The Ministry of Civil Aviation initiated international Digi Yatra biometric travel trials in November 2026 at seven major Indian airports including Delhi (DEL), Bengaluru (BLR), Hyderabad (HYD), Cochin (COK), Mumbai (BOM), Chennai (MAA), and Amritsar (ATQ). The trials apply specifically to international departures on select Air India and IndiGo flights and are scheduled to run through December 2026.
Eligibility and Biometric Registration Process
Only Indian nationals holding valid electronic passports (e-passports) are eligible to participate in the trials. Passengers must use the Digi Yatra mobile application on NFC-enabled smartphones to register and create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential (VC). The process requires scanning the Machine Readable
Zone (MRZ) on the passport, tapping the smartphone to the passport’s embedded chip for data retrieval, and completing biometric verification by taking a selfie through the app.
Airport Implementation and Airline Integration
Digi Yatra is implemented at three designated airport touchpoints depending on the availability of infrastructure at each location. IndiGo passengers have the option to upload their boarding passes to the Digi Yatra app after completing document verification at the airline check-in counter. This enables them to use biometric facial authentication at Security Hold Areas and boarding gates for faster processing. Despite biometric verification, all passengers must carry physical travel documents and complete regular
airline and immigration checks.
Government Objectives and Rollout Plans
The Ministry of Civil Aviation will evaluate passenger feedback and infrastructure performance to plan a broader international rollout in 2027. The trials aim to assess the technology’s effectiveness and support infrastructure requirements at the seven airports before expansion. Digi Yatra is also testing interoperability with international aviation frameworks such as IATA’s One ID and ICAO’s Public Key Directory (PKD).
Official Perspectives on Digi Yatra Expansion
Neetan Chopra, IndiGo’s Chief Digital and Information Officer, emphasized the role of technology in improving security, passenger convenience, and operational efficiency at airports. He cited IndiGo’s involvement in the trials as part of a broader strategy to
enhance digital identity solutions in air travel. Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, noted that the international trials mark a key step toward providing Indian nationals with a streamlined biometric travel experience abroad and stressed the importance of aligning with global digital identity standards.
Digi Yatra’s Domestic Success and International Frameworks
As of November 1, 2026, Digi Yatra has 26.5 million users and has enabled over 110 million domestic passenger journeys across 39 airports. The government plans to incorporate another 25 domestic airports by 2027. The platform’s domestic network underpins the international trials, which explore compatibility with IATA One ID for digital passenger processing and ICAO
PKD for verifying electronic travel documents.
Traveler Impact and Compliance with Existing Procedures
Eligible passengers using Digi Yatra can expect more efficient biometric processing during international departures at the participating airports. However, the biometric system supplements rather than replaces current travel procedures. Passengers must still present physical passports, boarding passes, visas, and complete all airline and immigration formalities. The system mandates the use of NFC-enabled smartphones for registration and biometric verification.
