🔑 In one line

₹50,000 triggers it, distance decides how long it lasts, and two rules changed in 2026 that most businesses still haven't caught up on.

₹50,000
Consignment limit
200 km
Per day of validity
200%
Penalty, no valid EWB

When do you actually need one?

Any movement of goods worth more than ₹50,000 needs an e-way bill before the vehicle leaves — inter-state everywhere, and intra-state limits vary by state from ₹50,000 up to ₹2,00,000. Even free samples or promotional goods need one if the value crosses the threshold.

📏
Rule · Validity
Distance decides how long it's valid
Validity starts once Part B (vehicle details) is entered, and can be extended within 8 hours before or after expiry — but total validity can never exceed 360 days from generation.
📅
New in 2026
180-day invoice rule
You can only generate an e-way bill for an invoice dated within the last 180 days — older documents are rejected outright by the portal.
📍
New in 2026
Ship-To GSTIN now mandatory
Entering the recipient's GSTIN (or URP for unregistered buyers) is now compulsory, along with a new "closure" feature to confirm delivery. The system also blocks generation if GSTR-3B hasn't been filed for two consecutive months.

Regular cargo vs over-dimensional

Cargo typeValidity
Regular cargo1 day / 200 km
Over-dimensional cargo1 day / 20 km

Common confusions — cleared up

❌ Confusion

Returning goods means I need a longer validity window.

✅ Actual rule

Validity is based on distance only, not the purpose of the movement.

❌ Confusion

I can generate an e-way bill for any old pending invoice.

✅ Actual rule

Only invoices dated within the last 180 days are accepted — older ones are blocked.

✅ Before you dispatch — quick checklist
1
Confirm consignment value — crosses ₹50,000? EWB is mandatory.
2
Check invoice date — must be within the last 180 days.
3
Enter Ship-To GSTIN — mandatory now, don't skip it.
4
File pending GSTR-3B first — two months unfiled blocks EWB generation entirely.

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