Guide
Cancellation rules & refund policy
IRCTC retiring room refund slabs, timing windows, and the automatic cancellation rules tied to your train ticket.
Updated 2026-02-15
Retiring rooms can be cancelled online from the IRCTC portal at any time before check-in. The refund you get back depends almost entirely on how close to check-in you cancel.
The refund slab structure
Refunds are calculated on the room tariff (not the IRCTC service fee or GST, which are non-refundable):
- More than 48 hours before check-in: 10% deduction. You get 90% back.
- 48 to 24 hours before check-in: 20% deduction. You get 80% back.
- 24 to 4 hours before check-in: 50% deduction. You get 50% back.
- Less than 4 hours before check-in: no refund.
- After check-in time (no-show): no refund.
The IRCTC service charge (₹20 per room or ₹10 per dormitory bed for up to 24-hour slots) and applicable GST are not refunded under any cancellation scenario.
Automatic cancellation if your train ticket is cancelled
If you cancel your underlying train ticket (the PNR linked to your room booking), the retiring room is automatically cancelled within 96 hours, with a refund processed per the slab structure above based on when the cancellation occurred relative to check-in.
If your train is cancelled or rescheduled by Railways
If Indian Railways cancels your train or reschedules it by more than 3 hours, you're entitled to a full refund on the retiring room booking — no cancellation deduction. You'll need to raise a refund claim through the IRCTC portal with the train cancellation confirmation as proof.
Modification — not really a thing
IRCTC does not allow direct modification of retiring room bookings. To change the date, room type, or station, cancel the existing booking and rebook. This means a date change made within 24 hours of check-in costs you 50% of the original tariff.
When refunds arrive
Refunds are processed back to the original payment method within 5–7 working days. UPI refunds are typically fastest (1–3 days), credit cards take the full week. If 10 working days have passed with no refund, raise a ticket with IRCTC customer care quoting your transaction ID.
Practical implication
Treat the 24-hour mark as a hard line. Cancellations beyond 24 hours before check-in are relatively cheap. Once you're inside 24 hours, you're committing at least 50%. Don't book speculatively.