Every foreign national flying into India must now complete a digital e-Arrival Card before landing. Paper disembarkation forms are no longer accepted as of 1 April 2026, and the e-Arrival Card must be submitted online within 72 hours of your scheduled arrival.
The requirement applies whether you’re visiting on a tourist visa, business visa, e-Visa, or traveling on an OCI card. Already planning your trip? Search for flights to India and hotels in Delhi on Wego.
What Is India’s e-Arrival Card?
India’s e-Arrival Card is the digital replacement for the paper disembarkation card that foreign travelers previously filled out on their flight or at the immigration counter. It collects your basic arrival information — passport details, flight number, purpose of visit, and your address in India.
The Bureau of Immigration launched the system on 1 October 2025, initially as an optional digital alternative alongside the paper form. After a six-month transition period, the paper form was permanently discontinued on 1 April 2026.
It’s not a visa
The e-Arrival Card is purely an arrival information form — it does not grant you permission to enter India. You still need a valid visa, e-Visa, or OCI card to enter the country.
Think of it as the digital version of the form you used to fill on the plane — it just needs to be done online now, before you board.
Who Needs to Fill the e-Arrival Card?
All foreign passport holders entering India must complete the e-Arrival Card, regardless of visa type. This includes:
- Tourists — whether on an e-Visa, tourist visa, or visa on arrival
- Business travelers — on business visas or e-Business visas
- OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders — initially exempt when the system launched in October 2025, but the Bureau of Immigration reversed that exemption on 4 October 2025
- Students, medical visitors, and conference attendees
- Diplomatic and official passport holders (on foreign passports)
Who is exempt?
The following categories are exempt from the e-Arrival Card requirement:
- Indian citizens traveling on an Indian passport
- Airline crew members
- Visa-exempt nationals entering under bilateral agreements
If you hold dual nationality and are entering India on a foreign passport with an OCI card, you must complete the e-Arrival Card.
Children and families
Each traveler needs a separate e-Arrival Card, including children. A parent or guardian can fill the form on behalf of minors, but every person needs their own submission.
How to Fill the e-Arrival Card: Step by Step
You can submit the e-Arrival Card through three official channels — all free of charge:
- Indian Visa Online portal — indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
- Bureau of Immigration website — boi.gov.in
- Su-Swagatam mobile app — available on the App Store and Google Play
Step 1: Open indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam app. Do not use third-party websites.
Step 2: Enter your passport details — full name (exactly as on your passport), passport number, country of issue, expiry date, and nationality.
Step 3: Enter your travel details — flight number, airline, arrival date, port of entry, and countries visited in the last six days.
Step 4: Select your purpose of visit and enter the full address of your first accommodation in India (hotel name and address, or the address of the person you’re staying with). Vague entries like “Hotel TBD” are not accepted.
Step 5: Enter your email address and phone number. Your confirmation QR code will be sent to this email, so make sure it’s correct.
Step 6: Double-check every field — especially passport number, name spelling, and visa details. Any mismatch can cause delays at immigration. Once submitted, you’ll receive a QR code via email.
Step 7: Save the QR code on your phone or print a copy. You’ll need to show it at check-in and again at immigration.
When to Submit and Key Deadlines
The e-Arrival Card must be submitted within 72 hours (3 days) of your scheduled arrival in India. You cannot submit it earlier than 72 hours before landing.
The ideal timing
Submit the form 2–3 days before departure. This gives you enough time to correct any errors without cutting it too close.
Submitting at the last minute — say, at the airport before boarding — risks system delays or connectivity issues.
What the deadline looks like in practice
| Arrival Date | Earliest You Can Submit | Recommended Window |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, 4 May | Thursday, 1 May | Friday–Saturday (2–3 May) |
| Wednesday, 7 May | Sunday, 4 May | Monday–Tuesday (5–6 May) |
No fee
The e-Arrival Card is completely free. You do not need to pay anything or upload any documents. If a website asks you to pay for the e-Arrival Card, it is not the official portal.
What Happens If You Don’t Fill It?
Skipping the e-Arrival Card won’t get you banned from India, but it will cause problems — potentially before you even board your flight.
At check-in and boarding
Airlines flying to India are increasingly checking e-Arrival Card compliance at check-in and boarding gates. With penalties of up to ₹50,000 per non-compliant passenger imposed on carriers, airlines like Air India, Emirates, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines have strong incentives to verify your compliance before you board.
If you can’t show your e-Arrival Card confirmation at the gate, you risk being pulled aside or delayed during the boarding process.
At Indian immigration
If you arrive without a completed e-Arrival Card, you’ll be directed to staffed kiosks near immigration to fill the form on the spot. Expect additional questioning and delays — particularly during peak hours at busy airports like Delhi and Mumbai.
Completing it at a kiosk also risks missing onward domestic connections if you’re on a tight transfer.
The bottom line
You’ll still enter India. But skipping the form means longer queues, potential boarding hassles, and unnecessary stress — all avoidable with a 5-minute online form.
Common Errors and How to Fix Them
Name or passport number mismatches
The most common error is entering your name or passport number differently from what’s on your passport. Even a small discrepancy — like using a middle name on the form but not on your passport — can flag your entry for manual review.
Copy your details directly from your passport page.
Vague address in India
The form requires a specific physical address in India. Enter your hotel name and full address, or the residential address where you’ll be staying. Generic answers like “Delhi” or “Hotel TBD” will cause submission issues.
Confusing it with your visa
The e-Arrival Card does not replace your visa — they are two separate requirements. Make sure you have both your valid visa (or e-Visa) and a submitted e-Arrival Card before you fly.
Using unofficial websites
Several third-party websites have appeared that charge fees for “e-Arrival Card assistance.” The official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival is free. Avoid any site that asks for payment.
Submitting too early
The system only accepts submissions within 72 hours of arrival. If you try to fill it a week in advance, the submission will not go through or may not be valid on arrival.
Dropdown menus not responding
Some travelers have reported that dropdown fields (country, port of entry) don’t respond or fail to load options. If this happens, try switching to a different browser — Chrome or Firefox tend to work best. You can also clear your browser cache or use an incognito/private window.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi for the submission, as unstable connections can cause form elements to malfunction.
QR code email not received
After submitting, the confirmation QR code is sent to the email address you entered. If you don’t receive it within a few minutes:
- Check your spam and junk folders
- Verify you entered your email address correctly on the form
- Submit a new e-Arrival Card with the correct email — immigration will use the most recent submission linked to your passport number
- Take a screenshot of the confirmation page as a backup
Data not showing at immigration despite confirmation
In rare cases, travelers have reported that their e-Arrival Card didn’t appear in the immigration system even though they received a confirmation. Always carry a printed copy or saved screenshot of your QR code and confirmation page as a fallback.
Airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru have dedicated assist desks near immigration to help with these situations.
Airports Where the e-Arrival Card Is Enforced
The e-Arrival Card is required at all international entry points in India, including airports, seaports, and land border crossings. The major airports enforcing the requirement include:
- Delhi — Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
- Mumbai — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)
- Bengaluru — Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)
- Chennai — Chennai International Airport (MAA)
- Hyderabad — Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD)
- Kolkata — Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
- Kochi — Cochin International Airport (COK)
- Ahmedabad — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD)
Looking for flights to Delhi, flights to Mumbai, or flights to Bengaluru? Compare prices and book on Wego.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do OCI cardholders need to fill the e-Arrival Card?
Yes. OCI holders were briefly exempt when the system launched on 1 October 2025, but the Bureau of Immigration reversed that exemption on 4 October 2025. All OCI cardholders must now complete the e-Arrival Card before arriving in India.
Is there a fee for the e-Arrival Card?
No. The e-Arrival Card is completely free. If any website asks you to pay, it is not the official government portal. Use only indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam app.
Can I still fill a paper form on the plane?
No. Paper disembarkation cards were permanently discontinued on 1 April 2026. You must submit the e-Arrival Card online before arriving in India.
Do I need to upload any documents?
No. The e-Arrival Card only requires you to enter information manually. No passport scans, photos, or document uploads are needed.
What if I make a mistake on the form?
You can submit a new e-Arrival Card to correct errors. Make sure the updated submission matches your passport and visa details exactly. Immigration will use the most recent submission linked to your passport number.
The website isn’t working or keeps timing out. What should I do?
Try switching to Chrome or Firefox, clearing your browser cache, or using an incognito window. If the portal is experiencing high traffic, wait an hour and try again. You can also use the Su-Swagatam mobile app as an alternative. Submit at least 2 days before travel so you have time to troubleshoot.
I didn’t receive my QR code email. What now?
Check your spam and junk folders first. If it’s not there, submit a new e-Arrival Card with the correct email address — the system will use your latest submission. Always take a screenshot of the confirmation page as a backup to show at immigration.
Sources
- Indian Visa Online — e-Arrival Card Portal
- Bureau of Immigration India — Official Website
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India — India’s New Digital Arrival System
- EY Global — India Introduces New e-Arrival Card Requirement
- Fragomen — India: Electronic Arrival Card to Replace Paper Disembarkation Card
- VisaHQ — India Switches Off Paper Disembarkation Forms
- VisaHQ — India Finalises Full Roll-Out of Mandatory e-Arrival Card
- Vialto Partners — India Immigration: Introduction of e-Arrival Card for Foreign Nationals
- Consulate General of India, Toronto — Digitization of e-Arrival Card
- Lufthansa Group — e-Arrival Card Now Mandatory for Entry into India
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
