience, testers can move into senior tester roles, quality assurance management, or even game design and development.

Passionate Star Wars fans may have the opportunity to work on Star Wars video game franchises, thereby contributing to the legacy of the beloved series.

Mystery Shopper

Average Salary: $20,000 – $45,000 per year

Mystery Shoppers are hired to evaluate the quality of service, product availability, and overall customer experience at various retail locations, restaurants, and service providers anonymously.

This role is perfect for those who love a bit of intrigue and the thrill of working undercover to help improve the consumer industry.

• Conducting Undercover Visits : Visit businesses anonymously to evaluate customer service, product quality, and store cleanliness, among other factors.
• Providing Detailed Feedback : Complete reports and surveys to give businesses insight into the customer experience they provide.
• Assessing Compliance : Ensure that employees are adhering to company standards and regulations.
• Purchase and Return : Buy products and test return policies to assess the ease and efficiency of the process.
• Enhancing Service Quality : Your feedback will contribute to the improvement of service delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Staying Incognito : Maintain a low profile to ensure an authentic customer experience during evaluations.
• Attention to Detail : Ability to observe and recall specific details about your shopping experience.
• Communication Skills : Excellent written communication skills for providing clear and thorough feedback in reports.
• Objectivity : Must remain impartial and report honestly on the shopping experience without bias.
• Analytical Skills : Ability to assess various aspects of the shopping experience and provide constructive criticism.
• Reliability : Follow through on shopping assignments and meet deadlines for submitting evaluations.

As a Mystery Shopper, you contribute directly to the enhancement of customer service standards across various industries.

With experience, Mystery Shoppers can take on more complex assignments, become team leaders coordinating groups of shoppers, or move into roles focused on analyzing and reporting on industry-wide customer service trends.

Escape Room Designer

Escape Room Designers create immersive and challenging environments where players solve puzzles and complete tasks to escape a themed room within a set time limit.

This role is perfect for fans of Star Wars and other adventure genres who enjoy crafting stories and puzzles that transport players into another world.

• Developing Engaging Themes : Create compelling narratives and themes for escape rooms, potentially including science fiction elements reminiscent of Star Wars.
• Designing Puzzles and Challenges : Invent puzzles and challenges that are coherent with the escape room’s theme and provide an appropriate level of difficulty to engage players.
• Building Immersive Environments : Collaborate with artists and builders to construct sets that bring the escape room’s theme to life, paying attention to detail and authenticity.
• Testing Room Functionality : Ensure that all elements of the escape room work as intended and provide a seamless experience for players.
• Facilitating Game Flow : Adjust the flow of the game and the difficulty of the puzzles based on feedback and testing.
• Keeping Content Fresh : Regularly update escape room scenarios to maintain excitement and challenge for returning players.
• Creative Mindset : Strong creative skills with the ability to conceptualize and design unique escape room experiences.
• Problem-Solving Skills : Aptitude for creating puzzles and challenges that are both intriguing and solvable.
• Technical Knowledge : Understanding of basic construction, electronics, and technology used in creating interactive environments.
• Teamwork : Ability to work well with a team, including artists, builders, and actors, to bring the escape room to life.
• Attention to Detail : Keen eye for detail to ensure the authenticity and immersion of the escape room experience.

As an Escape Room Designer, you have the opportunity to revolutionize the entertainment industry by offering unique and memorable experiences.

With experience, you can advance to lead designer positions, start your own escape room business, or branch into other immersive experience design roles, such as themed attractions or interactive theater productions.

Cruise Ship Entertainer

Cruise Ship Entertainers are the heart and soul of the onboard entertainment experience, captivating guests with performances ranging from musical acts to stand-up comedy, dance, magic, and more.

This role is perfect for individuals with a flair for performance and a desire to create unforgettable vacation experiences for cruise passengers.

• Performing Live Acts : Deliver high-energy and engaging performances in various entertainment formats, from theatrical productions to live music.
• Hosting Events : Emcee activities and events, ensuring a lively atmosphere and engaging interaction with the audience.
• Interacting with Guests : Mingle with cruise passengers during events and at other times to maintain a friendly and enjoyable environment.
• Rehearsing : Participate in regular rehearsals to maintain a polished and professional standard of entertainment.
• Participating in Safety Drills : Attend and contribute to onboard safety drills and training as part of the crew.
• Adapting Performances : Tailor shows and activities to cater to diverse crowds and cultural preferences.
• Performance Skills : Exceptional talent in your specific entertainment area, whether it be singing, dancing, magic, comedy, or other performance arts.
• Interpersonal Skills : Strong ability to connect with and captivate an audience of all ages and backgrounds.
• Stamina : The physical endurance to perform multiple shows a week and partake in various shipboard activities.
• Teamwork : Ability to work closely with other entertainers, crew members, and entertainment staff to deliver cohesive experiences.
• Flexibility : Willingness to take on various roles and adapt to changing schedules and performance demands.

A career as a Cruise Ship Entertainer opens up a sea of opportunities to travel the world, meet new people, and hone your performance skills.

With experience, entertainers can advance to lead roles in larger productions, become entertainment directors, or transition to behind-the-scenes roles in cruise entertainment planning and management.

Color Expert

Color Experts are professionals who specialize in the theory of color, its psychological impacts, and its application across various industries such as design, fashion, and marketing.

This role is ideal for individuals who have a deep appreciation for color and its influence on human perception and behavior.

• Color Analysis : Conduct in-depth analysis and research on color trends, color psychology, and the cultural significance of colors.
• Consulting on Color Usage : Advise companies and individuals on color choices for products, branding, interior design, and more, based on industry trends and target audience preferences.
• Developing Color Palettes : Create color schemes and palettes that evoke specific emotions or actions, tailored to client needs and project objectives.
• Educating on Color Theory : Lead workshops or seminars on color theory, application techniques, and the impact of color in various sectors.
• Collaborating with Design Teams : Work closely with designers to ensure the appropriate use of color in projects, enhancing aesthetics and functionality.
• Staying Informed : Keep up to date with color technology, innovations in color science, and global color trends.
• Educational Background : A degree in Fine Arts, Design, Psychology with a focus on color theory, or a related field is highly beneficial.
• Keen Eye for Color : An exceptional understanding of color nuances, combinations, and the ability to predict color trends.
• Communication Skills : Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with clients and creative teams.
• Passion for Color : A profound interest in the study of color and its application across various mediums and industries.
• Detail-Oriented : Attention to detail and precision in color matching and palette development.
• Problem-Solving : Ability to address color-related challenges creatively and effectively.

As a Color Expert, you can play a pivotal role in branding, product development, and environmental design.

With experience, Color Experts can advance to become lead consultants, work in senior design positions, or specialize further in fields such as color psychology or color technology development.

Dinosaur Bone Duster

Average Salary: $28,000 – $40,000 per year

Dinosaur Bone Dusters meticulously clean and maintain dinosaur fossils within museums and research facilities, ensuring these prehistoric treasures are preserved for educational purposes and scientific study.

This role is perfect for those who are fascinated by dinosaurs and paleontology, and who take delight in the meticulous care of ancient artifacts.

• Cleaning and Preserving Fossils : Use specialized tools and techniques to gently clean and preserve dinosaur bones and fossils.
• Preparing Fossil Displays : Assist in setting up and maintaining exhibits, ensuring that fossils are displayed safely and effectively.
• Answering Questions : Provide information to museum visitors about the fossils under your care, including their history and significance.
• Assisting Paleontologists : Work alongside paleontologists, providing support during excavations and in the lab when needed.
• Monitoring Environmental Conditions : Help to control the climate around fossils to prevent damage from humidity, temperature changes, and other environmental factors.
• Staying Informed : Keep up to date with best practices in fossil preservation and new discoveries in paleontology.
• Educational Background : A degree or coursework in Paleontology, Archaeology, Earth Science, or a related field can be beneficial.
• Attention to Detail : A meticulous and patient nature, with an eye for the minute details necessary to preserve delicate fossils.
• Interest in Paleontology : A strong passion for prehistoric life and an eagerness to contribute to the conservation of fossil records.
• Manual Dexterity : Skilled with using tools and careful handling of fragile materials.
• Communication Skills : Capable of explaining complex concepts to the public and answering questions about the fossils in your care.
• Adaptability : The ability to work in various environments, from museum labs to potentially assisting in field excavations.

This role provides an opportunity to engage with the field of paleontology on a daily basis, fostering a greater understanding of Earth’s prehistoric life.

With experience, Dinosaur Bone Dusters can advance to supervisory conservation roles, become museum curators, or further their education to become paleontologists themselves, contributing to research and new discoveries in the field.

Average Salary: $45,000 – $70,000 per year

Sommeliers are trained and knowledgeable wine professionals, who specialize in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing.

This role is ideal for individuals who have a passion for wine and enjoy enhancing a guest’s dining experience through expert recommendations.

• Wine Tasting and Selection : Taste a wide range of wines to select offerings that best complement the menu and appeal to a variety of preferences.
• Curating Wine Lists : Develop and maintain the establishment’s wine list, ensuring a balanced variety of choices and vintages.
• Food Pairing : Advise guests on the best wine pairings to enhance the flavors of their meals.
• Inventory Management : Monitor the cellar inventory, restock wines, and manage the purchase of new wines for the collection.
• Staff Training : Educate the restaurant staff about the wine menu to improve customer service and promote sales.
• Staying Informed : Keep abreast of industry trends, new wines, and best practices in wine storage and service.
• Educational Background : Formal training and certification from a recognized wine school, such as the Court of Master Sommeliers or Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal communication skills, with the ability to describe wine flavors, regions, and types in a way that is accessible and exciting to guests.
• Passion for Wine : An enthusiastic and in-depth knowledge of wines, wine-making processes, and the wine industry.
• Customer Service : A strong focus on providing an exceptional dining experience and the ability to make guests feel at ease with wine choices.
• Sensory Skills : A refined palate and a good sense of smell to discern and describe wine characteristics accurately.

Being a Sommelier provides an opportunity to continually grow through tasting and discovering new wines, traveling to vineyards, and constantly learning about the evolving wine industry.

With experience, a Sommelier can advance to become a Head Sommelier, Beverage Director, or even own a wine bar or shop.

There are also opportunities to become an educator, wine writer, or consultant within the industry.

And there you have it.

A comprehensive breakdown of the most fascinating and unusual jobs that exist.

With such a wide array of unconventional roles to choose from, there’s something to cater to your individual tastes.

So dare to tread off the beaten path and dive into your dreams of working in a unique and unconventional field.

Remember: It’s NEVER too late to transform your quirks into your career.

Why Work Hard When You Can Work Smart? Easy, High-Paying Jobs!

The Goldmine List: Top Highest Paying Jobs and How to Qualify for Them!

The Paycheck Problem: Jobs Where You Might Struggle Financially

Make Money, Have Fun: Jobs That Are Anything But Boring

Take Control of Your Career: High-Paying Remote Jobs for a Better Life!

The Editorial Team at InterviewGuy.com is composed of certified interview coaches, seasoned HR professionals, and industry insiders. With decades of collective expertise and access to an unparalleled database of interview questions, we are dedicated to empowering job seekers. Our content meets real-time industry demands, ensuring readers receive timely, accurate, and actionable advice. We value our readers' insights and encourage feedback, corrections, and questions to maintain the highest level of accuracy and relevance.

Similar Posts

25 Disadvantages of Being an Analyst (Report Writing Woes)

26 Disadvantages of Being a Health System Specialist (The Burnout Battle!)

25 Reasons to Become a Behavioral Health Technician (Be a Beacon of Hope)

25 Disadvantages of Being a Pulmonologist (Inhale the Stress)

37 Jobs For Patent Agents (Entrepreneurial Endeavors)

29 Jobs For Global Business Management (Worldwide Wins!)

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

IELTS Cue Card

A website dedicated to IELTS Cue Card Samples, Speaking Samples, and Speaking Preparation Guideline...

Search This Blog

Describe an unusual job, describe an unusual job you think you would be good at..

• what the job is
• what kind of works it involves
• what type of people do this job

Idea generation for this Cue Card topic: 

Popular posts from this blog, describe a time when you were very busy, describe an animal which you find interesting, important skill you learned when you were a child, person in your family who you most admire.

Benefit from Reliable and Quality Service Today!

Your essay will take just a few minutes of your day! We'll craft it for you in a moment

The Jobs You Will Be Surprised to Learn about

There are quite unusual things that people get paid for. Learn about the list of unusual jobs, maybe you will find your dream job among them?

Professional “Sleeper”

Some hotels hire people to check if their rooms are comfortable enough for the visitors. The person who gets this job has to stay for a day in every room of the hotel and to point out on all the possible inconveniences.

To get this job a person has to have no sleeping problems, has to know a couple of languages and to have good writing skills, as a part of this job will be writing a blog about his/her experience in the hotel. So, if you are hired as a “professional sleeper”, you do not only get to stay in the best hotels and use all their services for free, but you also get paid for doing that!

Ant Catcher

To get this job you have to be a strong professional who knows ant’s anatomy. The main requirement is to catch the best, strongest and healthiest ants and to put them in the artificial anthill (so-called ant farm). This actually is quite a responsible job, as some of those ants are used for medical purposes. Would you consider catching ants and earning some money for that?

Dream Seller

Nowadays there are special agencies that promise that they will make all your dreams come true! You “order” your dream and a team of strong professionals works hard for you. Of course, this service is quite expensive, the price depends on the ‘difficulty’ of the dream, but it always starts with a few thousands of dollars. So, are people who work in these agencies: contemporary businessmen or modern magicians and fairy godmothers?

Penguin “Turner”

There are people who work in Antarctica and whose job is to save those beautiful creatures. The thing is that it is almost impossible for a penguin to turn or to stand up if it falls on its back. Many of them are amazed by flying planes and lose their balance because of looking in the sky. They also fall down when the plane lands or takes off near them.

As people are the ones responsible for that, they also are the ones who fix this situation and help the penguins. You can even find this job in Guinness book of records!

Tester of The Water Slides

The main requirement of this job is to… slide! You have to check all the slides in the aqua park that hires you and to write about your feelings, giving your own evaluation to every water slide

One of the most famous testers is Tom Lynch, who has traveled all over the world, visited lots of aqua parks and tested hundreds of water slides. Sounds like a dream job for every child and for most of the grown-ups!

The number of monkeys in India is extremely high. You can see them everywhere, they walk freely around the city and most Indians do not even pay attention to those animals. But sometimes they get quite annoying or even dangerous.

Once, a large group of monkeys attacked a train station in a big city, they hit people and almost stopped the work of the trains. The solution was quite unusual and very simple. Now there is a man who wears a large monkey costume and runs around the train station. Children love it and want to play with him, while monkeys are frightened and run away.

Do you think that walking your pet is the best hobby in the world? What if we tell you that making your hobby your main activity with the source of income can change all your view on this point? A dog walking job is being known for quite a long time already but we could not miss that aspect as it definitely belongs to the kinds of jobs that are worth paying attention to!

This job has grown so large that there are even online websites offering their services with a precise plan of the map, all needed breaks for your dog and even cute and sweet photos of your loving pet! Workers claim that they earn enough for their living and even have some time for pleasure as you only can choose this job if you really love walking a lot and hugging furry little critters.

Video Games Tester

A dream job for all fans of video games really EXIST! And it does not differ very much from their usual daily activities. However, you get paid for playing about 70 hours per week.

Your main task will be to test the game you have been chosen in multiple categories like to find flaws that crash gaming consoles, loop dialogues, freezing in games, erase progress, or skew visuals.

More of that, if you believe that to become a game tester is a piece of cake, take into account that this job is very competitive as many people dream of such job and even visit special schools for video game testing. So, if you think you are the right person, do not hesitate and write to Console Companies to have the coolest job!

Babyproofer (Childproofer)

Before you start laughing out loud wondering who will ever hire somebody to proof your kid we will explain: this job is really related to babies, however its main task is not to prove them but the surroundings in the house, yard and so on.

They call themselves the advanced certified professional babyproofers and claim to have the right skills to build and install child products so that the kid will not harm itself in any case. The job is concentrated on consulting parents about the kid’s safety as well. Who knows, maybe this job will be even more popular in the future but as we see it now, you can do everything you have interest in.

Greeting Cards Writer

Were you always wondering who was writing some awesome poems on the greetings card in the mall, where you rush 15 minutes before a celebration starts? Who is that superman putting all your thoughts and wishes into the rhythm and creating a good content for you?

It is not a hobby; such job really exists and the candidates even pass several tests to get hired for it. As you see not everyone but only a professional with a writing talent can take this position.

Want to get this position? Start it from small: get to writing a short poem and see how you progress. If you are skilled and lucky enough you will be able to join the group of advanced writers of the Greeting Card Association and write congratulations for thousands of people.

What is your favorite job around those? What would you do that is not stated here? Tell us, we would love to read your comments!

1 Comments:

I am ready to do any of the above!

Leave a comment:

Your email address will not be published.

Place your order now

Welcome Guest!

• IELTS Listening
• IELTS Reading
• IELTS Writing
• IELTS Writing Task 1
• IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Speaking
• IELTS Speaking Part 1
• IELTS Speaking Part 2
• IELTS Speaking Part 3
• IELTS Practice Tests
• IELTS Listening Practice Tests
• IELTS Reading Practice Tests
• IELTS Writing Practice Tests
• IELTS Speaking Practice Tests
• All Courses
• IELTS Online Classes
• OET Online Classes
• PTE Online Classes
• CELPIP Online Classes
• Free Live Classes
• Australia PR
• Germany Job Seeker Visa
• Austria Job Seeker Visa
• Sweden Job Seeker Visa
• Study Abroad
• Student Testimonials
• Our Trainers
• IELTS Webinar
• Immigration Webinar

Describe an unusual job – IELTS Cue Card

Updated On Apr 26, 2022

Share on Whatsapp

Share on Email

Share on Linkedin

Limited-Time Offer : Access a FREE 10-Day IELTS Study Plan!

Describe an unusual job

You should say:

• What the job is?
• What kind of work does it involve?
• What type of people do this job?

Sample Answer 1

I was looking for work options online a while back when I came across a range of job openings. Many of them were relevant to my professional interests, but a few were intriguingly odd. For example, one of them was for an adventure park. They required a water slide tester. When I initially saw this job, my immediate thought was, “Wow! Are people actually getting paid for such jobs”. This has to be undoubtedly the most fun-loving job on the planet.

Water slide testers have to examine all safety elements to ensure that these rides are entirely safe. The person merely needs to show up at work, put on their swimming gear, and head to the pool. They can even go down the slide numerous times to see how much water it uses, how quickly you travel down it, and how much fun it is overall. They can even create amusing stories about your discoveries for publication in travel journals and websites.

Additionally, to my amazement, being a water slide tester just required a few fundamental skills: strong observation skills, a calm and steady mind, the fortitude to ride a variety of rides, and being active on social media. There’s always medical insurance for those who break a bone or two and a generous wage package. There are a lot of people who are dissatisfied or just bored with their office jobs. There’s also a small group of people who do jobs you would never imagine are possible.

There are a plethora of careers out there that you may never have heard of, ranging from the bizarre to the cool, the serious to the frivolous. Some people have abandoned the more traditional employment routes in favor of something more abstract, such as deodorant tester, furniture tester, nail paint namer, stunt tester, flavourist, and many others.

Sample Answer 2

A few months ago, while scrolling through social media, I came across this advertisement for a company that makes mattresses and bedding products. They had the wackiest job opportunity I had ever seen. At first, I thought it was a joke, but as it turned out, it wasn’t! It was an actual advertisement. The job opportunity was to be a mattress tester. One would have to participate in a sleep study and allow researchers to monitor their sleep patterns. They were paid handsomely as well.

[do_widget id=custom_html-22]

The “employees” would partake in a month-long research activity where comfort, quality of sleep, body pain issues, sleep apnea, etcetera would be measured for nine hours each night. 

I have read about a few unusual jobs, but this one was perhaps the most distinct one I had heard of. I, for one, never imagined you could get paid well to sleep, so this opportunity appeared to be quite lucrative. Although it is understandable that in this fast-paced world, with sleep becoming less important each day (due to the copious amounts of work many are doing) researchers are inclined to want to know more about providing quality sleep. Many employers also invest in this cause as they want a better resting period for their employees to boost productivity and overall happiness. When an employee is happy and well-rested, the employer is also happy and well-rested. Lack of sleep is the leading cause of loss of productivity in students and professionals alike, and it can be highly detrimental to health which further explains the importance of a good night’s sleep. 

Amongst the many unusual jobs people have in this world, being paid to do next to nothing and rest well, definitely tops the list.

[do_widget id=custom_html-47]

• Wacky : Funny  or amusing in a slightly odd or peculiar way. Ex : My aunt has a penchant for things that are a bit wacky .
• Distinct : recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type. Ex : The patterns of spoken language are distinct from those of writing.
• Lucrative : producing a great deal of profit. Ex : I ndigo and opium are the most lucrative crops.
• Copious : abundant in supply or quantity. Ex : Rose took copious notes.
• Detrimental : an undesirable or harmful person or thing. Ex : It will have detrimental effects on the healing process.

Explore More Work/Study Cue cards >>

Related Cue Cards

• Describe a seminar or workshop you have attended
• Describe An Educational TV Programme That You Have Seen
• Describe Your Study Room
• Describe a School you have Studied In

Start Preparing for IELTS: Get Your 10-Day Study Plan Today!

Janet had been an IELTS Trainer before she dived into the field of Content Writing. During her days of being a Trainer, Janet had written essays and sample answers which got her students an 8+ band in the IELTS Test. Her contributions to our articles have been engaging and simple to help the students understand and grasp the information with ease. Janet, born and brought up in California, had no idea about the IELTS until she moved to study in Canada. Her peers leaned to her for help as her first language was English.

Post your Comments

Recent articles.

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

Kasturika Samanta

Raajdeep Saha

Our Offices

Gurgaon city scape, gurgaon bptp.

Step 1 of 3

Great going .

Get a free session from trainer

Have you taken test before?

Please select any option

Get free eBook to excel in test

Please enter Email ID

Get support from an Band 9 trainer

Please enter phone number

Already Registered?

Select a date

Please select a date

Select a time (IST Time Zone)

Please select a time

Mark Your Calendar: Free Session with Expert on

Which exam are you preparing?

Great Going!

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

10 Weirdest Jobs Around the World

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications.

See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now — it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” When you’re young, those answers might be a tad unrealistic: “Space Cowboy,” “Princess,” or, if you’re me, “Philosopher by day, astronaut by night.” Once you enter high school, however, that question gets asked more frequently. And by the time you enter college, you’re expected to at least have somewhat of an idea of what realistic career path you want to pursue.

If you’re in high school thinking about your career options, it may lighten things up to take a break from these serious considerations and remind yourself that, no matter what you end up doing, there’s somebody out there doing something weirder than you. Here are ten hilariously odd jobs that real people do around the world.

10 Weirdest Jobs Around the World 

1. golf ball diver.

If you’ve ever played any form of golf, whether it be mini-golf or professional golf, you may have encountered a situation where your ball, or someone else’s ball, gets hit the wrong way and ends up in some lake or pool, seemingly lost forever.

As it turns out, those golf balls are not lost to the world. Many golf courses around the world will hire divers to go into the waters on their golf courses and fish those golf balls out. Golf Ball Divers can collect anywhere from 2,000-5,000 submerged golf balls every day. So the next time your golf ball ends up in the water, don’t worry! An experienced diver will save it later.

2. Gumologist

When you eat a piece of chewing gum, all you taste are the great flavors bursting through your mouth. As it turns out, creating that tiny one-gram stick requires a whole scientific process. That’s why there are gumologists who employ science and technology to give you that bubble-blowing burst of flavor.

A gumologist needs to have a certain amount of scientific expertise in chemistry. Some are even engineers! Depending on where a gumologist is in the gum-developing process, a typical day may involve working with scientific equipment, or blowing bubbles with the gum for hours on end to test the formula.

3. Chicken Sexer

Don’t worry, it’s not what you’re thinking.

When chickens are born, they tend to huddle together to stay warm. However, farmers need to distinguish between the male and female chicks, especially since the female chicks will eventually grow up to lay eggs. So, it is often someone’s job to determine the sex of each chick and separate them so that they can serve their respective purposes on the farm.

Chicken sexers need to be well aware of the anatomy of baby chicks, and they usually have some experience with farming or ranching practices. If you want to be a chicken sexer, just make sure you don’t ruffle too many feathers.

4. IMAX Screen Cleaner

Those giant cinema screens for IMAX movies can get surprisingly dirty over time. Some people will throw food like popcorn or candy at the screen when they don’t like what’s happening in the movie, and those food items stick. More commonly, these movie screens tend to collect quite a bit of dust.

With that in mind, there are a few people whose job it is to clean these screens so that your movie-watching experience remains crystal clear. Each screen cleaning ends up taking a few hours due to the sheer size of the screens and the amount of debris that can collect on them.

So next time you go to the movies, be sure to silently thank the screen cleaners who made it possible for you to watch the latest hits.

5. Dice Quality Inspector

Unbeknownst to most people, dice have to have very specific measurements and weight balances so that when you roll a die, you have a fair chance of seeing any of the numbers face up. Even the smallest imbalance could throw off the probabilities, making any game you play with the die effectively rigged.

How do you ensure that each die created is completely perfect? There is usually a Dice Quality Inspector whose job it is to do professional quality control tests to make sure that the dice meet all of the requirements. Only after the dice been inspected will they be packaged and deemed appropriate to sell.

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

6. Full-time Netflix Viewer

Imagine binge-watching your favorite shows all day, and then getting paid for it! That’s more or less what happens in this position that Netflix recently created. Netflix has hired someone to watch all of their content and tag it with the appropriate genre before it is released to the public. This person is the reason you can always find the right type of content that you’re looking for, like a romantic comedy or a murder mystery.

7. Train Pusher

You think the NYC subways are overcrowded? Try Japan’s subways, especially during peak hours. The Japanese subways can get so packed that the government has stepped in to help with crowd control—by hiring staff to push passengers into the subway train and ensure that every inch of space is filled before the train leaves.

8. Dog Food Taster

In the same way that human food is tasted before it is offered for sale, dog food has to be taste-tested as well. Dogs can’t verbally communicate what they think of dog food, however, so many dog food companies have opted to hire human taste testers to assess the flavor and texture of dog food. It’s a pretty ruff job.

9. Odor Tester

Before deodorants, perfumes, and other products are released into the market, the companies need to make sure that the product produces the desired smell when applied. So, companies often run tests where real humans try the products and assess the smell. From this process comes another odd job, the odor tester! Yes, there is someone out there whose job it is to smell people’s breath, feet, and sometimes even armpits to assess the effect of odor-giving products.

10. Keeper of the Cup (The Stanley Cup)

Every year, the Stanley Cup is awarded to the championship team in the National Hockey League. The actual Stanley Cup trophy itself is a large, very expensive cup, of which there are no duplicates if something were to happen to the first one. Given the importance of the Stanley Cup, a “Keeper of the Cup” is hired every year to chaperone the trophy and accompany it in all of its travels. Think of it as babysitting a trophy.

For More Information 

If you’re looking for some more serious advice on what career path you should pursue and how your college education can get you there, CollegeVine has a wealth of other resources for you. Sign up for a free CollegeVine account and get access to all of the tools that you’ll need to succeed in the college admissions process. With our free platform, you’ll gain access to peer-to-peer essay feedback, our college chancing engine, expert essay guides, and more!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• Listening Tests
• Academic Tests
• General Tests
• IELTS Writing Checker
• IELTS Writing Samples
• Speaking Club
• IELTS AI Speaking Test Simulator
• Latest Topics
• Vocabularying
• 2024 © IELTS 69

If you were given the opportunity to do an unusual job, what would it be?

IELTS essay If you were given the opportunity to do an unusual job, what would it be?

• Structure your answers in logical paragraphs
• ? One main idea per paragraph
• Include an introduction and conclusion
• Support main points with an explanation and then an example
• Use cohesive linking words accurately and appropriately
• Vary your linking phrases using synonyms
• Try to vary your vocabulary using accurate synonyms
• Use less common question specific words that accurately convey meaning
• Check your work for spelling and word formation mistakes
• Use a variety of complex and simple sentences
• Check your writing for errors
• Answer all parts of the question
• ? Present relevant ideas
• Fully explain these ideas
• Support ideas with relevant, specific examples
• ? Currently is not available
• Meet the criteria
• Doesn't meet the criteria
• 6 band Topic 14: Advertisements on mass media, especially on TV are misleading people, making them buy things that are not as good as they are advertised. Hence, some people think that advertising should be banned. Advertising has considered as the most effective way of increasing sales of the advertised products. Some people believed that advertisements had had negative effects on people. From my point of view, I totally see eye to eye with this statement. To begin with, advertisements haven’t assured their ...
• 6 band Topic 15: Many Vietnamese people say that “To make the economy truly integrate with other countries in the world, we should remove the Lunar New Year and celebrate the Solar New Year. ” It is undeniable that Lunar New Year called Tet has considered as the biggest traditional festival that can bring people together so as to celebrate a sacred and meaningful annual event. However, in recent times, many Vietnamese people have the idea of removing Tet and celebrate the Solar New Year d ...
• To have another language is to possess a second soul. Charlemagne
• 6 band Topic 17: Write a paragraph of about 200-250 words to express you opinion in the following topic: “Some people say that children spending much time working on computers is actually good preparation for their education and their working lives”. Due to the successful development of technology, our society has a great process of improving social life. Some people believed that the invention of computers would have positive impacts on children’s education and working lives. However, from my perspective, spending too much time working on compu ...
• 6 band It is better to live in one town or city than to move from one place to another. Agree or disagree? Throughout the history, people choose a certain way for their habitats that is based on their preference and life condition. Some people prefer to stay in one place for their whole life, while other people holds the opposite view and think that it would be better to live in various cities. Both of t ...
• Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language. Frank Smith
• 5.5 band REASONS FOR THE POPULARITY OF AMERICAN FILMS Hollywood movies are the most popular movies in the world; furthermore, the popularity of these films all over the world keeps increasing. The popularity of Hollywood films all over the world stems from some reasons such as bigger budgets, the reputation of the actors, and advertisements. The first ...
• 6 band VIDEO GAME ADDICTION Unfortunately, video game addiction is one of the most essential problems in the world. In addition, the number of people who are addicted to video games keeps increasing due to the fact that video games are becoming more realistic, complex, and compelling. Necessary steps should be taken to overcom ...
• Speak a new language so that the world will be a new world. Rumi

Trade Schools, Colleges and Universities

Join Over 1.5 Million People We've Introduced to Awesome Schools Since 2001

Trade Schools Home > Articles > Exciting Careers That Pay Well

Exciting Careers: 28 Thrilling & Unique Options That Pay Well

By Publisher | Last Updated June 19, 2023

Exciting careers make going to work every day something to look forward to. After all, when people describe their ideal jobs, the words "boring," "mundane," and "tedious" do not usually make the list. By contrast, exciting jobs engage your passions and keep you coming back. They challenge you to fulfill your potential.

Lots of people want exciting careers, but not everyone would agree on what "exciting" actually means. Some people might say the most exciting jobs provide an adrenaline rush: They're fast-paced and unpredictable, with plenty of danger and risk. Others might argue that exciting careers include becoming famous or at least being in the center of the action. Still others might insist that exciting jobs involve working with cutting-edge technology or in extreme or exotic environments.

Everyone has different interests and passions. A job that one person finds thrilling might strike someone else as too risky or uncomfortable. It all depends on individual preferences. But while people might argue about what features an exciting job must have, most would agree that a good salary is essential. After all, poverty is certainly not exciting.

The following list of exciting jobs that pay well is divided into five different areas of interest, though some careers could easily fall into more than one category. The list includes jobs in:

• Emergency services
• Law and order
• Science and technology
• Media and entertainment
• Travel and adventure

Plus, check out our list of practical jobs that you can make exciting !

Salary information is based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) unless otherwise indicated.*

Exciting Careers in Emergency Services

1. ER doctor

You never know what you're going to get in the emergency room. You might have simple cases of ear infections or broken bones, or you might have to deal with gunshot wounds and stabbing injuries. In emergencies, the stakes are incredibly high: If you don't act quickly and make the right calls, your patients could die. If you can handle the blood and gore (not to mention the pressure of literally having lives in your hands), you might want a career as an ER doctor.

• Median salary: $208,000 or more

2. Air traffic controller

Controlling the movement of airplanes—both in the sky and on the ground—takes some serious mental toughness. Air traffic controllers are responsible for the safety of thousands of passengers during every single shift. It's intense, fast-paced work that leaves no room for error. The pressure gets even greater when an emergency happens and you have to guide a pilot to the ground now . If you're an adrenaline junkie, this might be the career for you.

• Median salary: $129,750

3. Helicopter search and rescue pilot

When people get stranded or injured out in the ocean or deep in the woods, a helicopter search and rescue pilot is often tasked with locating them and bringing them to safety. You might have to maneuver your chopper through wind, rain, and even lightning to reach your target, which could be anywhere from the open ocean to the side of a mountain. You may also have to provide basic medical care to people with life-threatening injuries. It's not a career for the faint-hearted. So good flight training is a must.

• Median salary: $134,630 (among all airline and commercial pilots)

4. Firefighter

When everyone else is running away from a fire, these professionals rush toward it. Firefighters risk their lives to rescue people from burning buildings and get the flames under control. You might spend most of your shift sitting around at the fire station, but when the alarm goes off you have to be ready to spring into instant action. It's physically demanding work (the protective gear alone weighs about 45 pounds, not to mention the hoses and other equipment you need to carry), but it's also very heroic.

• Median salary: $50,700

5. 911 dispatcher

Coaching people through difficult situations—like performing CPR on an elderly relative or delivering a baby in the middle of a traffic jam—is all in a day's work for a 911 dispatcher. The whole purpose of the job is to help people deal with terrible circumstances while sending assistance their way. You have to keep yourself and the people on the phone calm while coordinating with police, fire, and ambulance services to make sure callers get the appropriate help they need. Things can go south very quickly, so you need to be on your toes at all times.

• Median salary: $46,670

6. Paramedic

Being among the first on the scene at a medical emergency requires quick thinking and a calm demeanor, not to mention a strong stomach. At accident scenes and other emergencies, lives can depend on the knowledge and skill of a paramedic. Your role is essentially to bring the emergency room to the patient. You might have to insert breathing tubes or administer IVs before high-tailing it to a hospital, all the while keeping a clear head.

• Median salary: $46,770

Exciting Careers in Law and Order

7. Crisis negotiator

When everyone else is losing their head, a crisis negotiator remains calm, cool, and collected. That's because they're responsible for talking their way toward a peaceful, nonviolent end to kidnappings, hijackings, suicides, and hostage situations. You need good self-control and outstanding communication skills to make it in this high-pressure career, but avoiding bloodshed and anarchy can make for a real adrenaline rush.

• Median salary: $66,020 (among all police and detectives)

8. SWAT team member

If you're willing to endure extreme physical challenges and stand firm in the face of immense danger, you might have what it takes to make it as a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member. These specialized police officers respond to high-risk, volatile situations that regular police forces are not equipped to handle, such as riots and hostage rescues. Using tear gas to break up a crowd or aiming a high-powered rifle at a barricaded suspect can really get the blood flowing.

• Median salary: $66,020

You need a phenomenal memory and keen powers of observation to make it as a spy (or as the CIA calls it, a Clandestine Operations Officer). After all, not only do you need to remember every detail of your cover story, but you also need to absorb everything that is said to you—and you can't risk writing any of it down. Secrets are paramount in this career. The CIA doesn't even want you talking about the fact that you've applied for this exciting job.

10. Bounty hunter

Also known as bail enforcement officers, bounty hunters work with bail bonds companies to track down fugitives who have skipped bail by failing to appear in court. The idea is to find the criminals and bring them in to face justice. You don't have to have a background in law enforcement, though many bounty hunters do. It's highly dangerous work. Most fugitives are desperate to avoid being arrested, and they may be heavily armed. You need to be prepared for anything.

• Median salary: $59,380 (among all private detectives and investigators)

11. Correctional officer

Keeping order among hardened criminals in prisons and jails can certainly make for an exciting workday. Checking for contraband, settling disputes between inmates, and preventing full-scale riots are all part of the job. You have to be constantly on your guard in order to stay safe and keep a tense situation from spiraling out of control. It can be difficult to stay calm and objective in this high-stress environment, but the adrenaline can help keep you going.

• Median salary: $47,920

Exciting Careers in Science and Technology

12. Cloud architect

Does the idea of using leading-edge cloud computing technology to solve business problems get your blood pumping? Try becoming a cloud architect. These big-picture information technology professionals help companies move their applications to, and store their data in, "the cloud." You could spend your days designing and building new cloud environments. If you get a kick out of working with the latest and greatest technology, have a look at this career.

• Median salary: $120,520

13. Aerospace engineer

Could anything be more exciting than literally being a rocket scientist? Aerospace engineers use their knowledge of physics and other sciences to design vehicles and devices that fly—from airplanes and spacecraft to satellites and missiles. On any given day, you could be conducting wind tunnel tests on an aircraft design or modifying a computer model of a missile guidance system. Being able to shape the future of transportation can be a real high.

• Median salary: $122,270

14. Volcanologist

If getting up close and personal with one of the most destructive forces in nature is your idea of an exciting career, consider becoming a volcanologist. These scientists travel to remote locations around the world to study active, dormant, and extinct volcanoes in the hopes of figuring out how and why eruptions happen. It can be dangerous work, and you sometimes have to contend with hazardous weather conditions. But the ultimate goal is to find ways to predict eruptions and save lives.

• Median salary: $83,680

15. Roller coaster designer

Designing thrill rides can be a thrill in and of itself. Roller coaster designers figure out how to place the tracks to ensure that a ride will be fast enough to be exciting but controlled enough to be safe. Designers have to test out their creations many times to make sure they meet the right speeds, weights, and forces. You don't want riders getting whiplash, for example. If you're a kid at heart, this might be the exciting career you're looking for.

• Median salary: $79,840 (among all architecture and engineering occupations)

16. Robotics engineer

Want to design and build robots to go anywhere from deep space to the ocean depths? Robotics engineers draw on aspects of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and even psychology to create machines capable of performing amazingly complex tasks. You could find yourself making robots to be used in surgery, manufacturing, or mining. This is one career that keeps you on the cutting edge.

• Median salary: $95,300 (among all mechanical engineers)

17. Forensic science technician

Collecting evidence at crime scenes and analyzing it to figure out "whodunit" keeps forensic science technicians busy. In this career, you might do anything from making sketches and taking photos to analyzing things like fingerprints, DNA, or ballistics evidence. You can't be squeamish, and you have to be very precise. Knowing that your conclusions could lead to a suspect's conviction can be a big adrenaline boost.

• Median salary: $61,930

Exciting Careers in Media and Entertainment

18. Professional athlete

Whether it's in basketball, baseball, football, or soccer, professional athletes live for the thrill of competing in front of a crowd. Every encounter is a high-energy, fast-paced effort that could end in "the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat," as Jim McKay used to say on ABC's Wide World of Sports . Injuries are common, but many athletes would say they are just the price of doing business. If you have what it takes to make it to the top, a career as a pro athlete can be immensely rewarding.

• Median salary: $77,300

19. Stunt performer

Have you ever dreamed of a career as an action hero? Stunt performers are highly trained professionals who do all the death-defying feats that would be too dangerous for regular film and television actors: Dodging bullets, escaping infernos, crashing cars, and jumping off rooftops are all par for the course. All stunts are carefully planned and rehearsed to be as safe as possible, but you still need to be prepared to take risks.

• Median salary: $42,245 (among all entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other)**

20. Sports announcer

Keeping people entertained and making your listeners or viewers feel like they're part of the game is the main focus of a sports announcer. These broadcasting pros are usually sports nuts who love the excitement of following along with all the action. You need to pay close attention, think fast, and have plenty of stats and stories to share. As an added bonus, you sometimes get to interview the top stars of each sport.

• Median salary: $37,502

21. War correspondent

Sometimes being in the center of the action means working in a war zone. War correspondents routinely travel to the world's most dangerous conflict areas to report on what's happening. They might find themselves dodging gunfire and avoiding insurgents, but the glory and fame of getting the big story and keeping the world informed keeps these journalists going. Reporting from the front lines can be an intensely exciting type of journalism.

• Median salary: $48,370

22. Sports photographer

Imagine being on the sidelines of the Super Bowl or above the ice at the Stanley Cup finals. That's where photography training can lead. Sports photographers make a career out of capturing all the action with their cameras. You have to be both incredibly quick and extremely creative to get the shot that no one else has and everyone else wants, but seeing the photo you took appear in newspapers and on websites around the world can be a dizzying experience.

• Median salary: $38,950

23. Adventure filmmaker

Documenting the feeding habits of humpback whales or the realities of life on the frozen northern tundra lets you live life on the edge. It's an exhilarating type of filmmaking. Adventure filmmakers tell exciting stories about nature, wildlife, extreme sports, or exotic expeditions through a camera lens. They go to incredible lengths to get the footage that grips an audience. Dangling from a helicopter above a mountain range or descending into the ocean in a shark cage could get anyone's pulse racing.

• Median salary: $60,360 (among all film and video editors and camera operators)

Exciting Careers in Travel and Adventure

24. Airline pilot

It takes a lot of flight training and experience to get a job as an airline pilot. But there's nothing quite like seeing a sunrise at 35,000 feet or flying high above the spectacular fireworks show of a thunderstorm. Airline pilots get to combine the thrill of soaring high above the earth with the joy of traveling to destinations all around the world. The fact that they are responsible for passenger safety simply adds to the excitement. A standard flight can be fairly routine or even boring, but if an engine quits or something else goes wrong, you need to be on top of your game.

• Median salary: $134,630

25. Cruise director

Ever dreamed of a career at sea? Cruise directors are in charge of all entertainment on board a cruise ship. They organize singers, dancers, comedians, bingo games, trivia quizzes, and more, all while sailing to various ports around the globe. As the most visible member of the ship's staff, you're constantly in the spotlight; you need to be charming, energetic, and diplomatic, especially when dealing with disgruntled passengers. But if you're truly a people person, the rewards can be great.

• Median salary: $67,220 (among all entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling)**

26. Travel nurse

If you have an adventurous spirit, enjoy providing patient care, and relish the idea of being able to choose where you live and work, you might want to go into registered nursing and become a travel nurse. Hospitals around the country hire travel nurses to work short-term temporary contracts. The job comes with some pretty cool perks: You get to see different cities, have your housing and travel expenses paid for, and receive a salary that's generally higher than that of regular staff nurses.

• Median salary: $77,600 (among all registered nurses)

27. Tour manager

Creating memorable vacations for people can be an exciting adventure. Tour managers lead groups on organized tours, which could be anywhere from a few days to a few months long. Imagine taking a group to dine at the Eiffel Tower or marvel at the Grand Canyon. It's not all fun and games—you're on duty 24/7 and have to handle unexpected delays and passenger problems—but it sure beats a desk job. Getting paid to see the world is pretty awesome.

• Median salary: $29,780 (among all tour and travel guides)

28. Skydiving instructor

What if you could make a career out of your favorite thrill-seeking hobby? Showing people how to jump out of an airplane and make it to the ground in one piece could be the ultimate job. Skydiving instructors use their knowledge of drop zones, freefalls, and landings to create safe yet exciting experiences for their students. If you're addicted to adrenaline, this could be the career for you.

• Median salary: $43,580 (for all self-enrichment teachers)

9 Practical Jobs That You Can Make Exciting

The jobs described above are probably some of the most common ones that come to mind when you think of exciting careers. But the truth is that any job can get your adrenaline flowing if it captures your imagination and makes you excited to go to work. It all depends on your own interests and passions. Here are a few less-obvious careers that might get you fired up:

1. Web designer

Think of how exciting it could be to have a career that blends creative artistry and technical savvy! Web designers come up with innovative ways to improve the online user experience and push the limits of what's possible.

• Median salary: $79,890

2. Makeup artist

Through the creative application of cosmetics, makeup artists can transform an actor or actress into virtually any type of character needed for a stage or screen production. Working behind the scenes on film or theater sets and crafting just the right look for each performer can be a real adrenaline boost.

• Median salary: $96,370**

3. Personal chef

Are you up for the challenge of planning and preparing unique and delicious meals for private clients? Personal chefs design customized menus, gather ingredients, and cook food in their clients' homes. Each new job can be an exciting creative endeavor. So why not get some culinary training ?

• Median salary: $42,910

4. High-performance auto technician

Fascinated by fast cars? Maximizing the performance of high-powered engines in street rods and race cars can be incredibly thrilling work. Motorsports teams are obvious potential employers, but you could also find opportunities with repair shops and aftermarket parts companies.

• Median salary: $46,880 (for automotive service technicians and mechanics)

5. Underwater welder

Working with electricity under the ocean's surface will definitely get your heart pumping. Underwater welders are tasked with building and repairing things like pipelines, telecommunications equipment, oil rigs, dams, and port facilities. It's highly dangerous but very exciting work.

• Median salary: $68,300**

6. Audio engineer

Using high-tech tools to produce the best possible sound for musical recordings, theatrical performances, television productions, and even sporting events can be a huge thrill. Audio engineers create the optimum mix of voices, music, and sound effects to achieve the perfect tone for each project.

• Median salary: $48,790

7. Radiologic technologist

Looking for a career on the cutting edge of medical technology? Radiologic technologists use sophisticated imaging equipment to take pictures of people's insides. They can perform x-rays, CTs, MRIs, and more.

• Median salary: $61,370

8. Event planner

Making sure a special event goes off without a hitch can be a thrilling experience. Event planners get to organize and coordinate the details behind weddings, festivals, tournaments, fashion shows, and much more. It's a fast-paced job with plenty of variety.

• Median salary: $49,470

9. Fitness trainer

Are you eager for a high-energy job that involves helping people enhance their well-being through physical activity? You could turn your passion for exercise and healthy living into an exciting and rewarding career as a fitness trainer.

• Median salary: $40,700

Choose Your Path

There are plenty of exciting careers to be had in a variety of interest areas. Think about what would make a job exciting to you. Do you have the skills you need to fulfill your ambitions? Why not explore training options in your area? Enter your zip code into the search tool below to find convenient programs!

* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook . Some careers listed may be part of a combined occupation profile (visited June 14, 2023).

** Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (visited June 14, 2023).

Related Articles

Where do you want to study?

What do you want to study?

What's your {{waterMark}} code?

"I recommend using Trade-Schools.net because you can find the program that you are interested in nearby or online. " Trade-Schools.net User

13 More Unusual Jobs you might not know exist

• January 11, 2021
• 5,752 views

Some of the careers in this blog might lean more towards a bit weird more than just unusual.

You never know what’s going to strike a chord and be the spark that ignites a career you’ll love. Here’s a quick read of 13 more unusual jobs you might not know exist.

Professional Cuddler

Yes, this is a real thing. You could be helping people who are struggling with loneliness, depression, past trauma, medical problems, or who are simply in need of an extra cuddle…from a stranger.

Successful professional cuddlers might build an established clientele and develop repeat business or are open to one-off cuddles. You could be carrying out multiple cuddling sessions per day. Earning anywhere between $40 to $80 per hour, the hours are flexible and you could even work from home.

Golf Ball Diver

Basically professional recyclers. Golf ball divers retrieve golf balls from bodies of water in or around golf courses. The golf balls are then then cleaned up, repackaged, and resold. You could be part of an organisation where you just turn up, dive and earn 10 cents per ball. Or you could negotiate contracts to work independently for golf courses.

It’s not glamorous work, often involving heavy lifting and diving into murky waters filled with all kinds of hazards. The rewards? Well you could earn upwards of $100 per hour; Glen Berger claims to have made over $15 million throughout his career.

Online Dating Ghostwriter

How about working as a modern-day cupid? You could earn $900 a month by writing profiles for people to post on their online dating site profiles. Not everyone is great at writing and if you are, you could be helping your clients to increase their chances of finding their perfect match.

Hippotherapist

The literal meaning of Hippotherapy is “treatment with help of the horse”. You’d be using the therapeutic benefits of horses and their movement to help human patients to overcome speech, physical, or mental health disorders.

Experience with, and love of horses isn’t enough though. You’ll need to qualify and become licensed as a physical therapist, occupational therapist or a speech or language therapist before you can specialise in this field.

Professional Bridesmaid

Not a wedding planner, but similar. Not a celebrant but a major part of a couple’s big day. Friend for hire, organiser, confidant, non-complaining member of the wedding party – if you get along well with people and want to help a bride’s wedding day run smoothly, then this could seriously be a job to consider.

Read more about the job here and here .

Water Slide Tester

Water Slide Testers check to see if the water slides in resorts, theme parks and hotels are both fun and safe.  Imagine how fantastic it would be turning up to work every single day.

Paper Towel Sniffer

Odour Judges or Paper Towel Sniffers (there are people on LinkedIn with this as their job title) are hired by paper towel manufacturers. You’d be sniff testing products to check if they smell good (or not). Positions may be limited though, and in order to be competitive you’ll need to have more than just a good nose for business.

Face Feeler

Face feelers are also known as “sensory scientists”, which definitely sounds more professional. In this job you’d be using your hands to feel the difference in product testers skin both before and after they’ve used lotions, creams and other products.

Line Stander

If you’re patient or perhaps you just enjoy people watching, and you don’t mind being out in the elements, you could make line standing a side hustle that could earn you money.

Once you’re hired you could find yourself lining up waiting for the release of a movie, concert or sporting event tickets, the newest iPhone, games consoles, or anything else.  You’d get paid to hold a space for someone else who’s too busy or just doesn’t want to queue themselves. There are even websites and apps available for booking these services if you want to sign up.

A temporary job usually, but one that’s surprisingly not competitive, is a professional bed tester . Mattress and bedding manufacturers, bed designers and luxury hotels could require your services. You could be paid to take naps, testing out comfort levels, sleep quality, room conditions and other factors.

If this sounds like your dream career, find out more about what a job as a professional sleeper involves.

Pet Food Taster

Pet food is a multi-million-dollar industry, so it should come as no surprise then that it’s taken very seriously. It’s not just pets that are picky about what they eat, their owners are particular about the ingredients, health benefits and smell of the food they’re feeding to their beloved pets.

Working as a pet food taster you’ll have to assess products on packaging, smell, nutritional value and yes the texture and taste as well – it’s all in a day’s work.

Worm Picker

Worm pickers work in the great outdoors “hunting” and collecting earth worms. The worms could be sold directly to fishermen to use as bait, you could be contracted by fishing companies to catch and package bait, or you’d work for Universities or other institutions that use the worms for teaching and research purposes.

No qualifications are required, but if you’re paid per thousand worms collected, then there are definitely some skills and commitment required if you’d like to make a living from this job.

Gross Stunt Tester

Love watching shows like I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or Survivor ? If you’ve watched the challenges taking place and thought “I could do that” – then you might have a future as a gross stunt tester.

You’d have to prepare and test out all the challenges. It would be your responsibility to ensure tasks are safe and contain the maximum grossness factor. On the plus side, you could earn up to $800 a day, and you have to wonder if there’s really much competition for the jobs.

Want to keep reading?

If you’d like to read about other careers that aren’t all that mainstream but are a little less bizarre, check out our blog 11 Careers you may never have heard of .

Searching for inspiration about careers after school, but these outlandish options aren’t appealing, we’ve got lots more to explore on our Careers and Job Spotlight pages too.

More articles

Interested in sport? Consider these careers

What are my future options?

7 sweet jobs for chocolate lovers

11 jobs beyond the familiar

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Unusual jobs.

Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)

Type of English: General English

Tags: IELTS companies and jobs describing a job 13-15 years old 18+ years old Article based Exam preparation

Publication date: 02/10/2023

In this lesson, students develop their reading skills in the context of unusual jobs. To engage with the topic, they start by discussing some general questions about their work experience and preferences. They then complete a set of pre-reading tasks focusing on vocabulary development and prediction before reading a Part 1 passage and completing a series of exam-style tasks to develop different exam techniques. Students will also practise the use of hypothetical sentences to talk about unusual jobs.

by Victoria Aitken

Be the first to share your thoughts on this lesson

Leave a Comment

Student worksheet

Teacher lesson plan

Save lesson to

In this lesson, students develop their reading skills in the context of unusual jobs. To engage with the topic, they start by discussing some general questions about their work experience and preferences. They then complete a set of pre-reading tasks focusing on vocabulary development and prediction before reading a Part 1 passage and completing a series of exam-style tasks to develop different exam techniques. Students will also practice the use of hypothetical sentences to talk about unusual jobs.

COURSE PLANS

This comprehensive course plan covers the full range of language needs – listening, role play, vocabulary development.

Worksheets in IELTS General course plan

Type of English: General English Level: Intermediate (B1-B2)

Make your lessons unforgettable

Did you know that your students can review the target language from our worksheets with our Expemo flashcard app? To let your student know, just enter their email address below (multiple emails can be separated with a comma).

• Testimonials

Famous Writer's Unusual Jobs

• Writing Services
• Essay Types
• Assignment Formatting
• Assignment Topics
• Assignment Help
• Assignment Writing Tips
• Cause and Effect Essay Topics
• College Admission Essay Writing
• Problem Solution Essay Topics
• Making Education Smarter in its Response to Students
• Recognizing Great High Schools By What They Actually Do

• Date: 09 June, 2017
• Category: Assignment Help

Aspiring actors and actresses all move to California. Here, in the “film capitol” of the world, they try to get readings/auditions for movies – even bit parts will do until they are “discovered.” The problem that most of them have is that they do have to eat. And so, they take jobs as servers in restaurants; they park cars as valets; they work in retail. And those who “make it” go on late-night talk shows and tell the viewing public about the starvation years and the menial jobs they had to take. The same is often true of writers. Because most do not have a best-seller overnight and must also feed themselves, they take odd jobs just to live. Here are some early employment ventures of some of our most famous authors.

James Joyce

Joyce is probably best known for his book Ulysses, because it was banned when first published, as being pornographic, in France and in the U.S. Born in Ireland, Joyce was the oldest of 10 children. His father was a singer but a drunk, and the family struggled financially. Joyce himself told the story much later in his life that they moved 9 times at night, so that they could escape creditors.

But his father’s musical talent must have been in Joyce’s genes as well, because his early employment was as a singer, piano player, and even as an actor. He often said that  music was his alternative vocation  if the writing thing did not work out.

Chuck Palahniuk  

Interestingly, Palahniuk’s best-selling book, The Fight Club, was not a best-seller at all until it was made into a movie. And according to Palahniuk, much of the book was written while under truck chasses, as a diesel mechanic. Other odd jobs have included dishwasher, movie projectionist, and bicycle messenger. Today, Palahniuk has a number of  books and collections of short stories , most of which are horror and satire. He is a part of the contemporary literary movement known as postmodern minimalism.  

William Faulkner

First he dropped out of high school, then out of college, but Faulkner ultimately became an author of national treasure, writing fiction about the South during the era of Jim Crow laws, and dealing with the  lives of both blacks and whites  during that time. While in college at the University of Mississippi, he worked as a postmaster at their mail room; later, after he married and needed income while he wrote, he took another job at the University – this time on the night shift in the boiler room. While his most famous work is The Sound and the Fury, Faulkner wrote several other novels, lots of short stories, screenplays, and poetry.

What an  interesting character , this one! Kesey is most famous for his novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a story that was ultimately made into a play and then a movie. The movie received 5 Academy Awards. Kesey grew up in Oregon on the family dairy farm, but left and became part of the California counter-culture of the late 50’s and early 60’s. As he stated, he was too old to be a Beatnik and a bit too young to be a Hippie. To support himself while he wrote, Kesey took at job as a night janitor at a VA mental hospital, where he spent long hours talking with the patients. At the same time he participated in a CIA study at the hospital, researching the effects of psychedelic drugs, such as LSD. Once his novel was published and became a best seller, he obviously gave up his job at the hospital, but that experience was the inspiration for the book. From that time forward, Kesey and a group of counter-culture friends, called the Pranksters, continued to have LSD parties at Kesey’s home. They also performed muscial acts around the country, and traveled in the bus featured in this picture. Kesey was arrested for possession of marijuana and fled to Mexico for a while. Upon his return, he was arrested again and spent 6 months in jail. Failing health took him back to the family farm in Oregon where he lived until his death in 2001.

J.D. Salinger

Not much is known about the last 50 years of  Salinger’s life , because he became a recluse, refusing interviews and rarely leaving his 90-acre compound in rural New York. But as a young man, he was extroverted and outgoing, although not a great student. In fact, he flunked out of his prep school and ended up in a military school – and it is these events in his early life that were probably the inspiration for his first and amazingly successful novel, The Catcher in the Rye, a book that was originally banned in school libraries because of its language. Given his reclusiveness, it’s hard to imagine that this man was once an entertainment director on a Swedish cruise line, but he did take that job after World War II while he pursued interviews with former Nazis or those who had defected from the Nazi regime during the War. Two other novels of note were published during his later years, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High the Roof Beams Carpenters.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A product of the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald often characterized his generation as “The Lost Ones.” The 1920’s was a strange time in American history, and most of  Fitzgerald’s writing  depicts the shallowness and the insanity of that decade. While Fitzgerald waited for his novels to bring in some income, he was forced to “whore” himself, as he called it, by selling short stories to magazines. But he also took other jobs, one writing slogans for placards on the sides of trolley cars and another repairing car roofs. He was always in financial trouble, due to his own alcoholism and his wife Zelda’s extended stays in mental institutions for her schizophrenia. Still, his novels, including The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night, are acclaimed as really introspective works on the “Twenties” as well as being wholly autobiographical.

Jack London

Nature enthusiast, socialist, writer – these are the three things that describe Jack London. London lived all of his life in California, but traveled to the Klondike during the Gold Rush at the turn of the century, to Hawaii, and to Japan during the Russo-Japanese War, as a war correspondent. His fictional works relate to many of his experiences in the Klondike, including White Fang and The Call of the Wild, along with short stories such as “To Light a Fire.” While he was certainly interested in man’s relationship to nature, he was also very  active in the labor movement of the early 1900’s  and was a member of the Socialist Party most of his life. In order to make ends meet, and because he had a sense of adventure, London once bought an oyster pirate ship from a relative and had a short stint as an oyster pirate himself, until the ship was destroyed. He also became a tramp for a while and was arrested and jailed for vagrancy. London’s novels and short stories are considered to be among the best in American literature.

Charles Dickens

Growing up in 19th century Victorian England, Dickens enjoyed both a relatively normal middle class existence and the life of a pauper, once his father was sent to debtors’ prison. At that time, he was forced to take a job in a shoe polish factory where he spent 10 -12 hours a day placing labels on cans of boot black. This experience  influenced his writing,  much of which is filled with social criticism for the plight of the poor – Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Tale of Two Cities – most notably. Even his famous Christmas Carol deals with the huge differences in the lives of the rich and the poor in England during his time. His work, David Copperfield, is said to be autobiographical.

Born into an affluent family in Alabama, Harper Lee (a pen name) enjoyed a privileged childhood. Her father, however, probably instilled within her a  strong sense of justice  when, as a lawyer, he defended two black men charged with the murder of a white store owner. In this sense, her one novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is somewhat autobiographical. After college and studying law, Lee settled in New York City determined to become an author. To support herself, she worked as an airline reservationist and, in the late 50’s, accompanied Truman Capote to Kansas to help with research on his novel, In Cold Blood. She took an entire year off work to write her novel, because friends gave her a Christmas gift of a year’s salary with the instructions that she was to write her book. Originally titled, Go Set a Watchman, the book was, in the eyes of her editor, not fit to publish. After numerous re-writes, it was finally published as To Kill a Mockingbird and it was an immediate success, winning Lee a Pulitzer Prize. Since that time, she has been rather reclusive and avoids the press and interviews.

Stephen King

Stephen King is probably best known for his horror novels, including Carrie and The Shining. But he wrote much more than that including The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and a current science fiction TV series, “Under the Dome.” Before selling his first novel, Carrie, King wanted to be an English teacher. Unable to find a job, he worked in a laundry and as a high school janitor and wrote short stories. He eventually did get a teaching job but, once that first novel was published, he retired to work full time on writing. He is one of the  most prolific contemporary authors , and his books have sold over 350 million copies. He also formed a band, called the “Rock Bottom Remainders,” and they used their income from their tours to support charities.

• inspiration

A Speaking Lesson on Unusual Jobs

by Funda Nediceyuva | 04 Oct 2021

This lesson plan aims to help the students practice their discussion skills using the topic of unusual jobs.

Resource Type: Lesson Plan

Audience: Adult, University

Audience Language Proficiency: Intermediate

Duration: 50 minutes

Reading texts adapted from: 

https://www.wikijob.co.uk/content/features/useful-resources/unusual-jobs-that-pay-well

https://www.businessinsider.com/15-weird-jobs-that-pay-surprisingly-well-2019-8

• Talk about unusual jobs
• Share their ideas on a topic
• Engage in a group discussion
• Use language for discussion

Procedure:   Please see the attached document.

Supporting Files: A Speaking Lesson On Unusual Jobs 01.pdf A Speaking Lesson On Unusual Jobs 02.pdf A Speaking Lesson On Unusual Jobs 03.pdf

This website uses cookies.  A cookie is a small piece of code that gives your computer a unique identity, but it does not contain any information that allows us to identify you personally. For more information on how TESOL International Association uses cookies, please read our   privacy policy . Most browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can opt out by changing your browser settings.

can i travel to india without vaccinations

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

India Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

Be aware of current health issues in India. Learn how to protect yourself.

Level 1 Practice Usual Precautions

• Global Measles March 22, 2024 Many international destinations are reporting increased numbers of cases of measles. Destination List: Afghanistan, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of South Sudan, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia

⇧ Top

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Cholera is  presumed to be present  in India. Cholera is rare in travelers.  Certain factors  may increase the risk of getting cholera or having severe disease ( more information ). Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera. Avoiding unsafe food and water and washing your hands can also help prevent cholera.

Vaccination may be considered for children and adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.

Cholera - CDC Yellow Book

• Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to India.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

• Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to India. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to India.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

• Japanese Encephalitis

Recommended for travelers who

• Are moving to an area with Japanese encephalitis to live
• Spend long periods of time, such as a month or more, in areas with Japanese encephalitis
• Frequently travel to areas with Japanese encephalitis

Consider vaccination for travelers

• Spending less than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis but will be doing activities that increase risk of infection, such as visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets
• Going to areas with Japanese encephalitis who are uncertain of their activities or how long they will be there

Not recommended for travelers planning short-term travel to urban areas or travel to areas with no clear Japanese encephalitis season. 

Japanese encephalitis - CDC Yellow Book

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine for US Children

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of India take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.

Find  country-specific information  about malaria.

Malaria - CDC Yellow Book

Considerations when choosing a drug for malaria prophylaxis (CDC Yellow Book)

Malaria information for India.

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Rabid dogs are commonly found in India. However, if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in India, rabies treatment is often available. 

Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife.

Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include

• Campers, adventure travelers, or cave explorers (spelunkers)
• Veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers handling animal specimens
• Visitors to rural areas

Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to India. 

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Typhoid - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Typhoid

• Yellow Fever
• Arrive within 6 days of leaving an area with risk for YF virus transmission, or
• Have been in such an area in transit (exception: passengers and members of flight crews who, while in transit through an airport in an area with risk for YF virus transmission, remained in the airport during their entire stay and the health officer agrees to such an exemption), or
• Arrive on a ship that started from or touched at any port in an area with risk for YF virus transmission ≤30 days before its arrival in India, unless such a ship has been disinsected in accordance with the procedure recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), or
• Arrive on an aircraft that has been in an area with risk for YF virus transmission and has not been disinsected in accordance with the Indian Aircraft Public Health Rules, 1954, or as recommended by WHO.
• Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda
• Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago (Trinidad only), Venezuela

Yellow Fever - CDC Yellow Book

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Avoid bug bites.

Chikungunya

• Mosquito bite
• Avoid Bug Bites

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever

• Tick bite 
• Touching the body fluids of a person or animal infected with CCHF
• Mosquito bite

Leishmaniasis

• Sand fly bite
• An infected pregnant woman can spread it to her unborn baby

Airborne & droplet

Avian/bird flu.

• Being around, touching, or working with infected poultry, such as visiting poultry farms or live-animal markets
• Avoid domestic and wild poultry
• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in India, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in India. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Some diseases in India—such as dengue, Zika, filariasis, and leishmaniasis—are spread by bugs and cannot be prevented with a vaccine. Follow the insect avoidance measures described above to prevent these and other illnesses.

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in India include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Schistosomiasis and leptospirosis, infections that can be spread in fresh water, are found in India. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call India’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Malaria is a risk in India. Fill your malaria prescription before you leave and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of India may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in India, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

For information traffic safety and road conditions in India, see Travel and Transportation on US Department of State's country-specific information for India .

Traffic flows on the left side of the road in India.

• Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street.
• LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

To call for emergency services while in India, dial 100 or, from a mobile phone, 112. Write these numbers down to carry with you during your trip.

Learn as much as you can about India before you travel there. A good place to start is the country-specific information on India from the US Department of State.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for India for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick.

Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

Other Destinations

If you need help finding travel information:

Message & data rates may apply. CDC Privacy Policy

File Formats Help:

• Adobe PDF file
• Microsoft PowerPoint file
• Microsoft Word file
• Microsoft Excel file
• Audio/Video file
• Apple Quicktime file
• RealPlayer file
• Zip Archive file

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

22 things you need to know before visiting India

Dec 15, 2023 • 14 min read

India is a feast for the senses and we've got everything you need to know before you visit © Andrii Lutsyk / Ascent Xmedia / Getty Images

India is a place that overwhelms your senses in the best possible way – nowhere else delivers quite the same barrage of sights, sounds and sensations as this continent-sized country at the heart of Asia.

It would take a lifetime to see all of India , let alone understand every nuance and facet of this nation of 1.4 billion inhabitants. But with a little preparation, you can learn to navigate the richness of this country, from its snow-capped peaks and velvety beaches to its historic temples and luxuriant palaces.

We've collated the top things you need to know about visiting India, but the journey begins before you leave home. Apply for your Indian visa online for a smooth arrival on the subcontinent. Read on for 22 more insider tips that will help make your vacation unforgettable.

1. Plan your trip around the seasons

India has a reputation for being hot and humid, but with beaches, mountains, hills, coastlines and plains all jammed into a relatively small geographical area, the climate is quite diverse. The southwest monsoon brings rainy weather to most of the country from June to September, but this is the best time of year to visit the high-altitude deserts of Ladakh , although depending on the route you take, you risk encountering landslides and floods.

In the far south, there’s also a milder rainy season from October to December. The ideal weather window for travel is from October to May, though temperatures and humidity climb to agonizing levels from March onwards in the run-up to the monsoon. If you find yourself in India in the spring, head to the Himalayan foothills for milder temperatures and good trekking conditions.

2. Get your jabs before you travel

There is no official requirement for vaccinations to enter India (although yellow fever vaccination is needed if you are traveling from a country where the disease is endemic).

That said, it is important that you contact a health professional at least eight weeks before you travel to ensure your jabs are up to date. Vaccinations for diphtheria and tetanus, hepatitis A and B, polio and typhoid are usually recommended, on top of childhood vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.

Vaccinations worth considering for longer trips include Japanese B encephalitis, meningitis and rabies. Monkeys, dogs and cats can all carry the rabies parasite, and infection is fatal if untreated.

3. Take malaria precautions

Depending on where in India you are traveling to, you may want to speak to your healthcare provider about taking a course of anti-malarial tablets. For instance, northeastern and eastern parts of India, as well as the city of Mangalore, have a higher malaria risk.

Always take precautions to avoid mosquito bites – this will also help you avoid dengue fever, a viral infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes to humans. Sleeping under a mosquito net, wearing long sleeves and trousers in light colors, and using a repellent and/or a plug-in mosquito killer with a high concentration of DEET (diethyltoluamide) is advisable.

4. Get insured

Travel insurance is essential for India. Depending on where you travel to, you may find public hospitals are poorly equipped. Additionally, most private clinics and hospitals require payment ahead of treatment. Make sure you are covered for emergency evacuation and also for any adventure activities you plan to get involved in.

If you’re unlucky enough to be a victim of crime, contact the local police station or dial 100 or 112, the national emergency number. You’ll need to get the police to file a report (a “FIR" – First Information Report) to make a claim on your travel insurance.

5. Book ahead for busy times and festivals

India can get very busy from November to February, so affordable accommodation is usually swamped in peak season. It’s a good idea to book ahead, either directly with the venues or via booking aggregator sites such as Agoda and MakeMyTrip .

Also, book train tickets in advance where possible , particularly for popular routes. Tickets can be booked (with a fair amount of hassle) via the government booking site IRCTC or more easily through local booking sites such as 12Go or Cleartrip .

6. Plan your comms before you travel

Many things in India (including train bookings or ordering food online) get easier if you have a local SIM card. Bring an unlocked phone from home (or pick one up locally) and get a phone shop to sign you up for a local pay-as-you-go SIM package on arrival. You’ll need to bring passport photos and photocopies of your passport ID pages to complete the application.

7. Check your lunar calendars

While India officially follows the Gregorian calendar, the major festivals for Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and several other religions follow lunar calendars and fall on different dates from year to year. Always check festival dates before you book your trip (bearing in mind these dates are subject to change); the Indian government maintains a useful online list of public holidays .

8. Learn local etiquette

English is the  lingua franca in most metropolitan areas in India, and you’ll get away with polite hellos, goodbyes and thank yous in smaller towns too. However, if you’re traveling in northern India, you can say "namaste" (I bow to you) with your hands together in a prayer-like gesture in front of your chest. Similarly, when meeting Muslims in north India, you can say "salaam alaikum" (peace be with you) – the correct response is "alaikum salaam." Most of the time, it’s the effort that’s welcomed over pronunciation, so don’t be shy!

Shaking hands is a standard business greeting between men, but outside metropolitan regions, men and women rarely shake. Only ever use your right hand. The same rule applies when passing things to people – including money.

If you get invited to someone’s home, bring a small gift (flowers or sweets are always a safe bet) and remove your shoes before entering. It’s polite to eat and drink what you are offered, even if you don’t really fancy it.

9. Dress modestly

Depending on where in India you are, modesty is taken seriously – especially for women. Travelers of any gender will have an easier time if they wear loose-fitting clothing that covers their legs and arms. Swimwear is only appropriate for the beach – although it is not uncommon to see locals swim fully clothed. To fit in, consider investing in a kurta pyjama (a traditional garment resembling a long shirt and loose trousers for men) or a salwar kameez (a long shirt, loose trousers and scarf for women).

10. What to eat and how to eat it

Many religions in India have their own dietary rules. Muslims avoid pork, many Hindus avoid beef, and some Hindus and Buddhists are vegetarian or vegan. Many Jains are vegetarians who avoid some vegetables (most notably onions, garlic and potatoes) and who try to avoid causing harm to all living creatures. These rules mean vegan and vegetarian food is often easy to find in India.

Eating with your hands is the norm in many restaurants, particularly in parts of southern India. Take your cue from other patrons in the restaurant, and remember to eat with your right hand. Mix rice and curry into balls with your fingers and push it into your mouth with your thumb. Some thalis (plate meals consisting of multiple dishes served in tandem) are served not on a plate but on a washed and flash-heated banana leaf.

11. Haggling is not a game of life and death

Haggling for a fair price when buying things – in street stalls and open-air markets – is a way of life in India. Although it can sometimes be a frustrating experience, losing your temper is extremely bad form – if you can’t agree on a price with the vendor that you are both happy with, politely decline and shop somewhere else.

The rules of the game are as follows. The vendor will quote you a price that is more than the item is worth, then you’ll come back with a counter-offer, working up from there until you reach a mutually agreeable figure.

The “walking away” trick may bring a few last-minute adjustments, but before long, you’ll reach a threshold that the vendor won’t go below. Throwing in extra items may bring a discount on the overall cost. Many travelers prefer not to haggle in places where the money goes directly to artisans.

12. Respect etiquette at religious sites

Religion is taken very seriously in India, so it pays to know the rules and expectations for visits to temples, mosques, monasteries, gurdwaras (Sikh shrines), synagogues and churches. Always check if you are allowed to enter – some temples and mosques are closed to people who don’t follow the faith. Mosques may also be closed to visitors during prayers or on Fridays.

If asked to do so, remove your shoes before entering any religious building, and be prepared to cover your head with a scarf or shawl. Generally, always cover your legs and arms (a sarong can be handy as an emergency cover-all). Some temples also ban leather goods, and many religious sites do not allow photography.

Avoid pointing the soles of your feet towards a person or deity – this is considered disrespectful. The same goes for touching any person or effigy on the head. It is conventional to walk around Buddhist and Hindu shrines in a clockwise direction, in a ceremonial circuit known as a parikrama .

Making an offering or leaving a donation is often expected – locals always offer something, but be wary of people waving receipts showing huge donations. Giving something is appropriate, but don’t feel pressured into leaving large sums.

13. Giving alms is common but up to you

The giving of alms has a long history in India, and foreigners can expect to be approached regularly with requests for money. Whether you give or not is a personal choice, but many Indians give on a daily basis, particularly when visiting temples and mosques. Be aware that some requests for money will be scams, and you may be able to do more good by giving your time or cash to charity or aid organizations you’ve taken time to research, rather than handing out cash.

14. Respect local social attitudes

India has complex social rules about respect for elders. Depending on where you are traveling to, older people are often greeted with the honorific “auntie” or “uncle,” and the ending ji may also be added to someone’s name as a sign of respect.

Outside bigger cities, India can be quite conservative when it comes to interactions between unmarried men and women. Also, most parts of India are conservative when it comes to same-sex relationships. Whatever your sexuality, it’s best to avoid public displays of affection.

15. Street harassment is unfortunately common

Although harassment can happen anywhere, parts of India are constantly in the news owing to a lack of women’s safety. Beyond long, unwelcome stares and persistent attempts to start a conversation, more serious assaults are also a risk. Groping is common in crowds (particularly during festivals).

Exercise caution like you would anywhere else, and remain alert. Never get into a taxi or auto rickshaw containing anyone other than the driver, and avoid walking alone in quiet areas, particularly at night. Decline offers of food or drinks from strangers.

If traveling by public transport as a woman, it's best to seek out train carriages and designated seating reserved for women. Wearing a wedding ring (even if not married) and using dark sunglasses and headphones can buy you some privacy on public transport. If you are being hassled, drawing loud attention to the intrusion may encourage others to come to your aid.

16. Keep track of security situations in India

India has seen deadly attacks by separatist and Marxist groups and Kashmiri insurgents. Monitor the local news and be alert for suspicious behavior, particularly around major tourist sites. Always check the security situation before traveling to Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley in case of flare-ups of unrest. Strikes, demonstrations and protests are also best avoided, as violence is a risk. It goes without saying but in the event of trouble, obey local curfews and stay inside – your hotel is probably the safest place to be.

17. Take the altitude seriously when hiking

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a risk when traveling above 2500m (8202ft), which covers most of the Indian Himalayas . AMS can be fatal, so always ascend slowly and take rest days to allow your body to acclimate to significant elevation changes. If you begin to feel ill while hiking in the mountains, stop, and if your symptoms don’t improve, descend immediately.

18. Familiarize yourself with local rules and regulations

India has a few laws and regulations that visitors might be unfamiliar with. For instance, taking photographs of bridges, the periphery of military camps and border crossings – or flying drones over them – is considered a serious security issue.

When traveling by plane internally in India, you may be asked to surrender batteries from devices in your cabin bags. Smoking is banned in most public places, and a few states also have bans on the consumption of beef – killing or injuring a cow in a road accident, even accidentally, can lead to violent reprisals.

To avoid sticky situations, take the time to research where you’re going, and talk to staff at your hotel or hostel or your B&B host for advice on things to be aware of.

19. Steer clear of drugs

India may have a reputation amongst travelers as a place to push boundaries, but its drug laws are strict. Possessing even small amounts of drugs for personal use can lead to a prison sentence.

Some religious groups are permitted to consume marijuana for ceremonial purposes, but that often doesn’t extend to tourists. You can, however, find bhaang – a marijuana mixture made with the leaves (rather than the bud) of the cannabis plant – at government-approved bhaang shops.

20. Avoid the tap water

The tap water in India is not potable. Drinking or brushing your teeth with it can be a fast track to stomach troubles – the most common illness tourists experience in India. Stick to purified or bottled water (or even better, purify your own to avoid contributing to India’s plastic waste mountain).

The water rule extends to ice (be wary of ice in drinks and ice cream) and to uncooked foods, particularly salads and dishes such as coriander chutneys, which may have been washed with contaminated water. When eating fruit, stick to things you can peel or wash thoroughly yourself, and be cautious of freshly prepared juices. Hot drinks are generally fine, so drink your fill of chai (milky tea, often spiced and sweet).

21. Watch local news to keep track of natural disasters

Some geographical areas in India are prone to natural disasters, and the risk is higher in certain seasons. Hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh, for instance, often see flash flooding and landslides during the monsoon. Be alert to signs of natural disasters and keep an eye on the local news so you know which areas to avoid. Follow the Indian Meteorological Department’s website as well as their social media handle for timely updates.

If you are caught up in a natural disaster, follow the advice of emergency workers and try to leave the area quickly.

22. Spot the scams

India has a reputation for scams designed to separate tourists from their money, and touts and confidence tricksters can often be found where tourists gather. Get tourist information and make bookings at official offices, rather than “tourist offices” you have been led to by people offering unsolicited help.

If anyone steers you to a hotel, shop or other establishment without you asking, they may be angling for a commission, which will be added to the price you pay. Be dubious of claims that the place you want to go is “closed” – always check yourself to be sure.

Exercise common sense and be wary of deals that sound too good to be true – for example, the gem scam, where travelers are tricked into buying worthless gems to “sell at a profit back home.”

This article was first published March 2022 and updated December 2023

Explore related stories

Destination Practicalities

Jan 11, 2024 • 4 min read

Here's what you need to know about visa requirements ahead of travel to Belize.

Jan 5, 2024 • 20 min read

Jan 2, 2024 • 8 min read

Dec 27, 2023 • 8 min read

Dec 20, 2023 • 11 min read

Dec 13, 2023 • 7 min read

Dec 11, 2023 • 14 min read

Dec 1, 2023 • 4 min read

Nov 21, 2023 • 6 min read

Nov 7, 2023 • 8 min read

Welcome to Consulate General of India, New York (USA)

• Skip to main content
• Screen Reader Access
• English Hindi

• Visa Guidelines for USA Passport Holders
• Advisory on Satellite Phone
• Emergency Entry Visa Guidelines
• Visa for Diplomatic/ official/ Laissez-Passers Passport Holders
• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Employment Visa
• Transit Visa
• Medical Visa
• Student Visa (Study/Research /Internship)
• Conference Visa
• Mountaineering Visa
• Missionary Visa
• Journalist Visa(Journalist /Documentary filming)
• Film Visa: Visa for shooting Feature Films
• Visa for Pakistani Passport Holders/ Foreign Passport holders of Pakistani Origin
• Important Advisory on Fake Indian eVisa websites
• FAQ’s on Visa
• General Passport Information
• TATKAAL  Passport Services
• Public Advisory on Urgent Re-issuance of Passports
• FAQ on Passport
• EAMs Message on the occasion of Passport Seva Divas 2023 (24 Jun)
• How to apply for OCI ?
• When to Update/Reissue OCI
• Renewal/Re-issue of OCI Card
• General Information on OCI
• Conversion of PIO card to OCI card
• Instructions to Convert PIO Card to OCI Card
• Renunciation of OCI
• FAQ On OCI Related Matters
• Notice regarding Dual Citizenship
• FAQs on Misc. Service
• Outsourcing of Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Service for Indian Nationals with VFS Global
• General Information
• FAQs on Renunciation
• Emergency Travel Document (Emergency Certificate-EC)
• Calendar of upcoming Camps
• Past Consular Camps
• Import of Pet
• Data of Death Record
• Adult Protective Services (APS)
• Empanelled NGOs with Consulate
• Child Protective Services (CPS)
• Assistance for distressed women in India
• Minutes of Fourth Interaction-Community Organizations
• Procedure for sending/ forwarding Court Order/ Summons
• India: Leather Exports
• DISCLAIMER: Links given to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement / promotion of external websites by the Consulate General of India, New York. This Consulate does not take responsibility for the content therein. It does not endorse, approve, or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficiency, timeliness, or correct sequencing of such information. They are given solely for access to prima facie information.
• अमरीका में हिंदी
• Statement of Need Certificates for Medical Doctors
• Equivalence Certificate
• Open Admissions - School of International Cooperation, Security and Strategic Languages, Rashtriya Raksha University, India
• CUNY India Study Abroad Program (July 30 –August 15, 2019)
• RIT- OASIS organised Dandiya event with Mr. Jeffrey Cox, Director, International Student Services and Ms. Erica Ford, International Student Advisor
• Meet and Greet for Indian Students in USA, 21 October 2022 Consulate General of India in New York in association with GOPIO- Manhattan organized the 'Annual Day for Indian Students in USA' on October 21, 2022 at the Consulate. The Chief Guest for the evening was Mrs. Chandrika Tandon, Chairperson of Tandon Capital Associates and a recognized business leader, Grammy- nominated artist and humanitarian.
• Celebrating 20 years of Indian School of Business as part of Amrit Mahotsav. CGI, New York hosted ISB delegation led by Dean, its founding chairman & members and alumni on November 18, 2022
• Advisory/Information for students desirous of Pursuing Medical Studies abroad
• Fulbright - Nehru and Fulbright - Kalam Fellowships
• Online Annual Hindi Learning Program by Yuva Hindi Sansthan.
• Emergency Contact
• PIB Accreditation
• PRAMIT Pravasi Mitra (Helpline)

• Home ›   Traveling to India - Revised Guidelines

Traveling to India - Revised Guidelines

Dated the 29 th December 2022

Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Guidelines for International Arrivals (in supersession of guidelines issued on the subject on 22 nd December 2022)

Introduction

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued ‘Guidelines for International Arrivals’ in context of COVID-19 pandemic and updated the same from time to time. The present guidelines are being revised in light of increasing trajectory of COVID-19 cases being noted in some countries across the world.

This document provides protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as points of entry (airports, seaports and land border) and shall be valid for all flights landing in India w.e.f. 1 st January, 2023 (10.00 Hrs IST) till further orders.

A.1. Planning for Travel

i. All travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country.

ii. Additional requirements apply to passengers in all international flights from certain high risk countries*. Such travellers would be required to:

   a. Submit complete and factual information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal ( newdelhiairport.in ) before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days’ travel details.

   b. Upload negative COVID-19 RT-PCR report** on the Air Suvidha portal (The test should have been conducted within 72 hrs prior to undertaking the journey).

   c. Each passenger shall also submit a declaration with respect to authenticity of the report and will be liable for criminal prosecution, if found otherwise

   d. They should also give an undertaking on the portal or otherwise to Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, through concerned airlines before they are allowed to undertake the journey that they would abide by the decision of the appropriate government authority for any post arrival requirement including home/institutional quarantine/ self-health monitoring, as warranted.

A.2. During Travel

iii. In-flight announcement about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including precautionary measures to be followed (preferable use of masks and following physical distancing) shall be made in flights/travel and at all points of entry.

iv. Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 during travel shall be isolated as per standard protocol i.e. the said passenger should be wearing mask, isolated and segregated from other passengers in flight/travel and shifted to an isolation facility subsequently for follow up treatment.

A.3. On arrival

v.  De-boarding should be done ensuring physical distancing.

vi. Thermal screening should be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the point of entry.

vii. The passengers found to be symptomatic during screening shall be immediately isolated, taken to a designated medical facility as per health protocol (as above).

viii. The following protocol post arrival shall also be followed:

   a) A sub-section (2% of the total passengers** in all incoming international flights) shall undergo random post arrival testing at the airport on arrival, irrespective of port of departure.

   b) Such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). They will submit the samples and shall be allowed to leave the airport thereafter.

   c) If such travellers’ samples are tested positive, their samples should be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network.

   d) They shall be treated/isolated as per laid down standard protocol.

ix. All travellers should self-monitor their health post arrival also shall report to their nearest health facility or call National helpline number (1075)/ State Helpline Number in case they have any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.

* China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan

** Children under 12 years of age are exempted from both pre-departure and post-arrival random testing. However, if found symptomatic for COVID-19 on arrival or during the period of self-monitoring period, they shall undergo testing and treated as per laid down protocol.

• @IndiainNewYork @IndiainNewYork
• CGI NewYork CGI NEW YORK
• CGI NEWYORK CGI NEWYORK
• PRAMIT PRAMIT
• Google Feedback Google Feedback

• Copyright policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Hyperlinking Policy
• Accessibility Statement

Address: Consulate General of India, 3 East 64th Street (Between 5th and Madison Avenues), New York, NY 10065

Tel No. for all enquiries : +1 347-721-9243

Consulate closed on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays Official working hours: 9.00 AM - 5.30 PM EST Submission of documents/or any Consular Query: 09:30 am to 11:30 am Collection of documents: 04:00 pm - 04:30 pm For submission of documents : 09:15 am to 11:15 am (Monday to Friday) Delivery of documents : 11:30 am to 13:00 pm (Monday to Friday) --> For submission of documents : 9:15 am - 12:15 pm Delivery of documents : 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm-->

Visitors Since (June, 2018): 9257483

Page last updated on: April 16, 2024

Situation in Haiti April 13, 2024

U.s. citizens in haiti, update april 12, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Before You Go

Learn About Your Destination

While Abroad

Emergencies

Share this page:

Travel Advisory June 23, 2023

India - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism.

Do not travel to:

• The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (except the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh) due to terrorism and civil unrest .
• Within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict .

Country Summary : Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Violent crime, such as sexual assault, has occurred at tourist sites and in other locations.

Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in rural areas from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to these areas.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to India.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined India has a moderate level of COVID-19.  Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

If you decide to travel to India:

• Do not travel alone, particularly if you are a woman. Visit our website for Women Travelers .
• Review your personal security plans and remain alert to your surroundings.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report for India.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Avoid all travel to this state (with the exception of visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh). Sporadic violence occurs particularly along the Line of Control (LOC) separating India and Pakistan, and in tourist destinations in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The Indian government prohibits foreign tourists from visiting certain areas along the LOC.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas .

India-Pakistan Border – Level 4: Do Not Travel

India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official India-Pakistan border crossing point for persons who are not citizens of India or Pakistan is in the state of Punjab between Attari, India, and Wagah, Pakistan. The border crossing is usually open but confirm the current status of the border crossing prior to commencing travel. A Pakistani visa is required to enter Pakistan. Only U.S. citizens residing in India may apply for a Pakistani visa in India. Otherwise apply for a Pakistani visa in your country of residence before traveling to India.

Northeastern States – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Incidents of violence by ethnic insurgent groups, including bombings of buses, trains, rail lines, and markets, occur occasionally in the northeast.

U.S. government employees at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India are prohibited from traveling to the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur without special authorization from the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata.

Central and East India – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Maoist extremist groups, or “Naxalites,” are active in a large swath of India from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal, particularly in rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and on the borders of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. The Naxalites have conducted frequent terrorist attacks on local police, paramilitary forces, and government officials.

Due to the fluid nature of the threat, all U.S. government travelers to states with Naxalite activity must receive special authorization from the U.S. consulate responsible for the area to be visited. U.S. officials traveling only to the capital cities in these states do not need prior authorization.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas . 

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Must be valid for six months beyond date of visa application to obtain a visa.

Two pages required.

Yes. Travelers must enter in either on a paper visa, valid for 10 years for U.S. citizens, or an e-tourist visa.

Required for yellow fever if the traveler is arriving from an infected area; others are suggested.

The possession of satellite phones is prohibited in India; Currency in excess of USD $5,000 must be declared. Please check with the Indian Embassy in Washington if you are planning to carry a large amount of currency into India.

Check local law for reporting requirements for exiting with large quantities of foreign currency and Indian rupees.

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy new delhi.

Shantipath, Chanakyapuri New Delhi - 110021 India Telephone: +(91) (11) 2419-8000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(91) (11) 2419-8000 Fax: +(91) (11) 2419-0017 [email protected]

The U.S. Embassy, New Delhi   serves American citizens in the Indian states of  Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, the union territories of Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, and the country of Bhutan.

U.S. Consulate General Mumbai (Bombay) C-49, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra East, Mumbai 400051 India Telephone: +(91) (22) 2672-4000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(91) (22) 2672-4000 If you are calling from within India, but outside Mumbai, first dial 022. Fax: 91-(0)22-2672-4786 [email protected]

The Consulate General in Mumbai provides consular services for the states of Goa, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, and the union territory of Diu and Daman, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

U.S. Consulate General Kolkata (Calcutta) 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani Kolkata - 700 071, West Bengal, India Telephone: +(91) (33) 3984-2400 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(91) 99030 42956 or +(91) (33) 3984-2400 then dial "0" Fax: +(91) (33) 2282-2335

The United States Consulate General in Kolkata provides consular services for the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura and Assam. [email protected]

U.S. Consulate General Chennai (Madras) 220 Anna Salai at Gemini Circle Chennai, India 600006 Telephone: +(91) (44) 2857-4000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: (0) 44-2857-4000. Ask for American Citizen Services.(Within India, but outside Chennai, first dial 044. From the United States, first dial 011-(91) (44) ) Fax: +(91) (044) 2811-2020

The Consulate General in Chennai provides consular services for the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Pondicherry and Lakshwadeep Islands. [email protected]

U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad Survey No. 115/1, Financial District, Nanakramguda Hyderabad, Telangana, 500032 Phone: 040 6932 8000

The Consulate General in Hyderabad provides services to the U.S. citizens in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

All U.S. citizens need a valid passport as well as a valid Indian visa or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, to enter and exit India for any purpose. Travelers without valid documents or the correct type of visa may be denied entry into India. Indian visa regulations and instructions change frequently, often with little advance notice. Travelers are urged to check the  website of the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C.  before any travel to India to review the most current information. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in India cannot assist you if you arrive without proper documentation.

U.S. citizens seeking to enter India solely for tourist purposes for stays of less than 60 days may apply for an eVisa at least four days prior to their arrival. Please visit the  Indian government's website for electronic travel authorization for additional information and to submit an application.  

U.S. citizens seeking to enter India as a tourist for longer than 60 days or for any other purpose must apply for a visa from an Indian embassy or consulate. The Government of India has appointed VFS Global to assist with visa services to individuals in the United States. Applicants may apply for Indian visas through the application link https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-visa .

Diplomatic and Official visa applications are accepted directly at the Indian Embassy and Consulates. All U.S. government employees traveling on official orders, including military personnel, must obtain country clearance for travel to India. Once you have received your visa, check it carefully to ensure that the type of visa and number of entries is appropriate for your travel plans.

Keep copies of your U.S. passport data page, as well as the pages containing the Indian visa and Indian immigration stamps with you at all times. Consider downloading these documents to your mobile phone in case of emergency. If your passport is lost or stolen, copies will help you apply for a replacement passport and an exit visa from the Indian government. Replacing a lost visa, which is required in order to exit the country, may take four or five business days.   

U.S. citizens of Pakistani origin or descent are subject to administrative processing and should expect additional delays when applying for Indian visas.

Foreign citizens who visit India to  study, do research, work, or act as missionaries,  as well as all travelers and residents planning to stay more than 180 days,  are required to register their visit or residency within 14 days of arrival with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO)  closest to where they will be staying in addition  to having the appropriate visa  when they enter India. The FRRO maintains offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Lucknow, Calicut, Goa, Cochin, Trivandrum, and Amritsar. District Superintendents of Police serve as Foreigners Registration Officers (FROs) in all other places. We recommend all U.S. citizens review the entry requirements described on the  Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)  section on the Indian Bureau of Immigration website.

If you overstay your Indian visa, or otherwise violate Indian visa regulations, you may require clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs to leave the country. Generally, you will be fined and, in some cases, may be jailed for months. Visa violators seeking an exit permit must visit  the Foreigners Regional Registration Office portal  to submit the application and pay any levied fines. Processing of an exit permit under these circumstances can take up to 90 days and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.  

For the most current information on entry and exit requirements, please contact the  Embassy of India  at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 939-9806 or the Indian Consulates in Atlanta ,  Chicago , Houston ,  New York , or  San Francisco . Outside the United States, inquiries should be made at the nearest Indian embassy or consulate.

General information regarding Indian visa and immigration rules, including the addresses and telephone numbers for the FRRO offices, can be found at the  Indian Ministry of Home Affairs Bureau of Immigration website.

HIV/AIDS RESTRICTIONS:  There are no disclosure requirements or restrictions for HIV/AIDS patients who enter India on a tourist visa. Disclosure regarding HIV/AIDS is required of anyone seeking a resident permit in India. Foreign residents found to be suffering from HIV/AIDS will be deported. Please verify this information with the  Embassy of India  before you travel.

Find information on  dual nationality ,  prevention of international child abduction  and  customs regulations  on our websites.

Safety and Security

U.S. citizens should always practice good personal security and situational awareness. Be aware of your surroundings (including local customs and etiquette) and keep a low profile. Monitor local news reports, vary your routes and times in carrying out daily activities, and consider the level of security present when you visit public places, including religious sites, and when choosing hotels, restaurants, and entertainment and recreation venues.

India continues to experience terrorist and insurgent activities which may affect U.S. citizens directly or indirectly. Anti-Western terrorist groups, some on the U.S. government's list of foreign terrorist organizations, are active in India, including Islamist extremist groups such as Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami, Harakat ul-Mujahidin, Indian Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-e Tayyiba. The U.S. government occasionally receives information regarding possible terrorist attacks that could take place in India, monitors such information to determine credibility, and advises U.S. citizens accordingly.  Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive messages from the Embassy automatically.   

Past attacks have targeted public places, including some frequented by Westerners, such as luxury and other hotels, trains, train stations, markets, cinemas, mosques, and restaurants in large urban areas. Attacks have taken place during the busy evening hours in markets and other crowded places, but could occur at any time.  Alerts are usually more frequent around major holidays. The Maoists (also known as “Naxalites”) are the most active insurgent group in India. The Naxalites typically attack Indian government officials, but have also derailed trains, targeted other government buildings such as police stations, and conducted other criminal activity.  In eastern India’s Bihar state, 10 security personnel were killed and five injured in a Naxalite-triggered Improvised Explosive Device blast on July 18, 2016.  In the eastern state of Jharkhand, seven policemen were killed and eight others injured in a landmine blast by Naxalites on January 27, 2016.   

Beyond the threat from terrorism and insurgencies, demonstrations and general strikes, or “bandh,” often cause major inconvenience and unrest. These strikes can result in the stoppage of all transportation and tourist-related services, at times for 24 hours or more. U.S. citizens caught in such a strike may find they are unable to make flight and rail connections, as local transportation can be severely limited. Local media generally give an idea of the length and geographical location of the strike. Large religious gatherings that attract hundreds of thousands of people can result in dangerous and often life-threatening stampedes. Local demonstrations can begin spontaneously and escalate with little warning, disrupting transportation systems and city services and posing risks to travelers. In response to such events, Indian authorities occasionally impose curfews and/or restrict travel. You are urged to obey such curfews and travel restrictions and to avoid demonstrations and rallies as they have the potential for violence, especially immediately preceding and following political rallies, elections, and religious festivals (particularly when Hindu and Muslim festivals coincide). Tensions between castes and religious groups can also result in disruptions and violence. In some cases, demonstrators specifically block roads near popular tourist sites and disrupt train operations in order to gain the attention of Indian authorities; occasionally vehicles transporting tourists are attacked in these incidents. India generally goes on “High Alert” status prior to major holidays or events. You should monitor local television, print media, Mission India’s American Citizens Services  Facebook  page, and enroll with the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  for further information about the current situation in areas where you will travel.

The U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates General in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai will post information about routine demonstrations on the U.S. Embassy and U.S. Consulates General websites, under the heading “Demonstration Notices.” Please monitor our websites regularly for information about protest activities in the country. Please note that the Embassy and Consulates General will issue emergency/security messages for other purposes, as necessary.

Religious violence occasionally occurs in India, especially when tensions between different religious communities are purposefully exacerbated by groups pushing religiously chauvinistic agendas. There are active "anti-conversion" laws in some Indian states, and acts of conversion sometimes elicit violent reactions from Hindu extremists. Foreigners suspected of proselytizing Hindus have been attacked and killed in conservative, rural areas in India in the past. 

Swimming in India:  You should exercise caution if you intend to swim in open waters along the Indian coastline, particularly during the monsoon season. Every year, several people in Goa, Mumbai, Puri (Odisha), off the Eastern Coast in the Bay of Bengal, and other areas drown due to strong undertows. It is important to heed warnings posted at beaches and to avoid swimming in the ocean during the monsoon season. Trained lifeguards are very rare along beaches.

If you visit the Andaman Islands, be aware that there have been reports of crocodile attacks in salt water resulting in fatalities.  Ask local residents about dangerous sea life before swimming and keep a safe distance from animals at all times.

Wildlife safaris:  India offers opportunities for observation of wildlife in its natural habitat and many tour operators and lodges advertise structured, safe excursions into parks and other wildlife viewing areas for close observation of flora and fauna. However, safety standards and training vary, and it is a good idea to ascertain whether operators are trained and licensed. Even animals marketed as “tame” should be respected as wild and extremely dangerous. Keep a safe distance from animals at all times, remaining in vehicles or other protected enclosures when venturing into game parks.

Trekking in India:  Trekking expeditions should be limited to routes identified for this purpose by local authorities. Use only registered trekking agencies, porters, and guides, suspend trekking after dark, camp at designated camping places, and travel in groups rather than individually or with one or two companions. Altitudes in popular trekking spots can be as high as 25,170 feet (7,672 m); please make sure that you have had a recent medical checkup to ensure that you are fit to trek at these altitudes and carry sufficient medical insurance that includes medical evacuation coverage.

Train Travel:  India has the third largest rail network in the world, and train travel in India generally is safe. Nevertheless, accidents and on-board fires are sometimes caused by aging infrastructure, poorly maintained equipment, overcrowding, and operator errors. Train accidents and fires have resulted in the death and serious injury of passengers.

Areas of Instability: Jammu & Kashmir:  The Department of State strongly recommends that you avoid travel to the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir because of the potential for terrorist incidents as well as violent public unrest. A number of terrorist groups operate in the territory targeting security forces, particularly along the Line of Control (LOC) separating Indian and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, and those stationed in primary tourist destinations in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. Since 1989, as many as 70,000 people (terrorists, security forces, and civilians) have been killed in the Kashmir conflict. Foreigners are particularly visible, vulnerable, and at risk. In the past, serious communal violence left the territory mostly paralyzed due to massive strikes and business shutdowns, and U.S. citizens have had to be evacuated by local police. The Indian government prohibits foreign tourists from visiting certain areas along the LOC (see the section on Restricted Areas, below).

India-Pakistan Border:  The Department of State recommends that you avoid travel to areas within ten kilometers of the border between India and Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official India-Pakistan border crossing point for persons who are not citizens of India or Pakistan is in the state of Punjab between Atari, India, and Wagah, Pakistan. The border crossing is usually open, but you are advised to confirm the current status of the border crossing prior to commencing travel. A Pakistani visa is required to enter Pakistan. Only U.S. citizens residing in India may apply for a Pakistani visa in India. Otherwise you should apply for a Pakistani visa in your country of residence before traveling to India.

Both India and Pakistan claim an area of the Karakoram mountain range that includes the Siachen glacier. Travel or mountain climbing in this area is highly dangerous. The disputed area includes the following peaks: Rimo Peak; Apsarasas I, II, and III; Tegam Kangri I, II and III; Suingri Kangri; Ghiant I and II; Indira Col; and Sia Kangri. Check with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi for information on current conditions.

Northeastern states:  Incidents of violence by ethnic insurgent groups, including bombings of buses, trains, rail lines, and markets, occur occasionally in the northeast. While U.S. citizens have not been specifically targeted, it is possible that you could be affected as a bystander. If you travel to the northeast, you should avoid travel by train at night, travel outside major cities at night, and crowds. U.S. government employees at the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India are prohibited from traveling to the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur without permission from the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata. Restricted Area Permits are required for foreigners to visit certain Northeastern states (see the section on Restricted Areas, below.) Contact the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata for information on current conditions.

East Central and Southern India:  Maoist extremist groups, or “Naxalites,” are active in East Central India primarily in rural areas. The Naxalites have a long history of conflict with state and national authorities, including frequent terrorist attacks on local police, paramilitary forces, and government officials, and are responsible for more attacks in the country than any other organization through an ongoing campaign of violence and intimidation Naxalites have not specifically targeted U.S. citizens but have attacked symbolic targets that have included Western companies and rail lines. While Naxalite violence does not normally occur in places frequented by foreigners, there is a risk that visitors could become victims of violence.

Naxalites are active in a large swath of India from eastern Maharashtra and northern Telangana through western West Bengal, particularly in rural parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and on the borders of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha. Due to the fluid nature of the threat, all U.S. government travelers to states with Naxalite activity must receive authorization from the U.S. Consulate responsible for the area to be visited. U.S. officials traveling only to the capital cities in these states do not need prior authorization.

Restricted/Protected areas:  While the Indian Government has designated that travelers to “portions” of certain areas need special advance permission, actual practice has been to require a permit to enter any portion of certain states or territories. Areas requiring a permit include:

• The state of Arunachal Pradesh
• Portions of the state of Sikkim
• Portions of the state of Himachal Pradesh near the Chinese border
• Portions of the state of Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal) near the Chinese border
• Portions of the state of Rajasthan near the Pakistani border
• Portions of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir near the Line of Control with Pakistan and certain portions of the union territory of Ladakh
• The union territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• The union territory of the Laccadives Islands (Lakshadweep)
• Portions of the state of Manipur
• Portions of the state of Mizoram
• Portions of the state of Nagaland

More information about travel to/in restricted/protected areas can be found from India’s  Bureau of Immigration .

“Restricted Area Permits" are available outside India at Indian embassies and consulates abroad, or in India from the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) at Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road, New Delhi. The states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim maintain official guesthouses in New Delhi, which can also issue Restricted Area Permits for their respective states for certain travelers. While visiting Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) in Tamil Nadu, be aware the Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center, Kalpakkam, is located just south of the site and is not clearly marked as a restricted and dangerous area.

For the latest security information, travelers should enroll in  STEP  to receive updated security information and regularly monitor travel information available from the  U.S. Embassy in New Delhi  as well as the U.S. Consulates General in  Mumbai  (Bombay),  Chennai (Madras),  Hyderabad , and  Kolkata  (Calcutta).

CRIME:  Petty crime, especially theft of personal property (including U.S. passports), is common, particularly on trains or buses, at airports, and in major tourist areas. Pickpockets can be very adept and women have reported having their bags snatched, purse-straps cut, or the bottom of their purses slit without their knowledge. If you are traveling by train, lock your sleeping compartments and take your valuables with you when leaving your berth. If you travel by air, be careful with your bags in the arrival and departure areas outside airports. Violent crime, especially directed against foreigners, has traditionally been uncommon, although in recent years there has been a modest increase. Be cautious about displaying cash or expensive items to reduce the chance of being a target for robbery or other crime, and be aware of your surroundings when you use ATMs. ATM card scams have been used to clone credit card details to withdraw money.

Sexual Assault:  Travelers should be aware that there have been reported cases of sexual assault, including rape, of U.S. citizens traveling throughout India. U.S. citizens, particularly women, are cautioned not to travel alone in India. Women traveling in India are advised to respect local dress and customs. Customary everyday dress for Indian women throughout the country is conservative, and even more so in non-urban areas,  with women wearing clothing that covers their legs and shoulders. Exceptions are vacation resorts catering to foreign clientele and some neighborhoods of the major cities of New Delhi and Mumbai. Western women, especially those of African descent, continue to report incidents of verbal and physical harassment by individuals and groups of men. Known locally as “Eve-teasing,” these incidents of sexual harassment can be quite frightening and can quickly cross the line from verbal to physical. Sexual harassment can occur anytime or anywhere, but most frequently has happened in crowded areas such as in market places, train stations, buses, and public streets. The harassment can range from sexually suggestive or lewd comments to catcalls to outright groping. The Government of India has focused greater attention on addressing issues of gender violence. One outcome has been greater reporting of incidences of sexual assault country-wide, and Indian authorities report rape is one of the fastest growing crimes in India. Among large cities, Delhi experienced the highest number of reported crimes against women. Although most victims have been local residents, recent sexual attacks against female visitors in tourist areas across India underline the fact that foreign women are at risk and should exercise vigilance.

Women should observe stringent security precautions, including avoiding use of public transport after dark without the company of known and trustworthy companions, restricting evening entertainment to well-known venues, and avoiding isolated areas when alone at any time of day. Keep your hotel room number confidential and make sure hotel room doors have chains, deadlocks, and peep holes. Travel with groups of friends rather than alone. In addition, only hire reliable cars and drivers and avoid traveling alone in hired taxis, especially at night. Use taxis from hotels and pre-paid taxis at airports rather than hailing them on the street. If you encounter threatening situations, call “100” for police assistance (“112” from mobile phones).

Scams:  Major airports, train stations, popular restaurants, and tourist sites are often used by scam artists looking to prey on visitors, often by creating a distraction. Beware of taxi drivers and others, including train porters, who solicit travelers with "come-on" offers of cheap transportation and/or hotels. Travelers accepting such offers have frequently found themselves the victims of scams, including offers to assist with "necessary" transfers to the domestic airport, disproportionately expensive hotel rooms, unwanted "tours," unwelcome "purchases," extended cab rides, and even threats when the tourists decline to pay.  There have been reports of tourists being lured, held hostage and extorted for money in the face of threats of violence against the traveler and his/her family members.

You should exercise care when hiring transportation and/or guides and use only well-known travel agents to book trips. Some scam artists have lured travelers by displaying their name on a sign when they leave the airport. Another popular scam is to drop money or to squirt something on the clothing of an unsuspecting traveler and use the distraction to rob them of their valuables. Tourists have also been given drugged drinks or tainted food to make them more vulnerable to theft, particularly at train stations. Even food or drink prepared in front of the traveler from a canteen or vendor could be tainted.

Some vendors sell carpets, jewelry, gemstones, or other expensive items that may not be of the quality promised. Deal only with reputable businesses and do not hand over your credit cards or money unless you are certain that goods being shipped are the goods you purchased. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it is best avoided. Most Indian states have official tourism bureaus set up to handle complaints.

There have been a number of other scams perpetrated against foreign travelers, particularly in Goa, Jaipur, and Agra that target younger travelers and involve suggestions that money can be made by privately transporting gems or gold (both of which can result in arrest) or by taking delivery abroad of expensive carpets, supposedly while avoiding customs duties. The scam artists describe profits that can be made upon delivery of the goods, and require the traveler to pay a "deposit" as part of the transaction.

India-based criminals use the internet to extort money from victims abroad.  In a common scam, the victim develops a close romantic relationship with an alleged U.S. citizen they meet online. When the “friend” travels to India, a series of accidents occur and the victim begins to receive requests for financial assistance, sometimes through an intermediary.  In fact, the U.S. citizen “friend” does not exist; they are only online personas used by criminal networks. Victims have been defrauded of thousands of dollars in these schemes. Do not send money to anyone you have not met in person and carefully read the Department of State’s advice on  international financial scams . 

U.S. citizens have had problems with business partners, usually involving property investments. You may wish to seek professional legal advice in reviewing any contracts for business or services offered in India. The U.S. Embassy and/or consulates are unable to provide legal advice or intervene on behalf of United States citizens with Indian courts on civil or criminal matters.  A list of local attorneys is available on the Embassy and Consulates General  websites .

In another common scam, family members in the United States, particularly older people, are approached for funds to help callers claiming to be grandchildren or relatives who have been arrested or are without money to return home. Do not send money without contacting the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General to confirm the other party’s situation. You can also call our Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 888-407-4747 (from overseas: 202-501-4444). Review our information on  Emergency Assistance to Americans Abroad . 

See the  Department of State  and the  FBI  pages for more information on scams.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Victims of Crime:  U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault should first contact the local police, then inform the U.S. Embassy or local Consulate.

Report crimes to the local police by calling “100” or “112” from a mobile phone.                      

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on  victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Please note that you should ask for a copy of the police report, known as a “First Information Report” (FIR), from local police when you report an incident. Local authorities generally are unable to take any meaningful action without the filing of a police report. 

If your passport is stolen, you should immediately report the theft or loss to the police in the location where your passport was stolen. A FIR is required by the Indian government in order for you to obtain an exit visa to leave India if the lost passport contained your Indian visa. Although the Embassy or Consulate General is able to replace a stolen or lost passport, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) are responsible for approving an exit permit. This process usually takes three to four working days, but can take longer.

In cases of sexual assault or rape, the Embassy or Consulates General can provide a list of local doctors and hospitals, if needed, to determine if you have been injured and to discuss treatment and prevention options for diseases and pregnancy. You should be aware that in order for evidence of an assault to be submitted in a court case, Indian authorities require that the medical exam be completed at a government hospital. Therefore, if a victim goes to a private hospital for treatment, the hospital will refer them to a government hospital for this aspect of the medical process. 

There are a number of resources in India for victims of rape and sexual assault. The specific toll-free Women’s Helpline Service number in Delhi is 1091; in Mumbai it is 103; in Kolkata, 1090; in Chennai, 1091 or 2345-2365; and in Hyderabad one can dial 1-800-425-2908 or 1098 for crimes in general.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in India is “100.” An additional emergency number, “112,” can be accessed from mobile phones.

Please see our  information for victims of crime , including possible victim compensation programs in the United States. 

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur.  Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field.  In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities.  First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment.  U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.  See our webpage for more  information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. 

Furthermore, some activities are crimes under U.S. law and can be prosecuted in the U.S. regardless of whether they are allowed under local law.  For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our  webpage  for further information.

Alcohol: Each of India’s states has independent regulations concerning alcohol purchase and consumption. Legal drinking ages range from 18 to 25 and can vary by beverage type. Some states permit alcohol use for medicinal purposes only, others require you to hold a permit to buy, transport, or consume alcohol. Penalties for violation can be harsh.

Drugs:  Several U.S. citizens have been arrested at Indian airports for attempting to smuggle illegal drugs from India.  All claimed that they did not realize they were carrying narcotics.  Never transport or mail packages that do not belong to you and maintain direct control of your luggage at all times.

Beef and Cow Hide: Several states in India impose various types of prohibition on beef.  In some rural areas, cow protection vigilantes have attacked people they suspected of selling or consuming beef, or possessing items made with cow hide.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

Dual nationality: India does not permit its citizens to hold dual nationality. In 2006, India launched the "Overseas Citizens of India" (OCI) program, which does not grant Indian citizenship but is similar to a U.S. "green card" in that you can travel to and from India indefinitely, work in India, study in India, and own property in India (except for certain agricultural and plantation properties). If you are a U.S. citizen and obtain an OCI card you will not become a citizen of India; you will remain a citizen of the United States. An OCI card holder does not receive an Indian passport, cannot vote in Indian elections, and is not eligible for Indian government employment. The OCI program is similar to the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card except that PIO holders must still register with Indian immigration authorities, and PIO cards are not issued for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens of Indian descent can apply for PIO or OCI cards at the Indian Embassy in Washington, or at the Indian Consulates in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Houston. Inside India, U.S. citizens can apply at the nearest FRRO office (please see “Entry/Exit Requirements” section above for more information on the FRRO). U.S. citizens are required to travel on a U.S. passport when traveling in and out of the United States.

Religious activities and faith-based travelers:  See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report .  If you plan to engage in religious proselytizing you are required by Indian law to have a "missionary" visa. Immigration authorities have determined that certain activities, including speaking at religious meetings to which the general public is invited, may violate immigration law if the traveler does not hold a missionary visa. Foreigners with tourist visas who engage in missionary activity are subject to deportation and possible criminal prosecution. The states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh have legislation that regulates or places restrictions on conversion from one religious faith to another. If you intend to engage in missionary activity, you may wish to seek legal advice to determine whether the activities you intend to pursue are permitted under Indian law.

Tourists should also be mindful of restrictions and observances when planning to visit any religious establishment, whether Hindu temples, mosques, churches, or other locations considered sacred by the local population. Many individual temples and mosques do not permit non-members to enter all or parts of the facilities, and may require the removal of shoes, the covering of the head, or have other specific requirements for appropriate attire.  

Customs restrictions: Before traveling to or from India, you are urged to inspect all bags and clothing thoroughly to ensure they do not inadvertently contain prohibited items. Several U.S. citizens have been arrested or detained when airport security officials discovered loose ammunition (even spent individual bullets and casings) or weapons in their luggage. If you are found to have loose ammunition or bullets (including empty bullet shells used in souvenirs) on your person or in your bags, you could be charged with violation of the Indian Arms Act, incarcerated, and/or deported from India.

In addition, U.S. citizens have been arrested for possession of satellite phones. Satellite phones, personal locator beacons, and hand-held GPS devices are illegal in India.

Indian customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from India of such items as, antiquities, electronic equipment, currency, ivory, gold objects, and other prohibited materials. Permission from the Government of India is required to bring in restricted items, even if you are only transiting through India. If you do not comply with these regulations, you risk arrest or fine or both and confiscation of these items. If you are charged with any legal violations by Indian law enforcement, have an attorney review any document before you sign it. The Government of India requires the registration of antique items with the local police along with a photograph of the item. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of India in Washington or one of India's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. More information is available from the Indian Central Board of Excise and Customs .

Indian customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business , 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information call (212) 354-4480, or email USCIB for details. Please see our section on Customs Information for more information.

Natural disaster threats: Parts of northern India are highly susceptible to earthquakes. Regions of highest risk, ranked 5 on a scale of 1 to 5, include areas around Srinagar, Himachal Pradesh, Rishikesh and Dehra Dun, the northern parts of Punjab, northwest Gujarat, northern Bihar, and the entire northeast. Ranked 4 (high damage risk) is an area that sweeps along the north through Jammu and Kashmir, Eastern Punjab, Haryana, Northern Uttar Pradesh, central Bihar and the northern parts of West Bengal. New Delhi is located in zone 4. Severe flooding is common in hilly and mountainous areas throughout India. Flooding in 2013 in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other areas left thousands of people presumed dead and temporarily stranded dozens of U.S. citizens.

Typhoons/cyclones and subsequent flooding are common along the Indian coasts, in particular the Eastern coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, and have at times resulted in massive loss of life.  Tourists and residents in areas prone to these events should remain vigilant during severe weather, monitor local media for latest developments, and heed all municipal warnings.  Residents in these areas should have contingency plans for loss of power and inavailability of goods and services, including supplies for multiple days after a severe weather event.

Accessibility: While in India, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different than what you find in the United States. Despite legislation that all public buildings and transport be accessible for disabled people, accessibility remains limited. One notable exception is the Delhi metro system, designed to be accessible to those with physical disabilities.

Women Travelers: Please review our travel tips for  Women Travelers .

Students:  See our   Students Abroad  page and FBI travel tips .

LGBTQI+ Travelers:  Section 377 of India’s penal code makes same-sex sexual acts illegal in India. On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India declared unconstitutional the application of Section 377, barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, effectively legalizing homosexuality in India. Reports of widespread discrimination and violence against LGBTQI+ persons, particularly in rural areas, persist. See our LGBTQI+ Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Zika is present in India. See the Centers for Disease Control’s website for more information.

The quality of medical care in India varies considerably. Medical care in the major population centers approaches and occasionally meets Western standards, but adequate medical care is usually very limited or unavailable in rural areas.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas. 

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas.  Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage . 

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance (our webpage) to cover medical evacuation.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the government of India to ensure the medication is legal in India.  Always, carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription. 

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you are arriving in India from Sub-Saharan Africa or other yellow-fever areas, Indian health regulations require that you present evidence of vaccination against yellow fever. If you do not have such proof, you could be subjected to immediate deportation or a six-day detention in the yellow-fever quarantine center. If you transit through any part of sub-Saharan Africa, even for one day, you are advised to carry proof of yellow fever immunization.

Dogs and bats create a high risk of rabies transmission in most of India. Vaccination is recommended for all prolonged stays, especially for young children and travelers in rural areas. It is also recommended for shorter stays that involve occupational exposure, locations more than 24 hours from a reliable source of human rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine for post-exposure treatment, adventure travelers, hikers, cave explorers, and backpackers. Monkeys also can transmit rabies and herpes B, among other diseases, to human victims. Avoid feeding monkeys. If bitten, you should immediately soak and scrub the bite for at least 15 minutes and seek urgent medical attention.

Influenza is transmitted from November to April in areas north of the Tropic of Cancer (north India), and from June through November (the rainy season) in areas south of the Tropic of Cancer (south India), with a smaller peak from February through April; off-season transmission can also occur. All travelers are at risk. Influenza vaccine is recommended for all travelers during the flu season.

Outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1 virus) occur intermittently in eastern India, including West Bengal, Manipur, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Assam. For further information on pandemic influenza, please refer to the Department of State's 2009-H1N1, Pandemic Influenza, and H5N1 Fact Sheet .

Malaria prophylaxis depends on time of year and area the traveler is visiting. Please consult the CDC website for more information. Dengue fever presents significant risk in urban and rural areas. The highest number of cases is reported from July to December, with cases peaking from September to October. Daytime insect precautions such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and mosquito repellent are recommended by the CDC.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in India. For further information, please consult the CDC’s Travel Notice on TB .

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Air pollution is a significant problem in several major cities in India, and you should consult your doctor prior to travel and consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on you.  The air quality in India varies considerably and fluctuates with the seasons.  It is typically at its worst in the winter. Anyone who travels where pollution levels are high is at risk. People at the greatest risk from particle pollution exposure include:

• Infants, children, and teens
• People over 65 years of age
• People with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
• People with heart disease or diabetes
• People who work or are active outdoors

Current air quality data can be found on the Embassy’s Air Quality page . The data on this site are updated hourly.

Rh-negative blood may be difficult to obtain as it is not common in Asia.

For emergency services, dial 112 from a cell phone; from a land line, dial 100 for police, 102 for ambulance (108 in parts of South India), and 101 for fire. Ambulances are not equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, and traffic does not yield to emergency vehicles. Injured or seriously ill travelers may prefer to take a taxi or private vehicle to the nearest major hospital rather than wait for an ambulance. Most hospitals require advance payment or confirmation of insurance prior to treatment. Payment practices vary and credit cards are not routinely accepted for medical care.

Medical Tourism: Medical tourism is a rapidly growing industry. Companies offering vacation packages bundled with medical consultations and financing options provide direct-to-consumer advertising over the internet. Such medical packages often claim to provide high quality care, but the quality of health care in India is highly variable. People seeking health care in India should understand that medical systems operate differently from those in the United States and are not subject to the same rules and regulations. Anyone interested in traveling for medical purposes should consult with their local physician before traveling and refer to the information from the CDC . Persons traveling to India for medical purposes require the proper “medical” visa. Please check with the nearest Indian embassy or consulate for more information.

Despite reports of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals, in general travelers should not delay or avoid treatment for urgent or emergent medical situations. However, health tourists and other travelers who may be contemplating elective procedures in this country should carefully research individual hospital infection control practices.

Surrogacy: Commercial surrogacy is illegal for foreigners in India, subject to complex local regulation.  For additional information, visit the Government of India’s official information on foreigner surrogacy . 

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in India maintain lists of local doctors and hospitals, all of which are published on their respective websites under "U.S. Citizen Services." We cannot endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Travel by road in India is dangerous. India leads the world in traffic-related deaths and a number of U.S. citizens have suffered fatal traffic accidents in recent years. You should exercise extreme caution when crossing streets, even in marked pedestrian areas, and try to use only cars that have seatbelts. Seatbelts are not common in three-wheel taxis (autos) and in taxis’ back seats. Helmets should always be worn on motorcycles and bicycles.Travel at night is particularly hazardous.

On Indian roads, the safest driving policy is always to assume that other drivers will not respond to a traffic situation in the same way you would in the United States. Buses and trucks often run red lights and merge directly into traffic at yield points and traffic circles. Cars, autos, bicycles, and pedestrians behave only slightly more cautiously. Use your horn or flash your headlights frequently to announce your presence. It is both customary and wise.

Inside and outside major cities, roads are often poorly maintained and congested. Even main roads frequently have only two lanes, with poor visibility and inadequate warning markers. On the few divided highways one can expect to meet local transportation traveling in the wrong direction, often without lights. Heavy traffic is the norm and includes (but is not limited to) overloaded trucks and buses, scooters, pedestrians, bullock and camel carts, horse or elephant riders en route to weddings, bicycles, and free-roaming livestock.

Public Transportation: Buses, patronized by hundreds of millions of Indians, are convenient in that they serve almost every city of any size. However, they are often driven fast, recklessly, and without consideration for the rules of the road. Accidents are quite common.

Traffic Laws: Traffic in India moves on the left. It is important to be alert while crossing streets and intersections, especially after dark as traffic is coming in the "wrong" direction. Travelers should remember to use seatbelts in both rear and front seats where available, and to ask their drivers to maintain a safe speed.

In order to drive in India, you must have either a valid Indian driver’s license or a valid international driver’s license. Because of difficult road and traffic conditions, you may wish to consider hiring a local driver.

If a driver hits a pedestrian or a cow, the vehicle and its occupants are at risk of being attacked by passersby. Such attacks pose significant risk of injury or death to the vehicle's occupants or risk of incineration of the vehicle. It could be unsafe to remain at the scene of an accident of this nature, and drivers may instead wish to seek out the nearest police station. Protestors often use road blockage as a means of publicizing their grievances, causing severe inconvenience to travelers. Visitors should monitor local news reports for any reports of road disturbances.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

Emergency Numbers: The following emergency numbers work in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata:

• Fire Brigade 101
• Ambulance 102

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of India’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of India’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page . Travelers are urged to use caution while booking private helicopters for travel, especially in the northeast. 

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

India was cited in the State Department’s 2023 Annual Report to Congress on International Child Abduction for demonstrating a pattern of non-compliance with respect to international parental child abduction. Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in  India . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the  International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA )  report.

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, learn about your destination, enroll in step.

Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad.

Recommended Web Browsers: Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative.

• Afghanistan
• Antigua and Barbuda

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• British Virgin Islands
• Burkina Faso

Burma (Myanmar)

• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic

Cote d Ivoire

Curaçao

Czech Republic

• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea

Eswatini (Swaziland)

• Falkland Islands

France (includes Monaco)

• French Guiana
• French Polynesia

French West Indies

Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy (French West Indies)

• Guinea-Bissau

Isle of Man

Israel, The West Bank and Gaza

• Liechtenstein
• Marshall Islands
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand

North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines

Republic of North Macedonia

• Republic of the Congo
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone

Sint Maarten

• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• Switzerland

The Bahamas

Timor-Leste

• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom

Vatican City (Holy See)

External Link

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

• KAYAK for Business NEW

India Travel Restrictions

Traveller's COVID-19 vaccination status

Travelling from India to India

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in public spaces.

Ready to travel?

Find flights to india, find stays in india, explore more countries on travel restrictions map, destinations you can travel to now, netherlands, new zealand, philippines, saudi arabia, switzerland, united arab emirates, united kingdom, united states, know when to go.

Sign up for email alerts as countries begin to open - choose the destinations you're interested in so you're in the know.

Can I travel to India from India?

Most visitors from India, regardless of vaccination status, can enter India.

Can I travel to India if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from India can enter India without restrictions.

Can I travel to India without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from India can enter India without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter India?

Visitors from India are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering India.

Can I travel to India without quarantine?

Travellers from India are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in India?

Mask usage in India is not required in public spaces.

Are the restaurants and bars open in India?

Restaurants in India are open. Bars in India are .

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked

• Quick Links
• Make An Appointment
• Our Services
• Price Estimate
• Price Transparency
• Pay Your Bill
• Patient Experience
• Careers at UH

Schedule an appointment today

India Travel Requirements & Vaccinations

India, located in southern Asia, is the seventh largest country in the world and the second largest in terms of population. Its 4,700 miles of coastline bank the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Just under half of its coastline miles are sandy beaches, with the rest being comprised of rocky shores, cliffs and mudflats. Approximately 1/5 of the country’s interior is covered by forests.

Although India has no official, national language, Hindi is the most commonly spoken language with English also used extensively, especially in urban areas. Tourists to India enjoy a wide variety of attractions and geographical diversity, including:

• Sun-washed beaches
• Lush national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
• Ancient military and sacred structures
• Guided jungle walks and lake cruises

REQUIRED VACCINATIONS FOR INDIA TRAVEL: YELLOW FEVER VACCINE

Vaccination against yellow fever  may be required if entering India from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine will provide you with an official certificate of vaccination for this purpose.

Additional Vaccines That May Be Recommended When Travelling to India

• Malaria (pill form)

*Rabies vaccination is typically only recommended for very high risk travelers given that it is completely preventable if medical attention is received within 7 – 10 days of an animal bite.

Travelers may also be advised to ensure they have received the routine vaccinations listed below. Some adults may need to receive a booster for some of these diseases:

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)

Older adults or those with certain medical conditions may also want to ask about being vaccinated for shingles and/or pneumonia.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a travel medicine professional. Not all of the vaccines listed here will be necessary for every individual.

Talk to the experts at UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health to determine how each member of your family can obtain maximum protection against illness, disease and injury while traveling, based on age, health, medical history and travel itinerary.

• India Tourism
• India Hotels
• India Bed and Breakfast
• India Vacation Rentals
• Flights to India
• India Restaurants
• Things to Do in India
• India Travel Forum
• India Photos
• All India Hotels
• India Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in India
• Things to Do
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Travelling to India first time without any vaccinations - India Forum

• Asia    
• India    

Travelling to India first time without any vaccinations

• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Asia forums
• India forum

Having said all that, and I deliberately made it the worst, you;re proposing sensible precautions. Avoid salads, any food that's been standing for a long time, fruit that you do not peel and bottles you do not crack the seal of. That way you protect yourself against contamintaed food, drinks. Always eat food which is piping hot - someone referred to food that's had the sh*t cooked out of it, like samosas straight from the hot oil! If you want to try street food - hot and popular should be your guide! Don't overdo cold drinks.

With care you should be OK - but you really have been silly by not getting your shots before leaving!

i think you will be fine, the only vaccine I would not travel without is your Hep A & B shot, which you may have already got as a routine vaccine as a growing child, but it does need a booster shot. I personally don't take maleria meds, as the side effects horrible and i think they outweigh the risks.

take the usual precautions as Johnb121 mentioned and you should be fine!

Jo - really? I've always used Malarone with no side effects at all. Huh, I guess because of that I've simply never considered NOT taking them.

hi john, yeah my personal experience, as well as many many others from what i can tell on many many forums. i wouldn't take it unless i was in jungle for several months...i think it is one of those "your mileage may vary" issues ;) sounds like the OP was doing Delhi and golden triangle...but who knows....

Enjoy your trip - when are you going?

Thanks for the help John. Ya I'm planning to travel next week! really looking forward to it. Everything should be fine!

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

• New Delhi or Kochi advice for first timer 6:35 am
• Election days announced 6:29 am
• Chennai airport 6:18 am
• Sikkim itinerary for May - Doable?? 6:16 am
• Kovalam places to see 6:12 am
• Guwahati Airport to Shillong at night 6:05 am
• Tempo traveller query 6:02 am
• Bus from kodai road railway station to Kodaikanal 5:51 am
• Shillong to Cherrapunji: a day trip 5:50 am
• ESim 5:36 am
• Golden Triangle in a relaxed way 5:17 am
• Transfer time Bengaluru Domestic to International 5:10 am
• Rajasthan trip itinerary 4:38 am
• Kerala Trip from 5th to 13th October 2024 4:36 am
• Makemytrip.com 277 replies
• Weather beginning of January? 7 replies
• A perfect location for honeymoon in February 9 replies
• masoori(e) hill station 6 replies
• train from mumbai to kerala 12 replies
• Best places for honeymoon in June 7 replies
• Thomas cook india - europe tour review 97 replies
• Best Tour Operator for Europe - Thomas Cook/SOTC/Cox/Others 4 replies
• Easy Tours of India 12 replies
• New Years Eve Parties 2013 India (City) 19 replies

India Hotels and Places to Stay

• How to apply for e-Visa: 30 days, one year and five years
• How to apply for Regular Tourist visa (up to 12 months) (or from 1 to 5 years)
• How to transfer on an Indian airport between two flights, esp. with 2 tickets
• Trip Report for North Eastern States
• Post Your Just Back Reports / Trip Reports

Featured on

• What is a visa?
• Electronic Visa (eVisa)
• Visa on Arrival
• Appointment Required Visa
• Invitation Letter
• Arrival Card
• Passport Renewal
• Project Kosmos: Meet the man with the world's most challenging travel schedule
• Australia Visa and ETA Requirements for US Citizens Explained
• Brazil eVisa for US Citizens
• India Tourist Visa for UK Citizens
• Possible B1/B2 Visa Questions During the Interview

Select Your Language

• Nederlandse
• 中文 (Zhōngwén), 汉语, 漢語

Select Your Currency

• AED United Arab Emirates Dirham
• AFN Afghan Afghani
• ALL Albanian Lek
• AMD Armenian Dram
• ANG Netherlands Antillean Guilder
• AOA Angolan Kwanza
• ARS Argentine Peso
• AUD Australian Dollar
• AWG Aruban Florin
• AZN Azerbaijani Manat
• BAM Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark
• BBD Barbadian Dollar
• BDT Bangladeshi Taka
• BGN Bulgarian Lev
• BIF Burundian Franc
• BMD Bermudan Dollar
• BND Brunei Dollar
• BOB Bolivian Boliviano
• BRL Brazilian Real
• BSD Bahamian Dollar
• BWP Botswanan Pula
• BZD Belize Dollar
• CAD Canadian Dollar
• CDF Congolese Franc
• CHF Swiss Franc
• CLP Chilean Peso
• CNY Chinese Yuan
• COP Colombian Peso
• CRC Costa Rican Colón
• CVE Cape Verdean Escudo
• CZK Czech Republic Koruna
• DJF Djiboutian Franc
• DKK Danish Krone
• DOP Dominican Peso
• DZD Algerian Dinar
• EGP Egyptian Pound
• ETB Ethiopian Birr
• FJD Fijian Dollar
• FKP Falkland Islands Pound
• GBP British Pound Sterling
• GEL Georgian Lari
• GIP Gibraltar Pound
• GMD Gambian Dalasi
• GNF Guinean Franc
• GTQ Guatemalan Quetzal
• GYD Guyanaese Dollar
• HKD Hong Kong Dollar
• HNL Honduran Lempira
• HTG Haitian Gourde
• HUF Hungarian Forint
• IDR Indonesian Rupiah
• ILS Israeli New Sheqel
• INR Indian Rupee
• ISK Icelandic Króna
• JMD Jamaican Dollar
• JPY Japanese Yen
• KES Kenyan Shilling
• KGS Kyrgystani Som
• KHR Cambodian Riel
• KMF Comorian Franc
• KRW South Korean Won
• KYD Cayman Islands Dollar
• KZT Kazakhstani Tenge
• LAK Laotian Kip
• LBP Lebanese Pound
• LKR Sri Lankan Rupee
• LRD Liberian Dollar
• LSL Lesotho Loti
• MAD Moroccan Dirham
• MDL Moldovan Leu
• MGA Malagasy Ariary
• MKD Macedonian Denar
• MNT Mongolian Tugrik
• MOP Macanese Pataca
• MUR Mauritian Rupee
• MVR Maldivian Rufiyaa
• MWK Malawian Kwacha
• MXN Mexican Peso
• MYR Malaysian Ringgit
• MZN Mozambican Metical
• NAD Namibian Dollar
• NGN Nigerian Naira
• NIO Nicaraguan Córdoba
• NOK Norwegian Krone
• NPR Nepalese Rupee
• NZD New Zealand Dollar
• OMR Omani Rial
• PAB Panamanian Balboa
• PEN Peruvian Nuevo Sol
• PGK Papua New Guinean Kina
• PHP Philippine Peso
• PKR Pakistani Rupee
• PLN Polish Zloty
• PYG Paraguayan Guarani
• QAR Qatari Rial
• RON Romanian Leu
• RSD Serbian Dinar
• RUB Russian Ruble
• RWF Rwandan Franc
• SAR Saudi Riyal
• SBD Solomon Islands Dollar
• SCR Seychellois Rupee
• SEK Swedish Krona
• SGD Singapore Dollar
• SHP Saint Helena Pound
• SLL Sierra Leonean Leone
• SOS Somali Shilling
• SRD Surinamese Dollar
• SVC Salvadoran Colón
• SZL Swazi Lilangeni
• THB Thai Baht
• TJS Tajikistani Somoni
• TOP Tongan Pa anga
• TRY Turkish Lira
• TTD Trinidad and Tobago Dollar
• TWD New Taiwan Dollar
• TZS Tanzanian Shilling
• UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia
• UGX Ugandan Shilling
• USD United States Dollar
• UYU Uruguayan Peso
• UZS Uzbekistan Som
• VND Vietnamese Dong
• VUV Vanuatu Vatu
• WST Samoan Tala
• XAF CFA Franc BEAC
• XCD East Caribbean Dollar
• XOF CFA Franc BCEAO
• XPF CFP Franc
• YER Yemeni Rial
• ZAR South African Rand
• ZMW Zambian Kwacha

We've updated our app!

Download it now

India vaccination requirements: Do I need a vaccination certificate to travel to India?

India is a beautiful country, and if you want to enjoy everything this unique country offers, it's essential to know about India's vaccination requirements.

Getting all the necessary vaccines and documents is just part of planning your trip so you can enjoy your experience to the fullest.

Which vaccines are required to visit India?

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for travelers coming from countries with a high risk of yellow fever transmission.

If you're traveling (if even you're not a citizen) from any of the countries below, you must present a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival in India:

Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.

Americas: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Which vaccines are recommended to visit India?

While specific vaccine requirements can vary and are subject to change based on current health advisories, commonly recommended vaccines for travelers to India may include:

• Japanese encephalitis

This is not health advice. Check the full list of recommended vaccinations for India at your local general practitioner.

India COVID-19 requirements

It's no longer necessary for travelers to have a COVID-19 vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test result to visit India.

What are the requirements for my COVID-19 vaccination certificate?

It is not mandatory to be fully vaccinated to travel to India, but it is highly recommended for international travel.

It's also no longer mandatory to fill out the Self Declaration Form for India. This health form was a requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What other documents do I need for my trip to India?

Some nationalities require a visa. The India Tourist eVisa can be processed online through iVisa.com .

To get your Indian visa, all you require is to fill out an application form, upload some documents, and pay the fee. We recommend using our visa checker tool to confirm if you require an Indian visa.

Get your India Tourist eVisa

Tips to stay healthy in India

We're here to guide you through some essential tips to stay healthy while exploring the vibrant cities, tranquil countryside, and everything in between in India.

How to prevent Delhi belly (traveler’s diarrhea)

This widespread illness affects up to 70% of travelers who visit India.

The causes can differ from traveler to traveler, from viral or bacterial infections to gastrointestinal intolerances or foreign cuisine. To prevent Delhi Belly, here are a few tips:

Wash your hands regularly - It might sound obvious, but we touch many things when we travel and then touch our faces and mouths, and that’s the perfect way for bacteria and viruses to enter our bodies. Especially in India, where it’s customary to eat with your hands, there’s an increased risk of eating contaminated food.

Watch what you eat and drink - If possible, drink bottled water and beverages. Do not drink anything with ice. Use your judgment when selecting a place to eat to avoid contaminated food. Avoid street food, and always be careful when choosing a restaurant.

Be prepared - If all fails, you need to be ready to face it. If possible, bring your own medicine to treat symptoms of stomach issues.

Tips to avoid mosquito-borne illnesses in India

Malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis are all transmitted via mosquito bites, so you’ll need to take some precautions to avoid them as much as possible.

The first thing you need to do is get a good insect repellent. Apply it every day before you leave your hotel and reapply regularly during the day, especially if you’re visiting rural areas or the riverside.

Mosquitos are most active in the early hours of the morning and at sundown, so you’ll need to be extra careful during these times of day.

Also, bring pants and long-sleeve shirts made of linen and cotton. They will protect you from mosquito bites, damaging sun rays, and heat.

Need more info about traveling to India?

If you have questions about travel documents for India, such as visas , let us know via online chat or WhatsApp . We're here to make your travel planning as smooth as possible!

Related Articles

India e-Visa Validity: How Long is it Valid For?

Indian Passport Renewal: Everything You Must Know

India Tourist Visa for South Korean citizens: Apply for the India Visa now

• iVisa is NOT affiliated with any government agency. This site does not provide legal advice and we are not a law firm. None of our customer service representatives are lawyers and they also do not provide legal advice. We are a private, internet-based travel and immigration consultancy provider dedicated to helping individuals travel around the world. You may apply by yourself directly on the various government websites. The source of information: https://boi.gov.in/boi/

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Dial 112 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Air pollution

Severe air pollution is a major hazard to public health, especially during the winter months (October to February). North Indian cities are most affected by extremely high levels of pollution. Children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing medical conditions may be especially affected. If you’re pregnant or have a respiratory or heart condition you may wish to consult a medical practitioner before you travel. More information about outdoor air quality is available from TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre).

Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and Chikungunya occur all year round but are more widespread during the monsoon season. More information about disease risk and suggested preparatory measures is available from  TravelHealthPro  (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre).

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on health risks and what vaccinations you need for India on TravelHealthPro
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

Altitude sickness

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of north and northeast India, including mountainous regions in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and West Bengal. Certain southern India states, like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, also contain high altitude regions. More information about altitude sickness is available from TravelHealthPro (from the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre).

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

TravelHealthPro explains best practice when travelling with medicines .

The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad.

For more information, contact the High Commission of India in London or view the  Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website  and the  Indian customs website .

Healthcare facilities in India

Local medical facilities are not comparable to those in the UK, especially in more remote areas. For psychiatric illness, specialised treatment may not be available outside major cities. In major cities, private medical care is available but expensive.

FCDO has a list of English-speaking doctors in India .

COVID-19 Healthcare in India

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and want more information, contact a registered medical practitioner.

Testing is available on demand from private laboratories. More details on testing labs are available on the  Indian Council of Medical Research website .

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also guidance on TravelHealthPro .

Transplant surgery

If you’re travelling to India for organ transplant surgery, check in advance with the hospital to find out what proof they need about your circumstances in the UK. You may need to submit evidence of your marriage and birth of your children before the operation can take place. You can get copies of marriage and birth certificates from the General Register Office in the UK. You may want to have them legalised by the FCDO Legalisation office before travelling. The British High Commission cannot provide guarantees and certificates on your behalf.

If you are considering travelling to India for medical treatment, you should:

• read more advice on  going abroad for medical treatment and elective surgery
• discuss plans with your UK doctor before going ahead with any medical procedures abroad 
• do your own research - private companies have a financial interest in arranging your medical treatment abroad and the information they provide should not be your only source of information

Find further  advice on medical tourism from TravelHealthPro , and NHS guidance on  going abroad for medical treatment , and (if relevant to you) on  cosmetic surgery abroad .

Related content

Is this page useful.

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

• Company History
• Mission Statement
• American Samoa
• Canary Islands
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Cook Islands
• Cote d'Ivoire
• Easter Island
• Faroe Islands
• Madeira Islands
• Norfolk Island
• North Korea
• North Macedonia
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Palestinian Territories
• Pitcairn Islands
• Puerto Rico
• Saint Barthelemy
• Saint Helena
• Saint Martin
• Saint Pierre-et-Miquelon
• Sint Eustatius
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• United States
• Wake Island
• Western Sahara
• Travel Vaccines
• Travel Health Consultations
• Travellers’ Diarrhea Kits
• Dengue Fever Prevention
• Malaria Prevention
• Chikungunya Prevention
• Zika Prevention
• Ebola Virus
• Tickborne Encephalitis (TBE)
• Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella
• Influenza (Flu)
• Blood Tests
• Vitamin Injections
• Physician Referral Program
• London – Euston Travel Clinic

Travel Vaccines and Advice for India

The Taj Mahal, Hampi, the Himalayans and the Caves of Ajanta are just the beginning for amazing sights in India. For thousands of years, the subcontinent has been the cradle of one of the most amazing cultures to visit.

Every year, tourists from around the globe flock to India to see its amazing sights and sounds. Whether you are a spiritual pilgrim, a business executive or an adventure seeker, India is sure to have something for you.

Do I Need Vaccines for India?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for India. The National Travel Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for India: hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , cholera , yellow fever , Japanese encephalitis , rabies , polio and tetanus .

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunisations:

• Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travellers to the region, especially if unvaccinated.
• Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Recommended for travellers to most regions.
• Tetanus – Wounds or Breaks in Skin – Recommended for travellers to most regions, especially if not previously vaccinated.
• Typhoid – Food & Water – Jab lasts 3 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
• Cholera – Food & Water – A risk for travellers throughout India. Avoid swimming in popular rivers or streams as cholera may be present.
• Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
• Japanese Encephalitis – Mosquito – Recommended for all regions except: Dadra, Daman, Diu, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Nagar Haveli, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Sikkim.
• Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-stay travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.
• Polio – Food & Water – May be required if arriving from countries with active transmission. Recommended for some travellers to the region. Single adult booster recommended.

See the tables below for more information:

Some mosquito-borne diseases are also prevalent in India including:

• Malaria – Antimalarial medication is recommened for many regions in India. Speak with a travel health specialist to learn if these are right for your itinerary.
• Dengue Fever – Another mosquito-borne disease, dengue affects millions each year. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against dengue approved in the United States. Ensure you take precautions against mosquitoes like using repellents and mosquito netting.

Fortunately, the Zika virus has yet to arrive in India.

To learn more about these infections, see their respective vaccination or infection pages.

If you are travelling to India, ensure you are protected. Visit your local Passport Health to receive a comprehensive consultation on what you will need to stay safe. Book your appointment online now or ring us up at and ensure your dream trip doesn’t become a nightmare.

How To Prevent Delhi Belly (Traveller’s diarrhoea)

Delhi Belly (or traveller’s diarrhoea ) is very common amongst travellers. Up to 70 percent of international travellers will come down with traveller’s diarrhoea during their trips. This is especially true for visitors to India.

Causes can range from viral or bacteria infections to just a difference in cuisine. But, no matter how it happens, traveller’s diarrhoea can ruin a trip.

There are a few precautions you can take to avoid traveller’s diarrhoea:

• Avoid risky eating – Be smart about where and what you eat. Street carts may not be the best place to grab a snack, but you also don’t need to only eat pre-packaged foods. Use good judgement to decide where would be best to chow down.
• Consider preventative care – Some products, like Travelan, will provide you with some protection against traveller’s diarrhoea.

Be sure to bring a traveller’s diarrhoea kit that includes antibiotics or similar products that can help stop diarrhoea if it occurs.

To learn more about what you can do to avoid Delhi Belly, see our traveller’s diarrhoea page . Or, book an appointment with your local Passport Health by calling or scheduling online now .

Do I Need a Visa or Passport for India?

Visas are required for all travellers to India. Passport requirements are a bit more intensive than other regions. Passports must have 180 days validity from the date of visa application and another 180 days from the time of entry. Ensure you have this amount of remaining time before expiration at minimum. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required if you are travelling from a region where yellow fever is present.

Sources: Embassy of India and GOV.UK

What Is the Climate Like In India?

India is generally classified as a hot tropical country, except for the Himalayan north. The country has three distinct seasons:

• Summer (March to June) – Indian summers are very hot. Temperatures often climb to over 43 degrees.
• Monsoon (July to August) – The rainy season brings thunderstorms and heavy rains. These sometimes cause flooding or other damage. Bring an umbrella and be sure to take other precautions.
• Winter (October to February) – Winter temperatures are generally mild. Except in the northern regions where they will dip to near or below freezing. Remember, the higher into the mountains you go, the chillier it will get.

How Safe Is India?

India is generally safe, but is still a developing country in many ways. Try to avoid the Indian-Pakistani border, as growing tensions have led to a less safe situation.

Petty crime, especially theft is common. This happens mostly in trains and buses. Pickpocketing is known to occur in some tourist areas. Violent crime is traditionally uncommon, though there has been a slight increase in recent years.

Scamming has become more common in many popular areas. Be especially careful in airports and train stations. If an offer for transportation or hotel rooms on the cheap seems too good, it probably is. Only use well-known travel agencies when booking your trip and planning activities in-country.

LGBT individuals will want to be especially careful as laws on homosexuality are unclear. While prosecution is rare, LGBT visitors may wish to avoid drawing attention.

What Should I Pack For India?

Packing for India can be a bit tricky, as the country is different from many popular travel destinations:

• Pack light – Moving from place to place in India can be a bit tricky. Many forms of transportation have a tight fit and having something you can easily haul around is key. Brining an extra rucksack isn’t a bad idea either as a purse or small bag may not be enough to carry water, an umbrella and similar items.
• Prepare for weather – Be sure to pack according to what season you’ll be in the country. Where you are headed is also a key factor as the Himalayas are a much cooler region.
• Wear the right footwear – You’ll likely be doing a lot of walking (or even standing) in India. Ensure your shoes are up for the trip, your feet will thank you.

Where Is the Embassy of the United Kingdom in India?

If you are in India and have an emergency (for example, been attacked, arrested or someone has died) contact the nearest consular services. Contact the embassy before arrival if you have additional questions on entry requirements, safety concerns or are in need of assistance.

British High Commission New Delhi Shantipath, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110021 India Telephone: +91 (11) 2419 2100 Emergency Phone: +91 (11) 2419 2100 Fax: +91 (11) 2419 2492 Contact Form: Click Here

Whether you are travelling for business or pleasure, India is an amazing destination. From the Himalyas to the coast of the Indian Ocean, the country’s peculiar culture and feel has something for every type of traveller.

To learn more about what you can do to prepare for an Indian trip, visit your local Passport Health clinic. Book your appointment today by calling or scheduling online now.

On This Page: Do I Need Vaccines for India? How To Prevent Delhi Belly (traveller’s diarrhoea) What Are the Entry and Exit Requirements for India? What Is the Climate Like In India? How Safe Is India? What Should I Pack For India? Where Is the Embassy of the United Kingdom in India?

• Automatic Data Collection Statement

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Hum Vaccin Immunother
• v.11(10); 2015 Oct

Recommended vaccines for international travelers to India

Ramesh verma.

1 Department of Community Medicine; Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS; Rohtak, Haryana, India

Pardeep Khanna

Suraj chawla.

2 Department of Community Medicine; SHKM Govt. Medical College; Nalhar, Haryana, India

India's tourism industry generated 6.6% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2012. International travel to India is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of ∼8% over the next decade. The number of foreign tourists has increased by 9% to 5.8 million. Approximately 8% of travelers to developing countries require medical care during or after travel; the main diagnoses are vaccine-preventable diseases. Travelers to India can be exposed to various infectious diseases; water-borne, water-related, and zoonotic diseases may be imported to India where the disease is not endemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that all international travelers should be up to date with routine vaccinations. The recommended vaccinations for travelers to India vary according to the traveler's age, immunization history, existing medical conditions, duration, legal requirements for entry into countries being visited, travelers preferences, and values. Travelers should consult with a doctor so that there is sufficient time for completion of optimal vaccination schedules. No matter where traveling, one should be aware of potential exposure to certain organisms that can cause severely illnesses, even death. There is no doubt that vaccines have reduced or virtually eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled children and adults just a few generations ago. Thus, travelers must take recommended vaccines per schedule before traveling to India.

International travel to India has grown dramatically over the last decade, which supports the economically important and rapidly growing tourism industry. The World Travel and Tourism Council reported that Indian tourism generated 6.6% of the nation's GDP during 2012. International travel to India is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of ∼8% for 2013–23, 1 which gives India the third rank among countries with the fastest growing tourism industries. 2

India's large medical tourism sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of ∼30% to reach ∼95 billion Rupee by 2015. According to provisional statistics, India received 6.3 million tourists in 2011, an increase of 9% from 2010, thus ranking as the 38th country in terms of foreign tourist arrivals. Domestic tourist visits to all states and Union Territories numbered 1036 billion in 2012, an increase of 17% from 2011. 3

Approximately 8% of travelers to developing countries require medical care during or after travel, with the main diagnoses being vaccine-preventable diseases. 4 Travelers to India can be exposed to infectious diseases including water-borne diseases (diarrhea, enteric fever, acute viral hepatitis), water-related diseases (malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis), zoonotic diseases (rabies), and imported non-endemic diseases (yellow fever). Importation of vaccine-preventable diseases has been recognized as an important travel-related problem. Vaccination for travelers can be life-saving and is a cornerstone of health protection during travel.

The WHO emphasizes that all international travelers should be up to date with routine vaccinations, which vary according to the traveler's age, immunization history; existing medical conditions, duration, legal requirements for entry into countries being visited, travelers own preferences, and values. Travelers should consult with physicians at least 4–6 wk prior to travel in India so that there is sufficient time for completion of optimal vaccination schedules.

WHO Recommends These Vaccinations for Travelers to India (As Well as Being Up to Date with Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccinations)

Adult diphtheria and tetanus vaccine.

Single booster recommended if none in the previous 10 y. Side effects include mild pain at injection site and fever.

Hepatitis A vaccine

Efficacy is almost 100% for up to 1 y; a booster after 12 mo provides at least another 20 y of protection. Mild side effects such as headache and sore arm occur in 5–10% of people. 5

Hepatitis B vaccine

Now considered routine for most travelers. This vaccine given at 0, 3, and at 6 mo. A rapid schedule is also available as a combined vaccination with Hepatitis A. Side effects are uncommon and mild, usually headache and mild pain at the injection site. Efficacy of is ∼95%. 6

Oral polio vaccine (OPV)

From January 2014, this vaccine is a mandated requirement for all travelers visiting India from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Somalia to receive OPV at least 6 wk before departure for India. OPV is valid for 1 y from the date of its administration. This country list goes beyond the 3 WHO-designated endemic countries. Any adult who received the recommended childhood immunizations but never received a booster as an adult should be given a single dose of inactivated polio vaccine. All children should be up-to-date in their polio vaccinations, and any adult who never completed the initial series of vaccinations should do so before departure. 7

Typhoid vaccine

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness. Typhoid vaccine is recommended for all travelers to India, even if visiting only urban areas. This single-shot vaccine offers ∼70% protection, lasts for 2–3 y. Tablets also are available for administration to an empty stomach in 3 doses is on alternate days. However, injection is usually recommended in that is has fewer side effects. The injectable vaccine is preferable to oral vaccine in pregnant and immuno-compromised travelers. 8

Varicella vaccine

This vaccine recommended for any international traveler over 1 y of age who does not have either a history of documented chickenpox or a blood test showing immunity. Many people who believe they never had chickenpox show immunity when tested and do not need the vaccine. Varicella vaccine should not be given to pregnant or immuno-compromised individuals. The varicella vaccine is also recommended for long-term travelers (more than 1 mo) or those at special risk. 9

Japanese encephalitis vaccine

This vaccine is recommended for long-term (>1 mo) travelers to rural areas or travelers who may engage in extensive unprotected outdoor activities in rural areas, especially in the evening, during shorter trips. For age >16, the recommended vaccine is Cell Culture Derived Live SA-14–14–2 Vaccine given as 0.5 mL subcutaneously for all ages, followed by a second dose 28 d later. The series should be completed at least 1 wk before travel. The most common side effects are headaches, muscle aches, and pain and tenderness at the injection site. Safety has not been established in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children age <17. 10-12

Meningococcal vaccine

This vaccine is given as a single injection. The quadrivalent vaccine gives 2–3 y protection. 10,11

Rabies vaccine

Rabies is a deadly viral infection. The disease is rare in travelers, but risk increases with extended travel and any likelihood of animal contact. The vaccine is recommended for travelers spending a lot of time outdoors, travelers at high risk for animal bites (veterinarians and animal handlers), long-term travelers and expatriates, and travelers involved in any activities that might bring them into direct contact with animals. Children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites. Dog bites account for most cases of rabies in India, while bites from cats, tigers, camels, and the Indian civet also may transmit rabies. Any animal bite or scratch should be thoroughly cleaned with large amounts of soap and water, and local health authorities should be contacted immediately for possible post-exposure treatment whether or not the person has been immunized against rabies. A complete pre-exposure series consists of 3 doses injected into the deltoid muscle on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28. Side-effects may include pain at the injection site, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, dizziness, or allergic reactions. 13

Yellow fever (YF) vaccine

Many countries require an ‘international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis’ signed by a medical provider for YF vaccine for travelers from an infected area. Indian health regulations may ask for evidence of YF vaccination if one is arriving from Africa or South America or other YF areas. Proof of vaccination will be required only if one has visited a country in the YF zone within 6 d prior to entering India. Any person (except infants up to the age of 6 mo) arriving without a certificate within 6 d of departure from or transit through an infected area, or arriving on a ship that started from or touched at any port in an area with risk of YF transmission up to 30 d before its arrival in India, unless such a ship has been disinfected in accordance with the procedure recommended by WHO, will be isolated for up to 6 d. YF vaccine must be administered at an approved YF vaccination center, which will give each vaccinee a fully validated International Certificate of Vaccination. YF vaccine should not be given to those younger than 9 mo, pregnant, immuno-compromised, or allergic to eggs. It also should not be given to those with a history of thymus disease or thymectomy. Vaccine is not recommended or required for travelers arriving directly from North America, Europe, Australia, or other Asian countries. 9

No matter where traveling, one should know that exposure to certain microorganisms can result in severe illness, even death. There is no doubt that vaccines have reduced or virtually eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled children and adults just a few generations ago. Thus, travelers must take recommended vaccines per schedule before travel to India.

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Travelling from the United Kingdom to India

Find flights to india, find stays in india, explore more countries on travel restrictions map, destinations you can travel to now, netherlands, new zealand, philippines, switzerland, united arab emirates, united states, know when to go.

Can I travel to India from the United Kingdom?

Most visitors from the United Kingdom, regardless of vaccination status, can enter India.

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United Kingdom can enter India without restrictions.

Unvaccinated visitors from the United Kingdom can enter India without restrictions.

Visitors from the United Kingdom are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering India.

Travellers from the United Kingdom are not required to quarantine.

• Skip to "About this site"

Language selection

Search travel.gc.ca.

Help us to improve our website. Take our survey !

COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

India travel advice

Latest updates: The Need help? section was updated.

Last updated: April 11, 2024 13:58 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, india - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in India due to the threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.

In and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai - Exercise a high degree of caution

Exercise a high degree of caution in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Consular services in-person are temporarily unavailable in those cities or surrounding areas. If you need consular services, contact the High Commission of Canada in India, located in New Delhi. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

Parts of Northeastern India - Avoid non-essential travel

Union territory of jammu and kashmir - avoid all travel.

This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.

Border areas with Pakistan - Avoid all travel

This advisory excludes the Wagah border crossing.

Back to top

Security situation

In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada in traditional media and on social media. Demonstrations, including anti-Canada protests, could occur and Canadians may be subjected to intimidation or harassment. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, you should keep a low profile with strangers, and not share your personal information with them. Avoid crowded areas, including public transportation. You should always travel with someone and inform a friend or a family member of your travel plans.

Consular services in person are temporarily unavailable in and around Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. Consular services in person at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi will remain available.

Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir

The security situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is tense. There are high risks of violent protests, civil unrest and acts of terrorism and militancy.

Violent clashes between militants and security forces occur regularly. Terrorist attacks against security forces have led to civilian casualties. Further attacks could take place at any time. You could find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Indian army has enhanced powers in this territory. Authorities may impose curfews and security restrictions on short notice.

• Avoid gatherings and demonstrations
• Always carry ID
• Expect a heightened security presence and security checks
• Follow the instructions of local authorities

Border areas with Pakistan

The level of tension between India and Pakistan may change suddenly. You could experience difficulties when travelling between the two countries. You may be subject to scrutiny if officials from either country become aware that you have recently travelled to the other.

The security situation along the border with Pakistan, especially along the Line of Control (LoC), which separates the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, remains volatile. Cross-border gunfire and shelling are occurring sporadically along the LoC. The presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance also constitute a risk.

Although international travellers regularly use the Wagah border crossing linking Amritsar, India, to Lahore, Pakistan, it remains vulnerable to attack. Security measures are in place. You may experience long delays.

Parts of Northeastern India

Several extremist and insurgent groups are active in the northeastern states of Assam and Manipur. They regularly target local government and security forces and may use various criminal activities to finance their activities.

Ethnic tensions in the State can also lead to conflict and civil unrest.

There is a threat of terrorism in India, particularly in:

• the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir
• the State of Manipur
• the State of Assam
• areas of East India where Naxalites groups are active

Maoist extremist insurgents, known as Naxalites, are responsible for the majority of terrorist attacks in India. These groups are usually based in rural and forested areas within zones of concerns, as defined by the Government of India, which include:

• Andhra Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• West Bengal

Extremist and insurgent groups usually target government and security forces, and sometimes, trains and railway tracks. While tourists are not usually specifically targeted, bystanders could be affected. Be particularly vigilant during election periods and in the lead-up to, and during, religious holidays and times of national significance, such as:

• Republic Day (January 26)
• Independence Day (August 15)

Targets of terrorist attacks could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

While in India:

• always be aware of your surroundings when in public places
• if you see a suspicious package, immediately leave the area and report it to authorities

Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is common. Criminals may target foreigners, especially in major cities and tourist areas.

• Be vigilant in all crowded locations
• Don’t carry large sums of money
• Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times

Petty crime frequently occurs on public transportation and overnight trains.

• Ensure that the train compartment contains packages belonging only to you and other occupants
• Store personal belongings in a safe place, and don’t leave the compartment unattended
• Securely lock the doors

Serious crime against foreigners is less frequent, but incidents do occur.

Credit card and ATM fraud occurs. Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others
• use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Exercise caution in tourist areas and airports where scammers particularly target foreigners.

Scams involving the exportation of jewels, gemstones, carpets, and other items have occurred. Taxi drivers may approach you, offering money to export such items.

• Don’t accept any offer, no matter how convincing
• Beware of offers for cheap transportation or accommodation, extended taxi rides and unsolicited guided tours

Romance scams

If you’re travelling to India to meet someone you’ve otherwise only met online, you may be the victim of a scam.

Be alert to attempts at fraud by persons who profess friendship or romantic interest over the internet.

Investment scams

Unsolicited emails offering attractive business or financial opportunities are most likely fraudulent.

Don’t travel to India to obtain restitution after losing money to a scam.

Overseas fraud

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Women’s safety

Crimes committed against women frequently occur in India. Foreign women are often the target of unwanted attention.

Staring, verbal abuse, groping, and other forms of sexual harassment can occur anywhere, including in tourist sites and areas. Attackers sometimes act as a group.

Reports of rape and assault against foreign women have increased. You should be particularly vigilant:

• on all forms of public transportation
• at Yoga centres, ashrams and other places of spiritual retreats

Local authorities may not always respond adequately to reports of sexual violence and harassment.

• Avoid travelling alone, particularly at night
• Be extremely vigilant on public transportation, taxis and auto-rickshaws
• Be careful when dealing with strangers or new acquaintances
• Be wary of accepting snacks or beverages from new acquaintances
• Avoid less populous and unlit areas
• Respect local customs and dress codes
• Reach police immediately if you feel threatened

If you are the victim of a sexual assault, you should report it immediately to local authorities and the nearest office of the Government of Canada.

Advice for women travellers

Forced marriages

Forced marriage affecting foreigners occurs, sometimes without the affected person’s prior knowledge or consent.

Some Canadians have been forced into marital arrangements and have been detained against their will. They have been subjected to threats, intimidation and violence by family members.

If you’re in Canada

If you’re in Canada and you believe that you’re being forced to travel overseas to marry, you should call your local police for assistance.

If you’re in India

If you’re in India and you believe that you’re being forced to marry, contact the nearest office of the Government of Canada. You may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre .

Family members may retain passports to prevent victims from returning to Canada. Keep digital or physical copies of your travel documents in a safe place.

General information and advice about forced marriage

Demonstrations and mass gatherings

Protests in manipur.

Violent demonstrations have been taking place in Manipur State since May 3, 2023, resulting in casualties. Protests have led to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. Curfews have been imposed in several districts and mobile and internet services may be limited.

If you are in Manipur:

• monitor local media for the most recent information
• follow the instructions of local authorities
• be prepared to modify your plans in case of disturbances
• expect enhanced security measures and an increased police presence

Demonstrations, mass gatherings, general strikes, “bandh” or “hartal,” take place frequently. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

Stampedes have occurred during mass gatherings, including religious ceremonies, and resulted in deaths and injuries.

Local authorities may impose curfews and other restrictions on short notice.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities, including curfews
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety are poor throughout the country. Most roads, including major highways, are poorly maintained. There is severe traffic congestion. Driving conditions may be hazardous during the rainy season, and some roads can become impassable.

Drivers don’t respect traffic laws. They are often aggressive or reckless. Driving can be hazardous due to the presence of livestock or wandering cows, including in urban areas.

Fatal road accidents are frequent. They can lead to mob anger and assault.

• Avoid travelling outside urban centres after dark
• Avoid driving or riding motorcycles in India, even if you are an experienced motorcyclist
• Be very careful when crossing the street, even at pedestrian crossings
• If involved in an accident, contact local authorities immediately

Public transportation

India has an extensive passenger train system. Rail accidents are common, mostly due to poor maintenance. Thefts are frequent on certain train lines.

If you use a taxi, get it from a reputable hotel, an official taxi stand, or a trusted ride-sharing app. At the airport, use officially marked taxis or pre-paid transport services.

• Negotiate fares in advance, or insist that the driver use the meter, as you may be overcharged
• Avoid travelling alone, especially at night
• Don’t share taxis with strangers

Maritime transportation

Maritime accidents occur regularly due to the overloading and poor maintenance of some vessels.

• Don’t board vessels that appear overloaded or unseaworthy
• Always wear a life jacket

Pirate attacks and armed robbery against ships occur in coastal waters. Mariners should take appropriate precautions.

Live piracy report - International Maritime Bureau

Water activities

Coastal waters can be dangerous. Riptides are common. Several drownings occur each year.

Beaches are not usually supervised by lifeguards. Many beaches don’t display warnings of dangerous conditions.

• Seek local advice before swimming
• Avoid swimming if red flags are flown
• Avoid swimming during Monsoon season
• Always wear a life jacket if you use a boat or a small embarkation

Water safety abroad

No commercial mountain rescue services are operating above 3,000 metres.

If you intend on trekking:

• never do so alone and always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company
• buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• ensure that you’re adequately equipped and well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary, including when you expect to be back to camp
• know the symptoms of acute altitude sickness, which can be fatal
• obtain detailed information on trekking routes or ski slopes before setting out and do not venture off marked trails or slopes

Wildlife viewing

Wildlife viewing may pose risks, particularly on foot or at close range. If you plan on visiting a wildlife area such as a tiger reserve:

• always maintain a safe distance when observing wildlife
• only exit a vehicle when a professional guide or warden says it’s safe to do so
• only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators
• closely follow park regulations and wardens’ advice

Large groups of monkeys are present in several parts of India, including some urban regions. Monkeys can get aggressive and rapidly overwhelm travellers in their search for food. They can also steal your belongings.

Be vigilant when in the presence of monkeys.

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Indian authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for 6 months from your date of entry into India and must contain at least two blank pages for use by immigration officials.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Certain types of Indian visa services for Canadians have resumed. For additional information, please contact the visa service provider directly.

Latest information – Indian Visa Application Center in Canada

Ensure you apply for the proper type of visa for the specific purpose of your trip. If you are denied entry by immigration officials, you will be returned to your point of departure.

Canadian-Pakistani citizens are subject to different visa application and registration procedures.

You can only stay in India for up to 180 consecutive days on a tourist visa, even when its validity exceeds 180 days.

Residency registration

If you stay in India for more than 180 days, you must register within 14 days of arrival with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

• e-FRRO online portal (for Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru) – India's Bureau of Immigration
• FRRO Contact List – India's Bureau of Immigration

Penalties for overstaying

Strict penalties are enforced for overstaying. If you overstay, you could be subject to fines, detention and a future travel ban.

If you have overstayed your visa, you must request an exit visa from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). This process can be lengthy.

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay.

Dual citizenship

If you hold an Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card, you must present it upon entry and exit.

You must present a boarding pass and a photo identification to access airport departure terminals and public areas.

Lost or stolen passport

If your passport is lost or stolen, an exit visa is required to leave India.

To obtain an exit visa, you must present the FRRO with:

• a police report
• two current passport-size photographs
• a letter providing details of the loss or theft from the High Commission of Canada to India in New Delhi or Consulate General of Canada in either Chandigarh or Mumbai

The FRRO will verify the entry details before issuing an exit visa. This process can take several days.

Restricted and Protected Areas

Special permits are required to visit certain parts of India designated as restricted or protected areas.

Restricted or protected areas – India's Bureau of Immigration

• Poliomyelitis

You may need to produce proof of polio vaccination if you are arriving in India from:

• the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Confirm this requirement with the nearest Indian diplomatic office before travelling.

• Foreign Representatives in Canada

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Contact a designated  Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre  well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that can cause swelling of the brain.  It is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Risk is very low for most travellers. Travellers at relatively higher risk may want to consider vaccination for JE prior to travelling.

Travellers are at higher risk if they will be:

• travelling long term (e.g. more than 30 days)
• making multiple trips to endemic areas
• staying for extended periods in rural areas
• visiting an area suffering a JE outbreak
• engaging in activities involving high contact with mosquitos (e.g., entomologists)

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Travellers going to countries in South Asia should speak to a health care professional about getting vaccinated.

Malaria  is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is caused by parasites spread through the bites of mosquitoes.   There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this destination. 

Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic before travelling to discuss your options. It is recommended to do this 6 weeks before travel, however, it is still a good idea any time before leaving.    Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times:  • Cover your skin and use an approved insect repellent on uncovered skin.  • Exclude mosquitoes from your living area with screening and/or closed, well-sealed doors and windows. • Use insecticide-treated bed nets if mosquitoes cannot be excluded from your living area.  • Wear permethrin-treated clothing.    If you develop symptoms similar to malaria when you are travelling or up to a year after you return home, see a health care professional immediately. Tell them where you have been travelling or living. 

In this destination, rabies is carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. Rabies treatment is often available in this destination. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Cholera is a risk in parts of this country. Most travellers are at very low risk.

To protect against cholera, all travellers should practise safe food and water precautions .

Travellers at higher risk of getting cholera include those:

• visiting, working or living in areas with limited access to safe food, water and proper sanitation
• visiting areas where outbreaks are occurring

Vaccination may be recommended for high-risk travellers, and should be discussed with a health care professional.

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral disease that can cause fever, pain and bleeding under the skin.  In some cases, it can be fatal.  It spreads to humans through contact with infected animal blood or tissues, or from the bite of an infected tick.  Risk is generally low for most travellers.  Protect yourself from tick bites and avoid animals, particularly livestock.  There is no vaccine available for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Visceral  leishmaniasis   (or kala azar) affects the bone marrow and internal organs. It is caused by a parasite spread through the bite of a female sandfly. It can also be transmitted by blood transfusion or sharing contaminated needles. If left untreated it can cause death. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from sandfly bites, which typically occur after sunset in rural and forested areas and in some urban centres. There is no vaccine or medication to protect against leishmaniasis.

Lymphatic filariasis , also known as elephantiasis, is caused by filariae (tiny worms) spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can cause a range of illnesses. Risk is generally low for most travellers. Protect yourself from mosquito bites. There is no vaccine available for lymphatic filariasis although drug treatments exist.

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

During your trip:

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

There is a risk of Nipah virus infection in this country. Nipah virus infections can range from asymptomatic (no symptoms) to severe illness and death.

Nipah virus is spread to people from animals (such as fruit bats) but it can also be spread through contaminated food or close contact with someone who is ill.

Travellers to areas where Nipah virus is found should:

• avoid consuming date palm sap products, including raw date palm juice
• thoroughly wash and peel fruit before consumption
• wash hands regularly with soap and water
• discard fruit with signs of bites or fruit that has been found on the ground
• avoid contact with fruit bats and areas where they are known to roost

For more information on preventing Nipah virus infection, visit Nipah virus: Prevention and risks .

There is no vaccine or medication that protects against Nipah virus infection.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

Medical services and facilities

The quality of health care varies significantly throughout the country.

Medical care in major cities may be good, but it’s usually very limited or unavailable in rural areas.

Government hospitals provide free services or at a minimal cost. Private facilities often offer a higher level of care but can be expensive. Most hospitals require up-front payment or confirmation of insurance coverage before commencing treatment.

Specialised treatment for psychiatric illness may not be available outside major cities.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Ambulances are often equipped with basic and old medical equipment.

Response times can be very slow. Traffic doesn’t yield to emergency vehicles.

In case of serious illness or injury, you may consider taking a taxi or private vehicle to go to the hospital rather than wait for an ambulance.

Medical tourism

Some Canadian citizens have had severe health complications following cosmetic or other elective surgeries abroad.

Before leaving for medical travel:

• make sure you have done your research
• use competent health-care providers only

Receiving Medical Care in Other Countries

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect heavy fines and jail sentences. Detention during the investigation is common and can be lengthy.

Laws regarding the purchase and consumption of alcohol, including the legal drinking age, differ from state to state. Authorities often call for dry periods during:

• religious festivals
• national holidays

Drugs, alcohol and travel

It is prohibited to import, possess or use e-cigarettes, vaporisers and their refills.

Beef consumption

Cows are protected and venerated by several groups of faith in India.

Several states impose prohibitions on beef slaughter and consumption. In some rural areas, cow protection vigilantes have attacked people suspected of selling, consuming, or possessing beef or items made with cowhide.

Avoid consuming beef or its derived products while in India.

Religious proselytism

In certain states, it’s illegal to engage in religious proselytism, such as preaching, possessing, or distributing religious literature or material with the intent of converting. Indian authorities require foreign missionaries to obtain a missionary visa.

If you plan to conduct religious activities in India, ensure that:

• the activities are legal
• you possess the proper visa for the activities you plan to perform

Satellite devices

It’s illegal to carry or use a satellite device in India.

Photography

It is prohibited to take pictures of military installations, airports and dams.

Ask permission before photographing places of worship such as temples or mosques.

Imports and exports

There are strict regulations on the importation or exportation of items such as:

• antiquities
• electronic equipment
• local currency
• ivory and gold objects
• protected animals
• pornographic material

Among others, you must register antique items for export with local police, with a photograph of each item.

Customs Guide for Travellers - India’s Central Board of Excise and Customs

Dress and behaviour

India is a traditional, conservative and multi-faith society. To avoid offending local sensitivities:

• Dress conservatively
• Behave discreetly
• Respect religious and social traditions
• Avoid displays of affection in public
• Avoid using footwear in places of worship

Indian family law is very different from Canadian law.

In case of dispute, consult a local lawyer to be fully aware of local laws regarding marital fraud, dowry abuse or extortion, custody, guardianship and visitation rights. Individuals facing charges may be forced to remain in India until their cases have been settled or charges dismissed.

Commercial surrogacy

If you’re planning to visit India to commission surrogacy arrangements, you should consider the potential challenges involved in pursuing international surrogacy. Seek specialist legal advice on Indian and Canadian laws before making any arrangements.

A proposed Indian government ban on foreign commercial surrogacy could affect Canadians travelling to India to enter into a surrogacy agreement.

You should also consult with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on current policies regarding citizenship through descent and the issuance of Canadian travel documents.

Land and property disputes

If you plan on buying property or are involved in a land dispute in India, you should seek legal advice. Do so before making commitments. Related disputes could take time and be costly to resolve.

The offices of the Government of Canada in India can’t provide assistance or legal advice related to private legal matters.

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

Indian law doesn’t criminalize sexual acts or relationships between persons of the same sex.

However, 2SLGBTQI+ travellers could be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in India.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of India, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and India.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in India by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in India to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

Identification

You must carry your passport and Indian visa at all times.

Traffic drives on the left.

You must carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

The currency in India is the Indian Rupee (INR).

Non-residents are prohibited from importing or exporting the Indian rupee. A limit of 25,000 rupees is imposed on residents.

Upon entering or leaving India, you must make a declaration to customs if you have USD 5,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies.

India is prone to extreme weather events such as:

• dust storms
• earthquakes

Extreme temperatures can occur in both spring and summer.

The rainy (or monsoon) season extends from June to September.

Heavy rain can cause flooding throughout the country, resulting in significant loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure. Seasonal flooding and landslides can hamper overland travel and reduce the provision of essential services. Roads may become impassable and bridges damaged.

India’s coastline is subject to cyclones, particularly between April and December. These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services.

If you decide to travel to a coastal area:

• know that you may expose yourself to serious safety risks
• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities
• Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons
• Large-scale emergencies abroad
• Weather forecasts and warnings - Indian Meteorological Department
• Current cyclone activity - Tropical storm risk

Seismic activity

Parts of India are located in active seismic zones. Earthquakes occur.

In the event of an earthquake, follow the instructions of local authorities.

What to do during an earthquake

Smoke haze and other types of air pollution can be extremely hazardous in urban areas and cities such as Delhi. It’s typically at its worst in winter. In rural areas, air quality can be affected by agricultural burning.

Dust storms also occur across northern India.

Monitor air pollution levels, which change quickly, especially if you suffer from respiratory ailments or have pre-existing medical conditions.

During periods of high pollution:

• limit your activities outdoors
• monitor local media
• System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research - Ministry of Earth Science of India
• Real time ambient air quality data - Delhi Pollution Control Committee
• Air pollution in India - World Air Quality Index

In mountainous regions, avalanches present a risk and have resulted in fatalities.

• Monitor local media and weather forecasts
• Follow the advice of local authorities

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police: 100/112 from cellular telephones
• firefighters: 101
• medical assistance: 102
• victims of sexual harassment: 1091

General services

The Indian Ministry of Tourism offers 24-hour general advice for tourists.

Dial: 1-800 111-363.

Consular assistance

The Consulates General of Canada in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai are temporarily suspending in-person operations. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information from the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi.

Consular services in person remain available at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Pondicherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

For emergency consular assistance, call the High Commission of Canada in India, in New Delhi and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Travelling from Australia to India

Find flights to india, find stays in india, explore more countries on travel restrictions map, destinations you can travel to now, netherlands, new zealand, philippines, south korea, united arab emirates, united kingdom, united states, know when to go.

Can I travel to India from Australia?

Most visitors from Australia, regardless of vaccination status, can enter India.

Fully vaccinated visitors from Australia can enter India without restrictions.

Unvaccinated visitors from Australia can enter India without restrictions.

Visitors from Australia are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering India.

Travellers from Australia are not required to quarantine.

The countries you can travel to without a vaccine

By Abigail Malbon

Travel around the world is easier now, particularly for those who are fully vaccinated with an approved Covid vaccine – but some countries are allowing unvaccinated travellers to enter. Yet with restrictions constantly changing, how do the latest rules affect those who aren't fully vaccinated, and which countries are allowing tourists to enter if they're unvaccinated?

Where can I travel unvaccinated?

There are currently a number of countries that will allow visitors who have not been vaccinated to enter. A few of them are in Europe , and the others are slightly farther afield. We recommend always closely following UK health guidance, including having your Covid vaccine and booster if you are able to. Before travelling, you should regularly check government guidelines both for the country you might be considering visiting and for the UK when you return.

You can find the full list of countries allowing people to enter without a vaccine below:

Since 1 May 2022, unvaccinated travellers are able to visit the country without proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen test. Passenger locator forms are also no longer required.

Arrivals may, however, be required to undergo a rapid Covid test on arrival. If you test positive on arrival in Greece, you (and those you are travelling with) will have to self-isolate for at least five days, either at home or in a hotel (this will be paid for by the Greek state). If you have no symptoms on day five you will be allowed to leave quarantine.

For holiday inspiration, see our guide to the best Greek Islands to visit .

Read the rules on travel to Greece .

2. Portugal and Madeira

Portugal ’s mainland and Madeira are open to travellers who have not been vaccinated, as long as they can prove they don't have coronavirus when they enter the country. To enter mainland Portugal, you will be required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 or an antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure for the country as well as complete and submit a traveller questionnaire before departure for the country. Self-administered tests are not accepted. Your temperature will also be screened on arrival.

To enter Madeira, you must register on the Madeira Safe travellers platform and download a QR code to present to airport staff on arrival. You must provide proof of a negative antigen test taken within 48 hours of departure that has been administered by a trained healthcare professional.

Your airline may deny boarding if you cannot show one of these documents when you check in for your flight. Check with your airline before you travel.

Read the rules on travel to Portugal .

Unvaccinated adult travellers can enter Spain if they are able to show proof of a negative test taken before entering the country. Previously, only fully vaccinated travellers aged 12 and over could enter Spain from the UK, but the destination has relaxed rules slightly, so it is now accepting negative PCR tests taken in the 72 hours before departure for the country or negative antigen tests taken in the 24 hours before departure for the country in lieu of full vaccination in adults. However, those who cannot meet either criteria will not be able to enter.

As of 1 February, you need to have received your second jab between 14 and 270 days before travel to Spain and the Canary Islands to be classed as fully vaccinated. Children aged 12-17 no longer need to show proof of a vaccine, but will need a negative PCR test to enter.

Read the rules on travel to Spain .

Unvaccinated travellers can enter Croatia without showing proof of a vaccine or negative test. The requirement to fill out a passenger locator form also no longer exists.

Read the rules on travel to Croatia .

Unvaccinated travellers to  Cyprus  must provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for the country or an antigen test taken in the 24 hours before departure for the country. Travellers over 12 may then be asked to take another PCR test upon arrival at Larnaca or Paphos airports, and remain in isolation until the result comes back (this should take roughly three hours). This costs €15–€19 and must be paid for by the traveller.

Read the rules on travel to Cyprus .

If you are unvaccinated and over 12 years old, you must provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours or an antigen test result taken within 48 hours pre-departure for entry to France.

Read the rules on travel to France .

7. Maldives

All travellers to the Maldives must fill in a Traveller Declaration form in the 72 hours prior to departure. A PCR test is no longer required regardless of vaccination status.

Read the rules on travel to the Maldives .

Unvaccinated tourists entering Italy from the UK must show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours before entering, or a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours before entering. The requirement to fill in a passenger locator form has now been lifted.

Read the rules on travel to Italy .

9. Dubai and United Arab Emirates

You do not have to be fully vaccinated to visit the UAE. Unvaccinated arrivals to the Emirates must present evidence of a negative PCR test taken 48 hours before departure. Unvaccinated travellers from the UK to Dubai may be required to have a Covid-19 PCR test on arrival.

Read the rules on travel to Dubai .

10. Slovenia

Unvaccinated British travellers to Slovenia must provide a Digital Passenger Locator Form, but are not required to show proof of a negative test or vaccination to enter.

You do not need to be fully vaccinated to visit Turkey, but you must be able to show proof of a negative PCR test (taken no more than 72 hours before entry), rapid antigen test (taken no more than 48 hours before entry), or proof of a recent recovery from Covid-19 within the last six months. Arrivals into the country should also show an online form completed 72 hours before travel and will be subject to a medical evaluation for symptoms of coronavirus, including temperature checks. Arrivals may be subject to random PCR testing on arrival.

Sophie Heawood

Arati Menon

Lauren Burvill

CNT Editors

You must wear a face mask at all times while in an airport and for the duration of all flights, to and from Turkey.

Read the rules on travel to Turkey .

Mexico  does not currently require visitors to show a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival. Resorts are also able to request guests fill in a health questionnaire on arrival.

Read the rules on travel to Mexico .

13. Ireland

If you are travelling to Ireland as of Sunday 6 March 2022, you do not need to show any proof of vaccination, proof of recovery, negative test or passenger locator form.

Read the rules on travel to Ireland .

As of Friday 1 April 2022, UK travellers visiting Sweden are no longer required to present a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination.

15. Seychelles

Travellers are able to enter Seychelles regardless of vaccination status, but must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for the country or a rapid antigen test done within 24 hours. There is no requirement to quarantine on arrival, but travellers must stay in approved accommodation.

16. Bahamas

Unvaccinated travellers aged 12 and over must show a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas. All visitors of any age must submit a Bahamas Travel Health Visa Trip application. Seventeen-year-olds and under must be included in a parent or guardian’s profile.

All travellers to Egypt must complete a declaration form before entering the country. Unvaccinated travellers are required to show either a negative PCR test, taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in Egypt, or a rapid antigen test. Proof of Covid-19 recovery will not be accepted.

18. Cape Verde

You do not need to be fully vaccinated to enter Cape Verde, but you do need to be able to prove that you don't have Covid, either with a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before departure for the country or a lateral flow test taken 48 hours, when you check-in for your flight to Cape Verde.

19. Iceland

On 25 February 2022 all Covid restrictions were removed, including domestic rules. This means you do not need to test or show proof of vaccination status to enter the country.

20. Luxembourg

All travellers to Luxembourg need to fill in a passenger locator form before their flight. Those who are not vaccinated need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before their flight, or a negative lateral flow test taken no more than 24 hours before. If you’re not fully vaccinated but have tested positive for Covid in the last year you can show proof of recovery to enter.

The travel restrictions upon entry into Norway have been lifted, which means that the same rules as before the pandemic now apply.

Read the rules on travel to Norway .

22. Sri Lanka

Covid travel insurance is mandatory for all visitors, and unvaccinated travellers need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before their flight, or a negative lateral flow test taken no more than 48 hours before – be aware that self-swab tests are not recognised.

23. South Africa

Travellers to South Africa must present proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure for the country. You may be screened on arrival.

Read the rules on travel to South Africa .

Unvaccinated travellers to Belize must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival, or a negative antigen test taken in the 48 hours before arrival. You may also opt to take a rapid test at the airport, at a cost of BZ$100 or US$50 (which must be paid in cash). If you test positive, you will be required to quarantine at your own cost. Foreign tourists are required to pay BZ$36 (US$18) for Belize Travel Health Insurance – this is mandatory even if you already have personal travel insurance and helps protect against incurred medical and non-medical expenses should you test positive for Covid during your stay in Belize.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Belize, so it's important to check the rules of the country you will be transiting through too.

25. Costa Rica

Since 1 April 2022 there have been no requirements for entry to Costa Rica in regards to coronavirus. However, the government acknowledges that these may be brought back at short notice, in which case travellers should always check guidance before their trip.

Since 6 April 2022, there have been no requirements for travellers from the UK to show either a Covid vaccination or Covid test when entering Cuba. However, random testing is still being carried out at airports, and anyone who tests positive will be moved to quarantine in a designated government health centre, at their own expense.

27. Denmark

There are no Covid-related requirements regarding test or self-isolation when entering Denmark.

Read the rules on travel to Denmark .

You do not need to show proof of vaccination to enter Monaco, however travellers over the age of 16 who are not fully vaccinated will need to provide either a negative result of a PCR or antigen test taken within the last 24 hours, or a certificate showing proof of recovery from Covid-19 (a positive PCR or antigen test, taken more than 11 days before arrival and within the last six months).

Do I have to quarantine when returning to the UK?

No. On 18 March 2022 all Covid travel rules within the UK were removed – which means that travellers do not need to test, quarantine or even fill in a passenger locator form , regardless of their vaccination status, upon return to the country.

• Travel Clinic
• Health Checks & Blood Tests
• Family Health
• Sexual Health
• Aesthetic Clinics
• Occupational Health
• Pricing List
• Login / Register
• Online Booking

Find a Clinic

• MK test Home
• Travel vaccinations >

Travel Vaccinations for India

Vaccinations, certificate requirements.

You need a yellow fever certificate for travel to India if you are arriving from a yellow fever country.

How much will it cost?

Recommended for all travellers.

The vaccines in this section are recommended for all travellers visiting the country.

If you have grown up in the UK, you have received a diphtheria vaccine as a part of your childhood vaccination schedule. Before going to Vietnam you should check whether you need a booster for diphtheria - this is the case if it has been over ten years since your last booster.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection which causes an inflammation of the liver. In countries where hep A is prominent, many people catch it as a child. The infection tends to be mild in children but can occasionally cause complications. In adults, however, it can lead to liver damage or even liver failure. Although infection rates appear to be on the decrease, hepatitis A is endemic to Sri Lanka and the vaccination is recommended for all travellers.

The tetanus vaccine - or a booster - is recommended for all travellers who are planning to visit a country where access to medical assistance may be limited. You can get tetanus when tetanus bacteria get into your bloodstream, usually due to injury or a wound. You need a booster if your last tetanus jab was over ten years ago.

Like hepatitis A, typhoid fever is a food- and waterborne disease. It causes digestive problems such as diarrhoea or constipation, stomach pain and a high fever. The typhoid vaccination is recommended for all travellers visiting Sri Lanka, where outbreaks continue to occur. In addition to getting vaccinated you should take care in choosing where you eat and practise good food hygiene while abroad.

Why do I need a consultation?

It is difficult to say which vaccines you need without asking a medical professional. Your itinerary, your medical history and the activities you have planned all affect which vaccinations you need. It is important that a trained travel nurse or pharmacist checks what you need.

Exactly the travel vaccinations you need - no more, no less.

During your consultation, our nurse or pharmacist will talk you through the health risks at your travel destinations to check which vaccines you need. If a vaccine is not essential, we will explain your options so you can decide whether you would like to have it.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria.

Malaria Precautions

The malaria risk in India differs between regions.The areas with the highest risk of malaria include the states of Assam and Orissa, some north-eastern districts in the state of Andhra Pradesh, and some south-eastern districts in the state of Madhya Pradesh. You may need to use antimalarials when visiting these high risk areas.Antimalarials are not usually advised when travelling to low risk regions, such as the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal.There is no risk of malaria in the Lakshadweep islands.You need to practise insect bite avoidance in all regions. Your Superdrug nurse or pharmacist will assess your individual risk based on your itinerary and recommend a suitable antimalarial if required. Both doxycycline and Malarone can be used for malaria prevention in India.

Find your nearest clinic

Check which of our 60+ clinics is closest to you

View all clinics

How it works

1 book an appointment.

Book online or call our booking line. Our lines are open every day!

2 Attend Consultation

During your appointment, the nurse or pharmacist will assess which vaccines or medications you need.

3 Get your treatment

Once our health advisor has assessed your needs, you'll receive your vaccinations & treatments straight away.

How it Works

Book an appointment online, attend your consultation, get your treatment, what our customers think, popular destinations, south africa.

Any traveler ≥9 months old arriving by air or by sea without a YF vaccination certificate will be detained in isolation for ≤6 days if they. ... Learn as much as you can about India before you travel there. A good place to start is the country-specific information on India from the US Department of State. Hide. ⇧ Top.

Here are vaccines you may need for travel to India: Hepatitis A. This disease can be transmitted through food and water. The risk for Hepatitis A in India is high. So, immunization is highly ...

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter India. Can I travel to India if I am vaccinated? Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter India without restrictions. Can I travel to India without being vaccinated? Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter India without restrictions.

The same rule applies when passing things to people - including money. If you get invited to someone's home, bring a small gift (flowers or sweets are always a safe bet) and remove your shoes before entering. It's polite to eat and drink what you are offered, even if you don't really fancy it. 9. Dress modestly.

A.1. Planning for Travel. i. All travellers should preferably be fully vaccinated as per the approved primary schedule of vaccination against COVID-19 in their Country. ii. Additional requirements apply to passengers in all international flights from certain high risk countries*. Such travellers would be required to: a.

Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories.

Most visitors from India, regardless of vaccination status, can enter India. ... Can I travel to India without being vaccinated? Unvaccinated visitors from India can enter India without restrictions. Do I need a COVID test to enter India? Visitors from India are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon ...

No, however localities can impose new curfews without warning. Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? Yes. Some states require either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a current negative test result and/or testing on arrival if entering from other Indian states. Additional quarantine may be required dependent on state of origin.

Not all of the vaccines listed here will be necessary for every individual. Talk to the experts at UH Roe Green Center for Travel Medicine & Global Health to determine how each member of your family can obtain maximum protection against illness, disease and injury while traveling, based on age, health, medical history and travel itinerary.

Passport validity requirements. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry into India. Your passport must also: - have 2 blank pages for your visa. Check with ...

283 reviews. 347 helpful votes. 2. Re: Travelling to India first time without any vaccinations. 11 years ago. Save. i think you will be fine, the only vaccine I would not travel without is your Hep A & B shot, which you may have already got as a routine vaccine as a growing child, but it does need a booster shot.

Health officials caution that staying home is the best way to stem transmission until you're fully vaccinated. Below is information on what to know if you still plan to travel, last updated on ...

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for travelers coming from countries with a high risk of yellow fever transmission. If you're traveling (if even you're not a citizen) from any of the countries below, you must present a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival in India: Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi ...

TravelHealthPro explains best practice when travelling with medicines. The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad. For more information, contact the High Commission of ...

Specific. Advice. Travellers'. Diarrhea Kits. Available. The Taj Mahal, Hampi, the Himalayans and the Caves of Ajanta are just the beginning for amazing sights in India. For thousands of years, the subcontinent has been the cradle of one of the most amazing cultures to visit. Every year, tourists from around the globe flock to India to see ...

Can I Travel To India? Becky Pokora, Dia Adams, Toni Perkins-Southam. Credit Card Rewards Expert, Managing Editor, Lead Editor. Updated: Dec 13, 2022, 2:53pm. Editorial Note: We earn a commission ...

Efficacy of is ∼95%. 6. Oral polio vaccine (OPV) From January 2014, this vaccine is a mandated requirement for all travelers visiting India from Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Israel, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Somalia to receive OPV at least 6 wk before departure for India. OPV is valid for 1 y from the date of its administration.

Most visitors from the United Kingdom, regardless of vaccination status, can enter India. Can I travel to India if I am vaccinated? Fully vaccinated visitors from the United Kingdom can enter India without restrictions. Can I travel to India without being vaccinated? Unvaccinated visitors from the United Kingdom can enter India without ...

Routine vaccines. Be sure that your routine vaccinations, as per your province or territory, are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.. Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Bars in India are . Find continuously updated travel restrictions for India such as border, vaccination, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements.

Read the rules on travel to Greece.. 2. Portugal and Madeira. Portugal's mainland and Madeira are open to travellers who have not been vaccinated, as long as they can prove they don't have coronavirus when they enter the country.To enter mainland Portugal, you will be required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 or an antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure for the ...

It is difficult to say which vaccines you need without asking a medical professional. Your itinerary, your medical history and the activities you have planned all affect which vaccinations you need. It is important that a trained travel nurse or pharmacist checks what you need. Exactly the travel vaccinations you need - no more, no less.

I quit my job as a delivery driver to be a Henry VIII impersonator. This job is my whole life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

• David Smith dropped his career as a delivery driver and factory worker to become a Henry VIII impersonator.
• He earns a living by giving talks and performances as Henry VIII at schools and heritage sites.
• After leaving behind a more traditional job, he wouldn't consider ever going back.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with 24-year-old UK resident David Smith about his career as a Henry VIII impersonator. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has confirmed his previous and current employment. Smith declined to share his earnings.

I was eight years old when I saw a portrait of Henry VIII in all his regalia. I was mesmerized by it.

My passion grew from there: I spent my childhood reading my mom's encyclopedias, buying Tudor books, and watching documentaries about Henry VIII and his six wives.

I studied the Tudors at elementary school and wanted to become a history teacher but my local high school didn't teach Tudor history.

I ended up dropping out of school when I turned 17, and went to work in a factory and then as a delivery driver. During that time, my love of history still lingered in the back of my mind.

Everything changed when I found a Henry VIII outfit on Facebook Marketplace for £20 ($25) in 2021. I'd always wanted to own one, whether I'd wear it or not.

I decided to post a photo of myself wearing it on Facebook. Immediately messages flooded in telling me I bore a resemblance to the young King. A historical costumier saw the post and directed me to a reenactment group looking for a young Henry.

I debuted my impersonation with the group on a voluntary basis. During the week, I'd be in the factory, and then on the weekend, I'd self-finance my trips around the country to different palaces. The other reenactors and I would travel to heritage sites like Penshurst Place (a site once used as Henry VIII's hunting lodge), where we would perform and walk around the grounds in character, educating people on the Tudors.

After a year, the high travel costs and exhaustion got to me, but I didn't want to give up on being Henry. I decided to start doing it as paid work: I set up a business email address and a Facebook page and started getting in touch with palaces and historic workshops myself.

'You have to believe that you are the king'

My current job is a long way from my career as a delivery driver, which I ended just last year.

I now work five days a week visiting schools, palaces, and other heritage sites. I adapt to what the venue wants: I do historical talks, live reenactments of historical events, and even Tudor dancing.

My job could be described as being half teacher, half method actor. Nearly every time I go into a school, a kid asks me, "If you're Henry VIII, how are you still alive?" I usually reply, "Well, God wills it to be so," and in some ways, I have to believe it myself.

To do the job well, you have to believe that you are the most important person — that you are the king. You have to believe that you were chosen by God. All that definitely gives you confidence that stays with you.

Recently, I took part in a three-course banquet at the Old Palace in Hatfield House, an estate previously owned by Henry VIII and now owned by the Marquess of Salisbury. Visitors could dine with me and Anne Boleyn for around £80 ($100) per person.

Related stories

The whole experience was as historically accurate as possible. My hands were washed for me, my food was cut for me, my goblet was refilled whenever I needed it, and everyone had to bow and curtsey to me.

Out of all the events I've attended, that was the one that made me feel most like Henry VIII. I felt how he must've felt being there and being served.

Becoming Henry

Some people wrongly see Henry as just an obese, tyrannical despot of a King. While that's reflective of the last years of his life, when he ordered the execution of thousands of people, that wasn't always how he was. He was also a scholar and a well-mannered leader.

It's incredible to see the excitement you see on kids' faces when you go into schools, and they get to see this historic character brought to life.

While I'm not a traditional teacher, I still think of myself as one. I get all the good bits — meeting new pupils and sharing my passion for history — without the stress that teachers deal with.

After my visit, one school sent me letters to my home address: 30 letters from children expressing how much they loved my visit and shared all the facts they remembered. That was a particularly touching moment.

Life outside Henry

Unlike my old job, I have to take my role home with me.

My beard is cut in the same way Henry had his and although I'm naturally blond, I dye my hair and beard ginger to improve the resemblance.

It's definitely taxing on my time. Every two weeks, I travel around 70 miles to practice traditional Tudor dancing with a group. And even when I come home from a long day at work, all I want to do is get straight back to learning more about the Tudors.

A lot of my earnings go back into the business. Each of my outfits is custom-made by historical costumiers to my exact measurements. Prices start at £2,000 ($2,500) — and that's without all the extras that go with it: the rings, the chain of office, the medallions. I currently own two of these outfits.

Getting the money together takes me a while, but I pride myself on accuracy. I live and breathe it.

Most of my small circle of friends work in reenactment too, and they understand that this lifestyle is a defining part of who I am. My name is saved as Henry in most of their phones.

While my career may seem a long way off from other people's jobs, I still have the same concerns and ambitions.

Trying to "make it" in any industry requires a level of sacrifice, be that on your time or your relationships. Perhaps the hardest thing is the fear of running out of bookings, like with any freelance job.

But all that matters to me is that I have enough to live on and keep investing in this passion. I don't really care for buying a fancy house or fancy cars, I just want to earn enough to buy Tudor books and add to my collection of Tudor portraits.

I could never go back to a 'normal' job, I'll keep doing this, even if one day it means having to take a pay cut.

Watch: King Charles makes first speech after Queen Elizabeth's death

• Main content

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Essay; Bailing Out Moscow

By William Safire

• Feb. 25, 1988

We have just been told by a well-placed informant inside the Kremlin that the Soviet Union is not the economic power our intelligence analysts have long thought it was.

Throughout the Reagan years, our experts have assumed that Soviet growth averaged slightly over 3 percent yearly. That is a vital statistic: we then put a price each year on what we know the Soviet military machine cost, and get what we hope is a clear idea of what percentage of its economy Moscow is devoting to armament.

That's just about the most important intelligence number of all. In the 70's, a ''Team B'' of outsiders was brought in by the C.I.A. to challenge the conventional wisdom, and doubled the previous estimate to 13 percent in the Soviet Union. That laid the basis for our own increased defense spending, which now amounts to 6 percent of our gross national product.

In a little-noted passage of his long speech last week to his Central Committee, Mikhail Gorbachev made a stunning revelation that kicks our estimates into a cocked hat.

He pointed out that during the Brezhnev years, economic growth had been artificially hiked by the sale of oil at high prices (the U.S.S.R. is the world's largest producer) and the accelerated sale of vodka (Soviet spending on alcohol may have reached 10 percent of total output, compared with less than 2 percent of ours).

''If we purge economic growth indicators of the influence of these factors,'' said Mr. Gorbachev, ''it turns out that, basically, for four five-year periods there was no increase in the absolute growth of the national income and, at the beginning of the 80's, it had even begun to fall. That is the real picture, comrades!''

No doubt the current Kremlin leader is trying to make the present bad economic picture look better by saying the old days under his predecessor were really much worse. But we should allow for the possibility that, concerning the 80's at least, Mr. Gorbachev may be telling the truth.

If that is the real picture, comrades, we have to do some fast reassessing of our own. During the 80's, as the price of oil has been cut in half, and the Soviet gulping of booze has been restricted, the total Soviet output is not likely to have risen much, if at all, from what Mr. Gorbachev says was its falling state in 1980.

Here is what that new assessment leads us to deduce: the Soviet economy has been stagnant (or possibly declining) for seven years - most definitely not growing steadily at the over-3-percent rate per year our analysts had been assuming. That means our assessment of total growth of about one-fourth in this decade has been egregiously mistaken. That supposedly seven-foot giant turns out to be closer to five feet tall, same as he was in the Brezhnev years.

Apply that new assessment to arms control. The way we estimate Soviet arms expenditures is by simple bean-counting, mainly from satellites, and that total is not affected. What does change is the percentage of the output devoted to arms; if it was 14 percent by the old assessment, it must be an unbearable 20 percent in the new reality Mr. Gorbachev reveals.

Thus, under pressure to reduce arms spending, he seeks treaties; forced to cut losses, he announces withdrawal from Afghanistan and may offer to reduce subsidies in Central America; faced with the prospect of having to match serious Star Wars spending, he rails at the idea of strategic defense.

Apply that no-growth, one-fourth-smaller fact to economic diplomacy. It explains why the Russians finally settled the old Czarist debt for a dime on the dollar, paving the way for a recent $77 million Soviet bond issue. That's also why the Kremlin will be seeking entry into the International Monetary Fund, GATT and the World Bank at the next meetings (in West Berlin) this fall. Soviet Communism is starving for capital.

Our European allies are rushing to lend Moscow money and to subsidize pipelines, while accommodationists here want to offer the Russians most-favored-nation status on trade. Commerce and State Department detenteniks await only vague ''economic reforms'' to end our opposition to Soviet entry into Western credit markets.

Here is a genuine issue to toss at the candidates in our election. In light of what the Soviet leader admits is ''a very serious financial problem,'' should U.S. policy seek to finance our adversary? Or should we ''stress'' Moscow now, as it surely would do to us if the roles were reversed?

Or should we use this moment of admitted Soviet economic weakness to put an irrevocable, verifiable, behavior-modifying price on every concession we confer?

Job of Moscow

Our father among the saints Job ( + 1607) was the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. He is commemorated by the Church on June 19 and April 5 .

• 1 Early life
• 3 Patriarchate
• 6 External link

St Job was born into the family of pious tradesmen in Staritsa near Tver in the 1530s. His baptismal name was John. As a teenager, John knew most of the biblical texts by heart and strove to become a monk . His father, however, insisted on his marriage . Once, John asked his father's permission to see his confessor in the Uspensky Monastery in their native town of Staritsa (Tver Oblast). Upon his arrival, John immediately took monastic vows and assumed the name of Job. He spent fifteen years in the cloister and finally became its abbot in 1566 with the help of Ivan the Terrible , who had made Staritsa his residence in times of the Oprichnina (secret police).

In 1571, Job was transferred to Moscow and appointed abbot of the Simonov Monastery . In 1575, he became the abbot of the Novospassky Monastery. In 1581, Job was appointed bishop of Kolomna.

Known as a person of mediocre mental abilities, he, nevertheless, managed to draw attention of Boris Godunov by his talent for reading the longest of prayers by heart in a very expressive manner. During the reign of Feodor I (whose government was controlled by Boris Godunov), Job was appointed archbishop of Rostov and Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia in 1587.

Realizing the necessity of strengthening the ecclesiastic authority in Russia , Godunov managed to persuade the Patriarch of Constantinople Jeremias II to establish a patriarchate in Russia. On January 26 , 1589, Job was elected the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. He exercised all his influence and played a major part in Boris Godunov's ascending to the Russian throne.

Patriarchate

Job did not approve, however, Godunov's proposal to open a university in Moscow with foreign professors because he believed their influence and non- Orthodox faith would cause "heterodoxy" and endanger the authority of the Russian Church. Under Job's supervision, the Russians corrected books for divine service and prepared them for publishing.

He assisted in glorification of some of the Russian saints , ordering the celebration of the memory of Basil Fool for Christ in 1588, as well as that of Joseph Volotsky and others. Job also favored the construction of new cathedrals and monasteries and Christian missionary activities in the recently conquered Astrakhan Khanate and Siberia. After the mysterious death of tsarevich Dmitry Ivanovich in 1591, Jove accepted the noncriminal version of his demise, supporting Boris Godunov every step of the way.

After the invasion of False Dmitriy I and sudden death of Boris Godunov on June 1 , 1605, there was an uprising in Moscow.

Job was known as a harsh critic of False Dmitriy I, and he tried to persuade the people of Moscow to remain loyal to the deceased tsar. The armed supporters of the impostor burst into the Cathedral of the Dormition, and a boyar named P.F. Basmanov declared Job a traitor. Job was sent into exile to his monastery in Staritsa, where he went completely blind and finally died a very sick man in 1607.

In 1652, Job's relics were transferred to the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Moscow Kremlin, where they remain to this day. Patriarch Job was glorified as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1989.

External link

• Translation of the relics of St Job the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia - OCA web site.
• Repose of St Job the Patriarch of Moscow, and All Russia - OCA web site.
• List of primates of Russia
• 16th-17th-century bishops
• Patriarchs of Moscow
• Russian Saints
• 17th-century saints

Navigation menu

Personal tools.

• Request account
• View source
• View history
• Featured content
• Browse categories
• Recent changes
• Random page

interaction

• Community portal
• Trapeza (Discussion)
• What links here
• Related changes
• Upload file
• Special pages
• Printable version
• Permanent link
• Page information
• Cite this page
• This page was last edited on October 24, 2012, at 15:10.
• This page has been accessed 26,783 times.
• Copyright Information
• Privacy policy
• About OrthodoxWiki
• Disclaimers
• Mobile view

Watch CBS News

NPR suspends Uri Berliner, editor who accused the network of liberal bias

By Aimee Picchi

Edited By Alain Sherter

April 17, 2024 / 8:18 AM EDT / CBS News

National Public Radio has suspended Uri Berliner, a senior editor who earlier this month claimed in an essay that the network had "lost America's trust" by pushing progressive views in its coverage while suppressing dissenting opinions.

Berliner's suspension was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik, who said that the senior editor was suspended for five days without pay starting on Friday. A formal rebuke from NPR said Berliner had violated its policy of securing prior approval to write for other news outlets, and warned that he would be fired if he breached those guidelines in future, Folkenflik reported.

NPR declined to comment to CBS News. "NPR does not comment on individual personnel matters, including discipline," a spokesperson said. 

Berliner's  essay  in the Free Press caused a firestorm of debate, with some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, calling on the government to "defund" the organization. Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues also took issue with the essay, with "Morning Edition" host Steve Inskeep writing on his Substack that the article was "filled with errors and omissions."

"The errors do make NPR look bad, because it's embarrassing that an NPR journalist would make so many," Inskeep wrote.

In the essay, Berliner wrote that NPR has always had a liberal bent, but that for most of his 25 year tenure it had retained an open-minded, curious culture. "In recent years, however, that has changed," he wrote. "Today, those who listen to NPR or read its coverage online find something different: the distilled worldview of a very small segment of the U.S. population."

Berliner added, "[W]hat's notable is the extent to which people at every level of NPR have comfortably coalesced around the progressive worldview. The "absence of viewpoint diversity" is "is the most damaging development at NPR," he wrote. 

After the essay's publication, NPR's top editor, Edith Chapin, said she strongly disagrees with Berliner's conclusions and is proud to stand behind NPR's work.

COVID coverage, DEI initiatives

Berliner criticized coverage of major events at NPR, singling out its reporting on COVID and Hunter Biden as problematic. With the first topic, he wrote that the network didn't cover a theory that COVID-19 had been created in a Chinese lab, a theory he claimed NPR staffers "dismissed as racist or a right-wing conspiracy."

He also took NPR for task for what he said was failing to report developments related to  Hunter Biden's laptop . "With the election only weeks away, NPR turned a blind eye," Berliner wrote. 

Berliner also criticized NPR for its internal management, citing what he claims is a growing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI.

"Race and identity became paramount in nearly every aspect of the workplace," Berliner wrote. "A growing DEI staff offered regular meetings imploring us to 'start talking about race'."

Inskeep said Berliner's essay left out the context that many other news organizations didn't report on Hunter Biden's laptop over questions about its authenticity. He also disputed Berliner's characterization that NPR editors and reporters don't debate story ideas. 

"The story is written in a way that is probably satisfying to the people who already believe it, and unpersuasive to anyone else — a mirror image of his critique of NPR," Inskeep wrote.

—With reporting by the Associated Press.

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

More from CBS News

U.S. News lists its best electric and hybrid vehicles for 2024

Tesla cuts prices around the globe amid slowing demand for its EVs

Transcript: Author David Sanger on "Face the Nation," April 21, 2024

Express files for bankruptcy, plans to close nearly 100 stores

• Ethics & Leadership
• Fact-Checking
• Media Literacy
• The Craig Newmark Center
• Reporting & Editing
• Ethics & Trust
• Tech & Tools
• Business & Work
• Educators & Students
• Training Catalog
• Custom Teaching
• For ACES Members
• All Categories
• Broadcast & Visual Journalism
• Fact-Checking & Media Literacy
• In-newsroom
• Memphis, Tenn.
• Minneapolis, Minn.
• St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Washington, D.C.
• Poynter ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing
• Poynter ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing
• Ethics & Trust Articles
• Get Ethics Advice
• Fact-Checking Articles
• International Fact-Checking Day
• Teen Fact-Checking Network
• International
• Media Literacy Training
• MediaWise Resources
• Ambassadors
• MediaWise in the News

Support responsible news and fact-based information today!

• Newsletters

Opinion | NPR suspends an editor for his essay blasting … NPR

The firestorm caused by uri berliner’s critical essay in the free press continues to rage.

When a senior editor at NPR recently wrote a 3,500-word essay for another outlet, blasting where he works and saying that NPR had “lost America’s trust,” my first thought, quite frankly, was, “ … and he still works there?”

Well, it was learned on Tuesday that the editor in question, Uri Berliner, is currently serving a five-day suspension without pay. NPR media writer David Folkenflik reported the suspension began last week. Folkenflik wrote, “In presenting Berliner’s suspension Thursday afternoon, the organization told the editor he had failed to secure its approval for outside work for other news outlets, as is required of NPR journalists. It called the letter a ‘final warning,’ saying Berliner would be fired if he violated NPR’s policy again. Berliner is a dues-paying member of NPR’s newsroom union but says he is not appealing the punishment.”

Berliner, who has been at NPR for 25 years, wrote his scathing essay for the online news site The Free Press, a publication on Substack. Folkenflik described The Free Press as a “site that has become a haven for journalists who believe that mainstream media outlets have become too liberal.”

The suspension does not mean the firestorm created by Berliner’s essay has been suppressed. Folkenflik wrote, “Yet the public radio network is grappling in other ways with the fallout from Berliner’s essay for the online news site The Free Press. It angered many of his colleagues, led NPR leaders to announce monthly internal reviews of the network’s coverage, and gave fresh ammunition to conservative and partisan Republican critics of NPR, including former President Donald Trump.”

The New York Times’ Benjamin Mullin wrote , “After Mr. Berliner’s essay was published, NPR’s new chief executive, Katherine Maher, came under renewed scrutiny as conservative activists resurfaced a series of years-old social media posts criticizing former President Donald J. Trump and embracing progressive causes. One of the activists, Christopher Rufo, has pressured media organizations into covering controversies involving influential figures, such as the plagiarism allegations against Claudine Gay, the former Harvard president.”

Maher was not at NPR at the time of her posts and, furthermore, the CEO has no involvement in editorial decisions at the network.

But Berliner told Folkenflik in an interview on Monday, “We’re looking for a leader right now who’s going to be unifying and bring more people into the tent and have a broader perspective on, sort of, what America is all about. And this seems to be the opposite of that.”

In a statement earlier this week, Maher said, “In America everyone is entitled to free speech as a private citizen. What matters is NPR’s work and my commitment as its CEO: public service, editorial independence, and the mission to serve all of the American public. NPR is independent, beholden to no party, and without commercial interests.”

As far as Berliner’s essay, many, particularly inside NPR, are pushing back against his various assertions, including that NPR has a liberal bias.

Mullin wrote for the Times, “Several NPR employees have urged the network’s leaders to more forcefully renounce Mr. Berliner’s claims in his essay. Edith Chapin, NPR’s top editor, said in a statement last week that managers ‘strongly disagree with Uri’s assessment of the quality of our journalism,’ adding that the network was ‘proud to stand behind’ its work.”

Tony Cavin, NPR’s managing editor for standards and practices, pushed back against specific claims made by Berliner and told the Times, “To somehow think that we were driven by politics is both wrong and unfair.”

NPR TV critic Eric Deggans tweeted , “Many things wrong w/terrible Berliner column on NPR, including not observing basic fairness. Didn’t seek comment from NPR before publishing. Didn’t mention many things which could detract from his conclusions. Set up staffers of color as scapegoats.”

So what happens now? Will Berliner be in further trouble for criticizing the CEO in an interview with Folkenflik, his NPR colleague?

Berliner told Folkenflik, “Talking to an NPR journalist and being fired for that would be extraordinary, I think.”

I urge you to check out Folkenflik’s piece for all the details. And, by the way, kudos to Folkenflik for his strong reporting on his own newsroom.

CNN’s response

In Tuesday’s newsletter , I wrote how “King Charles” — the limited series featuring Gayle King and Charles Barkley — has ended after 14 shows. I wrote that the network had “pulled the plug” on the show.

CNN said that description was inaccurate and that I was wrong in framing it the way I did.

While I did say that CNN announced from the beginning that the show was a limited series, I also wrote that the show reached its ending “a little ahead of time.” The network, however, said it was clear all along that the show was scheduled to end in the spring, that it is spring right now, and the show was not canceled early.

A CNN spokesperson told me, “‘King Charles’ has come to the end of its limited run, as we announced when it launched last fall that it would run through spring. The show was a great addition to CNN’s lineup, with the youngest, most affluent, and most diverse P2+ audience in its cable news time period and brought new audiences to CNN. It’s inaccurate to report that the show was canceled as it went through its full run and duration of the limited series. We hope to work with both of these incredible talents in the future as they balance their very busy schedules.”

With the NBA playoffs about to begin, Barkley is about to head into extra duty at his main job as studio analyst for TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”

The show’s average viewership was under a half million and lagged behind competitors Fox News and MSNBC, but CNN said it was pleased that the King-Barkley broadcast brought new audiences to CNN. It pointed to this statistic from Nielsen via Npower that said 43% of the “King Charles” audience was nonwhite, compared to 7% for Fox News and 27% for MSNBC during that Wednesday at 10 p.m. Eastern hour.

Smartmatic and OAN settle suit

Smartmatic, the voting technology company, and One America News, the far-right TV network, have settled their lawsuit. Smartmatic was suing OAN, claiming the network lied that the company rigged the 2020 election in favor of Joe Biden and against Donald Trump.

Neither side disclosed the terms of the settlement.

Smartmatic still has pending lawsuits against Fox News and Newsmax. And OAN is still facing a defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems. That’s the company that Fox News settled with out of court a year ago by agreeing to pay Dominion a whopping $787.5 million.

Missing at the Masters

According to Sports TV Ratings , Sunday’s final round of The Masters golf tournament on CBS averaged 9.58 million viewers, which was down 20% from last year’s final round, which averaged 12.05 million. This shouldn’t be a surprise. This year’s final round lacked drama, with winner Scottie Scheffler pretty much in control throughout the day.

Sports Media Watch’s Jon Lewis noted that in the past three decades, only COVID-era Masters in 2020 (5.64 million) and 2021 (9.54 million) had fewer viewers. Those were the least-viewed Masters since 1993.

But Lewis also points out, “As one would expect, the final round of the Masters still ranks as the most-watched golf telecast and one of the most-watched sporting events of the past year — placing ahead of four of five World Series games and every Daytona 500 since 2017. It also goes without saying that the Masters dominated all other weekend sporting events.”

Just for fun, however, I will mention that the 9.58 million was nowhere near the number of viewers (18.7 million) that watched the NCAA women’s college basketball final between South Carolina and Iowa (and star Caitlin Clark) one week earlier on a Sunday afternoon.

Other media notes, tidbits and interesting links …

• Speaking of Clark, Tom Kludt writes for Vanity Fair: “Behind the Scenes With Caitlin Clark on WNBA Draft Day: ‘I Definitely Know There’s Eyeballs on Me.’”
• Axios’ Sara Fischer with “Dozens of Alden newspapers run coordinated editorials slamming Google.”
• For the Los Angeles Times, Greg Braxton and Carolyn Cole with “What ‘Civil War’ gets right and wrong about photojournalism, according to a Pulitzer Prize winner.”
• For The Washington Post, Dave Barry, Angela Garbes, Melissa Fay Greene, John Grogan and Charles Yu with “How does the election feel around the country? 5 writers capture the vibe.” Barry, as always looking at things a bit differently, writes, “Greetings from the Sunshine State! The mood down here, as we anticipate the 2024 presidential election, is one of hopefulness. Specifically, we’re hoping that a large, previously undetected meteor will strike the planet before November.”
• For NPR and “Morning Edition,” Elizabeth Blair with “50 years ago, ‘Come and Get Your Love’ put Native culture on the bandstand.”

More resources for journalists

• Thursday webinar : Covering transgender issues with authority and accuracy.
• Applications for Poynter Producer Project close on Friday!
• Reporter’s Toolkit gives you the tools to succeed early in your career. Apply by April 28.
• Delve more deeply into your editing skills with Poynter ACES Intermediate Certificate in Editing .

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] .

The Poynter Report is our daily media newsletter. To have it delivered to your inbox Monday-Friday, sign up here .

Opinion | Remembering Terry Anderson, AP reporter once held captive for 6 years

He had a long career, but he was most known for his horrific ordeal of being taken by Islamic militants while working in war-torn Lebanon in 1985

Trump says business records case about hush money is a ‘Biden trial.’ It’s a Manhattan trial

The Manhattan district attorney’s investigation into Trump’s business records began before Joe Biden was president

Topography of a news ecosystem: A first-of-its-kind study diagnoses the local news crisis in a single state

Media scholars at the University of Maryland documented the spread of local news dead spots — and unexpected vibrant areas — in that state.

$12 million Global Fact Check Fund opens applications for second year of grants

A partnership between Poynter’s International Fact-Checking Network and Google and YouTube continues to support fact-checking initiatives worldwide

Opinion | A columnist made a controversial introduction to Caitlin Clark

IndyStar sports columnist Gregg Doyel has been crushed online and accused of being creepy, sexist and worse. He’s since apologized multiple times

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Start your day informed and inspired.

Get the Poynter newsletter that's right for you.

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

6 Common Leadership Styles — and How to Decide Which to Use When

• Rebecca Knight

Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances call for different approaches.

Research suggests that the most effective leaders adapt their style to different circumstances — be it a change in setting, a shift in organizational dynamics, or a turn in the business cycle. But what if you feel like you’re not equipped to take on a new and different leadership style — let alone more than one? In this article, the author outlines the six leadership styles Daniel Goleman first introduced in his 2000 HBR article, “Leadership That Gets Results,” and explains when to use each one. The good news is that personality is not destiny. Even if you’re naturally introverted or you tend to be driven by data and analysis rather than emotion, you can still learn how to adapt different leadership styles to organize, motivate, and direct your team.

Much has been written about common leadership styles and how to identify the right style for you, whether it’s transactional or transformational, bureaucratic or laissez-faire. But according to Daniel Goleman, a psychologist best known for his work on emotional intelligence, “Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances may call for different approaches.”

• RK Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.

Partner Center

• nb Norwegian
• pt Portuguese

America’s Manufacturing Renaissance Will Create Few Good Jobs

Many countries’ recent experiences show that boosting manufacturing employment is like chasing a fast-receding target. Automation and skill-biased technology have made it extremely unlikely that manufacturing can be the labor-absorbing activity it once was, which means that the future of “good jobs” must be created in services.

CAMBRIDGE – The United States is on a building spree in semiconductors. In early April, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced plans to set up a third fabrication facility in Arizona to make the world’s most advanced chips, upping its investment in the state to $65 billion. TSMC’s investment is heavily subsidized by the US government under the CHIPS and Science Act, and the company will receive $6.6 billion in grants and is eligible for $5 billion in loans. It can also claim an investment tax credit of up to 25% of its capital expenditures.

This news follows Intel’s recent announcement that it will receive an even larger grant of $8.5 billion from the US government (along with $11 billion in loans on “generous terms”). The CHIPS Act allocated $39 billion for such grants, and additional deals are in the making. According to the White House, nearly $300 billion in manufacturing investments have been committed in the US just over the last two years.

President Joe Biden sees these deals as evidence of a manufacturing renaissance in the US. “Where the hell is it written saying that we’re not going to be the manufacturing capital of the world again?” he asks . His administration may not have much in common with the preceding Trump White House, but it certainly shares a preoccupation with reviving manufacturing.

To continue reading, register now. It’s free!

Register Now

Already have an account? Log in

✕ Log in/Register

Please log in or register to continue. Registration is free and requires only your email address.

Email required

Password required Remember me?

Please enter your email address and click on the reset-password button. If your email exists in our system, we'll send you an email with a link to reset your password. Please note that the link will expire twenty-four hours after the email is sent. If you can't find this email, please check your spam folder.

Reset Password Cancel

• PS Book Recommendations
• PS Economics Newsletter
• Promotional emails

By proceeding, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions .

Sign in with

Your Institution

Edit Newsletter Preferences

Set up notification.

To receive email updates regarding this {entity_type}, please enter your email below.

If you are not already registered, this will create a PS account for you. You should receive an activation email shortly.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

An NPR editor who wrote a critical essay on the company has resigned after being suspended

FILE - The headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) stands on North Capitol Street on April 15, 2013, in Washington. A National Public Radio editor who wrote an essay criticizing his employer for promoting liberal reviews resigned on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, a day after it was revealed that he had been suspended. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

• Copy Link copied

NEW YORK (AP) — A National Public Radio editor who wrote an essay criticizing his employer for promoting liberal views resigned on Wednesday, attacking NPR’s new CEO on the way out.

Uri Berliner, a senior editor on NPR’s business desk, posted his resignation letter on X, formerly Twitter, a day after it was revealed that he had been suspended for five days for violating company rules about outside work done without permission.

“I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems” written about in his essay, Berliner said in his resignation letter.

Katherine Maher, a former tech executive appointed in January as NPR’s chief executive, has been criticized by conservative activists for social media messages that disparaged former President Donald Trump. The messages predated her hiring at NPR.

NPR’s public relations chief said the organization does not comment on individual personnel matters.

The suspension and subsequent resignation highlight the delicate balance that many U.S. news organizations and their editorial employees face. On one hand, as journalists striving to produce unbiased news, they’re not supposed to comment on contentious public issues; on the other, many journalists consider it their duty to critique their own organizations’ approaches to journalism when needed.

In his essay , written for the online Free Press site, Berliner said NPR is dominated by liberals and no longer has an open-minded spirit. He traced the change to coverage of Trump’s presidency.

“There’s an unspoken consensus about the stories we should pursue and how they should be framed,” he wrote. “It’s frictionless — one story after another about instances of supposed racism, transphobia, signs of the climate apocalypse, Israel doing something bad and the dire threat of Republican policies. It’s almost like an assembly line.”

He said he’d brought up his concerns internally and no changes had been made, making him “a visible wrong-thinker at a place I love.”

In the essay’s wake, NPR top editorial executive, Edith Chapin, said leadership strongly disagreed with Berliner’s assessment of the outlet’s journalism and the way it went about its work.

It’s not clear what Berliner was referring to when he talked about disparagement by Maher. In a lengthy memo to staff members last week, she wrote: “Asking a question about whether we’re living up to our mission should always be fair game: after all, journalism is nothing if not hard questions. Questioning whether our people are serving their mission with integrity, based on little more than the recognition of their identity, is profoundly disrespectful, hurtful and demeaning.”

Conservative activist Christopher Rufo revealed some of Maher’s past tweets after the essay was published. In one tweet, dated January 2018, Maher wrote that “Donald Trump is a racist.” A post just before the 2020 election pictured her in a Biden campaign hat.

In response, an NPR spokeswoman said Maher, years before she joined the radio network, was exercising her right to express herself. She is not involved in editorial decisions at NPR, the network said.

The issue is an example of what can happen when business executives, instead of journalists, are appointed to roles overseeing news organizations: they find themselves scrutinized for signs of bias in ways they hadn’t been before. Recently, NBC Universal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde has been criticized for service on paid corporate boards.

Maher is the former head of the Wikimedia Foundation. NPR’s own story about the 40-year-old executive’s appointment in January noted that she “has never worked directly in journalism or at a news organization.”

In his resignation letter, Berliner said that he did not support any efforts to strip NPR of public funding. “I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism,” he wrote.

David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.