How Early Can I Submit the Digital e-Arrival Card Before Flying to India?

I flew from London to Bengaluru last month.

My experience was pretty smooth. I submitted the e-Arrival Card roughly 60 hours before arrival. The process took less than ten minutes.

One thing I learned is that the timing is based on your arrival in India rather than when you depart from your home country. Since many travelers have connecting flights, it's worth checking your scheduled landing time in India before calculating the 72-hour window.

I also recommend keeping a printed copy. Immigration accepted the QR code on my phone, but having a paper backup gave me peace of mind.

I recently flew from Toronto to Mumbai as an OCI cardholder.

The official guidance says the e-Arrival Card can be submitted within 72 hours before arrival in India.

I actually tried submitting it four days before my flight and the system wouldn't allow it because I was outside the submission window. Once I was within the 72-hour period, everything worked normally.

My QR code appeared instantly and I saved both a PDF and a screenshot. Immigration in Mumbai verified it quickly.

If you're planning ahead, I would suggest setting a reminder for exactly 72 hours before arrival.

I traveled from New York to Delhi in April.

Based on the instructions I saw, I submitted my e-Arrival Card about 48 hours before landing in India. The system accepted the application without any issues and generated the QR code immediately.

At check-in, the airline agent asked whether I had completed the arrival form, but they didn't scan the QR code. Immigration officers in Delhi checked it after I landed.

Personally, I wouldn't wait until the last minute. Technology doesn't always cooperate when you need it most. Completing it 48–72 hours before arrival gave me enough time to fix any potential problems.