The India e-Arrival Card is mandatory for all non-Indian passport holders and OCI cardholders traveling to India. The form requires 8 categories of information — including passport details, flight information, contact details, emergency contact, India address, and a short health declaration — and no document uploads are needed to submit it.
Who Must Complete the India e-Arrival Card?
Every non-Indian passport holder and every OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholder must complete the India e-Arrival Card before arriving in India. The only exemption is Indian citizens — those holding Indian passports. All other travelers, regardless of nationality, visa type, or length of stay, must comply.
Foreign Nationals
The India e-Arrival Card requirement applies to all non-Indian passport holders without exception:
- Tourists visiting India for leisure
- Business travelers attending meetings, conferences, or events
- Students enrolled in Indian educational institutions
- Medical visitors traveling for medical treatment
- Transit passengers stopping through Indian airports
- Journalists, athletes, artists, and performers
- Any other purpose — the visa category does not affect the requirement
The requirement has been in effect since October 1, 2025, and applies at all international airports and entry points across India.
OCI Cardholders
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders are also required to complete the India e-Arrival Card. This was not always the case: when the system was launched on October 1, 2025, OCI holders were initially exempt. However, just four days later, on October 4, 2025, the Government of India updated the regulation to include OCI cardholders in the requirement.
If you hold an OCI card, you must complete the India e-Arrival Card the same way any other foreign national does — before your arrival, within the 72-hour window, through the official portal or the Su-Swagatam app.
Who Is Exempt?
The only group exempt from the India e-Arrival Card requirement is Indian citizens — that is, holders of Indian passports. No other exemptions exist. Whether you hold a diplomatic visa, a long-term visa, are a diplomat, or have any other special status as a non-Indian national, the India e-Arrival Card requirement still applies to you.
Complete List of Required Information for the India e-Arrival Card
The India e-Arrival Card form requires 8 categories of personal and travel information — having these ready before you start will make the process smooth and take just 5–10 minutes to complete.
1. Passport Details
The India e-Arrival Card requires the following passport information:
- Passport number (as printed on your passport)
- Nationality / country of passport issuance
- Passport issue date
- Passport expiry date
Have your passport open when filling out the India e-Arrival Card to avoid errors. Typos in passport numbers can cause issues at immigration.
2. Flight and Arrival Information
The India e-Arrival Card also collects your travel information:
- Date of arrival in India
- Flight number and airline name
- Port of entry (airport you will arrive at)
- Estimated duration of stay
This information helps Indian immigration pre-process your arrival and is cross-referenced with flight records.
3. Contact Details
You will need to provide your personal contact information:
- Email address (valid and accessible during travel)
- Phone number (with country code — your mobile number)
Ensure your email is correct as the digital confirmation receipt may be sent there.
4. Emergency Contact Information
One field that surprises many travelers: the India e-Arrival Card requires emergency contact information. According to traveler reports and the official form guidance, you must provide:
- Emergency contact’s full name
- Emergency contact’s phone number (with country code)
- Relationship to you (parent, spouse, friend, etc.)
This is not required by most competitor guides, but is a real field on the India e-Arrival Card form. Have this information ready before you start.
5. Purpose of Visit
Select your primary purpose of visit from the available options:
- Tourism
- Business
- Education / Study
- Medical Treatment
- Transit
- Conference / Event
- Other
Choose the option that best describes your primary reason for visiting India.
6. Local Address in India
You must provide a full local address where you will be staying in India:
- If staying at a hotel: hotel name + full address + city
- If staying with family or friends: their full residential address + city
- If visiting multiple locations: use your first night’s accommodation
Common question: “What if I don’t know my India address yet?” — The form requires an address. It is strongly recommended to book at least your first night’s accommodation before submitting the India e-Arrival Card. If staying with family, confirm their full address in advance.
7. Health Declaration
The India e-Arrival Card includes a short health declaration section. According to VisaHQ, travelers are asked to complete a brief health status declaration. This does not require medical documents or test results — it is a checkbox-style self-declaration. Travelers in good health simply confirm their status. This field takes under 30 seconds to complete.
8. Confirmation Output
After successfully submitting all fields, the India e-Arrival Card system generates:
- A digital confirmation with a QR code
- The QR code must be presented at the departure gate (airlines check it) and at immigration counters
Print your confirmation or save it to your phone’s photo gallery before your flight.
What Documents Do You NOT Need to Upload?
Despite requiring detailed traveler information, the India e-Arrival Card does not require uploading any physical documents. This is one of the most important things to know about the India e-Arrival Card requirements:
- ❌ No passport scan or photo copy
- ❌ No visa document upload
- ❌ No photograph or selfie
- ❌ No travel insurance documents
- ❌ No hotel booking confirmation upload
- ❌ No flight ticket upload
You only need to type in the relevant details. This makes the India e-Arrival Card significantly faster to complete than a visa application. The official portal describes it as a “free of cost service” that takes just minutes to fill out.
Adding Family Members to the India e-Arrival Card
Travelers can use the “add member” feature on the official India e-Arrival Card portal to include family members or co-travelers in a connected submission.
The “add member” feature is useful for:
- Families traveling together — parents submitting for minor children
- Group travelers — travel managers adding multiple employees
- Couples and friends traveling on the same itinerary
Each individual member still provides their own personal passport and contact information. The group link simply connects the submissions under one lead traveler’s reference.
To use the add member feature:
1. Visit indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/
2. Begin your own submission
3. Select the “Add Member” option before finalizing
4. Enter the additional traveler’s details
5. Submit all submissions together
All members receive their own QR code confirmation that must be presented individually at immigration.
Tips to Prepare Before Filling the India e-Arrival Card
Have your passport, India accommodation details, and emergency contact information ready before starting the India e-Arrival Card to complete the form in one sitting without interruption.
Six preparation tips:
- Open your passport to the photo/data page — you’ll need passport number, issue and expiry dates, and nationality
- Confirm your India accommodation address — book at least one night before starting the form
- Save your emergency contact’s phone number — full international format (country code + number)
- Note your flight number — from your booking confirmation email or airline app
- Download the Su-Swagatam app as a backup in case the website is slow or unavailable
- Complete 24–48 hours before departure — not at the last minute at 72 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs to fill an e-Arrival Card for India?
All non-Indian passport holders and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders must complete the India e-Arrival Card before arriving in India. Indian citizens (Indian passport holders) are the only exemption.
What information is required on the India e-Arrival Card?
The India e-Arrival Card requires: passport details (number, nationality, issue/expiry dates), flight and arrival information, your email and phone, an emergency contact (name, phone, relationship), purpose of visit, your India address, and a short health declaration. No document uploads are required.
Do I need to upload my passport for the India e-Arrival Card?
No. The India e-Arrival Card does not require uploading any documents. You only need to type in your passport number, nationality, and dates — no scans, photos, or file uploads needed.
Is a health declaration required on the India e-Arrival Card?
Yes. The India e-Arrival Card includes a short health declaration section. It is a brief checkbox-style self-declaration and does not require any medical documents or test results.
Can I add family members to a single India e-Arrival Card submission?
Yes. The official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/ has an “add member” feature that allows you to add family members or co-travelers. Each person still provides their own details and receives their own QR code confirmation.
What do I put for the address in India if staying with friends or family?
Enter your host’s full residential address — house number, street, city, and state. Confirm this with your host before filling out the India e-Arrival Card. You cannot leave this field blank.
Are Indian citizens required to fill the India e-Arrival Card?
No. Indian citizens (holders of Indian passports) are exempt from the India e-Arrival Card requirement. Only non-Indian passport holders and OCI cardholders must complete it.
