Stamping of boarding passes to stop from September 1; immigration rules changing.

Starting September 1, boarding passes of travelers flying from India to foreign destinations will no longer be stamped by immigration authorities. The process can be completed by showing an e-boarding pass on a mobile phone, though physical boarding passes will also remain acceptable.

If you are traveling abroad from India, one airport procedure is about to become easier. From September 1, there will be no need to get your boarding pass stamped at the immigration counter. You can simply show the e-boarding pass saved on your mobile, complete the necessary immigration formalities, and proceed; this eliminates an extra step in the travel process.

Under the new rules, travelers heading abroad can present the e-boarding pass stored on their mobile phones at the immigration counter. This means printing out a boarding pass solely for the purpose of getting it stamped will no longer be necessary. However, travelers who prefer to carry a paper boarding pass may continue to do so.

Both types of boarding passes accepted

According to the Bureau of Immigration, both e-boarding passes and physical boarding passes will be accepted, but immigration officers will no longer stamp them. Travelers enrolled in the Fast Track Immigration (FTI) or Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) will also be able to use e-boarding passes at e-gates. This could further simplify the process for travelers availing of these services.

Why the change was made

The aim of discontinuing the boarding pass stamping process is to make immigration clearance smoother and faster. Previously, immigration stamps were affixed to boarding passes after they were presented. Issues sometimes arose when stamps were unclear or difficult to read.

The Bureau of Immigration has described this change as a step towards a paper-light, streamlined, and hassle-free travel experience. It reduces the need for travelers to constantly manage paper documents and moves the immigration process towards greater digitization. Under the new rule, travelers will still have to complete the necessary immigration formalities, but their boarding passes will not be stamped. Airport operators, the CISF, and other related agencies have also been informed of this change.