Delhi Indira Gandhi International (DEL) · Currency Exchange Guide

Delhi Airport (DEL) Currency Exchange: Best Rate, Counters, and What to Avoid

Quick answer: Delhi's T3 currently has three active currency exchange operators — EbixCash, Central Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank. Thomas Cook's physical airport counters have closed; if you were planning on them, use one of the three below instead. Airport rates generally run worse than city or online options, but the gap varies — here's what to actually check before you exchange.

Currency exchange counters currently open at T3

• EbixCash — open 24/7, with counters in both Domestic and International Arrivals. This is also the only operator with a counter positioned past immigration and security in International Departures, which matters if you forget to exchange money before clearing security.
• Central Bank of India — open 24/7, serving both International Arrivals and Departures.
• Punjab National Bank (PNB) — a dedicated Exchange Bureau on T3's 2nd floor, Departures area, positioned as the practical alternative when the Central Bank of India counter has long queues. PNB's separate full-service bank branch keeps limited hours (Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, closed Sundays and 2nd/4th Saturdays), but the Exchange Bureau itself operates for currency conversion.
• Thomas Cook — no longer has a working airport counter. Their service is now online pre-booking or their offline office in Aerocity, outside the terminal. Don't plan around a Thomas Cook counter at T3.

Is the airport rate actually bad?

Airport counters generally offer less favorable rates than city forex providers or online options, commonly by somewhere in the 6-12% range — but that's a typical figure, not a guarantee for every currency or every day. The safest approach is to compare the actual quoted rate against the mid-market rate before committing, rather than assuming a fixed percentage.

One thing worth knowing regardless of where you exchange: a "zero commission" sign doesn't mean a free exchange. The cost is usually built directly into the exchange rate spread rather than charged separately — compare the final amount you'd receive, not just the advertised fee structure.

ATM vs counter: what actually saves you money

If you're withdrawing rupees from an ATM on a foreign card, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis all charge essentially the same: roughly ₹125 flat plus a 3.5% currency conversion markup. A standard SBI debit card sits in that same range — there's no meaningful difference between the major banks here.

Where SBI does stand out is its dedicated Forex Travel Card product, not its regular debit card — that card charges a fixed $1.75 / €1.50 / £1.25 per withdrawal with 0% conversion markup, provided the currency loaded on the card matches what you're withdrawing.

Whichever card you use, if the ATM or terminal asks whether to charge you in your home currency instead of INR — that's Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), and it's almost always worse. Always choose to be charged in the local currency (INR) instead.

The ₹50,000 rule — what it actually covers

You may see a "₹50,000" figure mentioned in connection with Delhi Airport currency exchange. To be clear about what this actually is: it's a payment method rule at the exchange counter, not a customs declaration limit for landing in India. Specifically, foreign currency purchases at any authorized dealer must be paid in cash only up to ₹50,000 (some sources cite the exact cash cap as ₹49,999) — anything above that must be paid digitally, via card, NEFT, or RTGS. It has nothing to do with what you're required to declare on arrival.

Documents you'll need

• Resident Indians buying forex: a PAN card is mandatory, regardless of transaction size.
• Foreign tourists and NRIs: no PAN card needed — a valid passport and visa are sufficient.
• If you're reconverting leftover rupees back into foreign currency before departure, you'll need the original Encashment Certificate from your initial exchange. It's valid for 3 months, and the name on it must match your passport exactly. Losing it makes reconversion at airport counters extremely difficult.

The takeaway

• Active T3 operators right now: EbixCash (24/7, only post-security counter), Central Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank. Thomas Cook's airport counter is closed.
• Airport markup is typically 6-12%, but check the actual quoted rate rather than assuming a fixed number
• "Zero commission" isn't the same as a good rate — compare the final amount, not the fee label
• HDFC/ICICI/Axis/SBI standard cards charge similarly abroad (~₹125 + 3.5%); SBI's dedicated Forex Travel Card is the actually cheaper option
• Always decline DCC and choose to be charged in local currency
• Keep your Encashment Certificate if you'll need to reconvert rupees before flying out

That's exactly the kind of up-to-date, verified comparison JesTiny Guide is built around — check current rates across Delhi's actual open counters before you land.

Affiliate disclosure: JesTiny Guide may earn a commission if you use a pre-booking link through one of our partner counters, at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the site free and independently run. Rates shown are indicative and sourced from live currency APIs — always confirm the final rate at the counter before exchanging. Regulatory details (RBI rules, PAN requirements, encashment certificates) are provided as general guidance and may change — always verify current requirements directly with RBI or the relevant bank before you travel.