Why Mistakes on the India e-Arrival Card Can Cost You Your Flight
The India e-Arrival Card (eAC) has been mandatory for all foreign nationals entering India. Airlines verify the eAC at check-in – not just at the immigration counter. A rejected, incomplete, or mismatched eAC can result in denied boarding before you even reach Indian soil. Understanding the most common errors lets you avoid delays, extra fees, or a cancelled trip.
The official portal is indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival and the official mobile app is Su-Swagatam. Both are free. Any site charging you for an eAC is unofficial – see Mistake #6 below.
Top 10 India e-Arrival Card Mistakes (And How to Fix Each One)
1. Passport Number vs. File Number Confusion
Many travelers with Indian-origin passports or OCI cards confuse the passport number with the file number. Your eAC requires the passport number – the 8-character alphanumeric code on the bio page (e.g., A1234567). The file number is a separate administrative reference.
Fix: Open your physical passport to the data page. Use the number printed next to “Passport No.” – not any other reference code.
2. Name Mismatch with Passport
The name on your eAC must exactly match your passport. Middle names, hyphens, and spacing matter. If your passport reads “MARIA ANN JOHNSON” and you enter “Maria Johnson”, the systems will flag a mismatch at immigration.
Fix: Copy your full name character by character from your passport bio page. If your passport abbreviates a name, use the same abbreviation.
3. Wrong or Incomplete India Address
One of the most reported errors on Reddit and traveler forums: people enter only a state and district but skip the full address. The form requires a complete address where you will be staying – hotel name, street, city, pin code.
Fix: Have your hotel booking confirmation open before you start. Enter the full hotel address exactly as it appears on your booking. If staying with friends or family, get their complete address including pin code.
4. Submitting Too Late – Outside the 72-Hour Window
The eAC must be submitted within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India. Travelers who forget and try to submit the night before a long-haul flight sometimes find themselves scrambling.
Fix: Set a calendar reminder for 72 hours before your departure. Fill the eAC as soon as the window opens. If you miss the window entirely, airport kiosks at major Indian airports may provide assistance, but this is not guaranteed.
5. Entering Incorrect Flight Details
Your flight number, airline, and arrival date must match your actual booking. Common errors include entering the connecting flight number instead of the final inbound flight, or using the departure date instead of the arrival date.
Fix: Use the flight number of the last leg that lands in India. Check your itinerary – if you fly London to Dubai to Delhi, enter the Dubai-Delhi flight number and the Delhi arrival date/time.
6. Using Unofficial or Scam Websites
Dozens of unofficial sites charge USD 20-50 for “processing” an eAC. The India e-Arrival Card is 100% free. Using a third-party site does not guarantee the data reaches the Indian immigration database – and may result in an invalid submission.
Fix: Only use indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam app (available on iOS App Store and Google Play). If a site asks for payment for the eAC itself, leave immediately.
7. Incomplete “Countries Visited” History
The eAC asks for countries visited in the past 10 years. Many travelers list only recent trips or forget certain countries. Omissions – even accidental ones – can trigger additional screening at immigration.
Fix: Before starting the form, pull up your old passports and check stamps. List every country visited in the last 10 years, even brief transit stops where you passed through immigration.
8. Uploading a Blurry or Cropped Passport Photo
The portal requires a clear photograph of the passport bio page. Low-resolution phone camera shots, photos with glare, or images where the edges are cropped get flagged or fail to upload.
Fix: Scan your passport bio page on a flatbed scanner or take a high-resolution photo in good lighting on a white surface. The full page must be visible. Minimum recommended resolution is 300 DPI.
9. Wrong Visa Type or OCI Card Number
Travelers with OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) status must enter their OCI card number correctly. Similarly, those with e-Visas must select the correct visa type (e-Tourist, e-Business, e-Medical) – not a standard tourist visa category.
Fix: Have your physical OCI card or visa approval letter open. Select the visa type that matches the document you hold. If unsure, check the approval email from indianvisaonline.gov.in.
10. Forgetting to Download and Save Your QR Code
Once your eAC is submitted, you receive a confirmation with a QR code. This QR code is what airline staff scan at check-in and what immigration officers verify. If you lose it, you cannot quickly retrieve it at the airport.
Fix: Immediately after submission, download the PDF confirmation and save it in at least two places – your phone photos AND an email to yourself. Take a screenshot as backup. Print a copy if traveling somewhere with unreliable internet.
What Happens If You’re Denied Boarding – Real Scenario
Since 1 April 2026, airlines have been instructed to verify eAC status at check-in. Here is the typical sequence when a traveler without a valid eAC reaches the check-in desk:
- Airline agent scans passport and cannot locate a valid eAC in the system.
- Agent requests the traveler to show the eAC QR code confirmation.
- If no confirmation is available, the traveler is directed to a separate desk or told to complete the eAC on-site using the airport’s Wi-Fi.
- If the flight closes before the eAC is processed, boarding is denied.
- Traveler must rebook on the next available flight – at their own cost.
Key fact: Indian airports do have immigration kiosks with eAC terminals. However, these are meant for travelers who arrive in India without eAC due to technical failures – not for departure airports abroad. Do not rely on them as a plan B.
See also: What to do when the eAC portal is not working
Can You Edit or Resubmit an e-Arrival Card After Submission?
Yes – the India e-Arrival Card system allows you to submit a new application if you made an error. The most recent submission linked to your passport number and arrival date takes precedence. There is no official “edit” button, but resubmitting with corrected data overwrites the previous entry.
Steps to resubmit:
- Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
- Start a new application
- Fill all fields with the correct information
- Submit and download the new QR code confirmation
- Use the new confirmation at check-in – not the old one
If you are within 24 hours of departure and the portal is having issues, use the Su-Swagatam app as an alternative submission channel. Learn more about fixing portal errors: India e-Arrival Card Portal Troubleshooting Guide.
Step-by-Step Checklist to Fill the India e-Arrival Card Correctly
Before you start: gather your passport, visa or OCI card, flight booking confirmation, and full India accommodation address.
- Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival (or open Su-Swagatam app)
- Select “Foreign National” or “OCI Card Holder” as applicable
- Enter passport number exactly as printed on bio page
- Enter full name matching passport (including middle name if present)
- Enter date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format
- Select nationality from dropdown
- Enter visa type and number (or OCI card number)
- Enter your final India arrival flight number and date
- Enter full India address (hotel + city + pin code)
- List all countries visited in the past 10 years
- Upload clear passport bio page photo
- Review all fields carefully
- Submit and download the QR code PDF
For families and children, each person needs a separate submission. See: India e-Arrival Card for Families and Children
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common mistake on the India e-Arrival Card?
The most common mistake is a name or passport number mismatch between the eAC and the actual passport. Always copy your details directly from the passport bio page.
Can I be denied boarding if I don’t have an eAC?
Yes. Airlines check eAC status at check-in since 1 April 2026. Travelers without a valid eAC QR code confirmation can be denied boarding at the departure airport.
Can I fix a mistake on a submitted India e-Arrival Card?
Yes. Submit a new eAC with the correct information. The most recent submission linked to your passport supersedes previous ones. Download the new QR code and use it at check-in.
What happens if I use an unofficial website to get my eAC?
The India e-Arrival Card is free. Unofficial sites charging fees may not correctly submit your data to the Indian immigration database. Only use indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam app.
Do I have to list all countries visited in the past 10 years?
Yes. The eAC form requires a full 10-year travel history. Omitting countries – even accidentally – can trigger additional screening at Indian immigration.
How far in advance can I submit the India e-Arrival Card?
The eAC can be submitted within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India. You cannot submit it more than 72 hours in advance. Set a reminder to fill it as soon as the window opens.
Do OCI cardholders need to fill the India e-Arrival Card?
Yes. OCI cardholders have been required to submit the India e-Arrival Card since 4 October 2025. This applies to all OCI holders regardless of age or visa status.
What photo quality is needed for the eAC passport upload?
The passport bio page photo must be clear, uncropped, and high resolution. Blurry, glare-affected, or partially cropped images will be rejected. Scan or photograph the full data page in good lighting.
To protect yourself from fraudulent sites, see: How to Avoid India e-Arrival Card Scams.
