Arriving

Visas & Arrival, Settling In, Flights & Connections. 9 min read.

The Terminal 1 domestic arrivals entrance, Chennai International AirportPhoto: Oleg Yunakov, CC BY-SA 4.0

01Visas & Arrival

Visas and registration

India's visa rules are the same whichever city you fly into, so the process for Chennai is the same as for any big Indian city. Your employer and IKAN guide you from the moment you accept your offer. Chennai's FRRO office at Shastri Bhavan is open Monday-Friday, and it works more smoothly than many in North India.

Visa Types

Employment Visa

For foreign nationals employed by an Indian company or the Indian branch of a multinational. Requires an employment contract showing salary of approximately USD 25,000 per year equivalent in Indian rupees. Valid for up to 5 years or contract duration. Multiple entry. Most expats to Chennai arrive on this visa, particularly auto sector engineers and IT executives.approximately USD 25,000 per yearup to 5 years

Business Visa

For board attendance, establishing operations, due-diligence visits, supplier audits at Sriperumbudur or Oragadam. Valid up to 180 days per visit. Multiple-entry option common.up to 180 days per visit

e-Tourist Visa

30, 90, or 180-day scouting stays, ideal for pre-relocation school visits, property hunting in Boat Club Road or Adyar, and neighbourhood exploration.

Dependent Visa

For accompanying spouses and children. Requires proof of relationship and the primary visa holder's employment documentation. Issued for the same duration as the principal visa. Note: dependent-visa holders generally cannot take up employment in India, to work, a dependent must convert to their own Employment Visa.

Nationality Rules

Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar and certain other nationalities face additional security clearance requirements with processing times of 4-6 weeks beyond standard. Your IKAN consultant advises on country-specific requirements at the pre-arrival briefing.

Note: There are no Visa or FRRO requirements if you are a returning Indian national or an OCI card holder. Please consult your IKAN relocation advisor for country-specific guidance.

FRRO Registration · Chennai

FRRO Chennai

FRRO Registration Deadlines are Non-Negotiable: If your visa carries a registration endorsement (employment, student, dependant, medical, research and missionary visas usually do), you must register within 14 days of arrival. Other long-stay visa holders (over 180 days) must register before completing 180 days in India; when in doubt, treat 14 days as your deadline. Missing it creates complications, and non-registration can escalate beyond fines to criminal penalties (up to 3 years and/or a ₹3 lakh fine). Do not prioritise property hunting or school visits over FRRO registration. IKAN schedules the FRRO appointment as Day 3-4 immediately on your arrival, before everything else.

Office: FRRO, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, 26 Haddows Road, Nungambakkam. Portal: indianfrro.gov.in, online application first, then in-person. Bring passport, visa, rental agreement, and 4 passport photos.FRRO, Shastri Bhavan Annexe, 26 Haddows Road, Nungambakkam

Arriving at MAA

Chennai International Airport (MAA), Meenambakkam. Terminal 2 handles international arrivals
Immigration queues: 40 to 70 minutes peak hours. e-Visa lanes faster
Priority lounge access available for Business Class, Plaza Premium and Encalm lounges in T2
Travel time to Nungambakkam: 30-45 min (off-peak) / 50-80 min (peak: 8-11am, 5-9pm)
Pre-book your transfer, GST Road can congest during peak hours and Mount Road junctions are tight

Your Arrival Sequence

Embassy Visa Application

You

Apply at the Indian Embassy or High Commission in your home country. IKAN guides you through the documentation checklist. Processing: 3-10 working days for standard applications.

onDay 3 to 4

FRRO Registration · Day 3-4

IKAN

The FRRO process is online, complete your application at indianfrro.gov.in within your registration window: 14 days from arrival if your visa carries a registration endorsement (employment and dependant visas usually do), before 180 days for other long-stay visas, and 14 days whenever in doubt. A personal visit to FRRO Chennai (Shastri Bhavan, Nungambakkam) is required only if specifically requested by the FRRO office; IKAN coordinates the registration and accompanies you if a visit is needed. Keep passport, visa, rental agreement, and 4 passport photos ready. IKAN helps negotiate and prepare your Leave & License (the standard Indian lease), so the FRRO paperwork is straightforward.

Once you've landed and cleared FRRO, the rest of your setup, Indian SIM, PAN card, bank account, transport and UPI, follows in your first weeks. See Your First 30 Days in Settling In for the full step-by-step checklist.

02Settling In

Your first 30 days

Do these steps in this order. IKAN handles the ones with deadlines, so none of them is missed.

Your first 30 days

Six steps

byDay 14

FRRO Registration within 14 days

IKAN

The FRRO process is online, complete your application at indianfrro.gov.in within your registration window (typically Day 3-4 of arrival): 14 days if your visa carries a registration endorsement (employment and dependant visas usually do), before 180 days for other long-stay visas; treat 14 days as the deadline when in doubt. A personal visit to FRRO Chennai (Shastri Bhavan, Nungambakkam) is required only if the FRRO office specifically requests it; IKAN coordinates the registration and accompanies you if a visit is needed. Keep passport, visa, rental agreement, and 4 passport photos ready. Your FRRO registration certificate is needed for school admissions and future visa renewals, and can also serve as address proof for your PAN. Missing this deadline is non-negotiable.

Done: FRRO Registration within 14 days

Indian SIM Registration

You

Bring passport and visa to any Jio or Airtel store. Both offer eSIM in Chennai. Airtel's network is strong in central Chennai; Jio has better OMR coverage and value for data. Both offer international roaming add-ons. SIM activation takes 4 to 24 hours, register as soon as possible after landing.

Done: Indian SIM Registration

PAN Card Application

You

Apply via the Protean portal (onlineservices.proteantech.in, formerly NSDL e-Gov) immediately after arrival. Required for banking, investments, salary credits, and tax compliance. Takes 10-15 working days. Aadhaar is not required for foreign nationals, PAN alone is your financial identity in India.

Done: PAN Card Application

Bank Account Opening

You

Open a resident savings account at HDFC, HSBC, or Axis Bank (NRE/NRO accounts are for non-resident Indians, not for a foreign national working in India). Bring passport, visa, FRRO acknowledgment, PAN, employer letter, and rental agreement. Takes 3-5 working days. Essential for salary, UPI, and all local transactions. HSBC's international client desk on Anna Salai handles expat banking with dedicated relationship managers.

Done: Bank Account Opening

UPI & Digital Payments Setup

Once your Indian bank account is live, set up Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm with your Indian phone number and bank. UPI is universal in Chennai, auto-rickshaws, kirana (grocery) shops, filter coffee at Sangeetha, and Marina sundal vendors all accept UPI QR. Cash usage is now limited to small temple offerings and a few traditional vendors.

Done: UPI & Digital Payments Setup

Arrange Permanent Transport

You

Set up Ola Corporate account via your employer's travel desk, download the Chennai Metro / CMRL app, and identify your nearest auto stand. Many senior expats engage a long-term private driver, IKAN connects you with vetted providers used by other senior assignees. Discuss vehicle preferences (sedan vs SUV) early.

Done: Arrange Permanent Transport

Transport Setup

Chennai Mobility

Ola Corporate · Metro Blue + Green Lines · MRTS Beach-Velachery · MTC AC buses on premium routes · Rapido for solo hops. During NE monsoon (Oct-Dec): check road status before leaving for office. Avoid personal driving for the first 6 months, Chennai's lane discipline and inner-city navigation require local knowledge.

Traffic Reality

Peak Hour Guide

GST Road (airport): 8-11am gridlock. OMR (Madhya Kailash → Sholinganallur): 8-10am, 6-9pm. Anna Salai (Mount Road): 9-11am, 5-8pm. Build your diary around these windows. OMR employers generally allow flexible start times, negotiate this early. Metro Phase 2 will materially improve OMR commutes from 2026 onwards.

Expat Community

Build Your Network

InterNations Chennai, monthly meet-ups, Nungambakkam venues · US Consulate-General Chennai cultural programming · American Library, Anna Salai · Madras Club Adyar · Boat Club · Indo-Japanese / Indo-Korean / Indo-German Chambers · Your nationality's consulate social events

Key Portals

Essential Links

FRRO: indianfrro.gov.in · PAN: onlineservices.proteantech.in · TANGEDCO (electricity): tnebltd.gov.in · Metro Water (CMWSSB): chennaimetrowater.tn.gov.in · Chennai Metro: chennaimetrorail.org · IRCTC: irctc.co.in · Greater Chennai Corporation: chennaicorporation.gov.in

Relocating with Pets

Bringing Your Pet to Chennai

Import rules: India admits pet cats and dogs as accompanied baggage with an import permit from the Animal Quarantine & Certification Service (AQCS). You'll need current rabies vaccination, an international health certificate from your origin-country vet, and (for many countries) a rabies antibody titre test, start 4-6 months ahead.
Quarantine: Healthy pets with complete, compliant paperwork are normally cleared at the airport without kennel quarantine; incomplete documents risk delay or quarantine, so confirm current AQCS rules before you fly.
Vets & care: Chennai has good small-animal vets and 24/7 clinics (Adyar, Nungambakkam, OMR), plus boarding, grooming and home-vet apps.
Rentals: Pet policies vary by building, flag pets early; IKAN shortlists pet-friendly landlords and gated communities.

Household Staff

Hiring Help Safely

Who: Most expat households engage a maid, cook and/or full-time driver, Sulekha and word-of-mouth through your building are the usual routes; IKAN's vendor network has vetted providers.
Police verification: Insist on it for any household staff, submit the worker's Aadhaar/ID and a photo at your local police station (Tamil Nadu Police run a domestic-help verification process, also reachable via the e-Sevai / Kavalan SOS channels). Standard practice in Chennai gated communities.
Pay: Salaries vary by role, hours and neighbourhood, ask IKAN for current maid / cook / driver benchmarks in your area so you pay the going rate.
Terms: Agree duties, weekly day off and festival bonus (a Diwali / Pongal bonus is customary) up front.

03Flights & Connections

Flights from Chennai

Chennai International Airport (MAA) is one of India's best-connected airports, especially for Southeast Asia, the Gulf, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. As of May 2026, 34 airlines fly from MAA to 94 destinations worldwide. The Terminal-3 expansion is due to open in 2026 and will make the airport much better for passengers.

Destination	Airlines	Frequency	Duration	Approx Fare (Economy)
Singapore	Singapore Airlines, IndiGo, Scoot, Air India	Multiple daily	4h 30m	₹18,000 to 35,000
Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, IndiGo	Daily	4h 15m	₹15,000 to 28,000
Dubai	Emirates, Air India, IndiGo, Air Arabia	Multiple daily	4h 00m	₹18,000 to 35,000
Colombo	SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo, Air India	Multiple daily	1h 15m	₹9,000 to 20,000
Frankfurt	Lufthansa	Daily	9h 30m	₹55,000 to 95,000
London Heathrow	British Airways	4×/week	10h 00m	₹65,000 to 1,20,000
Bangkok	Thai Airways, IndiGo, Thai AirAsia	Daily	3h 45m	₹16,000 to 30,000
Male (Maldives)	SriLankan via Colombo, or via Bengaluru or Kochi	Daily, 1-stop	1h 15m + 1h 30m	₹14,000 to 28,000

Domestic

Chennai → Bangalore

1h 00m

IndiGo, Air India · 25+ daily

Domestic

Chennai → Mumbai

2h 00m

IndiGo, Air India · 20+ daily

Domestic

Chennai → Delhi

2h 45m

IndiGo, Air India · 20+ daily

Domestic

Chennai → Hyderabad

1h 15m

IndiGo, Air India · 15+ daily

Chennai International Airport

About Your Airport

Chennai International Airport (MAA), Meenambakkam. Terminal 2 handles all international flights; Terminals 1 and 4 handle domestic. The Terminal-3 expansion (₹2,467 crore) is due to open in 2026 and materially expands international capacity. Distance to Nungambakkam: 14 km / 30 to 55 min. Distance to OMR (Sholinganallur): 24 km / 45 to 70 min. Pre-immigration fast-track available for Business Class. Arrive 3 hours early for international departures, CISF security is thorough. MAA is exceptionally well-positioned for SE Asia, the Gulf, Colombo, and Male.

Next chapter03Where to liveNeighbourhoods, Housing Market, The IKAN Method

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