Planning a trip to India? If you are a foreign visitor or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, you may need to complete the India e-arrival card before travelling.
The online form collects your arrival and personal details, but it is not a visa. Understanding how to fill it in, when to submit it, and how it differs from an Indian eVisa can help you prepare for a smoother arrival.
What Is the India e-Arrival Card?
The India e-arrival card is an online form used to collect information about eligible travellers arriving in India. It records details such as your passport information, travel purpose, arrival date, recent travel history, and address in India.
The service is provided free of charge through the official Indian Immigration portal. Foreign nationals and OCI cardholders can submit the form online within 72 hours before their arrival in India.
You can access the official application here:
Complete the India e-Arrival Card
The form helps immigration authorities collect arrival information before you reach the immigration counter. It does not replace your passport, visa, or other required travel documents.
Who Needs to Complete the India e-Arrival Card?
According to the official Indian visa portal, foreign nationals and OCI cardholders can complete and submit the e-arrival card online.
Before travelling, check the latest instructions on the official immigration website to confirm the requirements applicable to your circumstances.
You should prepare to complete the form if you are:
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A foreign national travelling to India for tourism, business, family visits, or another permitted purpose.
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An OCI cardholder travelling to India.
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A traveller who needs to submit arrival information before reaching immigration.
For example, if you are travelling from the USA to India on a valid tourist eVisa, you should check the e-arrival card requirements and submit the form within the permitted time window.
Important: Completing the arrival card does not grant permission to enter India. You must still meet the applicable visa and entry requirements.
How to Fill the India e-Arrival Card Online: Step-by-Step Guide
Completing the India arrival card online is straightforward when you have your travel information ready. Follow these steps to reduce errors.
Step 1: Open the Official Website
Visit the official India e-Arrival Card portal.
Make sure the website address is correct. The official service is free, so be cautious of websites claiming that you must pay a government fee to submit this form.
Step 2: Enter Your Passport Details
The form asks for personal identification information. Depending on the fields displayed, you may need to provide:
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Your full name as printed in your passport.
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Your nationality or region.
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Your passport number.
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Your travel purpose.
Check every detail carefully. Even a small spelling error or an incorrect passport number can create confusion during document verification.
Step 3: Add Your Arrival Details
Enter your expected date of arrival in India and provide the requested travel-history information.
The form asks which countries you have visited during the previous six days. Select the applicable countries or choose the available option indicating that you have not visited another country, if that is accurate.
Use your actual travel history rather than guessing.
Step 4: Provide Your Address in India
Enter the address where you plan to stay in India, along with the requested state and district details.
This could be your hotel, a relative's home, or another accommodation address appropriate to your trip. If your plans change, check the official instructions to determine whether an update is necessary.
Step 5: Enter Your Contact Details
Provide your email address and contact number, including the correct international dialling code.
The form may also request an emergency contact number. Keep your contact details accurate so that any relevant communication can reach you.
Step 6: Review and Submit the Form
Before submitting, review your passport details, arrival date, address, and travel history.
Complete the verification step shown on the website, accept the declaration only if the information is accurate, and submit the form.
Keep a copy or screenshot of the submission confirmation if available. Follow any instructions provided by the portal regarding proof of submission.
When Should You Submit the India Arrival Card Online?
You can submit the India e-arrival card within 72 hours before your arrival in India, according to the official portal.
For example, if your flight from New York is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Friday, plan your submission within the permitted 72-hour window before that arrival.
Remember that the relevant time is your arrival in India, not necessarily the time your flight departs from your home country.
Avoid waiting until you reach the airport in India. Completing the form before your journey helps you prepare the required information in advance.
India e-Arrival Card vs eVisa: What Is the Difference?
One of the most common questions travellers ask is whether the arrival card and an Indian eVisa are the same. They serve different purposes.
|
Feature |
India e-Arrival Card |
Indian eVisa |
|
Main purpose |
Collects arrival information |
Provides travel authorisation for eligible visitors |
|
Is it a visa? |
No |
Yes, for the applicable visa category |
|
Fee |
Free on the official portal |
Visa fees may apply, depending on nationality and visa type |
|
When to apply |
Within 72 hours before arrival |
In advance, according to the applicable visa rules |
|
Replaces a visa? |
No |
Serves as the relevant visa authorisation when granted |
|
Official portal |
e-Arrival Card |
Indian eVisa |
Do You Need Both an Arrival Card and an eVisa?
If you are a foreign visitor who requires an Indian visa, you must obtain the appropriate visa separately and complete the e-arrival card as required.
For instance, a US citizen visiting India for sightseeing may need an approved tourist eVisa before travelling and may also need to submit the e-arrival card within the 72-hour window.
Do not assume that an arrival card submission means your visa has been approved.
If you still need a visa, review the India visa application information and confirm your eligibility, documents, fees, and processing requirements before making travel decisions.
How to Check Your e-Arrival Card Status
After submitting the form, keep any confirmation or reference details provided by the portal.
If you want to check your e-arrival card status, follow the instructions available on the official e-arrival website. The available options may differ from those used to check an eVisa application.
Keep these distinctions in mind:
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Arrival card status: Relates to the submission of your arrival information.
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eVisa status: Relates to your visa application and its approval.
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Payment status: Relates to a payment made for a service, such as an eVisa application.
The official e-arrival service is free, so you should not need to pay a fee simply to submit or check the arrival card.
If you cannot find your confirmation, revisit the official portal and follow its current guidance. Do not submit repeated forms unnecessarily without first checking whether your original submission was successful.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A few simple checks can help you avoid problems when completing the India e-arrival card.
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Entering incorrect passport details: Match your name and passport number to your travel document.
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Using the wrong arrival date: Enter the expected date of arrival in India.
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Providing incomplete travel history: Answer the recent-country-visit question accurately.
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Entering an incorrect address: Double-check your accommodation details.
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Submitting too early: Follow the 72-hour submission window.
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Confusing the arrival card with an eVisa: Make sure you hold the appropriate visa or other required entry permission.
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Paying an unofficial fee: Use the official government portal for the free arrival-card service.
If your passport has changed after your eVisa was issued, review the applicable passport and visa instructions. You can also read this guide to transferring an Indian eVisa to a new passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the India e-arrival card free?
Yes. The official Indian Immigration e-arrival card service is free. Be cautious of third-party websites that charge a fee for submitting this government form.
2. Can I enter India with an e-arrival card instead of a visa?
No. The e-arrival card is not a visa and does not grant entry permission. You must hold the appropriate visa or other valid travel authorisation required for your circumstances.
3. How early can I complete the India e-arrival card?
The official portal states that foreign nationals and OCI cardholders can submit the form within 72 hours before arriving in India. Check the official website for the latest instructions.
4. How can I check my e-arrival card status?
Visit the official e-arrival portal and follow its current instructions for your submission. Remember that an arrival-card submission and an eVisa application have separate purposes and status information.
Prepare for Your Trip to India
The India e-arrival card is a simple but important part of preparing for your arrival. Enter your details accurately, submit the form within the permitted 72-hour window, and keep your confirmation if one is provided.
Most importantly, remember that an arrival card does not replace an Indian visa. Check your visa requirements and travel documents before departure.
Ready to arrange your Indian visa? Visit our India visa application page to review the application process, check the requirements for your nationality, and prepare your documents before your trip.
