Are Garmin devices illegal in India? Here’s what you need to know

Garmin devices are GPS navigation devices that help in tracking. They are popular among athletes who track their sports activities with the help of these devices.

Does carrying a GPS device can land you in jail? Yes, Garmin devices are illegal in India. Some foreign nationals have been recently caught carrying satellite communication devices.  

Garmin devices are GPS navigation devices that help in tracking. They are popular among athletes who track their sports activities with the help of these devices. From cycling to hiking, jogging, these devices are helpful everywhere.  

Two foreigners have landed in jail as they were found operating these devices. In two separate incidents a man from Czech and a Scottish were detained at two Indian airports in December and January. A Czech national was detained at Goa airport in December 2024. He was found with a Garmin Edge 540 GPS device, a GPS-enabled cycle/bike computer that tracks speed, distance, and other metrics. 

The woman was traveling to Rishikesh when she was detained at the Delhi Airport, found with a Garmin inReach device. She shared her misery in a long Instagram post advising people not to use Garmin devices in India. The woman, who goes by the name of ‘Hiker Heather’ is from Scotland and was detained at the Delhi Airport as she was found with a Garmin inReach device.  

She shared her misery through a video in which she can be seen saying, “PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO TRAVEL TO INDIA WITH A GARMIN INREACH OR ANY OTHER SATELLITE COMMUNICATOR – THEY ARE ILLEGAL HERE which led to the following events…” She also said that when she contacted her embassy for help, she was told that nothing could be done as she was under Indian legal jurisdiction. She also claimed to be denied access to water when she asked for it during her detention.  

Are Garmin devices banned in India? 

Not all Garmin devices are illegal or banned in India. Those without satellite communication technologies can be used in the country. If you don’t have authorisation for Garmin inReach and Garmin Edge 540 GPS devices, you can be detained and questioned.  

Some of these Garmin devices have in-built satellite communication technologies which cover the entire global area.  A large number of sporting gadgets, particularly inReach, use the Iridium satellite network.  

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