The New "e-Arrival Card" for India: Essential Guide for OCIs & NRIs (2025-2026 Update)

Pradip Saha
Jan 29
2 min read

If you are an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or a foreign national planning a trip to India in 2026, there has been a significant shift in immigration procedures. The era of scrambling for a pen to fill out the narrow paper "Disembarkation Card" while the flight lands is officially ending.

Effective late 2025, the Indian Bureau of Immigration has transitioned to a mandatory Online Arrival Card (e-Arrival Card) system. Here is everything you need to know to ensure a smooth entry into India.

The Big Change: Digital is the New Default

As of October 1, 2025, the Government of India introduced the e-Arrival Card to replace the physical paper disembarkation forms.

While there was initially some confusion regarding exemptions, the latest clarifications from the Ministry of Home Affairs (October 2025 update) confirm that OCI Cardholders are required to complete this digital form.

Who Needs to Fill This Out?

Foreign Nationals: Mandatory (tourist, business, medical, etc.)
OCI Cardholders: Mandatory (This is a key update; initially, OCIs were thought to be exempt, but the requirement was expanded to include them).
Indian Passport Holders (NRIs): Exempt. If you hold a valid Indian passport, you do not need to fill out this form.

When to Apply

You must complete the form within 72 hours (3 days) prior to your arrival in India.

Tip: Do not fill it out weeks in advance; the system is designed for immediate travel details.

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. Visit the Official Portal Access the form via one of the following official government channels:

Bureau of Immigration website: boi.gov.in
Indian Visa Online portal: indianvisaonline.gov.in
Mobile App: "Indian Visa Su-Swagatam" (Available on iOS and Android)

2. Enter Required Details You will need to provide standard travel information, including:

Passport Number & Nationality
Flight Number & Date of Arrival
Address in India (Hotel or Residential)
Purpose of Visit
Last 6 days of travel history (for health/quarantine tracking)

3. Submit and Save the QR Code Once you submit the form, the system will generate a PDF with a QR Code.

Action: Download this PDF to your phone and take a screenshot. You may also print a physical copy just to be safe.

4. Arrival in India At the immigration counter, present your passport, OCI card (if applicable), and the e-Arrival QR code. The officer will scan the code, significantly reducing data entry time at the desk.

Critical "Transition Period" Note

As of early 2026, Indian airports are in a "transition phase."

Paper Forms: Some airports may still have paper forms available for those who "forgot" or faced technical issues, but this is being phased out rapidly (slated to end completely by March/April 2026).
Airlines: Many airlines are now denying boarding or asking passengers to step aside at check-in if they cannot show the e-Arrival confirmation. Do not rely on finding a paper form at the airport.