India has initiated international passenger trials of the Digi Yatra biometric processing system at seven major airports from November through December 2026. The trial airports include Delhi (DEL), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Cochin (COK), Mumbai (BOM), Chennai (MAA), and Amritsar (ATQ). The trials involve selected international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo for eligible Indian nationals holding valid e-passports.
Passenger Eligibility and Registration Process
To participate in the international Digi Yatra trials, passengers must be Indian nationals with an e-passport and must hold a compatible smartphone equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC). The registration process requires passengers to scan the Machine Readable Zone and
electronic chip embedded in their e-passports using the Digi Yatra mobile application. A biometric selfie verification is also necessary to create a Verifiable Credential (VC) that is stored on the passenger’s smartphone.
Use of Digital Credentials at Airport Touchpoints
The Digi Yatra system will facilitate biometric facial authentication at three designated airport touchpoints during the trial: airline check-in counters, security hold areas, and boarding gates, provided these locations have the necessary infrastructure. Despite this biometric clearance, passengers must continue to carry physical passports and boarding passes and complete all standard airline and immigration document checks. The digital identity credential acts as a complementary option and does not
replace mandatory travel documents or procedures.
Statements from IndiGo and Digi Yatra Leadership
IndiGo’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Neetan Chopra emphasized the airline’s commitment to integrating biometric and digital identity technologies to enhance operational efficiency and passenger convenience. Earlier, IndiGo supported technical proof-of-concept trials before joining the international Digi Yatra program. Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi described the current trials as a pivotal step in extending the benefits of the domestic biometric platform to international passengers.
Government Plans and International Interoperability
The Ministry of Civil Aviation plans to use passenger experience and infrastructure feedback from the November-December 2026 trials to plan a broader international rollout in 2027. The government is
also exploring how Digi Yatra’s e-passport-based digital credentials can integrate with international frameworks such as the International Air Transport Association’s One ID and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Public Key Directory. As of November 1, 2026, Digi Yatra has enrolled over 26.5 million users and enabled more than 110 million domestic passenger journeys across 39 airports. The government intends to expand the platform to 25 additional domestic airports by 2027.
