Digi Yatra for international flights is moving towards a wider rollout, with trials being introduced to make airport entry and boarding more convenient for overseas travellers.
The facial recognition-based system aims to reduce repeated document checks at different airport checkpoints.
The initiative is being expanded beyond domestic air travel, where Digi Yatra already allows participating passengers to use facial recognition technology for airport entry and boarding
The international version is expected to make the airport journey more seamless through biometric e-gates.
However, travellers should not assume that the facility eliminates the need to carry a physical passport.
International passengers must continue to follow applicable immigration, security and airline documentation requirements.
How Digi Yatra for International Flights Works
Digi Yatra uses Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) to verify a passenger’s identity.
Special biometric e-gates equipped with cameras scan a traveller’s face and match it with the information available in the system.
Once the identity verification is successful, the gate allows the passenger to proceed to the next checkpoint.
The technology is designed to reduce the need to repeatedly present boarding passes and identification documents at participating airport access points.
For international travel, the proposed system extends this digital verification process to overseas passengers.
Trials are being undertaken to assess how the technology can work alongside existing airport procedures.
Seven Airports Included in the Trial
The international trials began in November 2026 and are scheduled to continue until December. The participating airports are:
Delhi
Bengaluru
Hyderabad
Cochin
Mumbai
Chennai
Amritsar
The facility is currently available to eligible Indian nationals holding electronic passports (e-passports) who are travelling on selected international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo.
Passengers can use the system at airport terminal entry points, Security Hold Areas and boarding gates, depending on the availability of the required infrastructure.
How to Register on the Digi Yatra App
Eligible passengers must first create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential through the Digi Yatra mobile application.
The registration process involves scanning the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) of the e-passport.
Passengers must then read the electronic chip embedded in the passport using the Near Field Communication (NFC) feature of a compatible smartphone.
After completing these steps, travellers need to capture a selfie and verify their details.
Once the verification is successful, the digital credential is stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on the mobile device.
This credential can then be used at airport checkpoints participating in the international trial. The system uses facial recognition to match the passenger with the registered digital identity.
Will Passengers Still Need Their Physical Passports?
One important point for international travellers is that Digi Yatra does not replace the existing passport and immigration process.
Passengers must continue carrying their passports and other applicable travel documents.
They must also complete mandatory airline document verification, immigration checks and other required travel formalities.
The facial recognition facility is designed to complement existing airport procedures rather than eliminate them.
Travellers should therefore not leave their physical passports behind even when they have registered on the app.
What Happens After the Trial?
The international expansion marks another step in the development of India’s digital airport infrastructure.
Digi Yatra has already established a presence at 39 domestic airports and has facilitated more than 11 crore passenger journeys.
The platform currently has over 2.65 crore users. The government also plans to extend the facility to another 25 domestic airports by 2027.
Feedback collected during the November-December international trial period will help authorities plan the wider expansion. A broader rollout is planned for 2027.
For international passengers, Digi Yatra could make selected airport processes more convenient by reducing repeated identity checks.
, its availability will depend on participating airlines, airports and designated biometric checkpoints.
