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I'm flying from Toronto to New Delhi next week on a Canadian passport with a valid Tourist Visa, and I've been reading about the new India e-Arrival Card requirement. I was planning to complete it this weekend, but after seeing a few travel posts online, I'm getting a little anxious.
Some people have said airline staff checked their QR code before they could get a boarding pass, while others claimed it wasn't mentioned until they reached immigration in India. I even saw a comment where someone said a passenger almost missed their flight because they hadn't completed the form, although I couldn't tell if that was actually true.
Has anyone here personally seen a traveler denied boarding because they didn't have the India e-Arrival Card, or was it simply a matter of completing the form before check-in? I'm especially interested in recent experiences from people flying with Air Canada, Air India, or other airlines from Canada, the UK, Australia, or the USA.
I already have my passport, visa, return ticket, and hotel booking ready. If the e-Arrival Card is checked, I'd rather complete everything before leaving for the airport than deal with last-minute issues.
I know travel procedures can vary by airline and may change over time, so I'm only looking for recent first-hand experiences—not official advice. Any insights would really help.
My experience was different.
I traveled from London Heathrow to Mumbai in May 2026 on British Airways. The airline staff checked my passport, visa, and return ticket but never asked for the e-Arrival Card during check-in.
When I landed in Mumbai, the immigration officer requested the QR code before processing my entry. The person behind me had to search through their email because they hadn't saved the confirmation, which delayed them slightly, but they were still processed.
From what I've seen, airlines don't all seem to follow the same procedure, so I wouldn't assume your experience will match someone else's.
I flew Vancouver to Delhi with Air India in June 2026.
During check-in, the airline agent asked if I had completed the India e-Arrival Card and requested to see the QR code. They didn't scan it, but they wanted to confirm I had received the acknowledgment before printing my boarding pass.
There was a couple in front of me who hadn't filled it out yet. They weren't immediately refused boarding, but they were asked to step aside, complete the online form, and return to the counter. Luckily they still had plenty of time before departure, so everything worked out.
I didn't personally witness anyone being denied boarding, but I can definitely see how forgetting to complete it could become stressful if you're already close to boarding time.
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I flew from Sydney to Bengaluru with Singapore Airlines earlier this year.
The gate agent actually reminded several passengers to have their QR code ready before boarding. They didn't scan mine, but they visually checked the confirmation page on my phone.
One thing I'd recommend is downloading the QR code instead of relying on email or airport Wi-Fi. I also carried a printed copy with my passport because I wasn't sure how the checks would be handled.
Based on my trip, I didn't see anyone denied boarding solely because they forgot the e-Arrival Card. Most people who didn't have it were simply asked to complete it before continuing with the check-in.