If you’re flying to India and someone just mentioned an “e-Arrival Card,” you’re not imagining things — this is a real, mandatory requirement, and it caught a lot of travelers off guard in 2026. The short version: if you’re a foreign passport holder, you almost certainly need to fill it out. But the exceptions and edge cases (OCI cardholders, transit passengers, infants) trip up more people than you’d expect, so here’s the full breakdown by traveler type, along with exactly when and how to submit it.
India’s e-Arrival Card is a digital form that replaced the paper disembarkation card foreign travelers used to fill out on the plane or at the immigration counter. It collects your passport details, flight information, purpose of visit, and your address in India — all submitted online before you fly. It launched on October 1, 2025 as an optional alternative, ran alongside the paper form for a six-month transition, and became fully mandatory on April 1, 2026, when paper forms were permanently discontinued. It’s important to understand what it isn’t: the e-Arrival Card does not grant you permission to enter India. You still need a valid visa, e-Visa, or OCI card — this form is purely arrival information, submitted in advance so immigration processing is faster.
Who Must Fill the e-Arrival Card
That mix-up is common, and it’s rooted in real regulatory back-and-forth: when the system first launched on October 1, 2025, OCI cardholders were briefly exempt. That exemption was reversed just three days later, on October 4, 2025, by the Bureau of Immigration. So if you’re going by an article or a friend’s advice from that first week, you may have outdated information. Here’s who actually needs to file, as of the current rules:
| Traveler Type | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign tourists (any visa type) | Yes | Applies regardless of visa category — tourist, business, medical, student, etc. |
| OCI cardholders | Yes | Briefly exempt at launch; that exemption was reversed on Oct 4, 2025. All OCI holders must now file. |
| Children and infants | Yes | Each traveler needs an individual submission tied to their own passport — there’s no “family” or combined entry. |
| Transit passengers (airside only, no immigration clearance) | Generally no | If you never clear Indian immigration during a layover, you typically don’t need it — but confirm with your airline, as policies can vary by route. |
| Indian passport holders | No | Indian citizens are exempt. This is the only broad exemption category. |
Foreign Nationals (Tourist, Business, Medical, Student Visas)
If you’re entering India on any foreign passport — whatever the purpose of your trip — the e-Arrival Card applies to you. There’s no carve-out by visa category; a business traveler and a tourist follow the exact same requirement.
OCI Cardholders
As covered above, OCI cardholders are required to file, despite the brief window of confusion when the system first rolled out. If you’re Indian-origin with an OCI card, don’t assume your card status covers this — it doesn’t.
Children and Infants
Because the form is passport-specific, every traveler in your party — including a newborn on their first flight — needs their own submission. Parents typically file each child’s form back-to-back in the same session.
Transit Passengers
If your layover keeps you airside and you never pass through Indian immigration, you’re generally not required to file. That said, this depends on your airline’s specific transit arrangement at that airport, so it’s worth a quick check with your carrier before you assume you’re exempt.
Who Is Exempt
Indian passport holders are the only broad exemption. Everyone else entering the country on a foreign passport should plan to file, OCI card or not.
e-Arrival Card vs. e-Visa vs. the Old Paper Form — What's the Difference?
This is where a lot of confusion sets in, because all three sound related. Here’s how they actually differ:
| Old Paper Disembarkation Form | e-Visa | e-Arrival Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Collected arrival info on paper, on the plane or at the counter | Grants permission to enter India | Collects arrival info online, in advance |
| Still valid? | No — discontinued April 1, 2026 | Yes, still required for most nationalities | Yes — mandatory replacement for the paper form |
| Replaces your visa? | No | N/A | No — it does not grant entry on its own |
| Cost | Free | Varies by nationality | Free |
When and How to Fill It Out (Step-by-Step)
You can submit through two official channels only: the website at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival, or the Su-Swagatam mobile app. Ignore any other site that shows up in search results claiming to offer this — more on that in the next section.
- Time it right. You can only submit within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival — not weeks in advance, and not after you’ve already landed.
- Go to the official portal. Use indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or download the Su-Swagatam app directly from your phone’s official app store.
- Enter your passport details exactly as they appear on your passport — matching spelling matters.
- Enter your flight details — airline, flight number, and arrival date.
- Enter your purpose of visit and your address in India — hotel name and city is generally sufficient for short stays.
- Submit and immediately save your confirmation. The system generates a QR code on submission — screenshot or download it right away, because closing the browser without saving it means you can’t retrieve it later.
- Keep the QR code accessible on your phone (or printed) for the immigration counter on arrival.
The whole process takes a few minutes per traveler, and — critically — there are no document uploads or photos required. It’s manual entry only.
Cost Guide — Is There a Fee to Submit It?
No. The e-Arrival Card is completely free through the official government channels. If you land on a website asking for a payment to “process” or “expedite” your e-Arrival Card, it is not the official portal — it’s a scam site capitalizing on the confusion around this new requirement. The only two legitimate channels are indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival and the Su-Swagatam app. Bookmark the correct URL now so you’re not searching for it — and potentially clicking a paid impostor — 72 hours before your flight.
Best Time to Submit Your e-Arrival Card (and When to Plan Your Trip)
The submission window is fixed and non-negotiable: within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival. Filing too early isn’t an option the system allows, and filing too late — say, from the airport lounge before boarding — cuts it close if you hit any technical snag. A practical rule: fill it out the same day you do your online check-in, since most airlines open check-in around the same 24–48 hour window, and by then your flight details are locked in.
As for when to actually plan your trip to India in the first place — the cooler months from October through March are generally the most comfortable for most regions, avoiding both the summer heat and the monsoon season. Whenever you go, the e-Arrival Card rule applies year-round, so build the 72-hour submission into your pre-departure checklist regardless of season.
Pros & Cons of the e-Arrival Card System
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Faster immigration clearance on arrival — no scrambling for a pen on the plane | Requires internet access and a device before departure, which can be a hurdle for some travelers |
| No documents or photos to upload — quick manual entry | 72-hour window is rigid, easy to forget if you’re not tracking it |
| Free through official channels | Scam look-alike sites have appeared, charging fees for a free service |
| QR code confirmation speeds up the physical counter process | If you lose your QR code screenshot, retrieval isn’t straightforward and re-submitting can create a duplicate record |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming OCI status covers you. It doesn’t — OCI cardholders must file the e-Arrival Card separately.
- Filing outside the 72-hour window. Too early won’t go through; too late risks a rushed submission right before boarding.
- Misspelling your name or details relative to your passport. Immigration systems match exactly — small discrepancies cause delays.
- Closing the browser before saving your QR code. Once it’s gone, you generally can’t retrieve the same confirmation, and resubmitting can create a duplicate record.
- Using a paid third-party site. This service is free. Only use indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam app.
- Assuming it replaces your visa. It’s an arrival information form only — you still need a valid visa or e-Visa to enter.
Pro Travel Tips for a Smooth Immigration Experience
- Fill it out for every traveler in your party the same day — doing it in one sitting avoids the risk of one person’s form falling through the cracks.
- Screenshot the QR code immediately, and also email it to yourself as a backup in case your phone dies or you switch devices before arrival.
- Double-check your address field — use your first night’s hotel address if your itinerary changes later; it doesn’t need to match your entire trip.
- Keep your passport open to the photo page while filling out the form so every detail matches exactly.
- Don’t wait until you’re at the gate — spotty airport wifi is a common reason travelers scramble to finish this at the last minute.
Who Should Do What
- Tourists, business, medical, and student visa holders: File it. No exceptions by visa type.
- OCI cardholders: File it — your OCI card does not exempt you, despite the brief window early on when it did.
- Traveling with children or infants: File a separate form for each one.
- Connecting through India without clearing immigration: You likely don’t need it, but confirm with your airline before assuming.
- Indian passport holders: You’re exempt — this requirement doesn’t apply to you.
Whichever category you fall into, the safest move is simple: file it within 72 hours of arrival, through the official portal only, and save your QR code the moment you get it.
