What is Digi Yatra? No need to show a passport for international travel; trials begin on November 1st..

Following its implementation for domestic flights, a significant step has been taken to expand the 'Digi Yatra' system to international flights as well. A special trial for international passengers is set to begin on November 1, 2026, at seven major international airports across the country and will continue until December 2026. This new digital system is expected to provide major relief to passengers by eliminating the need to repeatedly present documents or stand in long queues at various stages within the airport.

Which 7 major airports are included in the trial?
Seven major international airports have been selected for this pilot project: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, and Amritsar.

What are the conditions for participating in the trial?
This facility will not be available to all passengers during this initial phase; two primary conditions have been set. Passengers must possess a valid e-passport equipped with an electronic chip. Those holding older passports or passports without a chip will not be able to avail of this facility. For now, the trial will be limited to passengers on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.

How is a digital identity created on the app?
To use Digi Yatra, passengers must use the 'Digi Yatra' app on their smartphones. After opening the app, users will need to scan the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) of their e-passport. The electronic chip embedded in the passport will be scanned using the smartphone's NFC (Near Field Communication) feature. Following this, users must take a selfie to verify their identity. Once verification is complete, a digital identity will be stored in the app’s secure wallet, facilitating seamless movement through airport entry gates and other designated checkpoints via facial recognition.

Will the need for a physical passport and visa be eliminated?

DigiYatra is not a substitute for a physical passport, visa, or other mandatory travel documents. While facial recognition technology will expedite processes—such as entry into the airport and passage through select checkpoints—it remains mandatory to carry a valid passport and visa for international travel, just as before.

Required document checks by airlines, security screenings, and legal procedures for immigration or customs clearance will continue to be carried out in accordance with established regulations. Furthermore, the local entry requirements and laws of the destination country will also remain in effect.

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