Starting November 2026, seven Indian airports—Delhi (DEL), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Cochin (COK), Mumbai (BOM), Chennai (MAA), and Amritsar (ATQ)—will conduct international Digi Yatra biometric travel trials on select Air India and IndiGo international flights. The trials, lasting through December 2026, enable eligible Indian nationals with valid e-passports to use digital identity verification for passenger processing.
Biometric Verification Process and Registration
Passengers must create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential through the Digi Yatra mobile app by scanning the Machine Readable Zone on their e-passport and using NFC on a compatible smartphone to read the passport chip. Registration also requires capturing a selfie for biometric verification. The
Verifiable Credential is stored securely in the Digi Yatra wallet on the passenger’s smartphone.
Passenger Experience During Trials
Digi Yatra biometric authentication is available at up to three designated airport touchpoints per airport, including Security Hold Areas and boarding gates enabled for the trials, depending on infrastructure. Passengers must continue to carry physical travel documents and complete all mandatory airline and immigration procedures. Boarding passes can be uploaded to the app after airline document verification at check-in counters.
Airline Involvement and Official Perspectives
IndiGo, which supported earlier proof-of-concept trials, collaborates with Air India in the international Digi Yatra trials. Neetan Chopra, IndiGo Chief Digital and Information Officer, said: “The
airline sees technology as an important part of making air travel more seamless, efficient and customer-focused.” He added that expanding biometric technology to international departures is “an important development for Indian aviation.”
Government Objectives and Domestic Usage Statistics
The Ministry of Civil Aviation manages the trials and will collect passenger feedback to plan a broader international rollout in 2027. Digi Yatra currently has over 26.5 million users and has enabled more than 110 million passenger journeys across 39 domestic airports. The government aims to expand the platform to 25 additional domestic airports by 2027.
International Interoperability Plans
Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi stated the platform plans to explore
interoperability with international frameworks such as IATA One ID and ICAO Public Key Directory to support secure and seamless international passenger journeys. The trials will test how e-passport-based credentials integrate with these global aviation systems while ensuring passenger consent, data privacy, and security.
Trial Goals and Future Rollout
The trials will evaluate technology performance, infrastructure needs, and passenger experience across the seven airports from November to December 2026. Based on feedback, the Ministry of Civil Aviation aims to implement a wider international rollout in 2027. Digi Yatra does not replace physical travel documents or mandatory checks but complements existing procedures.
