Indian Visa Su-Swagatam App: e-Arrival Card Guide
Flying to India with a foreign passport or OCI card? You may now need to complete an e-Arrival Card before reaching Indian immigration. The form can be submitted through the official Indian Visa website or the Government of India’s Indian Visa Su-Swagatam mobile app. However, the arrival card is not a visa and does not replace the passport, visa or OCI documents required for entry.
Quick answer: Foreign nationals entering India, including OCI cardholders, must complete the e-Arrival Card within 72 hours before their arrival. Indian citizens traveling on an Indian passport do not need the form. The e-Arrival Card is free.
Table of Contents
- What is the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app?
- What can the Su-Swagatam app do?
- What is India’s e-Arrival Card?
- Who needs to fill an e-Arrival Card?
- When should you submit it?
- Information required for the form
- How to fill the e-Arrival Card
- Su-Swagatam app vs official website
- Visa vs e-Arrival Card
- Families, children and group travel
- What to do if the app or form does not work
- Avoid fake Indian visa websites and apps
- India arrival document checklist
- Related India travel document guides
- Frequently asked questions
What Is the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam App?
Indian Visa Su-Swagatam is an official Government of India mobile app created to help foreign visitors access Indian visa, immigration and foreigner-registration services from one place.
The app is intended for foreign nationals planning to visit India as well as foreign visitors who need immigration-related services while staying in India. It is available for Android and Apple iOS devices.
Travelers should look for the exact app name Indian Visa Su-Swagatam and verify that it is published by India’s National Informatics Centre or another clearly identified Government of India authority.
Important: Downloading the Su-Swagatam app is not itself an entry requirement. Travelers may complete the e-Arrival Card through the official website instead. The app is simply one of the authorized ways to access the service.
Official information about the app is available through the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam official app notice.
What Can the Su-Swagatam App Do?
The services available may be updated over time, but the app is designed as a central access point for Indian visa and immigration services.
Visa applications: Access services for Indian e-Visas, regular visas and Visa on Arrival where the traveler and nationality are eligible.
Application tracking: Check the status of certain visa applications and access an approved Electronic Travel Authorization.
e-Arrival Card: Submit the digital arrival information required from foreign travelers and OCI cardholders entering India.
e-FRRO services: Access online services for visa extensions, visa conversions, exit permits and other immigration matters after entering India.
Travel information: Find visa guidance and information about Indian immigration, emergency assistance and services for foreign visitors.
The app does not guarantee that a visa will be approved. Visa eligibility, document requirements and approval decisions continue to be determined by the appropriate Indian government authorities.
What Is India’s e-Arrival Card?
The e-Arrival Card is the digital version of the disembarkation or arrival card traditionally completed by foreign travelers entering India.
It provides Indian immigration authorities with basic information about the traveler, passport, purpose of travel, recent travel history, arrival date and intended address in India.
The Government of India introduced the digital system for foreign arrivals effective October 1, 2025. It is intended to reduce paperwork and allow traveler information to be submitted before reaching the immigration counter.
The e-Arrival Card is not an Indian visa. It does not give a traveler permission to enter India and does not replace a valid Indian visa, e-Visa approval, OCI card or passport.
The form can be completed through the official India e-Arrival Card portal.
Who Needs to Fill an e-Arrival Card for India?
The requirement generally applies to foreign nationals entering India, including people traveling with an OCI card.
| Traveler | e-Arrival Card | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitor with an Indian e-Visa | Required | The e-Arrival Card is separate from the e-Visa application and approval. |
| Foreign visitor with a regular or paper visa | Required | The type of Indian visa does not normally remove the arrival-card requirement. |
| OCI cardholder | Required | An OCI cardholder is treated as a foreign national for this arrival-information requirement. |
| Foreign child or infant | Required | The child must be included in the submission even when traveling with parents. |
| Indian citizen using an Indian passport | Not required | Indian passport holders are not foreign nationals entering India. |
| International transit passenger who does not enter India | Usually not required | Confirm with the airline when remaining airside without passing through Indian immigration. |
OCI reminder: An OCI card provides lifelong visa-related benefits, but it is not an Indian passport and does not make the cardholder an Indian citizen. OCI travelers should not assume they are exempt from the e-Arrival Card.
When Should You Submit the e-Arrival Card?
The form should be completed within 72 hours before arrival in India. The timing is based on when you are expected to arrive in India, not simply when your first flight leaves your home airport.
For example, if your flight lands in India on Friday at 8:00 p.m., complete the form during the 72-hour period leading up to that arrival.
Do not submit the form several weeks before your trip. Your arrival date, recent travel history and address in India must reflect the current journey.
Best practice: Complete the form one or two days before departure, after your flight and first-night address in India are confirmed. Save a screenshot or digital copy of the submission confirmation.
Information Required for the e-Arrival Card
Have your passport, travel itinerary and India address ready before starting. The official form currently requests information such as:
- Full name exactly as shown in the passport
- Nationality or region
- Passport number
- Purpose of the visit
- Date of arrival in India
- Countries visited during the previous six days
- Address where you will stay in India
- Indian state and district for that address
- Email address
- Contact number
- Emergency contact number
- Information for accompanying family members, when applicable
Enter the passport number carefully. Avoid confusing letters and numbers such as the letter O and zero or the letter I and number one.
Your address in India may be a hotel, family residence, apartment or other location where you plan to stay. Keep the hotel confirmation or complete residential address available while filling out the form.
How to Fill the India e-Arrival Card
Step 1: Open the official portal.
Go directly to indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival. Check that the address ends in .gov.in.
Step 2: Enter the traveler’s personal details.
Enter the name, nationality and passport number exactly as they appear in the traveler’s passport.
Step 3: Select the purpose of travel.
Choose the purpose that matches the trip, such as tourism, business, medical treatment or another available category.
Step 4: Enter the arrival information.
Provide the expected date of arrival and disclose any countries visited during the previous six days.
Step 5: Enter the address in India.
Provide the hotel, home or other address where the traveler will stay. Select the correct state and district.
Step 6: Add contact information.
Enter an active email address, telephone number and emergency contact number.
Step 7: Add accompanying members.
Use the available member option when submitting information for accompanying family members or other eligible travelers in the party.
Step 8: Review and submit.
Check the passport number, arrival date, nationality and India address before confirming that the information is true and accurate.
Step 9: Save the confirmation.
Take a screenshot or save any reference number, confirmation page, email or QR code provided after submission.
Su-Swagatam App vs Official Website
You do not have to use the mobile app if you only need to submit the e-Arrival Card. Both methods provide access to the official government service.
| Option | Best For | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Official e-Arrival website | Travelers who only need the arrival form | Works through a browser and does not require travelers to depend on the mobile app. |
| Su-Swagatam app | Travelers who want multiple visa and immigration services in one place | May provide access to e-Arrival, visa-status and e-FRRO services. |
| Indian Visa Online home portal | Travelers applying for or reviewing Indian visa services | Use the correct service because a visa application and an e-Arrival Card are different forms. |
Travelers can access the authorized portal for Indian visa applications for regular visa and e-Visa information.
Practical advice: If the Su-Swagatam app freezes, rejects a field or will not display the keyboard, use the official e-Arrival website through a current browser. Do not download an unofficial app as a substitute.
Indian Visa vs e-Arrival Card
The visa and arrival card serve completely different purposes.
| Document | Purpose | When It Is Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Indian visa or e-Visa | Requests authorization to travel to and seek entry into India | Applied for and approved before travel |
| OCI card | Provides eligible overseas citizens with long-term India entry privileges | Obtained through a separate OCI application process |
| e-Arrival Card | Provides immigration authorities with details about the current arrival | Submitted within 72 hours before arriving in India |
| Passport | Establishes the traveler’s identity and nationality | Must remain valid and be carried during travel |
Submitting an e-Arrival Card will not correct an expired visa, an invalid passport, an incorrect name on a ticket or a missing OCI document.
Families, Children and Group Travel
Children and infants traveling on foreign passports should be included in the arrival submission. A parent or responsible adult can complete the information on the child’s behalf.
The official e-Arrival form includes an option to add members. This can make it easier to submit information for a family traveling together, but each traveler’s personal and passport information must still be accurate.
Before submitting a family form, check:
- Each traveler’s name against the passport
- Each passport number and nationality
- The correct arrival date
- The shared or individual address in India
- Whether each child has the required passport, visa or OCI documentation
For younger travelers, also review the guide to travel documents required for an infant or child.
What to Do If the App or Form Does Not Work
The Su-Swagatam app is not working
Use the official browser-based e-Arrival Card form. The mobile app is not the only authorized submission method.
You entered incorrect information
Do not ignore a significant error involving the passport number, nationality, name or arrival date. Return to the official portal and check whether the information can be retrieved or submitted correctly. When the portal does not provide a clear correction option, contact the appropriate Indian immigration or visa support service before travel.
You did not receive an email
Check the spam or junk folder and confirm that the email address was entered correctly. Save the on-screen confirmation, reference number or QR code whenever one is displayed.
You forgot to complete the form
Complete it through the official website as soon as possible. Do not assume that a paper arrival card will always be available at the airport. The official process directs covered travelers to submit the information digitally before entering India.
Your flight is delayed or rescheduled
A small operational delay may not necessarily change the basic trip information. However, if the arrival date changes or the original submission is no longer accurate, check the official portal and submit updated information when necessary.
Avoid Fake Indian Visa Websites and Apps
Private visa-assistance websites frequently appear above official government pages in search results. Some use Indian flags, government-style colors or names that closely resemble the official portal.
The official e-Arrival Card is free. A website asking for a processing fee, expedited-arrival fee or mandatory service charge may be a private intermediary or an impersonation site.
Use these official sources:
- Official India e-Arrival Card form
- Authorized Indian Visa Online portal
- Official Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app information
- U.S. Embassy explanation of India’s digital arrival system
Do not provide passport information, payment-card details or personal documents through an app or website until its government identity has been verified.
India Arrival Document Checklist
Before leaving for the airport, check that you have:
- A valid passport
- A valid Indian visa, approved e-Visa ETA or valid OCI card
- A completed e-Arrival Card when required
- A screenshot or saved copy of the e-Arrival confirmation
- Your return or onward travel details when applicable
- The full address and contact information for your stay in India
- Documents required for children traveling with you
- Vaccination or health documents required by your route or recent travel history
- Printed backup copies of important travel documents
Final check: The Su-Swagatam app can help organize access to immigration services, but your passport, visa or OCI card remains the document that supports your eligibility to travel to India.
Related India Travel Document Guides
- What Documents Are Required for Travel to India?
- Travel Documents for India Flights: Don’t Get Stranded!
- e-OCI Card: India’s Digital OCI Card Explained
- NRI Travel to India: Phone, eSIM, Customs, ID and Airport Tips
- Travel Documents Required for Infant or Child Under 2
- Lost Passport Abroad? What to Do Fast
- Can I Travel With My Maiden Name on My Passport After Marriage?
- India Customs Documentation: A Complete Guide for Travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Indian Visa Su-Swagatam app mandatory?
No. The app itself is not mandatory. Travelers can submit the e-Arrival Card through the official Indian Visa website. The arrival-card requirement, rather than installation of the app, is what covered travelers must follow.
Do OCI cardholders need to complete the e-Arrival Card?
Yes. Official Indian immigration guidance includes OCI cardholders among the travelers who must complete the e-Arrival Card before entering India.
Do Indian passport holders need an e-Arrival Card?
No. Indian citizens entering India using an Indian passport do not complete the foreign-national e-Arrival Card.
How early can I fill out the India e-Arrival Card?
Complete it within 72 hours before your expected arrival in India. Do not submit it weeks before the trip.
Is there a fee for the e-Arrival Card?
No. The official Indian e-Arrival Card service is free. Be cautious when a private website asks for an arrival-card processing fee.
Does the e-Arrival Card replace an Indian visa?
No. A foreign visitor who requires a visa must still obtain the correct Indian visa or e-Visa approval before traveling. An OCI cardholder must still carry the required valid passport and OCI documentation.
Does every child need an e-Arrival Card?
Every foreign or OCI traveler, including a child or infant, should be included in the arrival submission. A parent can enter the child’s information and use the form’s member feature when available.
What should I do if the Su-Swagatam app does not work?
Use the official e-Arrival Card website instead. Do not download an unofficial app or pay a private provider simply because the official mobile app is temporarily unavailable.
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