India e-Arrival Card: When to Submit72 Hours, or 72 to 24 Hours?

Short answer

Submit it between 72 and 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. That is the one window that is safe under every version we found, and it does not need a last-minute scramble.

Reported sources agree on the 72-hour start. The disagreement is the cut-off.

What the sources say

• Airline notice, as reported by newspapers: Emirates is quoted as saying the card must be filed no earlier than 72 hours and no later than 24 hours before the flight.
• Lufthansa Group business page: says foreign travellers and OCI cardholders complete the form up to 72 hours before entering India, with no 24-hour cut-off mentioned.
• Travel guides: some give “within 72 hours of arrival, no later than arrival”. Another guide says there is no official rule requiring submission 24 hours before arrival, but recommends 24 to 48 hours anyway.
• One news summary: described a four-day window and a QR code rule that changes depending on how early you filed. We could not confirm that on an official page, so we do not use it.

We did not find a rule stated on a government page we could read, so treat the 24-hour line as an airline requirement you may meet at check-in.

A safe plan

1. Work out your final landing time in India. With a connection, count from the last arrival.
2. Open the portal from 72 hours before that time.
3. File it 24 to 48 hours before your first flight if you can. This satisfies the airline version and leaves time for fixes.
4. Save the QR code or confirmation to your phone.
5. Check your airline’s own page for any stricter rule.

If your flight changes

Reported guides say each new submission replaces the earlier one for your passport number. If your landing time moves outside the window you used, file again and use the newest confirmation.

Who needs it

Reported sources say all foreign nationals and OCI holders who clear immigration must file, each person separately, including children (a parent can fill it for a minor). Passengers who stay airside in transit are reported to be exempt. Pakistani passport holders should read our India page first, because the visa question comes before the arrival card.

More answers on this topic

• India e-Arrival Card: Entry Rules & Official Link
• India e-Arrival Card: Free or Scam? Official Sites
• India e-Arrival Card: Edit, Family, Forgot to File
• Arrival Card Scam Websites: How to Spot the Fake Ones
• Arrival Card vs Visa: What Is the Difference?
• All travel questions