Hi everyone,
I'm traveling from the USA to India next week and recently learned about the new Digital e-Arrival Card requirement. I completed the form online and received a QR code, but I'm unsure if that's all that's needed before travel.
For those who have recently traveled to India, did you receive the QR code immediately after submission? Was it checked by the airline before boarding or only by immigration officers after arrival?
I'm an OCI cardholder and want to avoid any last-minute issues. Has anyone successfully submitted the Digital e-Arrival Card and traveled recently?
Any experiences or tips would be appreciated.
I traveled from London to Hyderabad last month and received the QR code almost instantly after submitting the form. However, my cousin completed theirs on the same day and didn't receive the email confirmation until about 20 minutes later.
One thing to check is whether the email address entered on the application was correct. Even if the email is delayed, sometimes the portal allows you to retrieve the application later using your reference details.
I'd give it a little time before submitting a second application. Requirements and portal behavior can change, so it's best to rely on the latest official guidance if you're unsure.
I completed the digital e-Arrival Card a few weeks ago before flying from Toronto to Bengaluru. In my case, the process was fairly straightforward and took around 10–15 minutes.
The form asked for my passport details, flight information, expected address in India, and a few declaration questions. After submitting it, I received a confirmation that I saved on my phone. I also kept a screenshot just in case.
Interestingly, nobody at my departure airport asked to see it, but I was glad I had the confirmation available. Requirements can vary depending on when you travel, so I'd still recommend checking the latest guidance before your departure date.
One suggestion is to avoid waiting until the last minute. I completed mine a couple of days before departure in case I ran into any technical issues.
Make sure the information you enter matches your passport exactly, including your name and passport number. I also kept digital and printed copies of my travel documents, even though I didn't end up needing them.
If you're traveling with family members, check whether each traveler needs a separate submission. That's something I'd verify using the latest official instructions because travel procedures can be updated without much notice.
I had something similar before my flight from Dubai to Mumbai. After submitting the India e-Arrival Card, the confirmation page didn't fully load because my internet connection dropped for a moment. I assumed the application had failed, but when I refreshed the page later, I was able to see the confirmation and download the QR code.
If you still have your application or reference number, I'd avoid submitting another form immediately. Sometimes it's worth waiting a little while and trying again using a different browser or device.
In my case, I also cleared my browser cache before logging back in, and that seemed to help. Of course, if your flight is very close, I'd verify the latest instructions through the official portal in case there's another recommended step.
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I haven't had this exact issue, but I always save a screenshot of the final submission page before closing the browser, especially for travel forms.
If your QR code still isn't available after some time, you could try accessing the portal from another browser or using a computer instead of a mobile phone. Temporary technical issues do happen with government portals.
Since your trip is only a few days away, I'd also keep copies of your passport, visa, flight itinerary, and any application reference number together. Hopefully it's just a temporary system issue, but I'd avoid making multiple submissions unless the official guidance specifically recommends doing so.