How to Download E-Invoice from GST Portal – Step-by-Step Guide 2025

Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. What is a GST E-Invoice? 3. When Do You Need to Download E-Invoices? 4. Prerequisites Before You Start 5. Step-by-Step Guide: Download E-Invoice from GST Portal 6. How to Print E-Invoice from GST Portal 7. Final Thoughts

Introduction

You raised an e-invoice a few weeks ago. Now a client wants another copy, or your CA is asking for every IRN-backed invoice from last month. Where do you go?

A lot of people log in to the usual GST return-filing dashboard and start clicking through menus, only to come up empty. The reason is simple: e-invoices are registered on the e-invoice portal (the Invoice Registration Portal, or IRP), so that's also where you download them from.

This guide walks you through the full e-invoice download process. You'll see how to download an e-invoice from the GST portal one at a time, how to pull a whole month of invoices in one go, how to print an e-invoice once you have it, and what to do when an invoice doesn't show up.

What Is a GST E-Invoice?

A GST e-invoice isn't a new kind of invoice. It's your regular B2B invoice, reported to the government's IRP in a fixed format. The portal checks it and sends back two things: a unique 64-character Invoice Reference Number (IRN) and a digitally signed QR code. Once both are on the invoice, it's valid for GST purposes.

E-invoicing currently applies to businesses with an aggregate annual turnover above ₹5 crore. Thresholds can change, so check your own status using the e-invoice enablement search on the portal before assuming either way.

Can We Download Invoice from GST Portal?

Yes, you can. Since October 2023, the GST e-invoice portal has had a built-in facility to download e-invoices, both the ones you issued and the ones your suppliers issued to you. You can save a signed PDF of a single invoice, or download JSON files if you want the raw data.

One small thing trips people up. This facility sits on the e-invoice portal at einvoice.gst.gov.in, not inside the return-filing section of gst.gov.in. You log in with your normal GST portal username and password.

Read Also: GST Filing Dates 2025: Monthly, Quarterly & Annual Guide

When Do You Need to Download an E-Invoice?

Most people go looking for a GST e-invoice download in situations like these:

• A customer asks for a fresh copy of an invoice you sent earlier
• Your own copy was deleted, misplaced or got corrupted
• Your CA or auditor needs records for GST filing or an audit
• You're reconciling sales or purchase books with what's on the portal
• You need a printed copy showing the IRN and QR code for a shipment or for your files

What You Need Before You Start

Keep these handy and the whole thing takes a couple of minutes:

• Your GST portal username and password
• The GSTIN under which the invoice was issued or received
• The IRN, or if you don't have it, the financial year, document type and invoice number
• A PDF reader and a stable internet connection

How to Download E-Invoice from GST Portal (Step by Step)

Here's the e-invoice download process for a single invoice:

1. Open einvoice.gst.gov.in and log in with your GST portal credentials.
2. On the dashboard, click the "Download e-Invoice JSONs" tile.
3. Choose the tab you need. "Generated" shows invoices you issued, and "Received" shows invoices your suppliers issued to you.
4. Pick a search method: By IRN, For Period, or List of IRNs. For one invoice, stay on By IRN.
5. Enter the IRN, or select the financial year, document type and document number, then click Search.
6. When the result appears, click Download PDF to save the signed invoice, or choose Download e-Invoice (JSON) if you want the data file.

A quick note: the Download PDF button only appears for a single active IRN. If the IRN has been cancelled, you won't see it. Button names are also tweaked on the portal from time to time, so if a label looks slightly different, follow the same flow.

Read Also: Avoid These Mistakes in GST Registration Procedure Under GST Notes

How to Download E-Invoice in PDF Format

If you just need something to read, email or print, the PDF is the file to go for. It's the signed, human-readable version of the invoice and carries the IRN and QR code.

The JSON file is a different thing. It's meant for software, so it's useful when you're feeding invoice data into your accounting tool or reconciling records, but it's not something you'd send to a client. Download the PDF for people and the JSON for systems.

How to Download E-Invoice Data from GST Portal in Bulk

If you need a lot of invoices, there's no need to repeat the single search again and again. Use the monthly option instead:

1. Log in and open the same "Download e-Invoice JSONs" section.
2. Go to the For Period tab.
3. Select the financial year and the month (and the GSTIN, if the portal asks).
4. Click Download e-Invoice (JSON).
5. Once the file is ready, collect it from Download History.

Bulk download works month by month and gives you JSON, not individual PDFs. If you'd rather browse than download, the List of IRNs tab lets you look up the IRNs for a period first.

How to Download Received E-Invoices

The steps are exactly the same as above. The only difference is the tab. After you log in and open the download section, switch from "Generated" to "Received", then search by IRN or by period.

This is handy when a supplier has lost your copy of their invoice, or when you want to cross-check a purchase before claiming input tax credit.

Read Also: E-Invoice Mandatory Fields: A Complete Guide for Businesses in 2025

How to Check E-Invoice on GST Portal

Downloading an invoice and checking whether it's genuine are two different jobs. To check an e-invoice, you have a few options:

• Search IRN on the e-invoice portal: enter the IRN or the document details and confirm the invoice is registered.
• GSTN e-Invoice QR Code Verifier app: scan the QR code printed on the invoice. It's free and works on your phone.
• GSTR-2B: if you're the buyer, invoices your supplier has reported usually show up here too, which makes it a good reconciliation check.

If a supplier who should be issuing e-invoices sends you one with no IRN or QR code, it's worth asking them about it before you book it.

How to Print E-Invoice from GST Portal

Printing is the easy part once you have the PDF:

1. Open the downloaded PDF.
2. Click File, then Print.
3. Zoom in on the preview and make sure the IRN and QR code are fully visible and not cut off.
4. Print at normal or high quality so the QR code stays scannable.

Testing the printed QR code with your phone's verifier app is a good habit, especially for copies that travel with goods or go to an auditor.

Can't Find Your E-Invoice? Try These Fixes

• No Download PDF button: the IRN may be cancelled, or you may be on the bulk tab. PDF is only offered for a single active IRN.
• Search shows nothing: check that the financial year is based on the invoice date, and that the document number matches exactly, including any prefix or leading zeros.
• Wrong GSTIN: if you have more than one registration, make sure you've selected the right one.
• Invoice is quite old: the portal's FAQs say downloads are available for six months from the IRN date, so older invoices may not be retrievable there.

Don't Rely on the Portal for Old Records

Because of that six-month window, it's smart to save every e-invoice when you generate it. Keep the PDF and JSON together in a folder or, better, in your billing software. A billing tool that stores each invoice with its IRN and QR code saves you from this whole hunt later, so it's worth checking whether yours does.

Conclusion

Once you know where to look, getting a GST e-invoice is quick. Log in to the e-invoice portal, open the download section, pick Generated or Received, search by IRN or by period, and save the PDF or JSON. Print it if you need a hard copy, and verify the QR code when it matters.

The real trick is not waiting too long. Download and store your invoices every month, and you'll never be scrambling for a copy when an audit or a client request comes up.

FAQs

How can I download an e-invoice from the GST portal?

Log in to the e-invoice portal at einvoice.gst.gov.in with your GST portal credentials and open the "Download e-Invoice JSONs" section. Select Generated or Received, search by IRN (or by financial year, document type and number), and click the download option on the result.

How do I download a GST e-invoice in PDF format?

Search for the invoice using the By IRN tab and click Download PDF on the result. This option is available for a single active IRN, so it won't appear for cancelled invoices or in the bulk monthly download.

Can I download an e-invoice using an IRN number?

Yes. The By IRN tab is built for this. Paste the 64-character IRN, hit Search, and download the PDF or JSON. If you don't have the IRN, you can search with the financial year, document type and document number instead.

How can I download old e-invoices from the GST portal?

The portal keeps e-invoices available for download for six months from the IRN date, so anything older may not be retrievable there. For older invoices, check your billing or accounting software, your email, or ask the supplier or customer for a copy. It's best to save invoices as you generate them.

How do I download received e-invoices?

Follow the usual download steps, but switch to the Received tab after opening the download section. Then search by IRN or by period, just as you would for invoices you issued.

Can I download multiple e-invoices at once?

Yes, but with limits. The For Period tab lets you download all e-invoices for a selected month as JSON. You can then pick up the file from Download History. PDFs can only be downloaded one invoice at a time.