Foreign nationals and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders travelling to India need to complete an online arrival information form known as the e-Arrival Card. It collects basic details about the traveller, their visit to India, arrival date and place of stay. The form is free and must be submitted within 72 hours before arrival in India.
The e-Arrival Card is not a visa and does not replace your travel authorisation. This guide explains who needs to submit it, what information the form asks for and how to complete it through the official Indian Immigration portal.
What Is the e-Arrival Card for India?
The e-Arrival Card is an online arrival information form managed by the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. It replaces the traditional process of collecting arrival details through a paper disembarkation form with an online submission system.
Travellers use the form to provide personal information, passport details, arrival information, recent travel history, their address in India and contact details. The information helps immigration authorities process arrival formalities.
The e-Arrival Card is a free service. It does not provide a visa, extend an existing visa or guarantee permission to enter India. Travellers must separately meet the applicable immigration and entry requirements.
You can complete the form through the official e-Arrival Card portal.
Who Needs to Submit the e-Arrival Card?
According to the current information published on the Indian Visa Online portal, foreign nationals and OCI cardholders travelling to India can complete and submit the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival.
This requirement is separate from the visa process. Therefore, holding a valid Indian visa or an OCI card does not remove the need to complete the arrival information form.
- Foreign nationals: Travellers entering India with a Regular Visa or an eligible eVisa need to complete the e-Arrival Card.
- OCI cardholders: OCI cardholders travelling to India are also covered by the e-Arrival Card requirement.
- Indian passport holders: The e-Arrival Card is intended for foreign nationals and OCI cardholders, not Indian citizens travelling on Indian passports.
For the latest instructions, check the official Indian Visa Online website before your journey.
When Should You Fill Out the e-Arrival Card?
You can submit the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India. The official portal does not allow travellers to complete the submission outside the permitted time window.
For example, if your flight is scheduled to arrive in India on 10 November at 8:00 AM, you should complete the form within the 72-hour period before that arrival time.
Do not confuse the submission window with your departure time. The relevant reference is your arrival in India.
Information Required to Complete the e-Arrival Card
Keep your passport and travel details ready before opening the online form. The official portal asks for the following information:
- Personal details: Your full name as printed on your passport, nationality or region, and passport number.
- Arrival details: Your expected date of arrival and purpose of visit to India.
- Recent travel history: Countries you have visited during the last six days.
- Address in India: Your place of stay, including the state and district.
- Contact details: Your email address, mobile number and emergency contact number.
The purpose-of-visit options displayed on the portal include Tourist, Business, Medical, Ayush, Conference, Research, Study, Employment, Official or Diplomatic, and Other. Select the option that accurately describes your visit.
The form also provides an Add Member option for including other travellers in the submission. Check the details of every person carefully before submitting the information.
How to Fill Out the India e-Arrival Card Online
Follow these steps to submit your arrival information through the official Indian Immigration portal.
- Open the official portal: Visit the India e-Arrival Card website. Make sure you are using the government portal rather than a third-party website.
- Enter your passport details: On the initial screen, provide your passport number, select your nationality or region and enter the displayed captcha.
- Check the personal information: Complete the required personal details using the information shown on your passport.
- Enter your arrival information: Provide your expected arrival date, purpose of visit and the countries you have visited during the last six days.
- Provide your address in India: Enter the address where you plan to stay, along with the required state and district details.
- Enter contact information: Provide your email address, mobile number and emergency contact number as requested by the form.
- Add other travellers, if applicable: Use the Add Member option if you need to include additional travellers in the same submission.
- Review and submit: Check the information carefully, complete the declaration and captcha, and submit the form.
The official form includes a declaration confirming that the information provided is true and accurate. Review all details before submission to avoid mistakes in your arrival information.
Is the e-Arrival Card Free?
Yes. The e-Arrival Card is a free service provided through the Indian Immigration portal. You do not need to pay a government fee to submit this form.
Be careful when using websites that offer paid e-Arrival Card submission services. Use the official government portal to complete the form without paying an intermediary.
What Happens If You Do Not Submit the e-Arrival Card?
The e-Arrival Card is part of India’s arrival information process for foreign nationals and OCI cardholders. Travellers should complete it within the prescribed 72-hour window before reaching India.
The official information reviewed for this guide does not establish a specific fine or automatic entry ban solely for failing to submit the e-Arrival Card. Therefore, it would be incorrect to assume that missing the form automatically results in either penalty or denial of entry.
If you have not completed the form before travelling, check the latest instructions with your airline or the Bureau of Immigration. Immigration officers may guide you on the applicable procedure at the airport.
Difference Between e-Arrival Card, Indian Visa and Air Suvidha
Travellers sometimes confuse these three services because they are all related to international travel to India. However, they serve different purposes.
| Service | Purpose | Who Needs It? |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Visa or eVisa | Provides the applicable travel authorisation to enter India. | Foreign nationals who require a visa under India’s entry rules. |
| e-Arrival Card | Collects arrival and travel information before reaching India. | Foreign nationals and OCI cardholders. |
| Air Suvidha 2.0 | Collects health-related information for public health screening of international arrivals. | International travellers covered by the applicable health instructions. |
Important: Air Suvidha 2.0 is a separate health declaration platform. The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced its launch on 25 June 2026 for public health screening in response to the Ebola outbreak. The government announcement instructed international travellers to submit the Health Self-Declaration up to 24 hours before arrival.
Health-related requirements can change according to government advisories. Before travelling, check the latest instructions on the official Air Suvidha portal.
If you are still deciding which travel authorisation applies to your trip, read our Indian Visa Guide. It explains Regular Visa, eVisa, Visa on Arrival and other Indian entry requirements.
Official Website and Important Links
| Service | Official Link |
|---|---|
| India e-Arrival Card | Submit e-Arrival Card |
| Indian Visa Online | Visit Official Website |
| Bureau of Immigration | Visit BOI Website |
| Air Suvidha 2.0 | Health Self-Declaration Portal |
| Indian Visa Guide | Read the Complete Guide |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ans. The official Indian Visa Online portal instructs foreign nationals travelling to India to complete and submit the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before arrival.
Ans. Yes. The official Indian Visa Online portal includes OCI cardholders in the e-Arrival Card process. Holding an OCI card does not remove this separate arrival information requirement.
Ans. No. The e-Arrival Card collects arrival information. It does not provide permission to enter India and cannot replace a valid visa or other applicable entry authorisation.
Ans. You can complete and submit the form within 72 hours before your arrival in India. The arrival date and time should be used to calculate this window.
Ans. No. The official e-Arrival Card portal provides this service free of charge. Avoid paying unofficial websites or agents for submitting the form.
Ans. The official form displays an Add Member option that allows additional travellers to be included in the submission. Enter each person’s information accurately.
Ans. The form asks for passport and personal details, arrival date, purpose of visit, countries visited during the last six days, address in India and contact information.
Ans. No. The e-Arrival Card collects immigration-related arrival information, while Air Suvidha 2.0 is a separate health self-declaration platform. Check the current instructions for both services before travelling.
Ans. Yes. The e-Arrival Card is separate from the eVisa application. Foreign nationals travelling to India with an eVisa are also covered by the arrival information process.
Ans. You can submit it through the official Indian Visa Online e-Arrival portal. The Bureau of Immigration and Indian Visa Online websites also provide information about the service.
Ans. Review the details carefully before submitting the declaration. If you notice an error after submission, consult the official portal or the Bureau of Immigration for guidance. Do not assume that a submitted form can be edited unless the portal provides that option.
Ans. The e-Arrival Card process is intended for foreign nationals and OCI cardholders. Indian citizens travelling on Indian passports are not included in this category.
Tabassum is a government document researcher and writer with over 5 years of experience exclusively dedicated to tracking and simplifying Central and State Government document processes across India. She has researched and published detailed guides on 100+ government documents and certificates – including Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Ration Card, Domicile Certificate, and Birth Certificate – covering all states and the Central Government, helping lakhs of Indian citizens successfully complete their paperwork in simple, easy-to-understand language.