How to Apply for India e-Arrival Card Online: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for the India e-Arrival Card takes 5–10 minutes at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/ or via the Su-Swagatam mobile app. You’ll need your passport, flight details, India address, and emergency contact ready — no document uploads or account registration required.

What You Need Before You Start the India e-Arrival Card

Before applying for the India e-Arrival Card, gather your passport, flight booking reference, India accommodation address, and emergency contact details — having everything ready means completing the India e-Arrival Card in one sitting without interruption.

Gather these 5 items before you begin:

1. Your passport — open to the data page (passport number, nationality, issue date, expiry date)
2. Flight booking reference — for your flight number, airline name, and arrival date
3. India accommodation details — hotel name and full address, OR your host’s full residential address
4. Emergency contact — a relative or friend’s full name, phone number (with country code), and their relationship to you
5. Your contact details — your mobile number (with country code) and email address

Time required: 5–10 minutes from start to download of your QR code confirmation.
Window: Complete the India e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India.
Cost: Completely free — the India e-Arrival Card is described as a “free of cost service of Indian Immigration.”

How to Apply for India e-Arrival Card on the Official Website (Step by Step)

The India e-Arrival Card official website at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/ walks you through an 8-step process that takes 5–10 minutes to complete and is entirely free — no login or account required.

Step 1 — Visit the Official India e-Arrival Card Portal

Open your browser and go to: indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/

This is the official Bureau of Immigration portal for the India e-Arrival Card. You will see two options:
– “New Application” — for first-time applicants or each new trip
– “Quick Fill From Existing Data” — for travelers who have previously submitted an India e-Arrival Card

No registration, no account, and no login are required.

Step 2 — Choose New Application or Quick Fill

• New Application: Click to start a fresh India e-Arrival Card form
• Quick Fill: Enter your passport number and nationality to auto-populate your previous passport details (see Quick Fill section below for details)

Step 3 — Enter Your Passport Details

Fill in your passport information exactly as it appears in your passport:
– Passport number (alphanumeric, no spaces)
– Nationality / Issuing country
– Passport issue date
– Passport expiry date

Double-check these entries — errors in passport details can cause issues at immigration.

Step 4 — Enter Your Flight and Arrival Information

Provide your travel details:
– Date of arrival in India
– Flight number (e.g., AI 123 or EK 501)
– Airline name
– Port of entry / arrival airport (e.g., Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi)

Have your flight booking confirmation open for reference.

Step 5 — Enter Contact and Emergency Contact Details

The India e-Arrival Card requires two sets of contact information:

Your contact details:
– Email address (valid and accessible during travel)
– Mobile phone number (with full country code, e.g., +1-555-123-4567)

Emergency contact:
– Full name of emergency contact
– Their phone number (with country code)
– Their relationship to you (parent, spouse, sibling, friend, etc.)

Step 6 — Enter Purpose of Visit and India Address

Purpose of visit: Select from the dropdown:
– Tourism, Business, Education/Study, Medical Treatment, Transit, Conference/Event, Other

Local address in India:
– If staying at a hotel: Hotel name + full address + city + state
– If staying with family or friends: Host’s full residential address + city + state

This field is mandatory — the India e-Arrival Card cannot be submitted without an India address.

Step 7 — Complete the Health Declaration

The India e-Arrival Card includes a brief health declaration section. This is a checkbox-style self-declaration about your current health status. It does not require any medical documents or test results. For most travelers, this takes under 30 seconds.

Step 8 — Review, Submit, and Download Your QR Code

Before submitting:
– Review all entries carefully for accuracy
– Check passport number, dates, and contact information

Click Submit. The India e-Arrival Card system will immediately process your submission and generate:
– A digital confirmation with a unique QR code
– Your application reference number

Download and/or print the QR code confirmation. You will need to present this:
– At your departure airport gate (airlines are instructed to check the QR code before boarding)
– At Indian immigration counters on arrival

How to Apply Using the Su-Swagatam Mobile App

The Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app provides the same India e-Arrival Card application on iOS and Android — the same process as the website, in a mobile-friendly format optimized for smartphones.

To apply via the Su-Swagatam app:

1. Download the “Indian Visa Su-Swagatam” app from the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android)
2. Open the app and select “e-Arrival Card”
3. Follow the same 8-step process: passport → flight → contact → India address → health declaration → submit
4. Download your QR code confirmation from within the app
5. Keep the confirmation accessible in your phone gallery

When to use the app vs the website:
– App: Ideal for mobile users, travelers filling the form while at the airport or in transit
– Website: Better for desktop users or when filling in advance with more typing comfort

Both options produce the same valid QR code confirmation accepted at all Indian airports.

Using the Quick Fill Feature (Returning Travelers)

If you have previously submitted an India e-Arrival Card, the Quick Fill feature lets you pre-populate your form using just your passport number and nationality — saving time for repeat visitors to India.

How to use Quick Fill:
1. Visit indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/
2. Select “Quick Fill From Existing Data”
3. Enter your Passport Number and Nationality
4. Your previous passport details will be pre-filled automatically
5. Update any changed information (new expiry date, new India address, updated flight details)
6. Complete remaining fields and submit

Important: Always verify pre-filled data is still accurate. Passport details change with renewals, and India addresses change with each trip. The Quick Fill saves typing time but requires careful review before submission.

Do You Need an Account or Login for the India e-Arrival Card?

No registration or login is required to apply for the India e-Arrival Card — just visit the portal directly at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/ and start filling the form.

The India e-Arrival Card portal is designed as an open, access-all service. You do not need to:
– Create a user account
– Register with an email address
– Remember any password
– Log in to a government portal

Simply visit the official website or open the Su-Swagatam app, and begin your India e-Arrival Card application immediately. This design makes the process accessible to all international travelers, regardless of their technology experience.

The only identification required is your passport number and nationality — which you’ll enter in the form itself.

What Happens After You Submit the India e-Arrival Card?

After submitting the India e-Arrival Card, a digital QR code confirmation is instantly generated — download it, print a copy, and have it ready when boarding your flight and when arriving at Indian immigration.

Immediately after submission:
1. Your India e-Arrival Card is processed instantly
2. A QR code confirmation is generated and displayed
3. Download the confirmation to your phone and/or print it

At the departure airport:
– Airlines departing to India have been instructed to check the India e-Arrival Card QR code at the gate before boarding
– Travelers with a valid QR code board without issues
– Travelers without a QR code may be directed to complete the form on-site — which can cause delays

At Indian immigration:
– Present your QR code (digital on phone or printed copy) at the immigration counter
– Airports with high volumes of international arrivals (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru) have e-Arrival Fast Lanes — dedicated lanes for travelers who have completed the India e-Arrival Card
– Bureau of Immigration pilot data shows that e-Arrival Card travelers clear immigration in under 3 minutes, compared to 5–6 minutes for paper card travelers

Frequently Asked Questions