India initiated international passenger trials of the Digi Yatra biometric digital identity system in November 2026 at seven major airports: 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, targeting eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports.
Digi Yatra Digital Identity Registration and Use
Eligible passengers must create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential (VC) via the Digi Yatra mobile app on smartphones equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC). The process includes scanning the passport’s Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) and its electronic chip, followed by a selfie biometric verification to authenticate identity. Once
completed, the VC is stored in the Digi Yatra wallet on the passenger’s device for use at participating airport checkpoints during security and boarding gate procedures.
Complementary Travel Procedures and Airline Integration
The international Digi Yatra credential is designed to complement existing travel documentation. Passengers must carry their physical passports and boarding passes and complete all immigration and airline document verifications. IndiGo requires passengers to upload their boarding passes to the Digi Yatra app following mandatory airline document checks at check-in. Biometric face authentication using Digi Yatra then facilitates passenger processing at designated security and boarding points during the trials.
Official Perspectives and Deployment Strategy
The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified
that Digi Yatra’s international trials enhance current verification procedures rather than replace them. IndiGo’s Chief Digital and Information Officer, Neetan Chopra, endorsed the technology’s role in improving the efficiency and customer focus of air travel. Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi described the trials as critical for extending domestic digital identity benefits to international travel. The Foundation is also working on interoperability with global standards such as IATA One ID and ICAO Public Key Directory to support broader international application.
Current Usage, Expansion Plans, and International Frameworks
As of November 2026, Digi Yatra has over 26.5 million users and has facilitated more than 110 million passenger journeys
across 39 domestic airports in India. The government plans to add 25 more domestic airports by 2027. The international trials represent a step toward integrating India’s digital identity system with international aviation protocols, aiming to streamline passenger processing and enhance security at global checkpoints.
Context within India’s Digital Aviation Initiatives
These international trials are aligned with India’s Digital India vision, focusing on leveraging biometric and digital identity technologies to improve airport operations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation will analyze feedback from the seven-airport trial phase during November-December 2026 to inform plans for a wider rollout in 2027. The project explores how Digi Yatra credentials can function
within established international frameworks while maintaining passenger privacy, consent, and data security.
