Starting November 2026, seven Indian airports will conduct international passenger trials of Digi Yatra’s biometric-enabled airport processing. The trial period runs through December 2026 and covers passengers flying on selected Air India and IndiGo international routes. The participating airports include Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai, and Amritsar.
Passenger eligibility and registration process
Only Indian nationals holding valid electronic passports are eligible for the Digi Yatra international trials. Passengers must use a smartphone equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality to register with the Digi Yatra mobile application. The registration process requires creation of a Verifiable Credential by scanning the Machine Readable Zone of the
e-passport and reading its embedded NFC chip. Passengers must also complete biometric verification by taking a selfie through the app to validate identity before travel.
Biometric verification usage during travel
During the international trials, passengers will undergo biometric facial recognition verification using the Digi Yatra platform at designated airport touchpoints such as Security Hold Areas and boarding gates. The availability of these touchpoints depends on each airport’s infrastructure readiness. Despite the use of digital identity credentials, passengers must continue carrying physical travel documents and comply with all mandatory airline and immigration procedures, as Digi Yatra complements but does not replace these requirements.
Industry and government perspectives on Digi Yatra trials
Officials from IndiGo
and the Digi Yatra Foundation have emphasized the trials as a step toward expanding secure digital identity verification to international departures. IndiGo’s Chief Digital and Information Officer described the biometric technology as a tool to promote seamless, efficient, and customer-focused air travel. Digi Yatra Foundation’s CEO highlighted the importance of interoperability with global frameworks such as IATA One ID and ICAO’s Public Key Directory to support secure international passenger processing.
Current usage statistics and future expansion plans
As of November 2026, Digi Yatra serves over 26.5 million users and has facilitated more than 110 million passenger journeys across 39 domestic airports. The Indian government plans to expand
Digi Yatra’s presence to an additional 25 domestic airports by 2027. The international trial leverages this domestic foundation to evaluate digital identity verification technology in diverse airport environments ahead of a planned broader rollout in 2027.
Role of the Ministry of Civil Aviation
The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarified that Digi Yatra’s biometric international trial will support existing airport and airline processes rather than replace them. Passengers will still be required to carry valid travel documents and complete standard checks by airlines and immigration authorities. The Ministry will collect feedback during the two-month trial to assess technology performance, infrastructure needs, and passenger experience, informing the government’s plans
for a wider international implementation.
