India e-Arrival Card 2026: Complete Guide for Foreigners – Everything You Must Do During Your First 30 Days in India

By Devendra Kumar, Director, Fargo Worldwide · Last Updated: 31 October 2026 · Reviewed by: Devendra Kumar, Director, Fargo Worldwide · 16 min read

The India e-Arrival Card is a free online arrival form that every foreign national and OCI cardholder must submit within the 72 hours before landing in India. It replaced the paper landing card. It is not a visa. After you land, a few more duties follow: your host reports your stay on Form III within 24 hours, some visa holders register with the FRRO within 14 days, and anyone staying beyond 180 days must register before day 180. This guide covers each step in order.

1. Your India Arrival Checklist (Quick Summary)

Use this table as your timeline. Each row is explained in the sections below.

2. What Is the India e-Arrival Card?

The India e-Arrival Card is the online version of the disembarkation card that passengers used to fill in on the plane, and it is now one of the core India entry requirements for foreigners. The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) introduced it on 1 October 2025. Paper cards were accepted during a transition period, and since April 2026 the digital card is the standard. Your details reach the immigration officer before you do, which shortens the check at the counter.

Who must submit it?

As the India arrival card for foreigners, it applies to every foreign national arriving in India, whatever the visa: e-Visa, tourist, business, employment, student, medical, conference or Entry (X) visa. Children travelling on their own foreign passport need an entry too. Only Indian passport holders are exempt.

Do OCI cardholders need it?

Yes. Some embassy notices published in the first week of October 2025 said OCI cardholders were exempt. The Bureau of Immigration changed that position within days, and the official guidance now names foreigners and OCI (including e-OCI) cardholders. If you hold an OCI card and a foreign passport, file the card before every trip. For more on OCI travel rules, see our OCI card guide.

Is it the same as an Indian visa?

No. The e-Arrival Card is an arrival declaration. It gives no permission to enter India. You still need a valid visa, e-Visa or OCI card, and immigration checks those separately. If you still need a visa, see our e-Visa guides.

What happens if you do not complete it?

Expect delay. Immigration officers may ask you to complete it before clearing you, which now usually means filling it in on your phone in the arrivals hall after you have already queued. File it before boarding and the problem never arises.

3. How to Fill in the India e-Arrival Card Step by Step

Filling in the India e-Arrival Card takes about ten minutes if your documents are ready.

Official application channels

• indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival (Indian Visa Online)
• boi.gov.in (Bureau of Immigration)
• The Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Check that the publisher is the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the government's technology arm. The same app also handles e-Visa applications, e-FRRO services and status checks.

Step-by-step process

1. Wait for the 72-hour window. The form accepts submissions only within the 72 hours before your arrival. Filing at home the day before you fly is ideal.
2. Open an official channel from the list above, and choose to file a new e-Arrival Card.
3. Enter your passport details exactly as printed: surname, given names, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and date of issue and expiry.
4. Enter your visa or OCI details: e-Visa or visa number, or OCI card number.
5. Add your flight information: airline, flight number, date of arrival and the Indian airport where you land. Answer any question about countries you visited recently.
6. Give your Indian residential address. Use your hotel, serviced apartment, rented home or your host's full address with PIN code. It should match where you will actually stay, because your host will report the same address on Form III.
7. State the purpose of your visit (tourism, business, employment, study, medical treatment, family visit and so on). It should be consistent with your visa.
8. Add contact details: email, phone number and an emergency contact.
9. Add family members if needed. One person can usually include a small family or group in a single submission, with each traveller's passport details entered separately.
10. Submit and save the confirmation. Keep the acknowledgement or QR code as a screenshot and a printout, because airport Wi-Fi is not always reliable.

How to identify fake websites

The India e-Arrival Card is free. Some private sites copy government branding and charge a "processing fee". Protect yourself with three checks:

• The web address ends in .gov.in. Domains such as .com, .org or .in with "india-visa" in the name are not government sites.
• No payment page appears. If a site asks for card details for the arrival card, close it.
• The app is the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app published by NIC, not a look-alike.

4. At the Indian Airport: Immigration Procedures

Here is the whole airport process at a glance. Each step is explained below.

Immigration counters

Follow the signs for foreign nationals. Major airports have separate counters for e-Visa holders and for regular visa and OCI holders. Some airports now have self-service biometric kiosks where first-time e-Visa holders record their photo and fingerprints before the counter.

Passport verification

The officer checks your passport and visa or OCI card against your e-Arrival data. You may be asked where you are staying, why you are visiting and when you will leave. e-Visa travellers should be able to show a return or onward ticket and enough funds for the stay.

Fingerprints and photographs

Biometric capture is compulsory for e-Visa holders on arrival, and other foreign nationals may also be photographed and fingerprinted. Indian nationals and enrolled OCI cardholders can use the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) e-gates at participating airports. Foreign visitors are planned for a later phase.

e-Arrival confirmation

Have the confirmation ready on your phone. In most cases the officer already has your details, but a missing or wrong entry is fixed faster when you can show what you submitted.

Customs procedures

India's new Customs baggage rules took effect on 2 February 2026. The main points for foreign visitors:

• Duty-free allowance (beyond used personal effects): ₹25,000 for tourists of foreign origin; ₹75,000 for tourists of Indian origin, residents and foreign nationals on non-tourist visas.
• Declare electronically on the Atithi app or portal if you carry dutiable or prohibited goods, then use the Red Channel. Otherwise walk through the Green Channel.
• Currency: declare foreign currency notes above USD 5,000, or total foreign exchange (notes plus travellers' cheques) above USD 10,000.
• Prohibited items include satellite phones without government permission. Failing to declare can lead to seizure and a penalty.

Important documents to keep ready

• Passport and a photocopy of the bio page
• Visa, e-Visa approval (ETA) printout or OCI card
• e-Arrival Card confirmation
• Hotel booking or your host's address and phone number
• Return or onward ticket
• Invitation, employment, admission or hospital letters, depending on your visa
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate, if you arrive from or through a country with a yellow fever risk

5. Your First 24 Hours in India: Form III Registration

Since the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 took effect on 1 September 2025, the old "C-Form" is called Form III. Under Section 8 of the Act and Rule 17 of the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, 2025, the person managing your accommodation (the "keeper") must report your stay to the Registration Officer within 24 hours of arrival, and your departure within 24 hours of leaving. It is filed through indianfrro.gov.in or the Su-Swagatam app. OCI cardholders are included.

You do not file Form III yourself, but the law requires you to give your host accurate details. Hand over your passport and visa or OCI card at check-in and check that names and numbers are copied correctly.

Hotel registration requirements

Hotels, resorts, guest houses and serviced apartments are covered in full. Expect to show your passport and visa and to have them scanned.

Airbnb and homestay reporting

Homestays, B&Bs and short-term rentals listed online are covered too. The host registers once as an accommodation provider with the local FRRO or FRO and then files for every foreign guest. Before booking a long stay, ask the host whether they file Form III.

Private rental accommodation

The Rules name "rented accommodation", and some district orders since 2025 apply the duty to private landlords. A landlord letting a flat to a foreign tenant should plan to file and confirm local practice with the FRRO or FRO. Tenants benefit as well: the FRRO usually asks for proof of address when you register or extend your visa, and a Form III acknowledgement is the cleanest proof.

Staying with friends or family

The Act excludes residential premises of a non-commercial nature, such as a relative's home where you stay without paying. A local authority can still direct residents of a specified area to report foreign guests, so check with the local FRO if you will stay for weeks. Police tenant-verification rules apply separately.

Responsibilities of accommodation providers

• Report arrival within 24 hours and departure within 24 hours.
• Keep guest records electronically for at least one year, open to inspection.
• Share the acknowledgement with guests who need it for FRRO applications.

FRRO guidance issued in October 2025 put the compounding penalty for not submitting Form III at ₹50,000.

6. Money and Mobile Connectivity in India

UPI One World wallet

India runs on UPI, the instant payment system behind QR codes in shops, taxis and markets. Normally it needs an Indian bank account and an Indian mobile number. UPI for foreigners in India works through a special product: the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) offers UPI One World, a prepaid wallet linked to UPI.

How foreigners can use UPI

1. Get the wallet from an authorised prepaid-instrument issuer, at airport, hotel or money-changer counters, or through the issuer's app.
2. Complete KYC with your passport and valid visa (a selfie check is common).
3. Load it with foreign currency or an international card, and set a UPI PIN.
4. Scan any merchant's UPI QR code to pay.
5. Before you leave, encash the unused balance or return it to the original payment source, as foreign exchange rules allow.

NPCI excludes some nationalities on regulatory advice, and the issuer sets loading limits, so check in the app. NRIs and OCI cardholders with NRE or NRO accounts may be able to use regular UPI apps instead.

Cash and international cards

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in cities, hotels and malls. Carry some rupees for small shops, tips and rural travel. Exchange money only at banks or authorised money changers and keep the receipts.

Indian SIM cards for foreign nationals

Every SIM in India is issued after identity checks. Major operators sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and in their own stores. Expect to show:

• Your original passport and visa or OCI card
• A passport photograph (sometimes)
• Your Indian address, such as a hotel booking
• A local reference contact (some operators)

Activation can take a few hours. A connection is usually valid until your visa expires. An international eSIM is a simpler option for short trips.

Important documentation

Keep digital copies of your passport, visa, e-Arrival confirmation, Form III acknowledgement and any FRRO documents in one folder. If anything is lost, these copies save days.

7. Do You Need to Register with the FRRO?

Foreigners registration in India is handled by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or the local Foreigners Registration Office (FRO). It is a separate duty from the India e-Arrival Card and from Form III. Whether you need it depends on your visa and how long you stay. Always check the endorsement on your visa first; it overrides the general Indian immigration rules for foreigners described here.

Tourists staying under 180 days

Visitors on visas of 180 days or less, including e-Visas, generally do not need FRRO registration. Note the e-Tourist visa limits: a 30-day e-Tourist visa allows 30 days from first arrival; one-year and five-year e-Tourist visas allow up to 90 days per visit (180 days for nationals of the USA, UK, Canada and Japan), and no more than 180 days in a calendar year.

Foreign nationals planning to stay beyond 180 days

This rule changed on 1 June 2026. Under the Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, 2026, a foreigner on a visa of 180 days or less who wants to stay longer must register before the 180 days end. The old 14-day grace period after day 180 is gone, and late registration is allowed only in emergent circumstances. The same applies to longer visas with a condition that each stay must not exceed 180 days. Our FRRO new guidelines 2026 article explains the change.

Registration deadlines by visa type

Employment visa holders

Register within 14 days, with your employer's request letter, contract and company documents. Extensions, change of employer and exit all run through e-FRRO later. See our Employment Visa India guide.

Student visa holders

Register within 14 days with your admission letter and bonafide certificate. Your institution separately reports you on Form II, and on Form III if you live in its hostel.

Business visa holders

No registration for stays within 180 days. Planning to stay longer? Register before day 180. A business visa does not allow salaried employment in India. See our Business Visa India guide.

Entry/X visa holders

Spouses and children of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders often hold long-term X visas. Read the endorsement: some require registration within 14 days, others cap each stay at 180 days. See our Entry (X) visa guide.

e-FRRO online registration process

1. Sign up on indianfrro.gov.in (or the Su-Swagatam app) with your passport details and email.
2. Select "Registration" and the FRRO or FRO for your area.
3. Fill in the form and upload a photo, passport, visa, Indian address proof (lease, hotel letter or Form III acknowledgement) and the documents for your visa type.
4. Submit, pay any fee shown, and track the application by email.
5. Attend the office only if called. Your Registration Certificate / Residential Permit usually arrives by email.

After registration

Keep your record current: update a change of address or employer on e-FRRO promptly, and renew your registration with each visa extension.

8. Before Your Indian Visa Expires: Extension, Conversion or Exit Permit

Set a reminder 60 days before your visa or registration expires. Applications made in time keep you in status. Applications made late start with a penalty.

Indian Visa Extension

Eligibility. Employment, Student, Research, Medical, Entry (X) and some Business visas can be extended in India, subject to their rules. e-Visas are non-extendable and non-convertible; the FRRO may grant short stays only in genuine emergencies, such as hospitalisation.

Documents usually include your passport, current visa and registration, photo, address proof, a request letter, and proof of purpose: employer letter and contract, university certificate, marriage certificate and spouse's documents, or medical records.

Procedure. An India visa extension is applied for under "Visa Extension" on e-FRRO. Apply early, upload the documents, pay the fee (it varies by nationality and is shown on the portal) and answer any queries. Our FRRO visa extension and registration guide has the checklists.

Indian Visa Conversion

Conversion means changing your visa type without leaving India, for example to an Entry (X) visa after marrying an Indian citizen. It is the exception, not the rule. Many conversions are not allowed at all: an e-Visa cannot be converted, and a business visa cannot become an employment visa in India. Where conversion is possible, the FRRO and often the Ministry of Home Affairs must approve it, because the new visa requires the same security and eligibility checks as a fresh application.

Leaving India normally

If your visa is valid and you have not overstayed, you need no permission to leave. Show your passport and boarding pass at emigration. Your host files the Form III departure report.

India Exit Permit

An exit permit is the FRRO's permission to leave when your status is not in order. You need one in these situations:

• Overstay: your visa expired before you left.
• Lost passport: file a police report, get a new passport or emergency travel document from your embassy, then apply.
• Emergency departure with an expired visa, or while a visa application is pending.
• Newborn foreign children: a baby born in India to foreign parents has no Indian visa and needs visa services or an exit permit. See our guide on birth intimation to the FRRO.

Required documentation varies by case: passport or emergency travel document, visa copy, address proof, a letter explaining the situation, police report (lost passport), birth certificate and parents' passports (newborn), and sometimes a flight ticket. Apply under "Exit Permit" on e-FRRO. The FRRO decides each case, may call you in, and issues the permit only after any penalty is paid. Leave within the time the permit allows. More on our exit permit page.

What Happens If You Overstay Your Indian Visa?

An India visa overstay is an offence. Under Section 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, overstaying or breaking visa conditions can lead to imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to ₹3 lakh, or both. Most cases are settled by paying a compounding penalty instead of prosecution. An FRRO notice of October 2025 listed these amounts for overstay and non-registration:

Lower rates apply to some protected categories. Beyond the money, an overstay means you need an exit permit, may face deportation, and can expect closer questions on future visa applications. See overstay in India: fees and fines.

9. Seven Common Mistakes Foreigners Make in India

10. How Fargo Worldwide Can Help Foreign Nationals in India

Fargo Worldwide (OPC) Private Limited is a private immigration consultancy in Gurugram. We prepare and file FRRO and visa compliance cases for individuals, families and companies across India. Our services include:

• FRRO registration assistance: first registration on e-FRRO within the 14-day or 180-day deadline.
• FRRO visa extension assistance: extension files for Employment, Student, X, Medical and Business visas.
• Indian business visa assistance: applications, registration and extensions.
• Employment visa assistance: registration, extension and change of employer.
• Entry visa / X visa assistance: spouse and dependant visas, registration and extensions.
• Visa conversion guidance: whether your case can be converted and how to present it.
• OCI card assistance: new OCI, re-issue and miscellaneous services.
• Exit permit assistance: overstay, lost passport and newborn cases.
• PAN card assistance for foreign nationals: often needed for salary, bank accounts and tax.
• e-Visa assistance: correct category and a complete application.

Every case gets personal guidance from our consultants: which documents you need, how to prepare letters, how to file on e-FRRO, and clear updates until the FRRO decides. We work with clients in every FRRO and FRO jurisdiction.

11. Frequently Asked Questions