Digi Yatra Exams Begin For International Passengers: Check Eligible Airlines & Passenger Requirements | Today’s news
Digi Yatra trials for international passengers have begun at seven airports across India, allowing eligible Indian citizens with e-passports to use digital identity verification at designated airport contact points while traveling on select international flights.
The trials, which will last until November and December 2026, are being held at airports in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar. The facility will initially be available to passengers on select international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.
The civil aviation ministry said feedback received from passengers during the trial period will help shape plans for a wider rollout in 2027.
The initiative is aimed at making airport processes more seamless using digital technology for passenger verification. However, Digi Yatra will supplement existing travel procedures and not replace passport checks, flight document verification or immigration formalities.
Which Airports is Digi Yatra International Trial Applicable?
The device is being tested at seven airports:
– 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 use Digi Yatra at designated terminal entry points, Security Check-in Areas (SHAs) and boarding gates wherever the required infrastructure is available.
The facility is not in place on all international flights at these airports. It is currently limited to selected international services operated by Air India and IndiGo.
Who can use Digi Yatra for international flights?
The facility is currently available to eligible Indian citizens who hold ePassports.
Passengers must generate e-passport-based Verifiable Credentials (VCs) through the Digi Yatra mobile app before availing the service at participating airport contact points.
The process involves scanning the machine readable zone (MRZ) of the e-passport, reading its embedded electronic chip using the Near Field Communication (NFC) function of a compatible smartphone, taking a selfie and verifying the details.
Once the verification is complete, the credentials are securely stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on their device. These credentials can then be used at airports where the test device has been permitted.
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Does Digi Yatra replace passport controls and immigration?
No. International passenger screening is intended to complement existing airport and travel procedures, not replace them.
Passengers must continue to carry their passports and other required travel documents. They will also have to undergo verification of flight documents, immigration checks and all other mandatory travel formalities.
Digi Yatra is designed to simplify passenger verification at authorized airports. Its use does not exempt travelers from existing international travel requirements.
What happens after the trial period?
Trials will continue until December 2026, with passenger feedback expected to inform the next phase of implementation.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation plans to develop a broader deployment strategy for 2027 based on the experience gained during the trial period.
The government is also expanding Digi Yatra’s presence at domestic airports. The platform currently has over 26.5 million users and has facilitated over 110 million passenger journeys across 39 domestic airports.
There are plans to expand the service to 25 more domestic airports by 2027.
The expansion is part of the government’s wider Digital India initiative and its efforts to use technology to simplify air travel and improve airport operations.
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