India has initiated international biometric-enabled trials of its Digi Yatra digital identity system for eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports. The trial runs from November to December 2026 and covers seven airports: Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, and Amritsar. Selected international flights operated by Air India and IndiGo are included in the pilot, aiming to expand Digi Yatra’s domestic biometric capabilities to international air travel.
Trial registration and biometric verification process
Passengers eligible for the Digi Yatra international trial must register using the Digi Yatra mobile application by scanning the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) of their e-passports and accessing digital passport data through Near Field Communication
(NFC) on compatible smartphones. A biometric selfie completes the process, enabling facial recognition verification. This registration creates a Verifiable Credential (VC), which is stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet within the app for airport use.
Passenger use and travel document requirements
After airline check-in and validating travel documents, IndiGo passengers upload boarding passes to the Digi Yatra app. Throughout the airport, including security hold areas and boarding gates, passengers use biometric facial authentication linked to their digital credential. Despite biometric verification options, travelers must carry their original passports, visas, and other required documents and complete mandatory airline and immigration procedures. Digi Yatra supplements existing processes
without substituting physical travel documents.
Official perspectives on security, privacy, and efficiency
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has stated that Digi Yatra’s digital credentials are designed to simplify passenger identification but do not replace any mandatory international travel documents. Digi Yatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi emphasized the trials as a critical step to extend digital ID benefits internationally, highlighting a strong focus on data security, passenger consent, and privacy. IndiGo’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Neetan Chopra described the use of biometric technology in the trials as important for enhancing operational efficiency and creating a smooth travel experience.
Integration with international frameworks and future rollout
The international Digi Yatra trials are positioned to evaluate
technical performance across different airport settings and gather passenger feedback to plan a broader rollout in 2027. The Digi Yatra Foundation is working toward interoperability with global standards such as the International Air Transport Association’s One ID and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Public Key Directory. These frameworks facilitate secure verification of electronic travel credentials and support a connected digital identity ecosystem. India plans to expand Digi Yatra to 25 more domestic airports by 2027. The trial phase also supports the government’s Digital India initiative focusing on streamlined and secure air travel.
