The shift to digital arrival cards has now reached India! The Indian Government just announced that it is set to scrap its old-school paper disembarkation form and replace it with an e-Arrival Card. Starting October 1, 2025, all foreign travellers entering India will be able to submit their details online before reaching immigration.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) says the new e-Arrival Card will ease bottlenecks at airport counters and cut down wait times for travellers.
Understanding the e-Arrival Card
For decades, foreign travellers arriving in India have been required to fill out a disembarkation card, listing personal, travel, and immigration details like passport number, flight details, purpose of visit, and address in India. Immigration officers use this document to process entry.
From October 1, the paper disembarkation form will disappear. Travellers will instead complete a digital e-Arrival Card, a system already in place in several countries, including:
- United Kingdom
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Indonesia
This move aligns India with a growing global trend to simplify border control, cut paperwork, and reduce long queues at immigration counters.
Where to Access the e-Arrival Card
The government has already launched a dedicated portal for the upcoming system: indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival.
Currently, the site hosts a beta version of the form. It is available for testing but is not yet mandatory. Once the system officially goes live, travellers will be required to fill it out within five days before arriving in India.
What Information You’ll Need
The e-Arrival card will request details similar to the old paper form. Here’s what you’ll need to provide:
- Full name
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Date of arrival in India
- Purpose of visit (tourism, business, study, medical, AYUSH, employment, research, or conference)
- Countries visited in the past six days
- Address in India
- Email address
- Contact number
- Emergency contact details
Once submitted, travellers will receive a preview of their e-Arrival Card that can be presented on arrival if requested.
How to Apply for India’s Digital e-Arrival Card
Eligibility
All foreign nationals arriving in India must fill out the e-Arrival Card, whether they hold an e-Visa, sticker visa, or travel for business, tourism, study, or work. Indian nationals and OCI cardholders do not need to complete it.
Requirements
To complete the e-Arrival Card, travellers need:
- A valid passport
- Flight details for entry into India
- Local address in India (hotel or residence)
- An active email address and phone number
No document uploads are currently required; the system only asks for typed information.
Step-By-Step process
- Visit the official site: Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival.
- Fill in details: Enter personal, travel, and contact information.
- Submit within the timeframe: The form can be submitted up to five days before your arrival date.
- Save confirmation: After submitting, a digital arrival confirmation is generated. It is recommended to keep a digital copy or print a paper version in case immigration officers ask.
- Present on arrival: On landing in India, proceed to immigration as usual. Officers will access your digital card, which replaces the physical disembarkation form.
It is worth noting that, currently, the portal notes that this is a test platform, so some fields or the final design may change before the full rollout.
Why This Matters for Travellers
If you’ve stood in an immigration line in Delhi or Mumbai at peak arrival hours, you know how long the wait can be. Putting this paperwork online will speed up the process, especially for frequent flyers and business travellers who need faster clearance.
It also aligns India with other countries in Asia that have already gone digital, such as Thailand and Indonesia, with Papua New Guinea preparing to follow suit.
Final Takeaway
From October 1, 2025, foreign travellers to India will no longer need to fill out the paper disembarkation form. Instead, they will complete the digital e-Arrival Card online before travel. The system is currently in beta testing and will eventually integrate with India’s e-Visa platform.
Follow and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Google News for the latest travel news and updates!