India Launches e-Visa Transfer Service for New Passports: What Travelers Need to Know
Updated: 7 hours ago
NEW DELHI, September 23, 2026 — India has quietly added a new feature to its official e-Visa portal that allows certain travelers to transfer their valid electronic visa to a newly issued passport, a development that could simplify travel for those who lose their passport or have it stolen while their Indian visa remains valid.
The service, titled "Transfer of eVisa/ETA on New Passport," was spotted on the Indian Visa Online portal on September 22, 2026, and initial testing has revealed both its scope and its limitations.
Service Limited to Long-Term e-Visas
The transfer procedure is not open to all Indian e-Visas. Testing conducted using a three-month e-Visa was blocked by the portal, which displayed a message stating that transfers are available only for one-year and five-year authorizations.
A subsequent test using a one-year e-Business Visa successfully accessed the full transfer procedure, confirming that the service is not limited to e-Tourist Visas. India officially states that the e-Business Visa is valid for 365 days and permits multiple entries.
For e-Tourist Visas, the portal offers one-year and five-year authorizations, both with multiple-entry privileges.
This means short-term e-Visas are excluded entirely. Travelers holding a 30-day or three-month visa cannot use this service.
Designed for Lost, Stolen, or Unreturned Passports
Perhaps the most significant finding is that the transfer service appears not to be a routine passport-update mechanism.
After entering the old passport number, ETA number, and date of birth, applicants must select a reason for the transfer. The portal currently offers three options:
Reason | Description |
Loss of passport | Passport misplaced or lost |
Theft of passport | Passport stolen |
Non-return of old passport | Old passport not returned by the issuing authority |
There is no option for a standard passport renewal where the holder retains the previous passport. This suggests the service is designed specifically for travelers who can no longer present the original document on which their ETA was issued.
Required Information and Documents
Once an eligible authorization is identified, the portal requests the following details about the new passport:
New passport number
Date of issue
Date of expiration
Reason for transfer
Applicants must also upload a new photograph and a copy of the biographical page of the new passport. The system requires certification that all information is accurate before submission.
The portal explicitly states that this service is exclusively for transferring an e-Visa/ETA to a new passport. If any other information requires correction, a fresh visa application must be submitted.
The Existing Two-Passport Rule Still Applies
Until now, travelers who renewed their passport while their Indian ETA remained valid could continue using that authorization by carrying both the new passport and the old passport on which the ETA was issued. Indian embassies and consulates worldwide continue to confirm this arrangement.
The introduction of the transfer service does not eliminate this option. Travelers who still possess their old passport can continue to present both documents at Indian immigration.
The three available transfer reasons — loss, theft, and non-return — strongly suggest that the new service primarily addresses situations where the old passport cannot be presented at all.
What Remains Unclear
The service's launch has not been accompanied by detailed official guidance. Several key questions remain unanswered:
Question | Status |
Processing time | Not published |
Fees | No payment displayed before submission, but service may not be free |
Document issued | Form of the new authorization (document or new ETA) unknown |
Old ETA status | Whether old ETA is automatically voided upon transfer |
Official guidance | No detailed communication from Indian authorities |
As of September 23, 2026, the portal has not published a fee or processing time for the transfer request.
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Details |
Service Name | Transfer of eVisa/ETA on New Passport |
Launch Date | September 22, 2026 |
Eligible Visas | One-year and five-year e-Visas only |
Excluded Visas | 30-day and three-month e-Visas |
Transfer Reasons | Loss, theft, or non-return of old passport |
Standard Renewal | Not eligible for transfer |
Required Documents | New photo + biographical page of new passport |
Existing Alternative | Carry both old and new passports |
Fees/Processing | Not yet published |
Read Also
Official Resources
Resource | Link |
Indian Visa Online Portal | |
Indian e-Visa Helpline | |
e-Visa Helpline Numbers | +91-8278087808 / +91-11-24300666 |
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