This guide is information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change, so confirm on the official government site before you travel.
Third-party sites sell “e-Arrival assistance” for real money. The card itself is free. Here is where to file, what a fee-charging page looks like, and what to do if you already paid.
Short answer
Reported sources say the e-Arrival Card is free and carries no government fee. One travel guide warns that some agents charge up to USD 160 for submitting it. Treat any page that asks for payment as a middleman, not the government.
Reports list two official routes: the Indian Visa Online portal at indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival and the Bureau of Immigration website at boi.gov.in. We read these in third-party guides, so confirm the address on a government page before you start.
Warning signs of a paid look-alike
- A fee at any step, or an “urgent processing” upsell.
- The page asks you to upload documents or a photo. A guide we read says the official card needs no uploads.
- The web address is not a government domain, or it is a long name that mixes “visa”, “arrival” and “India”.
- It promises approval. The card needs no approval, only submission.
Do not mix it up with your visa
The e-Arrival Card is a declaration, not a visa. Pakistani passport holders need to settle the visa question first. Our India page explains the reported suspension of visa services for Pakistani citizens, and the open question we have not been able to confirm.
If you already paid
- Keep the receipt and a screenshot of the page.
- Check on the official portal that a card exists for your passport number. If not, file the free one.
- Ask your card issuer about a dispute for the fee.
- Do not send passport photos or card numbers again to the same site.
We cannot promise a refund, and nobody else should.
Timing
The card opens 72 hours before arrival. See when to submit for the disagreement on the cut-off.
Questions and answers
Is the India e-Arrival Card free?
Reported sources say yes. The card has no government fee, and sites that charge are third parties.
Where do I file the India e-Arrival Card?
Reported official routes are the Indian Visa Online portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival) and the Bureau of Immigration site (boi.gov.in). Confirm on a government page.
Does the India e-Arrival Card replace a visa?
No. It is a declaration. A visa or e-Visa is a separate requirement.
More answers on this topic
Sources
Facts were seen in these sources on 2026-11-01. Where a source is a news report or travel guide and not an official site, we say "reported". Always confirm on the official portal.Published Nov 1, 2026 · Updated Nov 1, 2026 · How we check facts