Immigration Office

After landing in Chennai and looking forward to a long stay, you will probably have to register at the Immigration Office. Basically if your passport has a stamp - register within 14 days - you are subject to this horribly time consuming "Welcome to Chennai" treatment. This is mostly the case for one year (business) visas.

Tourist visas normally don't require registration, but depending which country you are coming from, there might be restrictions so better check before hand.

What If I Don't Register?

If you register after the deadline of 14 days, the immigration process might become slightly more time consuming and will cost you the lump sum of 1470 Rs.

The problem will also arise when you try to exit Chennai (maybe sooner than expected ;)). You will need to produce a valid immigration form in the International Airport in order to escape.

Where To Go?

The Immigration Office is situated on Haddows road, within the premisses of the Passport Office Campus. Don't be fooled though, the Immigration Office you need is a smaller building in the back, you need to go in the alley on the side of the big building. Don't make the mistake to start 'Q'-ing in the wrong building.

Recognize the place thanks to its continous stream of people through the black gates. Opposite the road you'll see Standard Chartered buildings and Reliance store.

Immigration Office Chennai
# 26, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam



For Americans in Chennai: the US Consulate is situated on Anna Salai (Mount Road), find more information on visa procedures for US Citizens on the Consulate's website.

For British in Chennai: the adress of the British High Commission in Chennai might be useful:

BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSION, CHENNAI
(covers states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Pondicherry in South India)

Ms Sarah Spencer, Consul
British Deputy High Commission,
20 Anderson Road,
Chennai 600 006.
Tel. +91 44 42192151
Fax: +91 44 42192322 / 28203790
bdhcchen@airtelmail.in