Transit passengers with a layover in India under 24 hours who remain airside do NOT need an e-Arrival Card. If you clear immigration – including for layovers over 24 hours or any time you leave the international transit zone – the free India e-Arrival Card is mandatory from 1 April 2026.
Do Transit Passengers Need the India e-Arrival Card?
The answer depends on whether you clear immigration during your layover. Airside transit (staying in the international transit zone without passing through immigration) is exempt from the e-Arrival Card. Landside transit – where you leave the transit zone and clear immigration – requires the e-Arrival Card.
The two key scenarios:
- Airside transit – You stay in the international departure/transit area, do not pass through immigration. No e-Arrival Card needed.
- Landside transit / immigration clearance – You leave the transit zone, pass through Indian immigration (e.g., to exit the airport, stay overnight, or for layovers over 24 hours). e-Arrival Card required.
Airside Transit – No e-Arrival Card Needed
If your connecting flight departs from the same international terminal and you remain within the secured transit area throughout your layover, you are not entering India for immigration purposes. No Indian visa, transit visa, or e-Arrival Card is required for true airside transit at Indian airports.
Landside Transit / Immigration Clearance – e-Arrival Card Required
If you need to leave the airside area for any reason – to collect checked baggage, exit the airport, stay at a hotel during a long layover, or if you are connecting to a domestic flight – you will pass through Indian immigration. In this case, the India e-Arrival Card is mandatory from 1 April 2026.
The 24-Hour Airside Exemption Explained
Passengers with connections under 24 hours who stay in the international transit zone are exempt from submitting an e-Arrival Card. This is the standard airside transit exemption applied at Indian airports.
The 24-hour threshold works as follows:
- Under 24 hours + airside only – Exempt from e-Arrival Card, no Indian visa required
- Over 24 hours OR leaving the transit zone – Must clear immigration, e-Arrival Card required
- Domestic connection – Must clear immigration and collect baggage, e-Arrival Card required
“Airside” means the secured international departure area after security screening, before passport control. Once you pass through immigration (passport control), you are “landside” and have entered India for immigration purposes.
Important: even if your layover is under 24 hours, if you must leave the airside area (for example, to re-check baggage or connect to a domestic terminal), you will need the e-Arrival Card.
Which Indian Airports Have International Transit Zones?
Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Chennai (MAA), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), and Kolkata (CCU) have designated international transit zones that allow airside connections without immigration clearance.
Major Indian airports with international transit facilities:
| Airport | Code | Transit Zone Available |
|---|---|---|
| Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi | DEL | Yes – Terminal 3 |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai | BOM | Yes – T2 |
| Chennai International Airport | MAA | Yes |
| Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru | BLR | Yes |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad | HYD | Yes |
| Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata | CCU | Yes |
Always verify with your airline before travel – transit facilities and policies can change. If your connecting flight departs from a different terminal requiring a terminal transfer, check whether this involves clearing immigration.
For general information about the e-Arrival Card, visit the India e-Arrival Card home page.
What If Your Layover Exceeds 24 Hours?
If your layover exceeds 24 hours or you leave the international transit zone, you must clear immigration and submit the e-Arrival Card before arrival. You may also need a valid Indian visa unless you hold an OCI card or are from a visa-exempt country.
For layovers over 24 hours:
- Check visa requirements – Most foreign nationals need a valid Indian visa or e-Visa to enter India (even for transit). OCI holders are visa-free.
- Submit the e-Arrival Card – Complete the form at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival up to 72 hours before arrival.
- Collect your QR code – Present it at check-in and at Indian immigration.
- Clear immigration – Pass through passport control as a regular entry to India.
If you plan to stay at an airport hotel during a long layover, even if the hotel is inside the airport complex, you must verify whether you need to clear immigration to access it. In most cases, airport hotels accessible from the airside area do not require immigration clearance.
Do You Need a Transit Visa AND e-Arrival Card?
These are separate requirements. A transit visa (if required) grants permission to enter India for transit purposes. The e-Arrival Card is a mandatory digital declaration form required if you clear immigration, regardless of visa type.
Key distinction:
- Transit visa – Entry permission (needed when you clear immigration and your nationality requires it)
- e-Arrival Card – Immigration declaration form (needed whenever you clear immigration, mandatory from April 2026)
India does not require a transit visa for airside transit (staying in the international zone). If you are connecting internationally without clearing immigration, neither a transit visa nor an e-Arrival Card is needed.
If your layover requires clearing immigration, check the Indian government’s official visa page to determine whether your nationality needs a transit visa in addition to the e-Arrival Card.
OCI cardholders clearing immigration during a long layover need the e-Arrival Card but not a visa. See our NRI and OCI guide for details.
How to Apply for the e-Arrival Card as a Transit Passenger
Apply up to 72 hours before arrival at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival or via the Su-Swagatam app – select “transit” as your purpose of visit.
Step-by-step for transit passengers:
- Go to indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
- Select “New e-Arrival Card”
- Enter passport details (number, nationality, expiry date)
- Enter your inbound flight details (arrival in India)
- Select “Transit” as your purpose of visit
- Enter your onward destination and connecting flight number
- Provide your accommodation in India (if staying overnight) or airline transit hotel address
- Submit and save your QR code
Present the QR code at your departure airport check-in and at Indian immigration on arrival. Read our complete QR code guide to understand how to use it at the airport.
What If You Miss Your Connecting Flight?
If you miss your connection and need to leave the airside area unexpectedly, you must complete the e-Arrival Card as quickly as possible. Most airports have Wi-Fi available. If you had not previously submitted the form, airport immigration staff can assist. However, having a valid Indian visa and submitting the e-Arrival Card in advance avoids any complications.
Frequently Asked Questions – Transit and e-Arrival Card
Do I need an e-Arrival Card for a layover in India?
It depends on whether you clear immigration. If you stay in the international transit zone (airside) and your layover is under 24 hours, you do not need an e-Arrival Card. If you clear immigration for any reason, including layovers over 24 hours, the e-Arrival Card is mandatory from 1 April 2026.
Is there an airside transit exemption for India?
Yes. Passengers who remain in the international transit zone without clearing immigration are exempt from the India e-Arrival Card requirement. This airside exemption typically applies to connections under 24 hours. Once you pass through immigration (passport control), you need the e-Arrival Card.
Which Indian airports can I transit through without clearing immigration?
Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Chennai (MAA), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), and Kolkata (CCU) have international transit zones that allow airside connections. Always verify with your airline as policies may vary by terminal and connection type.
What happens if my layover in India is more than 24 hours?
If your layover exceeds 24 hours, you will typically need to clear immigration, which means the India e-Arrival Card is required. You may also need a valid Indian visa or e-Visa unless you hold an OCI card or are from a visa-exempt country. Apply for the e-Arrival Card at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival up to 72 hours before arrival.
Do I need both a transit visa and an e-Arrival Card for India?
These are separate requirements. A transit visa (if your nationality requires one) grants permission to enter India. The e-Arrival Card is a digital immigration declaration required for all foreign nationals clearing immigration from 1 April 2026. For airside transit where you don’t clear immigration, neither is needed.
Can I go to my hotel inside the airport without clearing immigration?
Some Indian airports have transit hotels accessible from the airside area (before immigration). If the hotel is accessible from the secured transit area, you can use it without clearing immigration and without needing an e-Arrival Card. Hotels accessible only from the landside (after immigration) require you to clear immigration and therefore need the e-Arrival Card.
What purpose of visit should I select on the e-Arrival Card for transit?
Select ‘Transit’ as your purpose of visit when completing the e-Arrival Card. You will also need to provide your onward flight details and the address where you will stay if you are in India overnight.
