India Visa Guide
Passport Requirements for India - Validity and Blank Pages
India requires your passport to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival and to have 2 blank pages for the immigration stamp. A damaged passport or one with less than 6 months validity will be refused at entry and rejected in the visa application. Carry the same passport you used to apply.
- Processing time
- n/a
- Cost
- n/a
- Validity
- 6 months from arrival
- Eligibility
- All travellers
- How to apply
- Checked at entry
The two passport rules, in one check
- Find the expiry date on your passport — It is counted from the day you arrive in India, not the day you book or apply.
- Valid for 6 months or more from your arrival date?
- Yes: Continue
- No: Renew your passport first — An application with too little validity is rejected, and entry can be refused.
- At least 2 blank pages for the immigration stamp?
- Yes: Check condition
- No: Replace the passport before applying
- Passport undamaged, with a clean data page?
- Yes: Ready to apply
- No: Renew — a damaged passport is refused at entry
Passport requirements for India at a glance
| Rule | What India requires | What goes wrong if you miss it |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | At least 6 months from the date of arrival | Application rejected, or entry refused |
| Blank pages | At least 2 | No room for the immigration stamp |
| Condition | Not damaged or mutilated, data page intact | Refused at entry |
| Same passport | The passport you applied with is the one you travel on | The e-Visa is tied to one passport |
Source: Government of India e-Visa rules, indianvisaonline.gov.in.
How the 6-month rule works in practice
Count forward from your arrival date, not from today. If you land in India on 1 March 2027, your passport must be valid until at least 1 September 2027. If it expires on 15 December 2026 and you land on 20 August 2026, you have about four months of validity, so renew before you apply.
Renewing is cheaper than a rejected application: the e-Visa fee is non-refundable whether the visa is granted or refused, so check the passport first and only then pay.
Before you book flights
- Check the expiry date against your arrival date, not today’s date.
- Count the blank pages: stamps and visas from earlier trips use them up.
- Look at the data page for creases, tears or water damage.
- Use the exact passport details on the e-Visa form: name, number and dates must match.
- Carry the passport you applied with, plus a printout or digital copy of the e-Visa grant.
Step-by-step process
- Check your passport expiry - it must be 6+ months from arrival.
- Confirm at least 2 blank pages.
- Renew if damaged or expiring soon.
- Use the same passport for the visa and at entry.
Requirements
| Validity | 6 months from arrival. |
|---|---|
| Blank pages | 2 pages minimum. |
| Condition | Not damaged or mutilated. |
| Consistency | Same passport for application and travel. |
Common mistakes
- Travelling with under 6 months validity
- No blank pages left
- Damaged datapage
- Renewing passport after the e-Visa is issued (e-Visa ties to the passport)
Expert tips
- Renew an expiring passport before applying for the e-Visa.
- Keep 2 blank pages for entry/exit stamps.
- An e-Visa is linked to one passport - carry that exact passport.
Frequently asked questions
How much passport validity do I need for India?
At least 6 months from the date of arrival in India.
How many blank pages are required?
At least 2 blank pages for the immigration stamp.
Can I travel on a new passport if my e-Visa is on the old one?
You must travel on the passport the e-Visa was issued against, or apply for a new e-Visa.