India e-Arrival Card Family Checklist: OCI Holders, US Adults and Children
Short answer: Check each person separately. A relative traveling with a valid foreign passport and valid OCI or eOCI uses that status for entry and still needs e-Arrival information. A US-passport adult or child without OCI needs an appropriate India visa or eVisa and also needs e-Arrival information; a child cannot travel on a parent's visa. Complete the arrival task within 72 hours before the family's scheduled arrival in India, include every covered traveler using the official form's Add Member option where appropriate, and save every reference and DE Card PDF the result returns, matching each returned record to the named traveler. The e-Arrival Card records arrival information; it is not a visa.
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Check each traveler, not just the family booking
One booking can contain people with different rights to enter India. For every traveler, make two checks: which passport and entry document or OCI status that person will use, and whether that same person is represented in the e-Arrival information. Completing the arrival card does not resolve a missing visa, and an OCI document does not remove the arrival-card requirement.
| Family member | Entry-document check | e-Arrival check |
|---|---|---|
| Relative with a valid OCI or eOCI | Carry a valid foreign passport together with the valid OCI or eOCI. This traveler uses OCI status rather than applying for a separate eVisa. | Include this traveler in the e-Arrival information. |
| US-passport adult without OCI | Check that the adult has a valid passport and the appropriate regular visa or eVisa for the trip. | Include this adult in the e-Arrival information. |
| US-passport child without OCI | Check the child's own valid passport and appropriate visa or eVisa. A minor applying by eVisa needs a separate eVisa application; a parent's document does not cover the child. | Include this child in the e-Arrival information. |
If a child also holds a valid OCI or eOCI, use the OCI row for that child. The distinction turns on the child's own status, not on the parent's nationality or the way the family booked its flights. For the visa route, see the India eVisa guide; the Government of India visa portal gives the official entry-document guidance.
Count 72 hours back from arrival in India
The official window is within 72 hours before arrival in India. Start with the scheduled arrival in India on the itinerary and count backward from that point. For a long-haul family trip, the flight may leave the United States well before the flight that lands in India. Counting from US departure can put the family on the wrong side of the window.
For example, if the scheduled arrival in India is Friday at 10:00 a.m., the 72-hour window begins Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. on the same time basis. A US departure on Wednesday does not reset that clock. Use the arrival date shown on the current itinerary when preparing the form, and leave enough time to check every person's details and save the results before travel. The arrival card must be completed before entry.
Prepare and add every covered family member
The free Government of India e-Arrival form asks for traveler details including the full name as in the passport, nationality or region, passport number, purpose of travel, arrival date, countries visited in the last six days, address in India, and contact details. Gather those details for each covered relative from that person's own documents and itinerary. A child's passport number, for instance, should not be copied from a parent's record.
The form offers Add Member. Use it where appropriate to include the spouse, children, and OCI holder in the family's arrival information, then check that every covered traveler has been included before submitting. This keeps the family's details together while still letting you check the records returned for the family. Keep the visa or OCI check alongside this form task, because the arrival information does not grant entry permission.
Download and save the e-Arrival proof
After a successful submission, check the returned traveler records rather than treating one family result as proof for everyone. The official result supplies a reference for each returned record and a Download DE Card action for its PDF. Match each reference and PDF to the traveler named in that record before leaving the result page.
A practical way to avoid mix-ups is to save each PDF offline with the traveler's name and reference in the filename, and keep the references with the family's travel documents. The download itself is the evidence to retain; a reference for one adult should not be mistaken for the child's or the OCI holder's record. If a person you included has no returned record or PDF, check the official result and Bureau of Immigration guidance before relying on the family's set of documents.
What to do if the itinerary or details change
If the scheduled arrival in India changes, count back 72 hours from the updated scheduled arrival in India to check the filing window again. For a changed arrival date, passport detail, or other submitted detail, compare the saved record with the current documents and itinerary. A mismatch matters because the arrival information is tied to a particular traveler and arrival. Before travel, return to the official e-Arrival form and consult the Bureau of Immigration instructions for the current way to handle the change. Save any new reference and DE Card returned for an affected person, matched to that traveler's current details.
FAQ
Does an OCI cardholder need an India visa or an e-Arrival Card?
A traveler with a valid foreign passport and valid OCI or eOCI uses OCI status instead of a separate eVisa. The e-Arrival requirement also covers OCI cardholders, so include that traveler and save the returned DE Card.
Does a US-passport child need a separate visa and e-Arrival record?
A child without OCI needs their own appropriate entry document. If the child uses the eVisa route, the official eVisa guidance calls for a separate application for the minor. Include the child in the e-Arrival information and match a returned record and PDF to the child.
Can I use Add Member for my spouse and children?
Yes. The official form provides Add Member for including family members. Check the details of each covered traveler and the records returned after submission.
Are the 72 hours counted from departure or arrival in India?
Count backward from scheduled arrival in India. The US departure time is not the start of the official 72-hour window.
How do I download proof after submitting the family?
For each returned traveler record, note its reference and select Download DE Card to save that record's PDF. Label and store the files so each family member's proof is easy to identify offline.
Getting help with the family checklist
You can complete the official e-Arrival form yourself for free and save every returned DE Card. If coordinating several travelers' information is difficult, my-evisas.com offers optional private preparation assistance. Indian authorities decide visa issuance, OCI recognition, immigration questions, and admission to India.
Important Notice
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. my-evisas.com is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Visa requirements and entry regulations can change at short notice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Only the official regulations in force at the time of your application are authoritative.
As of: 30 September 2026
Binding and up-to-date information is provided exclusively by the relevant official authorities. Please verify the currently applicable requirements before your application or travel: Government of India e-Arrival form and Bureau of Immigration.