Chennai Airport (MAA) Currency Exchange: Complete Guide
MAA has more confirmed forex locations than most Indian airports — five separate EbixCash counters spread across both terminals, plus two more options most guides don't mention at all because they're landside, not inside the secure terminal. Here's the full, terminal-by-terminal breakdown.
Getting the terminals straight first
MAA's current layout, confirmed via AAI's own contact page and a recently updated aeronautical chart: T1 is the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal, T2 is the New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) handling International traffic, and T4 is a secondary domestic terminal. If you've seen older guides describing a "T3" as the international terminal, that's outdated — the old T3 building has been demolished or is under Phase 2 redevelopment, and that information predates 2023.
EbixCash — confirmed at 5 locations across T1 and T2
- T1: Departure Canopy (City Side) and Arrival Canopy (City Side)
- T2: Departure Check-in Area, Inside Customs Arrival Area, and AIT Arrival Customs Transit
This is well-confirmed — the same location codes turned up independently across separate research passes, and they line up with AAI's own money-exchange concession schedule (2 counters in the Domestic Terminal, 6 in the International Terminal). AAI's own current passenger-information page separately confirms 7 total foreign-exchange counters across both terminals, though it doesn't name every operator on that specific page.
One honest caveat: a Google Business listing for one of these EbixCash counters shows "permanently closed" — but AAI's own information describes EbixCash counters at MAA as open 24/7, and EbixCash runs multiple separate physical counters here. This is most likely one outdated or consolidated listing rather than an actual closure, but we haven't been able to confirm which specific counter it refers to. If you're relying on a specific EbixCash location, it's worth a quick look at current signage rather than assuming every listed spot is definitely staffed.
Prime Forex — landside only, worth knowing about
Most airport guides miss this entirely: Prime Forex has two confirmed locations at MAA, but both sit on the landside campus, not inside the secure passenger terminal:
- Metro Station Concourse (Shop No. 2)
- Aerohub Mall East (Shop E-307, 2nd floor)
Confirmed three separate ways — web research, Google Maps, and official terminal-area photos all agree. These are useful if you're arranging currency before you even head into the terminal, but they won't help once you're through security — plan accordingly.
The takeaway
- T1 = Domestic (Kamaraj Terminal), T2 = International (NITB), T4 = secondary domestic — ignore any older guide mentioning "T3 international"
- EbixCash: 5 confirmed counters, 2 in T1 and 3 in T2 — the most forex-dense Indian airport we've documented so far
- One EbixCash listing shows as "permanently closed" on Google — likely a stale/consolidated listing, not confirmed as an actual closure
- Prime Forex's 2 counters are landside only — useful pre-security, not after
Need mobile data too?
Sorting out currency is only half the "landing prepared" checklist — most travelers also need mobile data the moment they touch down, for maps, ride-hailing apps, and checking in with home. Rather than pushing one option, here are two eSIM providers worth comparing before your trip:
- Roamable — travel eSIM plans covering most major destinations
- Strong eSIM — global digital SIM, 190+ countries
As with currency exchange, rates and coverage vary — worth a quick compare based on your destination and how much data you'll actually need.
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.
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