Every family member on a foreign passport – including children and infants – must have an India e-Arrival Card before entering India from 1 April 2026. One adult can submit for up to 5 family members in a single session on indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival. The form is free, takes under 10 minutes per person, and generates a QR code for immigration clearance.
Who Needs an India e-Arrival Card in Your Family?
All foreign passport holders in your family need a separate India e-Arrival Card entry – including minors and infants. Indian citizens and children traveling on an Indian passport are exempt from this requirement.
Here is a quick breakdown by traveler type:
- Foreign passport holder (adult): eAC required
- Foreign passport holder (child or infant): eAC required
- Indian citizen (any age): exempt
- OCI card holder: eAC required (mandatory since 4 October 2025)
- Child on parent’s Indian passport: follows Indian citizen rule – exempt
Mixed families – where one parent holds an Indian passport and children hold foreign passports – need to submit an eAC only for the family members on foreign documents. Double-check each traveler’s passport nationality before starting your submission.
Can One Person Submit for the Whole Family?
Yes – the India e-Arrival Card system allows a single person to submit entries for up to 5 family members in one session. This is the most practical option for families traveling together, as it means one parent or group leader can complete the entire process at once.
For groups of more than 5 foreign passport holders, you must split into multiple separate submissions. For example, a family of 7 would require two sessions: one covering 5 travelers and one covering the remaining 2.
Each traveler receives their own QR code. Make sure every person has their QR code saved or printed before arriving at the airport – the QR codes are individual and cannot be shared or transferred.
Step-by-Step: How to Submit the India e-Arrival Card for a Family
Submitting the India e-Arrival Card for a group of family members follows the same process as a single submission, repeated for each person in the group. Before you begin, gather the following documents for every traveler in your family.
What Information You Need for Each Family Member
- Passport number, issue date, and expiry date
- Full name as printed on passport
- Date of birth and nationality
- Flight number and date of arrival
- Arrival airport in India
- Address of accommodation in India (hotel name, full address)
- Email address and mobile number (one per group is acceptable)
- Purpose of visit (tourism, family visit, medical, etc.)
Completing the Group Submission on indianvisaonline.gov.in
- Open indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam app
- Start a new application for the first family member
- Fill in all required fields and submit
- Note the reference number, then start a new application for the next family member
- Repeat for all travelers (up to 5 per session)
- If you have more than 5 travelers, log back in and start a new session
The window for submission is within 72 hours before arrival – not before. Do not submit earlier than 72 hours, as the system will reject the form. The ideal time is 48-24 hours before your flight departs.
Saving and Sharing QR Codes with Each Family Member
After each submission is complete, a unique QR code is generated for that traveler. Download or screenshot the QR code and share it with the traveler it belongs to. Keep a backup copy – on your phone and as a printed sheet. Immigration officers scan individual QR codes, so each person in your group needs their own.
India Arrival Card for Children: Key Rules
Children on a foreign passport are not exempt from the India e-Arrival Card requirement. Every minor – regardless of age, including infants – needs a separate eAC entry if they hold a foreign passport. There is no minimum age threshold for exemption.
Key rules for children:
- Child on foreign passport: eAC required, separate entry in the form
- Infant on foreign passport: eAC required – age is not a basis for exemption
- Child on parent’s Indian passport: exempt (follows Indian citizen rule)
- Child born in India but on foreign passport: eAC required – birth location does not affect the rule
For young children, the parent or guardian completes the eAC form on their behalf. Use the child’s passport details as they appear in the document. The purpose of visit for a minor traveling with parents is typically “Tourism” or “Family Visit.”
You can submit the eAC for your children as part of the family group submission – one session, up to 5 travelers including children.
Mixed Families and OCI Holders
In families where one parent holds an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card and the other holds a foreign passport, each person must comply with their own requirement. OCI holders have been required to submit an India e-Arrival Card since 4 October 2025 – they are not exempt.
Common mixed-family scenarios:
- Indian citizen parent + foreign passport children: parent exempt, children need eAC
- OCI parent + Indian citizen parent + foreign passport children: OCI parent needs eAC, Indian citizen parent exempt, children need eAC
- OCI parent + foreign passport children: all need eAC – OCI parent and each child
- Both parents on foreign passports + children on foreign passports: all need eAC
Check the FAQ page for more detail on OCI requirements, or go directly to the application page to start your family submission.
Groups Beyond Family: Tour Groups and Corporate Teams
The group submission rule applies not just to families but to any group of up to 5 travelers. Tour operators and corporate travel managers can use this to batch-submit eAC entries for small groups.
For tour groups or corporate delegations:
- Groups of up to 5: one session, one submission per person, one person can manage all
- Groups of 6-10: two sessions required
- Groups of 11-25: multiple sessions – plan ahead and assign a coordinator
- Large groups (25+): assign multiple coordinators, each handling up to 5 submissions
All submissions must fall within the 72-hour pre-arrival window. For large groups on the same flight, it is practical to have one designated person complete all submissions the day before departure.
What Happens If You Forget to Submit Before Arrival?
Travelers – including family members – who arrive at an Indian airport without a submitted India e-Arrival Card will face manual processing. Immigration officers will not turn them away immediately, but the family will be directed to a separate counter for verification, which significantly extends the process.
Expected consequences of missing the eAC submission:
- Manual immigration processing (30-90 minutes vs. 5-10 minutes with QR code)
- Higher likelihood of additional questioning
- Peak-hour delays can be especially long (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru)
- No on-arrival paper form option is available since 1 April 2026
There is no on-site kiosk or alternative submission at the airport. The eAC can only be submitted online – either through indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam app. If you realize you forgot, submit immediately from your phone – even in the passport queue – as long as you are within the 72-hour window before your scheduled arrival time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every child in the family need a separate India e-Arrival Card?
Yes. Every child on a foreign passport – including infants – needs a separate eAC entry. There is no age exemption. Children on an Indian passport are exempt as Indian citizens.
Can one parent submit the India e-Arrival Card for the entire family?
Yes. One person can complete the India e-Arrival Card for up to 5 family members in a single session on indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival. Groups larger than 5 need additional sessions.
Do OCI card holders in a mixed family need to submit an eAC?
Yes. OCI card holders have been required to submit the India e-Arrival Card since 4 October 2025. They are not exempt – even if other family members hold Indian citizenship.
How far in advance can I submit the India e-Arrival Card for my family?
You can submit within 72 hours before your arrival. Submissions made more than 72 hours in advance are not accepted by the system. Most travelers submit 24-48 hours before departure.
What happens if I enter wrong details for one of my children?
The India e-Arrival Card cannot be edited after submission. If you entered incorrect details, cancel the submission and resubmit with the correct information. Do this before the 72-hour window closes.
Is the India e-Arrival Card free for children?
Yes. The India e-Arrival Card is completely free for all travelers, including children and infants. Any website charging a fee is not the official government portal.
What if a child has a different nationality from the parents?
Each traveler submits based on their own passport nationality. If a child holds a different passport from the parents, they still need their own eAC entry. Submit it during the family group session using the child’s own passport details.
Where do I submit the India e-Arrival Card for my family?
Use the official portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or the Su-Swagatam mobile app. You can also start your application from the apply page here.
For full details on who is required to complete the form, visit Who Needs the India e-Arrival Card. Planning a family holiday? Our Family Travel Guide covers everything from infant submissions to group QR codes.
