✅ What is FT quota in Indian Railways?

FT Quota is Foreign Tourists Quota

✅ What is Foreign Quota?

Several luxury trains under Indian Railway have a special quota for foreign tourists. This can be availed on payment of US Dollars or Pound Sterling. Tourists without foreign currency, will be allotted the special quota on production of the exchange certificates issued by an nationalised bank.

✅ Can we book IRCTC ticket from outside India?

IRCTC permit other international credit and debit cards issued outside the country for booking of e-tickets.

✅ Can I book two train tickets under FT Quota?

One person can book only two tickets during the opening hours between 8am and 10 am.

✅ Can I book ticket without IRCTC account?

No, Have to register first with proper email Id and Phone Number

Indian Railway Rules for Foreigners 2026: FT Quota Booking

Q: How far in advance can foreigners book Indian train tickets?

Foreign tourists can book up to 365 days before the journey under the Foreign Tourist Quota, compared with the 60-day window that applies to most other passengers.

Thomas

July 22, 2026

Booking of Reserved Tickets by Foreign Tourists Online

Indian Railway Rules for Foreigners

Foreign tourists and NRIs holding a valid passport can book Indian train tickets online through the Foreign Tourist Quota (FT Quota) on the IRCTC e-ticketing website. This quota gives overseas travelers a longer booking window and a better chance of a confirmed berth on popular trains. This guide explains the Indian railway rules for foreigners in 2026, including the booking window, fares, charges, passport rules, cancellation and a step-by-step process.

Note: Foreign tourists can book up to 365 days in advance under the FT Quota. For most other passengers, the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) is now 60 days, so the FT Quota window is a real advantage for planning a trip early. See our full guide to Indian Railways quotas.

Foreign Tourist Quota: Key Rules at a Glance

Item	Rule
Who can book	Foreign nationals and NRIs with a valid passport
Advance booking window	Up to 365 days before the journey
Fare	1.5 times the base fare, no concessions
IRCTC convenience fee	Rs. 200 + GST per ticket
Profile / registration fee	Rs. 100 + GST for mobile update
Payment	International debit or credit card only (online)
Core online classes	Executive Class (EC), 1st AC (1A), 2nd AC (2A)
ID during journey	Original passport with valid visa
Name change	Not allowed
Agents	Not allowed to book FT Quota

Indian Railway Rules for Foreigners: How FT Quota Works

Under the Indian railway rules for foreigners, the FT Quota reserves a fixed block of berths for overseas travellers on many important trains. When you book, you pay a uniform fare of 1.5 times the base fare, and no concession is offered on this quota. Payment online is accepted only through international debit or credit cards. Once the ticket is booked, IRCTC sends a confirmation SMS to your verified international mobile number.

Each passenger must enter a passport number, nationality and international mobile number at the time of booking. During the journey, you must carry the original passport with a valid visa as proof of identity. If you cannot produce it on demand, you are treated as travelling without a ticket. In that case a penalty of three times the fare applies, and non-payment can lead to further action.

You can book directly on the official IRCTC e-ticketing website.

Tip: Every passenger on the ticket should carry their own original passport and visa separately, not just the lead passenger.

Booking Within the ARP

Zonal railways set the size of the FT Quota on each train based on demand. Booking against this quota starts when reservations open for that train under the ARP. Within the ARP, a berth is allotted straight away at 1.5 times the base fare. If you book beyond the ARP, the berth is allotted later, on the day reservations open, and you are notified by SMS.

A few rules worth knowing:

If the FT Quota is full, the system does not move you to General Quota automatically. You must book General Quota separately at the normal fare.
Waiting-list tickets are generally not issued under FT Quota, except in limited edge cases where the last request exceeds the quota and no General Quota berth is free.
Any unused FT Quota berths are released to RAC and waiting-list passengers when the first reservation chart is prepared.
For a party booking, if only part of the group fits in FT Quota, the rest may be placed in General Quota, and the whole party is then charged at 1.5 times the base fare.

Berth Limits per Coach

Indian Railways caps how many FT Quota berths can be registered per coach type. The typical limits are shown below.

Class / Coach	Berths or seats
First AC (per coach)	8 berths
First AC cum Second AC (FACCW)	4 berths
Second AC (2A)	8 berths
Executive Class (EC)	10 seats
Third AC (3A)	4 berths
AC Chair Car (CC)	6 seats
Second Class reserved (2S)	5 seats

Caution: On the IRCTC website, FT Quota online booking is mainly offered in EC, 1A and 2A. Some trains may show additional classes such as 3A, Chair Car or Sleeper, so always check availability for your specific train rather than assuming a class is offered.

Fares, Charges and Payment

The Indian railway rules for foreigners set a uniform fare and fixed charges, as follows:

Fare: Uniformly 1.5 times the base fare, with no concession.
Convenience fee: Rs. 200 + GST per ticket, in addition to the rail fare.
Profile update fee: Rs. 100 + GST for international or NRI users updating and verifying the mobile number.
Child without a berth: Charged at half the adult base fare, which under FT Quota works out to 1.5 times that reduced base fare.
Payment mode: Online booking accepts international debit or credit cards only. At the counter, FT Quota within ARP may be paid in Indian currency or by national or international cards.

Cancellation and Refund Rules

Cancellation under the Indian railway rules for foreigners works as below:

On cancelling a confirmed FT Quota ticket, a flat 50% of the fare is deducted, in addition to the usual cancellation charges.
The 50% refund applies only if cancelled up to 4 hours before the scheduled departure, as per the current refund rules. For confirmed tickets, check your PNR status before cancelling.
For part-confirmed or part-waitlisted tickets, refunds follow the waiting-list rules and shorter time limits apply.
If a berth is not allotted by the PRS system, the ticket is cancelled automatically and you are informed by SMS and email.
For failed transactions where money was debited but no ticket was issued, IRCTC refunds the full fare and convenience fee to the original card.
All refunds are credited only to the card or account used for booking.

Important: No name change is allowed on an FT Quota ticket under any circumstances. Travel insurance and the VIKALP (alternative train) facility are also not offered on FT Quota bookings, and authorised agents cannot book this quota.

Steps to Book Under Foreign Tourist Quota

1. Register or update your profile. New users register on the IRCTC website. Existing foreign and NRI users should update and verify their international mobile number through the profile option. An OTP is sent to confirm the number.

2. Open FT Quota booking. After logging in, select the Foreign Tourist Ticket Booking option on the IRCTC e-ticketing site. Bookings can be made up to 365 days in advance.

3. Enter passenger details. Provide a valid passport number for each passenger. All SMS updates go to the verified mobile number.

4. Pay and confirm. Pay using an international debit or credit card. On success, a booking SMS and confirmation email are sent to your registered mobile number and email.

Help for Foreign Tourists

Knowing the Indian railway rules for foreigners in advance makes booking far smoother. Major reservation center’s run dedicated assistance cells to help foreign tourists plan itineraries and reserve tickets. The International Tourist Bureau at New Delhi Railway Station offers personalized help with reservations and travel planning, with trained staff and guides who speak several foreign languages.

You may also find these guides useful:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FT Quota in Indian Railways?
FT Quota stands for Foreign Tourist Quota. It is a block of reserved berths that foreign tourists and NRIs with a valid passport can book on many trains, with a longer advance booking window.

How far in advance can foreigners book train tickets?
Up to 365 days before the journey under the Foreign Tourist Quota, compared with the 60-day window that applies to most other passengers.

Can I book an IRCTC ticket from outside India?
Yes. International debit and credit cards issued outside India are accepted for online FT Quota booking, once your IRCTC profile and international mobile number are verified.

Which classes are available under FT Quota?
Online booking is mainly offered in Executive Class, 1st AC and 2nd AC. Some trains may offer additional classes, so check availability for your train.

Can I book without an IRCTC account?
No. You must first register on IRCTC with a valid email address and mobile number.