India’s E-Arrival Card Explained: OCI Holders, Exemptions, and Ground Realities for Returning Foregn

(INDIA) India has begun phasing in a nationwide digital entry requirement for foreign travelers, introducing an online e-Arrival Card that must be completed within 72 hours before landing. The policy took effect on October 1, 2025, and covers all foreign nationals entering the country. Indian passport holders remain exempt.

A follow-on rule change on October 4, 2025 clarified that OCI holders—Overseas Citizen of India cardholders—are also covered by the same requirement after a brief window in which they were treated differently. Authorities have set a six-month transition period through March 31, 2026, during which both digital and paper arrival cards will be accepted. The government is encouraging travelers to use the online system for faster processing at the border.

What the rollout changes

The rollout shifts the arrival process from paper slips filled out on the plane or at the airport to a digital form submitted before travel. Airlines are expected to verify completion of the e-Arrival Card at check-in, much like they check a visa or return ticket.

In practice, the first phase has seen uneven enforcement:

• Some airport counters abroad have waved travelers through without proof.
• Indian immigration desks have asked those without a digital submission to fill a paper card on arrival.
• Officials say the mixed approach will settle as systems sync and staff training catches up.

Who must complete the e-Arrival Card

The simple rule: if you are not entering on an Indian passport, complete the e-Arrival Card before travel. That includes:

• Tourists on e-Visas
• Business travelers
• Students
• OCI holders

Indian citizens do not need to complete the card. Dual citizens who hold an Indian passport remain exempt if they enter using the Indian passport; if they enter on a foreign passport, they must complete the e-Arrival Card.

What the form asks for

The e-Arrival Card asks for standard data, including:

• Passport and visa details
• Flight number and date of arrival
• Purpose of visit
• Address in India (first night’s hotel, friend’s home, sponsor, campus housing)
• Contact information
• Emergency contact
• Recent travel history

After submission you receive a confirmation by email or a QR code/reference number. Travelers report that keeping this proof on your phone or as a printout speeds up the line at immigration.

Practical effects for travelers

Officials say the digital system lets immigration officers see traveler data in advance, improving screening and reducing time at booths. In airports that have fully adopted the workflow, data from the e-Arrival Card appears on the officer’s screen once a passport is scanned, leading to fewer questions and less manual entry.

If you arrive without a completed online card:

• Officers will still process entry, but you may be asked to fill a physical card near immigration.
• During peak hours that detour can add 20–45 minutes.
• Families may find mixed outcomes: some members pass through e-gates while others are asked for online confirmation or a paper card.

Timeline and enforcement notes

Key dates and developments:

1. October 1, 2025 — e-Arrival Card requirement took effect for all foreign nationals.
2. October 4, 2025 — Regulation clarified that OCI holders are included.
3. October 7–8, 2025 — Airport officers began receiving updated instructions, but field enforcement remained uneven.
4. March 31, 2026 — End of the six-month transition period (subject to change based on rollout progress).

Expect mixed enforcement during the transition as airlines and airports update procedures. Stricter checks are likely during holiday peaks.

Airline role and check-in experience

Airlines are instructed to treat the e-Arrival Card like a required pre-arrival document (similar to a visa). Early reports show:

• Some gate agents ask for confirmation at check-in; others do not yet enforce it consistently.
• In some instances, passengers were asked to complete the form on their phones at the counter.
• Carriers may prefer to allow boarding and let destination authorities handle paper fallback during the transition.

Over time, airline checklists and systems will add the e-Arrival Card requirement and enforcement should become more uniform.

Submission timing and practical tips

• Submit the card up to 72 hours before arrival. Submitting earlier is not recommended because flight changes may require updates.
• The process typically takes 10–15 minutes.
• If you spot a typo after submission, resubmit rather than risk a mismatch at the desk.
• For connecting flights, submit before your first departure to India.
• Families: one form per traveler; list a parent/guardian as emergency contact for children.
• Bring a printed confirmation as backup (phones can die, glare or smudges can impede QR scanning).

To submit, use the government portal: Indian Visa Online e-Arrival portal.

Common choke points and troubleshooting

• If your flight is delayed past the 72-hour window, officers have allowed reasonable delays; if arrival shifts by a full day, consider resubmitting.
• If you depend on others to arrange travel (students, elderly relatives), confirm the card was submitted and that the confirmation is accessible.
• The form captures your initial entry address; you don’t need to update it if you change plans after arrival.

Why the government is making the change

• Digital collection allows for pre-arrival screening, improving security and efficiency.
• Digitization reduces issues with handwriting, language misreadings, and manual data entry.
• The change aligns India with other countries moving away from paper landing cards.

Immigration lawyers see this as part of a broader shift toward pre-arrival data collection and expect the e-Arrival Card to become routine.

Special notes for OCI holders

• OCI holders were previously treated with a lighter entry routine; under the new policy they are treated as foreign nationals for entry paperwork purposes.
• The update does not change visa-free entry rights for OCI holders; it only adds the pre-arrival data requirement.
• Early confusion resulted in some officers still handing out paper cards to OCI families. Best practice: complete the e-Arrival Card anyway and keep proof handy.

Who should help spread the word

• Travel agents — add the e-Arrival Card to pre-departure checklists.
• Universities and employers — include the e-Arrival Card in arrival guides for students and staff.
• Community groups — help OCI families and frequent travelers update routines.

Quick checklist before departure

1. Complete the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before your flight.
2. Save the confirmation as a PDF/image and keep it on your phone.
3. Print a copy as a backup.
4. Keep passport and visa—or OCI card—together and accessible.
5. Ensure enough phone battery to display documents on arrival.
6. If you didn’t submit online, accept and fill the paper card when offered.

Important: The digital system is in force from October 1, 2025, and the OCI inclusion was clarified on October 4, 2025. The six-month grace period runs through March 31, 2026. After that, the government expects the process to move fully online, though the end date may be adjusted based on rollout progress.

For official instructions and to submit your form, use the government’s e-Arrival Card portal at the Indian Visa Online e-Arrival portal. The site hosts the live form and provides the confirmation you will need at check-in and on arrival. The Indian Visa “Su-Swagatam” mobile app also offers a similar path to complete and store your submission. Completing the card takes minutes; skipping it can cost much more time after you land.