India Requires e-Arrival Card Filing 72 Hours Before Travel

Anyone planning a trip to India now has one more box to tick before flying. The country has made its digital e-Arrival Card mandatory for all foreign nationals, including tourists, business travelers, students, employees and remote workers. The form must be submitted online within 72 hours before arrival, and it applies in addition to holding a valid visa or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

What changed

India discontinued paper disembarkation cards on April 1, after a six-month transition period. In their place, travelers must complete a free digital arrival record through the Bureau of Immigration's e-Arrival portal or the official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app. Once submitted, the system generates a QR code that immigration officers will check on arrival.

The card does not replace a visa or OCI card, and Indian citizens traveling on Indian passports are exempt. Everyone else, however, must file for each entry, regardless of visa length or residency status. Notably, there is no exemption for long-term foreign residents returning to the country, so even those who live in India need to complete the form every time they re-enter.

What it means for nomads

If India is on your route, treat the e-Arrival Card as a required pre-departure step rather than something to handle on landing. Airlines are increasingly checking for completion at check-in, so filing before you leave for the airport is the safest approach. Keep an offline copy of your QR code in case you have no connectivity when you arrive.

A practical warning on cost: the official e-Arrival Card carries no filing fee. Any website asking you to pay for it is a third-party service, not the government portal. Stick to the Bureau of Immigration's e-Arrival portal or the official Su-Swagatam app to avoid unnecessary charges.

The 72-hour window is generous enough to file comfortably ahead of most flights, but the requirement to submit for every single entry means frequent visitors and residents will need to build it into their routine. Plan the filing alongside your other pre-trip admin, confirm your visa or OCI status is valid, and carry proof of both your visa and your generated QR code when you travel.

Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.