Is the India e-Arrival Card Mandatory for All Foreign Travelers?

My experience was from Dubai to Chennai a few weeks ago.

There was some confusion at first because friends who traveled late last year remembered filling out paper arrival cards instead. By the time I traveled, the digital process had become the standard.

I kept a copy of my e-Arrival Card confirmation on both my phone and as a printed copy, although immigration only needed to verify the digital submission. Requirements may differ depending on future updates, so I'd still recommend checking the official portal shortly before your flight to make sure nothing has changed.

I flew from Toronto to Bengaluru with my husband and two children recently.

Each traveler was included before our trip, and we made sure everyone's travel information matched their passports exactly. The most important part was having passport details, flight information, and our accommodation address ready before starting.

I remember seeing different information online because some older articles were written during the transition period when paper forms were still available. The newer guidance was much clearer.

If you're relying on search results, I'd pay attention to the publication date because there have been several updates since the system was introduced.

I traveled from New York to Delhi in May, and everyone in our group completed the e-Arrival Card before departure.

We had different travel documents—my parents were OCI cardholders, while I was traveling on a foreign passport with an employment visa. Our airline asked us if we had completed the online arrival form during check-in, although they didn't spend much time reviewing it.

After landing, immigration was fairly smooth because we'd already completed everything online. Based on my experience, it's better to complete the form even if you're unsure whether it applies to your situation. Since requirements have changed over the past few months, I also checked the official guidance a few days before flying.

We travelled as a family from Toronto to Bangalore, and I had done a bit of research before leaving.

From what I understand, the e-Arrival Card is part of India’s new digital immigration system and applies to all non-Indian passport holders. It replaced the old paper form you used to fill on the flight.

We all filled it online before departure, including my spouse and kids. It took around 10–15 minutes per person.

One important thing I noticed is that it is NOT the same as a visa, so people sometimes confuse the two. Your visa (or OCI) is for entry permission, while the e-Arrival Card is just for entry data collection.

At Pearson airport, airline staff did not check it strictly, but at Delhi immigration they did scan the QR confirmation.

So even though enforcement can feel inconsistent, I would not risk skipping it. Better to complete it in advance and keep a screenshot.

I travelled from London to Mumbai recently and can confirm the same trend.

The e-Arrival Card is now being treated as a standard requirement for foreign travelers entering India. It’s separate from visa rules, so even if you have an e-Visa, you still need to complete it before boarding.

In my case, I forgot to do it in advance and had to complete it at the airport using my phone before check-in. It worked, but it was stressful because the OTP took time and the Wi-Fi at Heathrow was slow.

Regarding exemptions, initially there was a lot of confusion about OCI holders, but most airlines and travel desks now assume everyone (except Indian passport holders) must complete it.

One thing I’d recommend is doing it at least a day before travel. The system under the Bureau of Immigration India can sometimes be slow during peak hours.

So yes, practically speaking, treat it as mandatory for all foreign travelers.