India Visa-on-Arrival for UAE Citizens: Which Airports Allow It?

The previous visa does not necessarily need to be currently valid, based on how the official eligibility wording is written. It says the UAE national should have earlier obtained an Indian e-Visa or regular/paper visa.

However, I would still carry evidence of that previous visa if you are using Visa-on-Arrival. Keep a copy of the old passport/visa or the previous e-Visa details if available.

There are several other conditions too. The official page says the traveller must have a passport valid for at least six months, have sufficient financial means and an onward/return ticket, and must not have residence or occupation in India. The Visa-on-Arrival is also non-extendable and non-convertible.

For your Mumbai flight, Mumbai is one of the six designated airports, so that part appears to match the current official list.

I'd still verify everything immediately before flying, particularly if your previous Indian visa was issued many years ago.

I had a different experience because I was travelling for the first time to India as a UAE passport holder. I did not have any previous Indian visa.

I was originally expecting to get Visa-on-Arrival, but after checking the official requirements I decided to apply for an Indian e-Visa before my flight instead.

The important part I found was that the UAE Visa-on-Arrival facility is specifically for UAE nationals who had previously obtained an Indian e-Visa or regular/paper visa. The government portal actually advises UAE nationals visiting India for the first time to apply for an e-Visa or regular/paper visa.

Also, I would be careful with the "nine airports" information. The current official portal lists six airports for this specific Visa-on-Arrival facility.

That is different from the much larger list of airports where Indian e-Visa holders can enter. Those two airport lists should not be confused.

I am a UAE national and used the Visa-on-Arrival facility in Mumbai earlier this year. In my case, having an old Indian e-Visa was important because I had previously visited India on it.

I carried my current passport, return ticket, hotel booking, and a copy of my previous Indian visa. I also filled in the Visa-on-Arrival form before reaching the immigration counter.

The process was not instant. I had to go to the visa counter first rather than simply joining the normal immigration queue. There was some waiting while the officer checked the documents.

One thing I would not assume is that every UAE resident qualifies. The rule is for UAE citizens, not simply people who live in the UAE. The official information also has restrictions relating to previous nationality/origin and other eligibility conditions.

My advice would be to check the official Visa-on-Arrival page shortly before travelling because visa rules and entry procedures can change.