What this section covers
An admit card, also called a hall ticket or call letter, confirms that your application was accepted and tells you where and when to appear. Many bodies first release an exam city intimation slip so you can plan travel, and the full admit card follows closer to the exam. This guide covers both, along with the checks that prevent you from being turned away at the gate.
Release dates vary from exam to exam and are announced by the conducting body. Verify the latest notice on the official site rather than relying on predicted dates.
Where admit cards are released
Admit cards are issued only through the portal that accepted your application. Examples include UPSC, SSC, IBPS, NTA and the regional Railway Recruitment Board websites listed on rrbcdg.gov.in. No legitimate body sends an admit card as a WhatsApp file from an unknown number.
Step by step: downloading your admit card
- Keep your credentials ready: registration or application number and password or date of birth, exactly as used during the application.
- Open the official site and look for the admit card or "e-admit card" link in the latest notices.
- Log in and download the PDF, then open it immediately to confirm it is complete and readable.
- Print as instructed. Some exams specify colour printing, a particular page size or printing all pages, including instructions.
- Save a digital copy in two places, such as your phone and an email to yourself.
What to check on the admit card
- Name, father's or mother's name and date of birth match your identity document.
- Photograph and signature are yours and clearly visible.
- Category, gender and disability status, where shown, are correct.
- Exam date, shift, reporting time and gate-closing time.
- Full venue address, including landmark and city.
- The list of items allowed and prohibited, and the photo ID you must carry.
If anything is wrong, contact the helpdesk listed in the notice as early as possible. Our article on admit card problems and how to fix them covers the most common situations in detail.
Preparing for exam day
Visit or map the venue a day ahead if you can, and work out how long the journey takes at the reporting hour. Keep the printed admit card, the original photo ID named in the instructions, and any extra photographs requested in a clear folder. Read the instructions page carefully; it often contains rules about what you may wear or carry, and it can differ between exams run by the same body.
Common mistakes
- Downloading late. Servers slow down close to the exam, and errors found the night before are hard to fix.
- Carrying a photocopy of ID when the original is required.
- Not reading the reporting time. The gate often closes well before the exam starts.
- Writing on or laminating the admit card when instructions say not to.
- Using an unofficial "admit card download" site that asks for your password.
Frequently asked questions
I forgot my registration number. Can I still download the admit card?
Most portals offer a "forgot registration number" option that uses your registered email or mobile number. Use the official recovery option only.
Is the exam city slip the same as the admit card?
No. The city slip only tells you the city. You must still download the admit card with the venue address and carry it to the exam.
Can I change my exam centre after the admit card is issued?
Generally centres are not changed once allotted, except where the conducting body announces a specific facility. Check the notice for your exam.
What if my photo on the admit card is blurred?
Contact the helpdesk early and carry the extra photographs and ID requested in the instructions. Follow any written guidance they give you.