New Delhi: International air passengers travelling from India can now use Digi Yatra at seven selected airports as the government begins trials of passport-based digital verification. The initiative will initially cover eligible Indian nationals flying on select international services operated by Air India and IndiGo, with a wider rollout being considered for 2027.
The trials will run through November and December at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin and Amritsar airports. The facility is designed to allow eligible passengers to use a digital identity credential at designated airport touchpoints, reducing the need for repeated physical document checks during parts of the airport journey.
Passengers will be able to use Digi Yatra at designated airport entry points, security hold areas and boarding gates, depending on the infrastructure available at each location.
The trial phase will help the government assess how the facility performs for international travel, understand passenger experiences and gather feedback before deciding on its expansion. The initiative marks an important step in extending the digital passenger verification system beyond domestic air travel.
How international passengers can use Digi Yatra
International passengers who wish to use the facility must first create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential through the Digi Yatra mobile application.
The process involves three key steps. Passengers must scan the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) printed on their passports, read the embedded electronic chip using a smartphone equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC), and complete selfie-based identity verification.
The MRZ contains information that can be read by airport and travel document systems, while the embedded chip in an e-passport stores electronic identity information. NFC allows a compatible smartphone to communicate with the passport chip when it is placed close to the device.
After the verification process is completed, the digital credential is stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on the device. Travellers can then use this credential at airport touchpoints enabled for the international trials.
The system is intended to make identity verification more convenient by allowing passengers to use a digital credential instead of repeatedly presenting their physical passport at every eligible checkpoint.
However, passengers must ensure that they complete the credential creation process before reaching the airport. They will also need a compatible smartphone with NFC functionality to read the passport chip.
Which airports and airlines are covered?
The initial international trial covers seven airports across India:
- Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
- Chennai International Airport, Chennai
- Cochin International Airport, Kochi
- Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar
The facility is initially available to eligible Indian nationals travelling on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.
Not every international passenger or flight will necessarily be covered during the trial period. Availability will depend on the participating airline services and the airport infrastructure enabled for Digi Yatra.
The government plans to use the November and December trials to examine how the system works across different airport environments. Feedback from passengers and operational experience will help determine the next stage of implementation.
Digi Yatra will not replace passports or immigration checks
Although the international expansion is expected to make airport procedures more convenient, Digi Yatra will not replace the passport or other mandatory travel documents.
Passengers must continue to carry their physical passports and any other documents required for their journey. Airlines will also continue to conduct mandatory travel document verification.
Immigration checks and other applicable international travel formalities will remain compulsory. The digital credential is intended to support identity verification at selected airport touchpoints; it does not grant permission to travel or replace government-issued travel documents.
This distinction is important because international journeys involve checks beyond passenger identity verification at airport entry points. Immigration authorities must still verify travellers’ eligibility to enter or leave a country, while airlines must ensure that passengers meet the applicable documentation requirements.
Passengers should therefore avoid treating Digi Yatra as a passport-free travel facility. The physical passport remains essential throughout an international journey, even when a digital credential is available.
Digi Yatra’s domestic network continues to grow
The international trials come as Digi Yatra expands its presence across India’s domestic aviation network.
The platform has more than 2.65 crore users and has facilitated over 11 crore journeys across 39 domestic airports. Its expansion has been aimed at making passenger movement through airports more convenient through digital identity verification.
Under the existing domestic system, passengers can use facial recognition technology at participating airport touchpoints after completing the required registration process. This helps reduce repeated manual identity checks at designated stages of the airport journey.
The government is also planning to extend Digi Yatra to another 25 domestic airports by 2027. If implemented as planned, the expansion would increase the number of airports offering the digital passenger processing facility.
The international trial represents a further development in the platform’s use, bringing e-passport-based verification into selected international travel processes.
What happens after the trial phase?
The November and December trials will allow the government and participating aviation stakeholders to evaluate the facility before considering a wider rollout in 2027.
The assessment is expected to focus on passenger experience, the functioning of the digital credential and the availability of supporting infrastructure at airports. Feedback will also help identify practical challenges that may need to be addressed before the service is extended to additional international routes.
The initial restriction to selected airlines and eligible Indian nationals means that the service will not be universally available during the trial period. Its expansion will depend on the outcome of the assessment and the readiness of participating airports and airlines.
For international passengers, the move could make certain airport procedures more convenient by reducing the need for repeated physical passport presentation at enabled touchpoints. However, the existing requirements for passports, airline checks and immigration formalities will continue.
With trials beginning at seven airports, Digi Yatra is taking its first step towards international use. The planned expansion in 2027 could bring the facility to more airports and international services, subject to the results of the pilot programme.