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I recently traveled from the UAE to India and completed the India e-Arrival Card about 48 hours before my flight. I received the confirmation email, downloaded the PDF, and kept the QR code ready on my phone because I expected immigration to ask for it.
I landed at Hyderabad Airport earlier this week on an Indian e-Visa. When I reached the immigration counter, the officer scanned my passport, looked at my visa information, asked about the purpose of my visit, and stamped my passport. The whole interaction lasted less than two minutes.
What surprised me was that nobody asked to see my e-Arrival Card confirmation or QR code. I even had the confirmation open on my phone, but the officer never mentioned it.
Now I'm wondering whether this is normal or if my e-Arrival Card details were already available in their system. Has anyone else recently entered India without being asked for the confirmation? Does it depend on the airport, or do some officers simply verify the information electronically?
I'm asking because my parents will be traveling next month, and I want to tell them what to expect. They'll complete the e-Arrival Card before departure, but I'm unsure whether they should expect to show the QR code or if it may not be requested at all.
I realize procedures can vary by airport and individual officer, so I'd appreciate hearing about recent experiences from other travelers.
I flew into Chennai from Singapore last month and had a different experience. The immigration officer asked whether I had completed the e-Arrival Card and then briefly looked at the QR code on my phone before continuing with the passport check.
It only took a few seconds, but they definitely wanted to see it in my case. That's why I wouldn't assume it will never be requested. Even if many travelers aren't asked, it's still a good idea to have the confirmation ready.
I had almost the same experience at Delhi Airport after arriving from the UK. I completed the e-Arrival Card a couple of days before departure and had both the QR code and a printed copy ready.
When I reached immigration, the officer only scanned my passport and checked my e-Visa. I wasn't asked for the QR code or the confirmation email. Everything was completed in just a few minutes.
My guess is that they could already see the information electronically, although I don't know exactly how their system works. I still think it's worth completing the e-Arrival Card and carrying the confirmation because another officer or airport might handle things differently.
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My family arrived in Mumbai from Canada about two weeks ago. None of us were asked to show the e-Arrival Card confirmation, even though we had separate QR codes saved on our phones.
The officer processed our passports, confirmed our visa details, and asked where we would be staying. That was it.
Based on our trip and what I've read from other travelers, it seems fairly common that some officers don't ask to see the QR code. I still recommend downloading the confirmation before your flight because it's better to have it available if someone does request it.