On 1 October 2025, the Government of India announced phased elimination of the physical disembarkation form and introduced the e-Arrival Card for foreign nationals and citizens, aiming to reduce delays in the post-arrival process at entry airports. Since then, the new digital arrival card has been part of the checklist for travel to India for non-Indian passport holders. Starting April 2026, paper disembarkation forms will be completely phased out and the e-Arrival Card is mandatory for foreign passport holders traveling to India.
Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking agency for budget flight tickets to India, walks you through what is the new e-Arrival Card, how to apply for it, who are exempt, etc. Read on to know whether OCI Cardholders need the digital e-Arrival Card to enter India.
What is India’s e-Arrival Card
The e-arrival disembarkation card is a token of safe entry into India for foreign passport holders. This pre-arrival process ensures post-arrival convenience, faster immigration clearance, and quick exit or transfer to the connecting domestic flight at major Indian airports. Until 1 October, inbound foreign travelers had to fill out a paper disembarkation form aboard flights to India or at entry airports. Filling the physical form manually would entail such risks as human error, misinformation, incomplete or inaccurate details, and slow processing.
Requiring foreign visitors to fill out a digital arrival form is a global trend these days. Like Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Japan, China, and South Korea; India digitized the pre-arrival process to streamline and secure the immigration system for foreign travelers. You must fill out the online form before your scheduled flight to India. Without a digital disembarkation card, you may risk your entry to India or face boarding denial at the departure airport.
Who Needs e-Arrival Card to travel to India?
OCI Cardholders and all foreigners, including tourists, students, business visitors, and medical treatment seekers, must fill out the digital Disembarkation form at Indian government’s e-Arrival Card portal within 72 hours prior to their scheduled arrival in India. No, OCI cardholders are not exempt to India’s new entry requirement for foreigners. Starting 7 October 2025, Indian-origin foreign citizens having an OCI Card must travel to India with a digital arrival card.
How to Apply for India’s e-Arrival Card: Step-by-Step Guide
It is easy and simple to apply online for a disembarkation card to enter India. You neither need to upload documents nor pay a fee. It takes a few minutes to fill out India’s digital arrival form, a replacement of the physical disembarkation form.
- Open the official website www.indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or download the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app.
- Fill out the online form with your personal details, passport number, date of arrival in India, valid contact information, address of stay in India.
- Add details of other travelers in the same form, if you are flying with family or friends.
- Review the information you provide in India’s e-arrival form for a disembarkation card before you tick the self-declaration box and submit the form.
- A confirmation message comes to the registered email ID and/or mobile phone number. Save it on your phone or carry a printout with you.
Benefits of India’s Digital Arrival Form
The e-Arrival Card brings several advantages for foreign travelers arriving in India:
- Faster immigration clearance
- Reduced wait time on arrival
- Quick exit or transfer to domestic flights
- No stress to fill out the form during a flight
- Absolute convenience to apply using a phone
- Fewer chances for inaccuracy of details
- No room for handwriting error
- Verifiable data of foreign arrivals
- More efficient process for the government to track arrivals
- Enhanced immigration security
Are you sure OCI card holders need to fill e-arrival form? Many websites say that OCI and Indian citizens need not fill the form.
Hi Ramesh! Yes, the official website of Indian visa clearly states that both foreigners and OCI cardholders must get an e-Arrival Card to travel to India.
When you go and see earrival form online it doesn’t state OCI, under the section purpose of visit only visa holders required to fill the form
Thank you for the newsletter. It is important that people know
Hi Padmini! Thank you very much for appreciating our efforts to share the latest developments with Indian Diaspora.
I arrived into Mumbai on 04/10/2025 and had to complete a physical copy of the disembarking card, despite having an OCI. This might have come into affect but I think someone forgot to tell Indian immigration of the change. It was total chaos!
I am an OCI holder and arrived in India on Oct 11. I was strictly advised by the Airline staff to fill the earrival form. It was easy and it was further confirmed at immigration that OCI holders are required to fill that form.
If OCI card holder has to travel on emergency due to some social situations, can he travel or he has to wait at least 72 hours?
Hi Dipak! OCI cardholders and foreigners need to fill out the e-arrival form online within 72 hours before their scheduled arrival in India. Filling out the form online is easy. You don’t need to upload any documents.
My Son-in-Law is a green card holder and planning to come to India in Nov 2025 from USA. Whether Digital e- Arrival Card is required or not? If so, How to apply?
But, he is already possessing e-gate immigration approval from the Bureau of immigration, N.Delhi and directly enter into arrival Airport through E- gate. In such a case, e- arrival card is required or not? This is a duplication of the existing system.
Pl.reply with proper clarification.
Hello Sir! India’s e-Arrival Card is mandatory for foreign nationals and OCI cardholders. If your son-in-law is an Indian passport holder, he does not need to get a digital e-arrival card to enter India.
Hi,
I have an OCI and stay with my husband in iNDIA. What should I mention in purpose of visit in digital e arrival online form?
thanks
Hi Sumathi! You can select ‘other’ in the purpose box. Just a suggestion.
Being a Philippines citizen, and having a transit time in India around 7 hours 55 minutes while traveling to kingdom of Saudi Arabia, do I need to fill out this form?
i have submitted my E arrival card how long will it take to get a respond
I’ll be arriving in India (from Nepal) 11pm on January 29th & my connecting flight to Goa is on the 30th.
Should I apply for my e arrival card on Monday or Tuesday.
Thank you
Hi Karen! No matter when your connecting flight to Goa is scheduled. You must apply for an e-arrival card within 72 hours prior to your arrival in India.
I am an OCI card holder living in the USA. I have filled all the details correctly on the E-arrival card BUT on that page it does not give me the DISTRICT options to select and says NO DISTRICT FOUND. Also does not let me type in my district too – it is marked with a red star which has to be filled in . When I submitted the form it says select district ????? Is it the web site problem or is it from my side ? Please advise. Thanks in advance.