Free Dummy Ticket for India — Visa Application 2026

A dummy ticket for India is the document you submit to the embassy or VFS centre with your visa application. It shows your planned travel dates so the consular officer can verify your trip duration aligns with the visa category requested. This page focuses on the embassy-submission requirements, processing-time considerations, and visa-fee context for India.

What India Embassy Officers Look For on Your Dummy Ticket

The India embassy reviewer wants: (1) full passenger name matching your passport application, (2) flight dates that fall WITHIN the visa-validity window you requested, (3) a round-trip itinerary if your visa category is short-stay, (4) a real-format PNR / booking reference, and (5) IATA-code airports rather than city names alone. Inconsistency between this booking and your hotel-reservation dates is the most common red flag.

India Visa Processing Time and Documentation Checklist

For India visa applications, the dummy ticket is one document among several (visa form, photos, financial proof, hotel booking, travel insurance). Embassies rarely process applications on dummy ticket alone — but a missing or invalid dummy ticket is a documented reason for refusal. Submit early enough that your itinerary dates remain valid throughout the embassy processing window plus a buffer of 5–10 days.

What is a Dummy Ticket for India?

A dummy ticket (also called a flight itinerary or temporary flight reservation) is a legitimate placeholder booking used to satisfy visa application requirements. When applying for your India visa, embassies ask for proof that you have onward or return travel planned — but they don't want you to buy a non-refundable ticket before approval.

MyJet24 generates a free flight reservation PDF with a booking reference in airline format. You can use it for your visa application, present it to immigration, or show it at check-in as proof of onward travel.

India Visa & Entry Info

How to attach a flight reservation to your India visa application

India e-Visa Application — Complete Walkthrough at indianvisaonline.gov.in

The India e-Visa is unique among major visa systems — it is 100% online, no embassy interview required. Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa. Decision arrives by email within 3-5 working days. The full process takes 30-45 minutes to complete the 16-section form. Below is the step-by-step walkthrough every applicant should follow.

India e-Visa Step-by-Step Application

1. Verify e-Visa eligibility — your nationality must be on the e-Visa list (170+ countries including US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, etc.). Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Chinese, certain Iranian and Iraqi passport holders need a regular visa.
2. Visit indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa — the ONLY official portal. Beware third-party sites charging USD 50-150 for the same free application service.
3. Choose visa type — Tourist (30-day/1-year/5-year), Business, Medical, Conference, or Medical Attendant. Tourist is most common.
4. Upload a 350×350 pixel photo — white background, JPEG format, 10 KB to 1 MB file size, taken within last 3 months. Reject conditions: glasses, smile, hair covering face, off-white background.
5. Scan and upload passport bio page — PDF format, max 300 KB, all 4 corners visible, no glare, all text readable.
6. Complete the 16-section form — personal info, passport details, current address, employment, family details, expected arrival/departure dates, places to be visited in India, prior India visit history.
7. Provide accommodation details — full hotel address with name, OR host invitation letter for friends/family. "Hotel in Delhi" is rejected — be specific.
8. Pay the fee — USD 25 (30-day), USD 40 (1-year), USD 80 (5-year) by credit/debit card. Payment gateway fee adds USD 2.50-3.50.
9. Save the Application ID — temporary application number to retrieve incomplete submissions within 7 days.
10. Wait for decision by email — 3-5 working days typical. Approved e-Visa arrives as PDF.
11. Print the ETA approval — carry alongside your passport. Air carrier check-in agents verify ETA against your passenger record before allowing boarding.

Source: India e-Visa Official Portal — indianvisaonline.gov.in · Bureau of Immigration India

Watch: India e-Visa Application — indianvisaonline.gov.in in 60 Seconds

Short visual walkthrough of the India e-Visa flow — portal selection (Tourist / Business / Medical), photo-upload specs (350×350 px, JPEG, <1 MB, white background), payment step at indianvisaonline.gov.in, and ETA download. Watch this before you start your application to avoid the most common photo-rejection and document-mismatch errors.

Need a confirmed onward/return ticket for your e-Visa application? Generate one in 30 seconds →

India Visa Decision Tree — e-Visa vs VoA vs Regular Paper Visa

India offers three parallel visa channels depending on your nationality, trip purpose, and stay length. Picking the wrong channel costs weeks of processing time and may require a second application. The matrix below maps your situation to the right path.

e-Tourist Visa: 30-Day vs 1-Year vs 5-Year — Pick the Right One

India offers three e-Tourist Visa lengths — but the rules confuse most first-time applicants. "Validity" and "Stay per visit" are different things. Pick the wrong sub-category and you over-pay for an unused multi-entry visa, OR find yourself unable to stay long enough. The decoded matrix below clarifies each option.

India e-Visa Document Upload — Photo Specs & Common Rejections

The single largest reason India e-Visa applications get rejected is photo specification failure. The Bureau of Immigration applies strict photo standards via automated rejection algorithms. Below is the complete document upload checklist plus the photo specs that cause most rejections.

Required Documents — Upload Specifications

Photo Specifications — 8 Common Rejection Reasons

1. Wrong file size — must be JPEG, 10 KB minimum, 1 MB maximum. Phone photos default to 5+ MB, must be compressed.
2. Wrong dimensions — exactly 350×350 pixels (square format). 600×800 phone selfies are auto-rejected.
3. Background not pure white — off-white, cream, blue, or patterned backgrounds fail. Use plain white wall or white sheet.
4. Glasses (since 2016) — all eyewear banned including reading glasses, sunglasses, photochromic lenses.
5. Hair covering face / forehead — both ears AND forehead must be fully visible. Pin back fringe.
6. Smile or open mouth — neutral expression required, lips closed, no teeth visible.
7. Head tilted — must look directly at camera, head level. No three-quarter angle.
8. Shadow on face — even lighting, no harsh shadows under chin or behind head.

Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Afghan — Special Visa Channels

The India e-Visa system explicitly excludes certain nationalities — Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Chinese (PRC), and some Iranian/Iraqi passport holders must apply for a regular paper visa at an Indian embassy, High Commission, or designated Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC). The matrix below maps each nationality to the right channel.

Regular Paper Visa Application Process

1. Complete online application form at indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa
2. Print application + appointment confirmation
3. Book biometric appointment at designated embassy/IVAC
4. Submit application + supporting documents in person (passport, photos, application fee, financial proof, ITR, sponsor letter for Pakistani applicants)
5. Provide biometric data (fingerprints + photo) at the embassy
6. Pay visa fee at embassy cashier or via designated bank deposit
7. Wait for processing (varies by nationality — 2–16 weeks)
8. Collect passport with stamped visa from embassy/IVAC

India e-Visa Processing Times — Peak vs Off-Peak Season

The Bureau of Immigration officially states 3-5 working day processing for e-Visa applications, but real-world timing depends heavily on seasonality, nationality, and individual application complexity. The matrix below maps actual processing times observed across 2024-2025.

Application Background-Check Triggers (Extend Processing)

• Certain surnames matching watchlists (case-by-case)
• Prior immigration violations (overstays, refusals, deportations)
• Specific occupations — defense, journalism, NGO sector
• Travel history to specific countries (Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan within 6 months of application)
• Multiple address/employment changes in last 12 months

Track your application: Visit indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/status with your Application ID + passport number. Status codes: "Under Process" = normal, "Granted" = approved (e-Visa email follows), "Refused" = denied with brief reason, "Replied" = additional info requested.

India e-Visa Total Cost — Beyond the USD 25 Base Fee

Indian e-Visa fees are remarkably transparent — but payment gateway fees, document scanning, photo capture, and incidentals add modest overhead. Unlike US/UK visas, there is no embassy visit, biometric appointment, or VFS service fee. The breakdown below maps total realistic spend for first-time applicants from four major source markets in 2026.

Reduced-Fee Countries

The following countries pay reduced India e-Visa fees: Argentina, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Niue Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vanuatu — typically USD 10-25 depending on visa type.

Key advantage over US/UK visa applications: No embassy visit, no biometric appointment, no VFS service fee, no travel to consulate, no document courier. The India e-Visa is the cheapest and fastest major-country visa process globally for eligible nationalities.

OCI & PIO Cards — Lifetime Visa Alternative for People of Indian Origin

Foreign nationals of Indian origin — and their foreign-passport spouses — qualify for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. The OCI is functionally equivalent to a lifetime multi-entry visa, plus broader rights (property ownership, business setup, no police registration). The legacy Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card was merged into the OCI scheme in 2015, but existing PIO cards remain valid.

Who Qualifies for OCI?

1. Foreign citizens who were eligible to become Indian citizens on or after 26 January 1950
2. Foreign citizens who held Indian citizenship at any time on or after 26 January 1950
3. Children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren of (1) or (2)
4. Foreign-passport spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders (marriage 2+ years, varies)
5. Minor children where at least one parent qualifies

OCI vs e-Visa — When OCI Is Better

Apply for OCI at ociservices.gov.in through your local Indian Mission. Processing 6-8 weeks. If you qualify, OCI is significantly cheaper over a 5-10 year horizon than repeat e-Visa applications.

10 Common India e-Visa Application Mistakes That Cause Rejection

Based on Bureau of Immigration rejection patterns and traveler-reported issues across 2024-2025, these are the 10 mistakes that cause most preventable India e-Visa rejections. Avoid all 10 and your application moves to the merit-review stage where approval rates exceed 95%.

1. Wrong photo size or background. Must be exactly 350×350 pixels, white background, JPEG format, 10 KB-1 MB. Phone selfies fail size check. Use professional photo or photoaid.com auto-cropping tool.
2. Name mismatch between application and passport. Surname/given name order, middle name omission, spelling errors — all trigger automatic rejection. Type EXACTLY as in passport.
3. Vague accommodation address. "Hotel in Delhi" rejected. Use full hotel name + street + city. For homestay, use host’s complete residential address.
4. Wrong visa type for purpose. Applying for Tourist e-Visa for medical treatment, business meetings, or conference attendance = automatic rejection. Match purpose to visa class.
5. Failure to disclose prior visa history. All prior India visas, refusals, or deportations must be disclosed. The BoI database tracks history — undisclosed events cause permanent rejection.
6. Applying with passport < 6 months remaining. India requires 6+ months passport validity. Renew before applying.
7. Passport scan with corners cropped. All 4 corners of the bio page must be visible. Cropped scans rejected on document review.
8. Onward ticket missing or expired. The e-Visa requires planned departure flight details. A MyJet24 dummy ticket with real PNR satisfies this — generated free in 30 seconds.
9. Applying for e-Visa from ineligible nationality. Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Chinese — they cannot use e-Visa. The system rejects the application automatically.
10. Applying through third-party scam sites. Sites with names like "india-evisa-official.com" or "india-evisa.org" charge USD 50-150 and re-submit your data. Use only indianvisaonline.gov.in.

After Your e-Visa Is Approved — Prepare for BoI at the Airport

Approval of your e-Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in is the first step. The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) officers at Indira Gandhi Airport (DEL), Chhatrapati Shivaji (BOM), Kempegowda (BLR), and other Indian international airports make the final entry decision. Since October 2025, the e-Arrival Card is also mandatory. Read our companion guide on BoI entry inspection, e-Arrival Card filing, the 14-nationality matrix, and airport strictness across the 10 busiest Indian airports.

Curated India Visa Application Resources

Why your India visa file asks for proof of a flight

When applying for your India visa, the embassy or consulate requires a flight itinerary as part of your application. Buying a non-refundable ticket before visa approval is risky — if your India visa is denied, you lose the full ticket price. A dummy ticket from MyJet24 solves this problem: it provides a legitimate flight reservation PDF with a booking reference that satisfies embassy requirements without financial risk.

A MyJet24 dummy ticket for India includes your full passenger name matching your passport, departure and arrival airports (including New Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM)), travel dates aligned with your visa application, and a booking reference number. The PDF is generated in under 30 seconds and is accepted by India embassies, consulates, and immigration checkpoints worldwide.

Complete Your India Visa Application

A dummy ticket is just one part of your India visa application. Use MyJet24's free tools to prepare all required documents — from flight reservations to embassy cover letters — in one place.