About VOA (Visa on Arrival) in Mumbai

On September 25, 2025, I flew with the Indian airline Indigo from Muscat, Oman, to Bangkok via Mumbai. Because I had an eight-hour transit, I entered India and took a day trip there, applying for a local VOA (Visa on Arrival). I'd like to share my experience. First, the counter where you can apply for a VOA is located at the very back of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. When I asked an Indian staff member, they said, "I don't know where it is, I know you can get a VOA there." Japanese, Korean, and UAE passport holders can apply. First, there was no one at the counter. Just keep asking passing Indian staff in English, "Is anyone there? I need a VOA." They will call someone. If you don't call, you'll probably wait on a bench forever. A person from the UAE was waiting before me, but he said he had been waiting for an hour at that point. Then, I filled out a form with the counter staff member and my information. You can pay for your VISA in foreign currency, but the exchange rate can be slightly worse depending on the currency, so I recommend paying in Indian rupees or US dollars. You'll get change in Indian rupees, so unless you have a very large bill, there's no need to worry. In conclusion, it took me a little over an hour to get my Visa, so I highly recommend getting an eVisa in advance!