India e-Arrival Card for German Citizens
German citizens travelling to India must complete the India e-Arrival Card before reaching immigration. This includes German passport holders travelling with OCI or eOCI documentation.
Submit your arrival information within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in India.
Do German passport holders need an India e-Arrival Card?
Yes. Germany’s official travel advice for India confirms that foreign nationals must complete the digital arrival form before entering India.
The e-Arrival Card records your arrival information. Your passport and any required Indian visa or OCI documentation remain separate.
If you live in Germany but travel on another country’s passport, use the nationality and passport details for that travel document.
When does the 72-hour window open in Germany?
Start with your scheduled arrival time in India and count back 72 hours. Then convert that opening time into German local time.
For example, if you arrive in India on Sunday at 8 am Indian Standard Time, the window opens on Thursday at 8 am Indian Standard Time.
| German time in effect when the window opens | Opening time for this example |
|---|---|
| Winter time: CET / MEZ, UTC+1 | Thursday at 3:30 am |
| Summer time: CEST / MESZ, UTC+2 | Thursday at 4:30 am |
These times apply throughout Germany. Use the clock setting in effect when the submission window opens, particularly around the March and October clock changes.
You can provide details to our assistance service before the window opens. We review them after payment and complete government submission within the permitted window.
Which arrival date and format should I use?
Use the date you arrive in India. An overnight flight from Germany, or a journey with a connection, may reach India on the following calendar day.
Always follow the format shown in the form you are completing and check the selected date before submitting.
Which German document details should I enter?
Use your current travel passport, your Reisepass. Germany’s travel advice states that a Personalausweis, the German national identity card, is not accepted for entry into India.
For a German passport:
- Select Germany as your nationality.
- Enter your full name as shown on your passport.
- Copy the passport number carefully from the passport’s details page.
- If you renewed your passport, use the current travel passport’s details
The German Foreign Office notes that the letter O is not assigned in German passport numbers. Check any unclear character against the document rather than guessing from a saved booking profile.
Do German citizens with OCI cards need to complete it?
Yes. The official OCI services website includes OCI cardholders in the e-Arrival Card submission guidance.
Use your current German passport number in the passport field. Your OCI card number is a separate identifier.
Completing an e-Arrival Card does not renew your OCI documentation or update your OCI passport records.
Prepare your Indian address and German contact number
Have your accommodation address in India ready, including its Indian state and district. Check these against your hotel booking or your host’s address.
For a German phone number, use +49 and omit the initial national 0. For example, a mobile number beginning 0151 becomes +49 151… in international format. If the form provides a separate country-code field, enter +49 there without repeating it in the number field.
Use an email address you can access while travelling. You will also need your purpose of visit and the countries visited in the last six days.
What does it cost for travellers from Germany?
The service costs £15 GBP per traveller, charged in British pounds.
If your card account uses euros, your card provider determines the exchange rate and any applicable conversion fees. The amount charged in euros may therefore vary.
We review the information you provide, check for missing details and common mistakes, contact you if clarification is needed, assist with submission and email confirmation after completion.
Through our service, complete a separate application for each traveller, including children. Families can use the same accessible contact email address. Read our children and families guide before preparing several applications.
Is there a separate health declaration?
Yes. Germany’s current travel advice also lists a separate Air Suvidha health declaration, available within 24 hours before arrival. It recommends completing this before boarding.
Our e-Arrival Card assistance does not complete that health declaration. Check the latest German government travel advice for India and your airline’s instructions before travelling.
Ready to prepare your arrival information?
Check your current passport number, Indian arrival date and contact email before applying.
For questions about this service or an existing order, email [email protected].