How to Avoid Scams When Applying for India Arrival Card 2026

India e-Arrival Card scams have surged since the form became mandatory in April 2026. Fake websites mimic the official government portal, charge $20–$80 for a free service, and may steal your passport data. The only safe places to apply are indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival and the Su-Swagatam app. This guide shows you exactly how to spot scam sites, verify the official URL, and what to do if you have already been targeted.

Why India e-Arrival Card Scams Are Surging in 2026

When India made the e-Arrival Card mandatory for all foreign nationals on April 1, 2026, it created a new and predictable scam opportunity. Millions of travellers suddenly needed to complete a digital form they had never heard of before. Search traffic for “India e-Arrival Card” exploded overnight — and scammers were ready.

Fake websites impersonating the official portal began appearing in Google search results, often above the official site through paid advertising. Social media posts, WhatsApp forwards, and YouTube videos directed travellers to unofficial services. Facebook groups dedicated to India travel were flooded with “helpful” links to fraudulent portals.

The Indian Bureau of Immigration issued multiple warnings. The Consulate General of India in Toronto published an alert in October 2025 explicitly warning travellers to beware of “fake, fraudulent, or scam websites and entities.” Instagram posts from Indian immigration authorities in April 2026 reiterated: “Registration is FREE OF CHARGE and neither requires nor collects any online payment.”

Understanding why these scams are effective helps you avoid them. The official form looks similar to visa applications that do cost money (like an Indian eVisa). Many travellers assume there is a fee. Scam sites exploit this assumption.

How to Identify the Official India e-Arrival Card Website

The single most important thing you can do to avoid India e-Arrival Card scams is to verify the URL before submitting any information. Here are the only two legitimate sources:

• Official portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
• Official app: Su-Swagatam (only from Apple App Store / Google Play official government developer)

Notice the domain: indianvisaonline.gov.in. The .gov.in suffix is reserved exclusively for Indian government websites. No private company can register a .gov.in domain. This is your single most reliable verification tool.

URL Red Flags — What Scam Domains Look Like

Scam websites use domain names carefully crafted to look legitimate at a glance. Common patterns include:

• india-earrival-card.com — hyphenated, .com instead of .gov.in
• indiaearrivalcard.org — correct words, wrong TLD
• india-arrival-form.net — “form” instead of “card,” .net domain
• e-arrival-india-official.com — adds “official” in domain to appear legitimate
• apply-india-arrival-card.com — action word added to seem like the application portal
• indianvisaonline.com — copies the real portal name but uses .com instead of .gov.in
• boi-india-arrival.net — mimics Bureau of Immigration (BOI) branding

None of these are official. If the domain does not end in .gov.in, it is not an Indian government website.

How to Check SSL and Domain Ownership

SSL certificates (the padlock icon in your browser) are not a guarantee of legitimacy — scam sites can and do use SSL. However, you can check the certificate details:

1. Click the padlock icon in your browser address bar
2. Select “Certificate” or “Connection is secure”
3. Look at the “Issued to” field — the official portal will show indianvisaonline.gov.in or a government entity

You can also use WHOIS lookup (whois.domaintools.com) to check who registered a domain. Government domains are registered to Indian government entities. Private domains are registered to anonymous individuals or foreign companies.

Payment = Automatic Scam Signal

The India e-Arrival Card is free. If any website asks for payment — at any point in the process, including as a “processing fee,” “service charge,” or “administrative fee” — stop immediately. This is not how the official system works. The official portal processes your form at zero cost, instantly, with no payment screen.

Legitimate visa assistance services that charge fees must clearly state they are not the official government portal. Fraudulent services do not — they often imply or directly claim government affiliation.

Common Scam Website Patterns to Watch For

Beyond the URL, scam India arrival card sites share several recognisable features. Knowing these patterns allows you to exit quickly if you land on one accidentally.

Visual impersonation: Many fake sites copy the colour scheme, logos, and layout of the official Indian government immigration portal. They may display the Indian flag, the official government seal, or stock photographs of Indian airports and landmarks — all to create a false sense of legitimacy.

Fake “Ministry” or “Bureau” branding: Sites may claim to be operated by the “Ministry of Immigration,” the “India Bureau of Arrivals,” or similar fabricated government-sounding entities. India’s immigration authority is the Bureau of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs — if the site uses any other entity name, it is fake.

Countdown timers and urgency messaging: “Your application session expires in 15 minutes.” “Only 3 slots remaining today.” “Apply now — mandatory before April 30.” The official portal has no countdown timers, no slot limits, and no artificial urgency. You can apply any time within the 72-hour pre-arrival window.

Phone number or WhatsApp “support”: Official Indian government portals do not offer WhatsApp customer support for individual applications. Sites that offer WhatsApp assistance are not government-operated.

Google ads above official results: Scam sites frequently purchase Google ads using keywords like “India arrival card apply” to appear at the top of search results. Always scroll past sponsored results and look for indianvisaonline.gov.in in organic results, or type the URL directly.

Step-by-Step: Verify You’re on the Right Website

Before entering any personal information, follow these steps:

1. Check the URL bar: Confirm it reads https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival — not a variation of it
2. Look for the padlock icon: Confirm the connection is secure (https://)
3. Verify the page heading: Official portal displays “Indian Visa Online” and Bureau of Immigration branding with the official Indian government emblem
4. Confirm no payment is requested: The official form has no payment page. If you see a payment screen, exit immediately
5. Check the source: Did you arrive at this page from boi.gov.in, your airline’s official communication, or the Indian embassy website? These are reliable starting points

If you have the Su-Swagatam app, confirm it was downloaded from the official app store listing under the Indian government developer account — not a third-party download site.

For troubleshooting issues on the real portal, visit our India e-Arrival Card portal troubleshooting guide.

What to Do If You Were Scammed

If you submitted personal information or payment to a fake India e-Arrival Card website, act quickly. The sooner you respond, the better your options.

Contact Your Bank Immediately

If you made a payment to a scam site, call your bank or credit card provider’s fraud line immediately. Most banks allow chargebacks for services that misrepresent themselves — a site falsely claiming to be an official government service is grounds for a chargeback request. Act within 24–48 hours for the best chance of success.

Re-Apply on the Official Portal

Even if you submitted data to an unofficial site, you likely do not have a valid India e-Arrival Card QR code from the Bureau of Immigration system. A legitimate confirmation will come from an official @gov.in email address. If you are unsure, re-apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival — you can submit the form more than once.

Report to India’s CERT-In

India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) tracks fraudulent websites impersonating government services. Report the scam site at cert-in.org.in. Include the URL, screenshots, and any confirmation emails you received. CERT-In can escalate removal of fraudulent domains.

File a Complaint with Your Local Cybercrime Unit

Most countries have national cybercrime reporting mechanisms:

• USA: IC3.gov (FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center)
• UK: Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk)
• Australia: ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au)
• Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca)

Filing a report helps authorities track patterns and may support your chargeback claim.

Monitor for Identity Theft

Your passport number, date of birth, and travel details are sensitive data. If submitted to an unknown third party, monitor your identity for unusual activity. Consider placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus if you are concerned about identity theft. Contact your country’s passport authority if you believe your passport details have been compromised.

For more guidance on completing the legitimate process, check our India e-Arrival Card FAQ and our error correction guide.

How to Safely Complete the India e-Arrival Card

The legitimate India e-Arrival Card process is straightforward when done correctly:

1. Navigate directly to https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or open the Su-Swagatam app
2. Select “Fill e-Arrival Card” and enter your passport details
3. Complete travel information: flight number, arrival date, accommodation address in India
4. Complete the health declaration (brief, standard questions)
5. Review and submit — the process takes 8–12 minutes
6. Save or screenshot the QR code confirmation — show this to immigration on arrival

You can apply up to 72 hours before arrival. No payment screen will appear at any point. If you are a US citizen, see our dedicated US citizens India e-Arrival Card guide. For travellers arriving at specific airports, we have detailed guides for Delhi and Mumbai airports.

Frequently Asked Questions

See the full list of errors that fraudulent sites often cause: Common India e-Arrival Card Mistakes. If you encounter technical problems on the official portal, consult our Portal Troubleshooting page.