By Syam, JesTiny Guide · Last checked: 3 November 2026

Thiruvananthapuram Airport (TRV) Currency Exchange: Counters, Terminals and Rules

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), also known as Trivandrum, has a domestic and an international terminal, and the usual questions are which operator runs the exchange counters, where they are and how far apart the terminals are. This guide sets out what the airport operator's page says about the counters, how the terminals are laid out, and what we could not confirm. We found no measured TRV rate, so we do not name a best counter or give a percentage for the airport gap. We did not measure any rates ourselves.

The short version

• The airport operator's foreign currency exchange page (read 3 November 2026) lists Ebix Cash at four positions, all in Terminal 2: Arrival (after Immigration and Customs), Arrival Kerbside, Check-in on the Ground Floor (before security) and Level 1 (after security). It gives no hours and no rates.
• A travel guide from HappyFares (published 3 April 2026, last modified 17 July 2026) says forex counters are in Terminal 2, that both terminals have multiple ATMs, and that airport rates are usually a bit worse than city rates, with no figures.
• Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (international) are on opposite sides of the runway, about 5 km apart, so you cannot walk between them.
• The operator's page says the conversion happens "while subtracting out any fees or other charges for the services if applicable." It gives no schedule.
• We found no source for opening hours or the ATM operators.

Who runs the counters

The airport operator's page on foreign currency exchange (read 3 November 2026) lists Ebix Cash at four positions, all in Terminal 2: Arrival (after Immigration and Customs), Arrival Kerbside, Check-in on the Ground Floor (before security) and Level 1 (after security). It names an airport in-charge and a contact number, and does not list opening hours. It does not give exchange rates, and says conversion happens after subtracting any fees or other charges for the services if applicable.

We could not confirm whether the counters here exchange rupee notes under RBI's April 2026 circular, so ask at the counter.

The two terminals

The two terminals are on opposite sides of the runway, about 5 km apart: Terminal 1 (domestic) on the Shanghumugham side and Terminal 2 (international) on the Chacka side. There is no walkway between them. A travel guide from HappyFares (April 2026, modified July 2026) describes them as on the same campus and walkable in 5 to 10 minutes, which does not match that layout, so do not plan to walk.

This matters for exchange because all the counters are in Terminal 2, so a traveller in the domestic terminal will need to travel to use one. If you need to move between terminals, ask airport staff when you arrive, leave extra time, and check your ticket for your terminal.

Hours

None of the sources we read gives opening hours for the TRV counters. If you land late at night or very early, do not assume a counter will be open. Look for it on arrival, and keep a working card as a fallback.

ATMs

HappyFares says both terminals have multiple ATMs inside. It names none. Check the signage on the machine. If a machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose rupees. Our guide to dynamic currency conversion explains why.

What the sources say about rates

We found no source that measured a TRV rate against the mid-market rate. HappyFares says airport rates are usually a bit worse than city rates and suggests, for large amounts, exchanging in the city or using a bank forex card. It gives no figures and no method. The operator's page gives no rates. So the size of any airport gap at Thiruvananthapuram is unknown from our sources, and the way to find out is to ask for the final amount for your sum and compare it with the mid-market rate.

To see what a percentage gap costs on your amount, use our mid-market rate guide.

How to check a rate yourself

This section is our advice, not a sourced fact.

1. Look up the mid-market rate for your currency pair on the day you travel.
2. Ask the counter for the final amount in rupees for your exact sum, including every fee.
3. Divide the counter's rate by the mid-market rate. A result of 0.98 means 2% below.
4. If a sign says "no commission", ask for the final amount anyway, because the margin may sit inside the rate.
5. Keep the exchange receipt, and keep the amount small if you can wait for a better rate in the city.

India's rules

Indian rules on paying for forex in cash, PAN, carrying rupees, exchanging rupees before you fly and declaring cash when you return are on our India money rules page.

Our reading of the sources

This section is our reading. It is not a sourced fact. TRV is a case where the operator, the terminal and the counter positions are well supported. The airport's own page names Ebix Cash, puts the counters in Terminal 2 and gives four positions. The hours, the ATM names and the rates are unconfirmed. The usual logic holds on cost. A counter at an airport is convenient, the rate is probably not the best available, and the cost scales with the amount. A small sum for a taxi and a first meal costs little. For a larger sum, a bank or a card with low fees is likely to cost less, though we did not measure either in Thiruvananthapuram.

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the opening hours of any counter, the ATM operators, any measured TRV rate or the fees behind "fees or other charges", or whether a counter here exchanges rupee notes under RBI's April 2026 circular.

A simple plan

1. Check which terminal your flight uses, and look for Ebix Cash in Terminal 2.
2. Ask for the final amount in rupees for your exact sum, and compare it with the mid-market rate.
3. If you are a resident buying forex, pay by card or transfer from 50,000 rupees, and bring your PAN.
4. At an ATM or card terminal, choose the local currency and check your card's fees first.
5. If you are in the domestic terminal and need a counter, ask staff how to reach Terminal 2.

FAQ

Who runs currency exchange at Thiruvananthapuram airport?
The airport operator's page names Ebix Cash, at Terminal 2, with four positions.

Where are the counters?
The operator lists four, all in Terminal 2: Arrival (after Immigration and Customs), Arrival Kerbside, Check-in on the Ground Floor (before security) and Level 1 (after security).

Are the two terminals far apart?
Yes. They are on opposite sides of the runway, about 5 km apart, so you cannot walk between them. Ask airport staff how to get across, and leave extra time.

Is currency exchange open 24 hours at TRV?
We could not confirm it. No source we read gives hours.

Do I need a PAN to buy foreign currency?
Yes, if you pay more than 50,000 rupees in cash at one time; see our India money rules page.

Sources and how we checked them

Checked on 21 October 2026. Where we call something confirmed, at least two of these sources agree, or an official source says so directly. Neither of the first two is independent of the airport, and the second is a travel site.

• Adani Airports (Thiruvananthapuram Airport), airport operator, foreign currency exchange page (undated), read again on 3 November 2026.
• HappyFares, travel site, Thiruvananthapuram Airport (TRV) complete guide 2026, published 3 April 2026 and last modified 17 July 2026.
• Reserve Bank of India, official, FAQ on miscellaneous forex facilities, updated 28 November 2025, and circular RBI/2026-27/05, 2 April 2026.
• Income Tax Department of India, official, Rule 114B (page uploaded 13 December 2025).

Editorial note: The counter, rate and airport information in this guide is editorial and is not paid for. Rates and fees change, so confirm the final rate at the counter before exchanging.