Planning a trip to India? There’s one new step you simply can’t skip. The Indian e-Arrival Card is now a must for foreign travellers and OCI holders heading to India, and that includes plenty of Aussie families.
The old paper form you used to fill in on the plane is gone. India has swapped it for a quick online form instead. And if you don’t complete your India Digital Arrival Card before you fly, you could face long delays at the airport, or even trouble boarding your flight.
The good news? It’s simple, it’s quick, and it only takes a few minutes.
Here’s your guide to the India e-Arrival Card for anyone travelling from Australia. We’ll cover what it is, who needs it, when to fill it in, and how to do it the right way. Let’s make your trip home stress-free.
What Is the India e-Arrival Card?
This Card is a short online form. You fill it in before you travel to India. It tells Indian immigration who you are, where you’re flying from, and where you’ll be staying.
Think of it like the little paper card the flight crew used to hand out mid-air. Now you type in the same kind of details online, before you even reach the airport.
It’s part of India’s move to a fully digital, paper-free arrival system. The idea is to make the airport queues shorter and immigration faster.
One key point to remember: the e-Arrival Card is not a visa. According to India’s Bureau of Immigration, it is for your arrival details only. You still need a valid visa or OCI card to enter India.
Is the India e-Arrival Card Really Mandatory Now?
Yes. It is now a required step for travelling to India.
India replaced the old paper disembarkation card with the digital e-Arrival Card on 1 October 2025, as confirmed by the Bureau of Immigration. The paper form was allowed for a transition period of up to six months from that date, so travellers had until 31 March 2026 to use it.
That transition window has now closed. Since 1 April 2026, the paper form is no longer accepted anywhere; the online e-Arrival Card is the only way in.
India’s own High Commission in Canberra confirms this too. Its official notice states that foreigners and OCI card holders must complete and submit the e-Arrival Card online before arriving in India.
The one exception is Indian passport holders. If you travel to India on an Indian passport, this step doesn’t apply to you.;
So whether you’re flying out of Melbourne, Sydney, Perth or Brisbane, this step now applies to you.
Do OCI Holders Need the e-Arrival Card?
This is the big question for many families in the Indian community across Australia. And the answer is a clear yes.
OCI holders need the e-Arrival Card for every single trip to India. Your OCI card lets you enter India, but it does not replace the arrival form. You need both.
This one catches a lot of people out. Plenty of OCI holders have flown to India for years without any online form. Now, the e-Arrival Card for OCI holders is a must, even if you’ve made the very same trip a hundred times.
So before your next visit to see family, add this quick task to your to-do list.
When Should You Fill In the India e-Arrival Card?
Timing matters here. You can’t do it too far ahead.
You need to complete the India e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before you arrive in India, as set out by the Bureau of Immigration. That’s up to 3 days before your trip, which Smartraveller confirms for Australian travellers.
Our tip? Don’t leave it until the last minute at the airport. Fill it in a day or two before you fly, while you’re relaxed at home with your passport in hand. That way, if you make a small slip, you’ve got time to fix it.
Once you submit the form, you’ll get a confirmation to show at immigration when you land. Keep it handy on your phone, or print a copy to be safe.
What Information Do You Need?
The form is short, but it helps to have a few things ready first. Grab your passport and your flight details before you start.
Here’s what you’ll usually need to enter:
- H3–Your personal details – full name, nationality and passport number
- H3– Your travel details – your date of arrival and flight details
- H3– Your purpose of visit – such as a holiday, a family visit, business or study
- H3– Your address and contact details in India – where you’ll be staying and how to reach you
Use the exact spelling from your passport. Small errors, like a wrong passport number, can cause hold-ups at the airport. So double-check everything before you hit submit.
Feeling Unsure About Your India Paperwork?
How to Fill In the India e-Arrival Card (Step by Step)
1. Go to the official government portal
2. Enter your details
3. Check everything twice
Make sure your name, passport number and dates are all correct before moving on.
4. Submit the form
You can start on the official Indian Visa Online e-Arrival page or the Bureau of Immigration website. Always use these official government sites, and be careful of unofficial third-party websites.
What Happens If You Don’t Fill It In?
Skipping the India e-Arrival Card really isn’t worth the risk.
If you don’t complete it, you could be held up at immigration when you land. Some airlines are also checking for it before you board, so leaving it out is a real risk.
Missing your form could also mean missing a connecting flight inside India. That’s a rough start to any trip. A few minutes online before you fly saves you a world of worry.
Make Your India Trip Easy with Bharat Suvidha
Sorting out Indian paperwork from Australia can feel confusing. Between the e-Arrival Card, OCI cards, passport jobs, police checks and visas, it’s a lot to keep on top of.
That’s where we come in. At Bharat Suvidha, we’ve turned tricky paperwork into three simple steps, so you can relax while we do the hard yards.
01 Sign up and share the basics
02 We handle the tricky part
03 Lodged and sorted
Important Note: Bharat Suvidha operates as an independent, private service provider and is not connected with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Consulates, the High Commission of India, or any government-authorised service centres.
Let Us Take Care of the Hard Part
Final Word: A Small Step for a Smooth Trip
This Card is a small step, but it’s now a big must. Skip it, and your trip could start with stress at the airport. Complete it, and you’ll breeze through immigration.
So before your next flight to India, just remember: the e-Arrival Card is required, it takes only a few minutes, and you should always use the official government portal.
And if all the paperwork feels like too much, you don’t have to do it alone. Bharat Suvidha helps Aussie families and travellers sort their Indian documentation the easy way, from OCI cards to passports, police checks and visas. Head to bharatsuvidha.com.au and travel with peace of mind.
