(INDIA) India will require all foreign travellers to complete a new online e-Arrival Card before entering the country starting October 1, 2025, replacing the paper disembarkation form that has long been a feature of international arrivals. The government says the digital card must be submitted within 72 hours before landing in India and shown to immigration officers upon request. The change affects all foreign nationals, regardless of whether they hold a regular visa or an e-visa, and applies at airports across the country.
Authorities say the shift aims to speed up immigration lines, reduce paperwork, and create a more reliable record of who is entering India and why.
Submission window and official portals
Officials have set a clear submission window: travellers must complete the e-Arrival Card no earlier than 72 hours (3 days) before their flight to India. Submissions outside that window will not be accepted, and arriving without a timely submission could lead to delays at immigration counters.
The government directs passengers to use official portals, including:
- Bureau of Immigration
- Indian Visa Online
- The official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app
India joins countries such as Singapore and Australia that already use digital arrival declarations to speed up screening.
Who this affects and practical impacts
The new policy matters for a broad cross-section of travellers:
- Business visitors with tight schedules
- Tourists connecting to places like Goa or Jaipur
- International students arriving for term start
- Families coming for medical care or visiting relatives
Airlines will still check passports and visas at check-in, but immigration officers in India may ask to see a copy of the e-Arrival Card submission confirmation. Authorities advise downloading or printing the receipt after submitting the form to avoid delays.
Tip: Keep a digital copy on your phone and a printed copy in your carry-on to present quickly if requested.
Why India is making the change
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the rollout signals India’s push toward contactless processing at busy airports while keeping a digital trail that can be reviewed quickly if questions arise about travel history or purpose. The system is designed to trim minutes off each inspection, which can add up during peak hours when multiple wide-body aircraft arrive.
While the change is simple on paper, it requires a shift in habit — travellers who filled paper forms on the plane will now complete the process online before departure.
What information the e-Arrival Card collects
Under the new rules, the e-Arrival Card collects a standard set of details to support risk assessment and faster clearance:
- Personal data: full name, nationality, passport number
- Arrival details: date of arrival and flight information
- Purpose of travel: options include tourism, business, study, medical treatment, employment, research, conference, etc.
- Recent travel history: movements for the previous six days before arrival
- Local address in India: hotel or residence
- Contact details: email and phone number
- Emergency contact
Each field helps officials identify issues quickly without long conversations at the counter. The online form prompts users to complete required fields, reducing incomplete submissions that often happened with handwritten cards.
Timeline summary
- Effective date: October 1, 2025
- Submission window: Within 72 hours (3 days) prior to arrival
- Where to submit: Bureau of Immigration, Indian Visa Online, or the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app
- Who must submit: All foreign travellers, including regular visa and e-visa holders
- Proof at arrival: Download or print the e-Arrival Card confirmation and carry it for immigration inspection if asked
India’s specification of a six-day travel history follows common screening practices used for health, security, and overstays, focusing on recent movements rather than long-term travel profiles.
How to prepare — checklist for travellers
Filling out the e-Arrival Card should take only a few minutes if you have key details ready. Gather the following before starting:
- Passport and flight information
- Exact date and port of arrival in India
- Purpose of visit (tourism, business, study, medical, employment, research, or conference)
- Address in India (hotel booking or host’s address)
- Recent travel history for the last six days
- Email, phone number, and emergency contact
After submission:
- Download the receipt or take a clear screenshot.
- Keep a digital copy on your phone and a paper copy in your carry-on.
- If an officer asks to see proof, showing the confirmation quickly can prevent a longer inspection.
Additional practical points:
- Each individual requires a separate submission; parents/guardians can complete forms for minors.
- Travellers connecting through multiple Indian airports only need one submission for their arrival.
- If plans change, ensure your arrival date still falls within the 72-hour window and resubmit if necessary.
- Avoid relying on in-flight or airport Wi‑Fi — complete the form before departure from a stable connection.
Effects on industry and institutions
Airlines, hotels, and tour operators will likely update pre-flight messages and checklists in the weeks leading up to October 1, 2025. Travel agents serving frequent visitors to India will add the e-Arrival Card to standard trip planning.
Employers and institutions should update their guidance:
- HR teams: include the e-Arrival Card step in pre-trip briefings and send links to Bureau of Immigration and Indian Visa Online.
- Universities: include the e-Arrival Card in onboarding letters and provide the campus address for the form.
- Travel insurance providers: consider adding reminders on their pre-travel advice pages.
Families traveling together may want to complete forms jointly to avoid errors. Airlines may display reminders during online check-in to nudge passengers to submit within the correct timeframe.
Benefits and trade-offs
Expected benefits:
- Faster immigration lines and fewer queue bottlenecks
- Fewer mistakes compared with handwritten cards
- Consistent digital format for officers to review data quickly
- Reduced paper waste
Trade-offs:
- Increased responsibility on travellers to act before departure
- Potential delays for those who forget to submit within the window
- Early system peaks will test portal capacity and passenger adaptation
Best practice: set a reminder to complete the form as soon as your flight falls within the three-day window, store a copy on your phone, and carry a printout. If you change your itinerary, revisit the portal and resubmit if needed.
Final takeaway
India’s e-Arrival Card is a practical upgrade aligned with global trends toward digital arrivals. For most travellers, planning ahead will mean smoother arrival procedures and less time spent filling out forms after a long flight. For immigration officials, the system provides quicker access to consistent data so they can focus on security and compliance rather than correcting handwriting or chasing missing fields. Travelers who prepare and submit within the 72-hour window should experience faster processing at major hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
India will implement a mandatory online e-Arrival Card for all foreign nationals from October 1, 2025. Travellers must submit the digital form no earlier than 72 hours before arrival via official portals—including the Bureau of Immigration site, Indian Visa Online, or the Su-Swagatam app—and present the confirmation to immigration officers if requested. The form collects personal information, flight details, purpose of travel, a six-day travel history, local address in India, and emergency contact. The move aims to speed up immigration lines, reduce paperwork and errors associated with handwritten cards, and create consistent digital records. Travellers should download or print the receipt and resubmit if arrival plans change to avoid delays.
