The 72-hour window: when to file your India arrival form

The India immigration form can be filed only within the 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India. Work backwards from the date and time you expect to reach your first Indian airport, land border or port of entry. The relevant point is your arrival in India, not the time you leave home or board the first leg of a journey.

This distinction matters on itineraries with long stopovers. A flight that departs two days before arrival may still fall outside the permitted period at departure, while a short connection can bring the arrival card India window closer than expected. Check the final arrival time on your confirmed itinerary before opening the India arrival form.

Prepare your passport details, accommodation address and flight information before the 72-hour window opens. Then file the India immigration form when the window begins, with information that reflects the trip you are actually taking. Treating an earlier submission as valid can leave you with details that do not match the journey on arrival.

What you need before starting the India entry form

Have the passport for each traveller ready before you start the India entry form. Enter the passport number, issue date, expiry date, full name and nationality exactly as shown in the travel document. Small spelling differences can make an India immigration form harder to match with the traveller at arrival.

You will also need your arrival date, airline and flight number, plus the first airport, port or other point of entry in India. Keep your India arrival form aligned with the itinerary you expect to use. Bring your visa or e-Visa details when they apply to your nationality; OCI cardholders should also have their OCI card number available.

Prepare the address of your accommodation in India, a working email address and the requested contact details for every person travelling. An India customs declaration form is separate from this arrival declaration if one is required for your circumstances, so do not assume one document replaces the other. Review all travel information before submitting each traveller’s form.

Simple Process

How to complete the India immigration form online

Three steps to file your India arrival form inside the 72-hour window, without queueing at the airport.

1

Fill out the India arrival form online

Enter the passport, journey and accommodation details requested for your trip.

2

Your immigration form checked and submitted

We review the information you provide and submit the form during the permitted window.

3

Show the QR code and enter India

Keep your confirmation available with your passport and other relevant travel documents.

Mistakes that delay travellers at Indian immigration

A common India immigration form mistake is filing outside the 72-hour window. Base the timing on the scheduled arrival in India and check it again if a flight is rebooked. Another frequent error is choosing the wrong first point of entry when the itinerary includes a domestic connection after an international arrival.

Names, passport numbers and dates on the India arrival form should match the passport exactly. Do not assume an OCI card removes the arrival declaration, and do not leave travel or accommodation information incomplete just because it may look familiar from a visa application. The India customs form, where applicable, is separate from the arrival declaration.

Use an email address you can access while travelling and review the confirmation before departure. Finally, avoid treating one India immigration form as a family record: each traveller’s identifying details need to be represented accurately. These checks do not guarantee admission, but they help ensure the declaration reflects the documents and itinerary presented on arrival.

What is the India e-Arrival card (immigration form)?

The India e-Arrival card — also called the India immigration form, the India arrival form, the India entry form, the India landing card or the India travel declaration form — is the mandatory electronic declaration every international traveller submits before entering India. It replaced the India disembarkation card on 1 April 2026.

This India arrival card records the traveller and journey details needed for the arrival process. It is not a visa and it does not decide whether a traveller is eligible for a visa, e-Visa or visa exemption. Keep those requirements separate when preparing your trip.

File the India immigration form within 72 hours before arrival, using the scheduled time you enter India. The process is digital, so travellers no longer rely on the previous India disembarkation card during the journey.

Apply for your e-Arrival Card Now >>
India Digital Form

OCI cardholders and the India immigration form

OCI and eOCI cardholders also need to complete the India e-Arrival Card within the permitted 72-hour window. The arrival declaration is separate from the document that establishes a person’s OCI status. OCI can change the visa question for a traveller, but it does not remove the need to provide the arrival information requested before entering India.

When completing the India immigration form, use the passport and travel information that match the trip. Keep the relevant card details available if requested. This helps ensure that the arrival declaration reflects the traveller’s current documents rather than an older itinerary or a different passport record.

Think of the India e-Arrival Card as an arrival declaration, not a visa application. Whether you travel with this status, an e-Visa, a regular visa or another permitted status, review the entry requirements that apply to you and complete the separate declaration inside the 72-hour window.

Why travellers file their India immigration form here

Your arrival form checked before it is submitted

Filed inside the 72-hour window, at the right moment

Every day of the year, including Indian holidays

Refund support under our published policy

Review the refund policy before applying.

Is the India immigration form mandatory?

Yes. Since 1 April 2026 every international traveller must submit the India e-Arrival card before landing, and the India disembarkation card no longer exists.

The India immigration form is an arrival declaration, not a replacement for a visa, e-Visa or other status documentation. If your nationality requires a visa, keep that document available as well as the India e-Arrival Card.

Nationalities that need the
India arrival card

Every international passenger travelling to India completes the immigration form online, whichever country they travel from.

US Flag United States CA Flag Canada GB Flag United Kingdom NL Flag Netherlands AF Flag Afghanistan AX Flag Aland Islands AL Flag Albania DZ Flag Algeria AS Flag American Samoa AD Flag Andorra AO Flag Angola AI Flag Anguilla

After you submit the India arrival card

Keep the confirmation for your India arrival card available from the moment it is issued. Save it in the email account you can access while travelling, and keep a screenshot or downloaded copy as a backup. Your QR code and the key traveller details should be easy to find without depending on airport Wi-Fi.

Before departure, compare the India e-Arrival Card confirmation with your passport, flight details and first point of entry. Carry the passport and the visa, e-Visa or other status documents that apply to your journey alongside the India arrival form. The arrival declaration does not replace any separate travel document required for entry.

If an important part of the trip changes, such as the arrival flight or accommodation, review the current process before travelling and make sure the information you present reflects the journey you will actually take.

India arrival card: frequently asked questions

Clear answers about the India e-Arrival Card, the India immigration form and the 72-hour arrival window.

Is the India immigration form the same as the e-Arrival card?
Yes. India immigration form, India arrival form, India entry form, digital landing card and India e-Arrival Card are common ways of referring to the same electronic arrival declaration. It is separate from a visa and is used to provide the traveller and journey information required before entering India.
Can I complete the India arrival card myself?
Yes. This website provides optional independent assistance to review and submit the information you provide. You can choose the process that suits your travel plans, while making sure every traveller’s passport and journey details are accurate.
When exactly can I submit the India arrival form?
Submit it within the 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India. Use the date and time you are due to arrive in India, rather than the time your first flight departs. Prepare your passport, itinerary and accommodation details in advance so you can file during the permitted window.
Do OCI cardholders need to file it?
Yes. OCI and eOCI cardholders also complete the India e-Arrival Card. This status affects the visa question, while the arrival declaration records the journey and traveller details requested for entry. Keep the relevant status details available when they apply to your trip.
Does it replace the paper disembarkation card?
Yes. The India e-Arrival Card replaces the paper disembarkation card. Filing the online declaration before arrival means you do not rely on completing the old paper arrival form during your journey.
What details do I need for the India entry form?
Have your passport details, arrival date, airline and flight number, first point of entry and accommodation address ready. Bring the visa, e-Visa or relevant status information that applies to your nationality. Each traveller’s details should match their own passport and itinerary.
Can I file one form for my whole family?
Each traveller needs an arrival declaration with their own identifying details. Family members can share parts of an itinerary or accommodation address, but do not assume one India arrival form covers every person. Review each traveller’s confirmation before departure.
Will I receive a confirmation after submission?
Keep the confirmation sent for your India arrival card available with your travel documents. Check the email address entered on the form, save a copy or screenshot, and confirm that the passport and journey details match the trip you are taking.
What happens if I arrive without the form?
Arriving without a correctly prepared India immigration form can lead to questions or delays while the required arrival information is completed or clarified. Avoid relying on airport connectivity or last-minute changes: prepare the details in advance and file inside the 72-hour window.
Is the India e-Arrival Card a visa?
No. The India e-Arrival Card is an arrival declaration, not a visa. Whether you need a visa or e-Visa depends on your nationality and travel purpose. An OCI card, visa or e-Visa does not replace the separate arrival declaration when it is required.
Complete my India immigration form ✈️
Start my India e-Arrival Card