Delhi is India's main international gateway. Indira Gandhi International Airport handles most foreign arrivals, which means it is where most first-time visitors first encounter the country's visa and immigration infrastructure. That concentration creates opportunity. Scammers know that travelers fresh off a long-haul flight are tired, disoriented, and unsure of the steps between the aircraft door and the exit. A confident stranger in a uniform-style vest offering to "fast-track" paperwork can be very persuasive in that moment.
The good news: the actual process is more straightforward than it looks, and almost none of it requires a third party. The UK Foreign Office warns that cybercrime, internet scamming, and confidence scams are common in India, and specifically notes that criminals often impersonate British High Commissions and Embassies. Visa and immigration agent fraud is a direct extension of that pattern. This guide breaks down the four variants you are most likely to encounter in Delhi and how to walk past them.
The Fake "Visa Fixer" at the Airport Arrivals Hall
The most common version starts the moment you clear immigration. A man approaches near the baggage carousel or just outside customs, holding a clipboard or wearing an ID lanyard. He asks to see your passport, then tells you there is a "problem" with your visa: it is the wrong type, it needs a "stamp," or you need an "exit permit" that was not issued. He offers to resolve it on the spot for a cash fee, typically quoted in the low thousands of rupees. The figures vary; verify anything you are told against the official fee schedule before you travel.
Here is what makes the scam work. Travelers who applied through an intermediary agency at home often do not know exactly what visa they hold. The scammer counts on that confusion. A genuine visa issue would be raised at the immigration desk, not by a freelancer approaching you afterward in the public area. No official process involves a cash payment to an individual in the arrivals hall.
The warning signs: an unsolicited approach, a request to hand over your passport, any mention of a "problem" that was not raised by the immigration officer, and a cash fee with no receipt. Walk away and head directly to the official help desk or your pre-arranged transfer. For context on how Delhi's hustlers operate across the board, see our guide to Delhi tourist scams.
The "Official" E-Visa Website That Is Not
The second variant happens before you even board the plane. India has a legitimate electronic visa system, but the government's official portal is only one site among many. Scammers buy search ads and register lookalike domains to intercept travelers searching for "India visa." These intermediary sites charge several times the official fee for what is essentially a data-entry service, and some simply harvest your passport details and card number for identity theft. The UK Foreign Office explicitly warns that internet scamming is common in India and that criminals exploit official-sounding details; a convincing website design is not proof of legitimacy.
The warning signs: any URL that is not the exact government domain, any site offering "expedited processing" or "guaranteed approval" for a surcharge, and any site that asks for payment before showing you the official fee breakdown. Legitimate e-visa portals do not need to advertise, and they do not promise outcomes. Before you enter personal data, cross-check the URL against the address on your airline's destination information or your government's travel advice page. If the sites disagree, trust the government source. Our ETIAS visa scam guide covers the European version of the same playbook.
The Hotel and Tour Desk "Visa Extension" Service
The third variant targets travelers already in Delhi. The front desk or a nearby tour agent offers to "extend your visa" or "convert your visa type" for a fee. Some genuinely hold the required documentation to submit applications on your behalf. Many do not, and a few use the opportunity to photocopy your passport, visa page, and card details, then misuse that data. The UK Foreign Office advises keeping copies of your passport, visa, and flight ticket separate from the originals precisely because document theft and misuse are real risks.
A legitimate visa extension involves a formal application to the regional authorities, supporting documents, and a fee paid to the government, not to an individual. Any agent who cannot show you the official fee receipt, who asks you to sign a blank form, or who wants to hold your original passport "for processing" for days is not operating by the book. Handle extensions yourself at the official office, or use an agent your embassy can name. The UK Foreign Office notes that criminals frequently impersonate British High Commissions and Embassies, so be equally cautious of any "embassy-recommended" service the actual embassy does not confirm.
The "Customs Hold" and Bogus Immigration Calls
The fourth variant is remote. Days into your trip, your hotel phone rings, or a WhatsApp message arrives, claiming to be from immigration or customs. Your luggage has been flagged, or your visa records show an error, and a payment is required to clear it. Sometimes the caller already knows your name and hotel because a previous scammer harvested that data. This is a confidence scam in the classic sense. Indian immigration does not collect fees by phone, does not ask for card details over WhatsApp, and does not threaten arrest by private message.
The warning signs: unsolicited contact, urgency, a hard-to-trace payment method (gift cards, wire transfers, a payment link), and any request for passport or card photos. Hang up and verify independently by calling the number published on the official government website, never the number that contacted you. If you have been defrauded or threatened, the national emergency number in India is 112, and the police helpline is 100. Save both before you travel.
How to Protect Yourself
A few habits eliminate almost all visa and immigration scam risk in Delhi:
- Apply only through the official government portal. Bookmark the exact URL from a trusted source, and never follow an ad.
- Know what your visa looks like and what it covers. If you applied through an agency, ask for a copy of the approval and the visa itself, and read the conditions.
- Never hand your passport to an unsolicited approach. Real officials work at desks, not in the flow of passengers, and they never ask for cash without a printed receipt.
- Keep digital and paper copies of your passport, visa, and flight ticket stored separately from the originals, as the UK Foreign Office advises. If your passport is lost or stolen, report it to the police immediately and obtain a police report, which you will need for your exit visa.
- Treat any unsolicited call, message, or email about your visa as hostile until proven otherwise. Verify through a channel you found yourself.
- Use app-based taxis from the airport rank, a hotel transfer, or a pre-paid booth, and confirm any driver collecting you is who they claim to be before you set off, a precaution the UK Foreign Office specifically recommends.
FAQ
Can I get a visa on arrival in India?
India's visa rules have changed several times in recent years. Check the current requirements on the official Indian government portal well before you travel; do not rely on a blog post, a forum, or an agency's summary.
Is it ever worth using a visa agency?
Reputable agencies exist and can be useful for complex cases (long-term study, employment, or special categories). For a standard tourist e-visa, the official portal is designed for self-service, and paying an intermediary's markup rarely buys you anything except added risk.
What if my visa really has a problem?
Real issues are resolved at an official immigration counter or office, with documentation and a printed receipt. They are never resolved by an individual in a public area of the airport, and never by phone or WhatsApp.
Can I report a scam after the fact?
Yes. Contact the police (100) or the national emergency number (112), and ask your embassy or high commission for guidance. See our guide to reporting travel scams for the steps that matter most abroad.
Stay ahead of travel scams — bookmark avoidtravelscam.com and check our destination guides before your next trip.