2023 handbook summarySource checked 29 July 2026

Official Travel Abroad

Official travel abroad must follow the approved route, authorised mode and class, and the relevant Government sanction.

Overview

Official travel abroad must follow the approved route, authorised mode and class, and the relevant Government sanction. The handbook links international air class to Pay Matrix level and regulates foreign daily allowance by time away, posting status, length of stay and hospitality provided.

What the handbook says

If a traveller chooses a route, mode or class other than the approved entitlement, the source limits reimbursement to the approved entitlement. From 1 July 2017 it records first class for level 17 and above, business or club class for levels 14 to 16, and economy class for levels 10 to 13B.

For foreign tours, the source regulates DA by fractions of a day and uses sliding percentages for longer stays. Full hospitality changes the payable percentage. It also records CTG for qualifying permanent foreign postings, deputations or courses exceeding one year.

What this means

Foreign travel requires more than domestic class entitlement. Confirm the specific Government sanction, approved route, ticketing method, paying audit office, foreign-DA rate and any host hospitality. Do not infer a country rate from this page; the source says foreign DA rates are prescribed separately.

Who this applies to

The journey must be approved official travel abroad.
A personally chosen route, mode or class does not enlarge reimbursement.
CTG applies only to the qualifying long-term moves described by the source and is not due in every tour case.
Where a panel-of-packers arrangement applies between missions or on return to India, the source says CTG is not admissible.
Hospitality, posting status and stay length can reduce DA.

Rates and dates

The source records from 1 July 2017:

level 17 and above: first class international air travel;
levels 14 to 16: business or club class;
levels 10 to 13B: economy class; and
CTG at 80% of the previous month's basic pay for a qualifying long-term move, excluding NPA and MSP.

For a fraction of a foreign-tour day, it records nil up to six hours, 50% from six to twelve hours and full DA above twelve hours. Country DA amounts are not set out on these pages.

What you may need

Government sanction and approved itinerary;
authorised ticket or air-warrant records;
travel and arrival/departure evidence;
host statement showing free boarding, lodging or other hospitality;
deputation or course duration order for CTG; and
the prescribed claim routed to the responsible audit authority.

Authorities and source references

Rules 244, 245, 258, 259-C and 268, Travel Regulations
GoI, MoD letter No. 12630/Mov C/242/D(Mov)/2017, 15 September 2017
GoI, MoD, DMA letter No. 12709/Mov C/55/D(Mov)/2022, 8 March 2022
GoI, MoD letter No. 17(21)/2006/D(GS-I), 24 August 2009

Related guidance

About this guidance

This is a plain-language summary for general information. It is not an official order or an authority for a claim. Confirm the applicable order and your individual eligibility with the competent authority or PCDA(O) before acting.

What the handbook says

What this means

Who this applies to

The journey must be approved official travel abroad.

A personally chosen route, mode or class does not enlarge reimbursement.

CTG applies only to the qualifying long-term moves described by the source and is not due in every tour case.

Where a panel-of-packers arrangement applies between missions or on return to India, the source says CTG is not admissible.

Hospitality, posting status and stay length can reduce DA.

Rates and dates

The source records from 1 July 2017:

level 17 and above: first class international air travel;

levels 14 to 16: business or club class;

levels 10 to 13B: economy class; and

CTG at 80% of the previous month's basic pay for a qualifying long-term move, excluding NPA and MSP.

For a fraction of a foreign-tour day, it records nil up to six hours, 50% from six to twelve hours and full DA above twelve hours. Country DA amounts are not set out on these pages.

What you may need

Government sanction and approved itinerary;

authorised ticket or air-warrant records;

travel and arrival/departure evidence;

host statement showing free boarding, lodging or other hospitality;

deputation or course duration order for CTG; and

the prescribed claim routed to the responsible audit authority.