In this article 4 sections
The Government of India’s e-Visa portal says an e-Visa traveler should have a return or onward journey ticket and enough money for the stay. The same portal specifically requires confirmed travel tickets to India and onward from India for an e-Transit visa application. Do not assume that a temporary booking meets a rule that calls for a ticket. Check the conditions for your own visa and passport before leaving for India.
India’s visa-on-arrival guidance also mentions a return or onward ticket, but that scheme is limited to eligible Japanese, South Korean and certain UAE nationals. Most travelers need another visa or entry permission. Your airline may check your documents before boarding, and immigration can inspect them on arrival.
What should your exit document show?
- your name as it appears in your passport
- a route from India to another country, rather than an internal Indian journey
- an exit date that fits the stay actually permitted by your visa
- the confirmed or issued ticket status required for your visa category
- a legible copy available at check-in and at the border
A Delhi–Mumbai flight does not prove that you will leave India. A return ticket takes you back to an earlier country; an onward ticket takes you to another one. Our India return-ticket guide explains the distinction and the relevant entry categories.
Is a temporary reservation enough?
A temporary flight reservation can show a proposed itinerary while it remains active, but it is not automatically a paid or issued ticket. A PNR can help verify a booking; it does not by itself prove that a ticket exists. Ask your airline and the authority handling your visa if the document requirement is unclear. If your particular process expressly accepts a reservation, check that it stays active before you review reservation options.
Before you fly
Confirm your visa category and its actual permitted stay, not just the overall validity printed on an e-Visa. Read the current official requirements for that category and check the airline’s document rules for your route. Keep your return or onward document accessible offline and make sure its name, date and destination match your travel plan.
Final check
For an Indian e-Visa, prepare the return or onward journey ticket described by the official portal. For e-Transit, follow its confirmed-ticket requirement. Visa on arrival is available only to the listed eligible nationals and has its own onward-ticket condition. Other visa types can differ, so verify your exact permission before relying on a reservation.
Create a temporary flight reservation for visa files, airline checks, or proof of onward travel.