Beginning October 1, 2025, India has replaced the physical arrival (disembarkation) card for foreign

travelers with a digital e-Arrival card. All foreign nationals entering India must complete the online form

within 72 hours of their arrival.

What you need to know about the new system

 Who must fill it out?

 All foreign travelers, including those with an e-Visa, tourist visa, business visa, or student visa.

 Indian passport holders and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders are exempt from this

requirement.

 How to apply: The e-Arrival card can be completed through the following official platforms:

o Indian Visa Online portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/

o Bureau of Immigration website: boi.gov.in/boi/

o Indian Visa "Su-Swagatam" mobile app

 When to apply: You can submit the form up to 72 hours before your flight.

 Required information: The digital form requires the same information as the previous paper version,

including:

o Passport and visa details

o Date of arrival and flight details

o Purpose of visit

o Your address in India

o Contact information, including email and phone number

o Emergency contact information

 At the airport: After submitting the form online, you will receive a digital confirmation, possibly

including a QR code or reference number. While you should save this confirmation on your phone or

print it, your information will be pre-loaded into the immigration system, which should speed up the

clearance process.

Transition period

For the initial six months, a transition period is in place where physical arrival cards will still be accepted,

though travelers are strongly encouraged to use the new online system for a faster and more efficient

experience