India has launched the official e-Arrival Card portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival, enabling foreign travellers to complete their arrival details online before entering the country.
The system will formally come into effect for all arrivals from October 1, 2025, phasing out the paper disembarkation forms previously required at immigration counters.
Who Needs to Apply
The e-Arrival Card is mandatory for all foreign nationals, irrespective of their visa type, including:
Tourists
Business travellers
Students
Medical visitors
Conference and research attendees
Exemptions
The following categories are not required to fill out the form:
Indian citizens
Holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards
Transition Period
While both the paper and online versions will be accepted during a transition phase, travellers are strongly encouraged to use the digital system for faster processing.
The rollout follows a successful test phase and is expected to streamline entry formalities for international arrivals.
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