Digi Yatra trials for international passengers begin: Check eligible airlines and passenger requirements

Digi Yatra trials for international passengers have commenced at seven Indian airports, enabling eligible Indian citizens with e-passports to undergo digital identity verification at specific airport checkpoints while flying on certain international routes. These trials, set to continue through November and December 2026, are being conducted at Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Amritsar.

Currently, the facility will be accessible to passengers traveling on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that feedback gathered from passengers during the trial phase will assist in planning a larger implementation in 2027. The primary objective of this initiative is to streamline airport procedures through the use of digital technology for passenger verification. However, it is important to note that Digi Yatra will complement existing travel protocols and will not supplant passport checks, airline document verification, or immigration formalities.

The airports participating in the Digi Yatra international trials are:

- Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi

- Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru

- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad

- Cochin International Airport, Kochi

- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai

- Chennai International Airport, Chennai

- Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar

Eligible passengers can utilize Digi Yatra at designated terminal entry points, Security Hold Areas (SHA), and boarding gates, wherever the necessary infrastructure is in place. The facility will not be introduced across all international flights at these airports; it is currently limited to select international services operated by Air India and IndiGo.

To utilize Digi Yatra for international flights, eligible passengers must possess e-passports and generate e-passport-based Verifiable Credentials (VC) via the Digi Yatra mobile application before accessing the service at participating airport checkpoints. The process entails scanning the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) of the e-passport, reading the embedded electronic chip via the Near Field Communication (NFC) feature of a compatible smartphone, capturing a selfie, and verifying the details.

Upon successful verification, the credentials are securely stored in the passenger's Digi Yatra wallet on their device and can be utilized at airport touchpoints where the trial facility has been enabled.

It is crucial to emphasize that the international passenger trials are designed to augment existing airport and travel procedures, rather than replace them. Passengers must retain their passports and other requisite travel documents and must still complete airline document verification, immigration checks, and all other obligatory travel formalities. Digi Yatra aims to simplify passenger verification at selected airport touchpoints, without exempting travelers from existing international travel requirements.

Following the trial period, which will conclude in December 2026, the Ministry of Civil Aviation intends to develop a comprehensive rollout strategy for 2027 based on the insights obtained during the trial. Additionally, Digi Yatra is being expanded to more domestic airports, with the platform currently boasting over 26.5 million users and facilitating more than 110 million passenger journeys across 39 domestic airports.

Plans are underway to introduce the service to an additional 25 domestic airports by 2027, as part of the government's Digital India initiative and broader efforts to simplify air travel and enhance airport operations through technological advancements.