India made the e-Arrival Card mandatory for foreign nationals and OCI cardholders, replacing the old paper disembarkation card with a digital form that must be submitted within 72 hours of landing. If you're an American passport holder planning a trip, here's everything you need to know before you fly, including what it costs, when to submit it, and how to avoid the mistakes that trip up first-time filers.
Did you know? The USA is home to more Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders than any other country — over 1.3 million, more than a third of all OCI cards issued worldwide, according to India's Ministry of Home Affairs. — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India — Lok Sabha reply on OCI cards
| Quick facts for American travelers | |
|---|---|
| Visa to enter India | e-Visa — 30-day, 1-year (up to 180 days per visit), or 5-year options |
| e-Arrival Card | Mandatory — within 72 hours of arrival |
| Good to know | Up to 180 days per visit on the 1-year e-Visa |
This is an independent guide, not an official government website. Below, you'll find everything American citizens need to know about the e-Arrival Card, plus how we can help you get it right.
File My India Arrival CardWhat the India e-Arrival Card Is (and What It Replaces)
The e-Arrival Card is India's digital replacement for the paper disembarkation card that used to be handed out on flights or collected at the airport. Instead of filling out a form by hand after landing, US Citizens now complete it online before departure. The goal, according to India's immigration authorities, is simple: cut down on airport queues, speed up processing at the border, and give immigration officers accurate traveler data before you even land.
It's worth being clear on what this form is not. The e-Arrival Card doesn't grant you permission to enter India — that's still the job of your visa, e-visa, or OCI card. Think of it as a pre-arrival check-in, not an entry authorization.
Is It Free? What the e-Arrival Card Actually Costs US Citizens
The e-Arrival Card is free when submitted directly through India's official government channels. There's no government fee attached to filing it yourself.
You may come across third-party websites offering to complete the form on your behalf for a fee. These sites aren't scams by default, but they are charging for a convenience service, not passing along a government charge. If you're comfortable filling in your own passport and travel details, you can complete the official form yourself at no cost.
The 72-Hour Submission Window Explained
US Citizens should plan to submit the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of arriving in India. This is the window cited most consistently by Indian immigration authorities and international mobility experts.
A word of caution: submitting too early or too close to your flight can occasionally cause issues, from rejected entries to verification delays. The safest approach is to complete your e-Arrival Card once your travel plans are finalized, but no more than three days before you land — and don't leave it until you're rushing to the gate.
Who Must Complete It: US Citizens, OCI Cardholders, and Exemptions
Every foreign national entering India for tourism, business, study, medical treatment, or family visits needs to complete the e-Arrival Card. That includes US Citizens, whether you're visiting for two weeks or two months.
OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are also required to submit the e-Arrival Card. This surprises a lot of travelers, since OCI status often comes with visa-free travel privileges — but the e-Arrival Card is a separate declaration, not a visa requirement, and OCI cardholders aren't exempt from it.
That includes the more than 1.3 million American OCI cardholders who return to India regularly to see family — OCI status waives your visa requirement, but it doesn't waive the e-Arrival Card. The only travelers who don't need to file one are Indian citizens traveling on an Indian passport. If you're passing through India in transit and never leave the international transit area, you're also generally exempt — but if you clear immigration for any reason, even briefly, you'll need to complete the form.
What You'll Need Before You Start
Before you sit down to fill out the e-Arrival Card, gather the following:
- Your passport (number, issue date, and expiry date)
- Your visa, e-visa, or OCI card details
- Your flight number and arrival date
- The purpose of your visit
- Your accommodation address in India
- Contact details, including email and phone number
- Emergency contact information
There's no need to upload scanned documents or photos — you're entering information, not attaching files. Having everything on hand beforehand makes the process take just a few minutes.
How to Submit the India e-Arrival Card
Find the Correct Official Form
Start at India's official immigration portal or app. Be cautious of unofficial sites that mimic the government's design but charge unnecessary fees or, worse, mishandle your personal data. Bookmark the correct site so you're not searching for it again on your return trip.
Enter Passport and Personal Details
Fill in your passport information exactly as it appears in your document, along with your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Small discrepancies here, like a mistyped passport number, are one of the most common reasons submissions get flagged.
Add Flight and Accommodation Details
Next, enter your flight number, arrival date, and the address where you'll be staying in India. If your plans change after submitting, keep a note of what you originally filed so you can compare it against your final itinerary.
Review, Submit, and Save Your QR Code
Double-check every field before you submit. Once you do, you'll receive a digital confirmation, typically including a QR code or reference number. Save it to your phone and, if possible, print a paper copy as backup. You'll want this on hand at check-in and immigration.
Traveling as a Family or Group
Each traveler needs their own passport details entered, including children — there's no single form that covers an entire family automatically. Some official filing channels let you add multiple travelers to one session, others require a separate submission per person; check the portal before you start, and when in doubt, file individually so no one's details get mixed up.
e-Arrival Card vs. Indian Visa: Why US Citizens Still Need Both
It's easy to assume that completing the e-Arrival Card means you're done with pre-travel paperwork, but it doesn't replace your visa or e-visa. The two serve entirely different purposes:
Your visa or e-visa is what grants you legal permission to enter India. The e-Arrival Card, on the other hand, is a pre-arrival information form that helps immigration officers process you faster once you land. American passport holders still need a valid visa, e-visa, or OCI card to travel to India — the e-Arrival Card is an additional step, not a substitute.
Common Mistakes US Citizens Make (and How to Avoid Them)
A few missteps show up again and again with first-time filers:
- Mismatched details: Entering a passport number, visa number, or flight detail that doesn't exactly match your official documents. Even a single-digit typo can cause delays.
- Bad timing: Submitting too far in advance or waiting until the last minute. Stick to the 72-hour window.
- Using unofficial sites: Filing through unverified third-party websites that may not securely handle your personal information.
- Forgetting your confirmation: Not saving or printing your QR code before you travel, then scrambling to find it at the airport.
- Confusing it with a visa: Assuming the e-Arrival Card replaces the need for a visa or e-visa.
- OCI cardholders skipping it: Believing OCI status exempts you from the form, when it doesn't.
- Assuming OCI status covers it. OCI cardholders are still required to file the e-Arrival Card — the OCI card only replaces the visa, not this separate pre-arrival declaration.
Avoiding these is mostly a matter of double-checking your entries and giving yourself a little breathing room before your flight.
How TravelDeclaration.com Can Help American Citizens
You're always welcome to complete the e-Arrival Card yourself directly through the official channel. Where we come in is everything around the process: reviewing your entries for the mistakes covered above, coordinating multiple passports and travelers in one household, and making sure nothing gets missed before you're standing at the gate.
We know there are other assisted-filing services out there — what we're focused on is being the most accurate and transparent one, not the only one.
Get Started With TravelDeclaration.comMore India e-Arrival Card Guides by Nationality
- India e-Arrival Card for Australian Citizens
- India e-Arrival Card for Bangladeshi Citizens
- India e-Arrival Card for UK Citizens
- India e-Arrival Card for Canadian Citizens
FAQ for US Citizens
Is the India e-Arrival Card the same as an e-Visa?
No. The e-visa grants you permission to enter India, while the e-Arrival Card is a separate pre-arrival declaration. You'll typically need both.
Do OCI cardholders need to complete it too?
Yes. OCI cardholders are required to submit the e-Arrival Card alongside other foreign nationals. Indian passport holders are the only ones exempt.
What happens if it's submitted too early, outside the 72-hour window?
Submitting outside the recommended window can lead to verification delays or, in some cases, a rejected submission. Aim to file within 72 hours of your arrival for the smoothest experience.
Is there a fee?
No. The e-Arrival Card is free through official government channels. Any fee you encounter is coming from a third-party assisted-filing service, not the Indian government.
Can one submission cover a family or group?
It depends on the filing channel — some allow it, some don't. Check the official portal directly, or file individually for each traveler if you're unsure, to make sure everyone's details are accurately recorded.
Does holding a US-issued OCI card change how I file the e-Arrival Card?
No. OCI cardholders born or naturalized in the US still file the same e-Arrival Card as any other visitor — the OCI card only affects your visa requirement, not this separate declaration.