Flying Abroad From India? Digi Yatra Could Soon Make International Departures Easier

If you have used Digi Yatra for domestic flights, you already know how convenient it can be to move through the airport without repeatedly showing your documents. Now, international flyers may soon get a similar experience. The government is planning to test Digi Yatra for international departures at some of India’s major airports, and here’s all you need to know about this.

How Will Digi Yatra Work For International Flyers?

According to Hindustan Times, Digi Yatra is likely to be tested for international departures between October and December 2026. The trials are expected to take place at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin, with Delhi and Mumbai likely to be among the first to get the facility.

Unlike the domestic version, which uses Aadhaar-based enrolment, the international system is expected to work with electronic passports.

Passengers with an e-passport will be able to scan the first page of their passport and use their phone’s NFC feature to read the chip inside it. The photograph stored on the chip will then be matched with a selfie to create a digital credential. This credential can then be used to verify the passenger’s identity at different airport touchpoints.

However, the first phase will not completely eliminate the traditional international departure process. The initial trials are expected to focus on areas such as terminal entry and security, and potentially boarding gates. Immigration and emigration checks will continue as they do currently, with integration planned for a later stage.

Also Read: 2 Hrs 15 Mins In Bengaluru Traffic, Traveller Thanks DigiYatra After Rain Nearly Made Him Miss Flight

Here’s What We Know So Far

The move is part of a larger push towards making air travel more digital. From September 1, passengers no longer need to carry a physical boarding pass for immigration checks, as electronic boarding passes are accepted at immigration counters.

The government is also working on the technology and security checks needed before the international Digi Yatra trials begin. The upgraded application is expected to undergo vulnerability assessment and penetration testing as part of the process.

For now, international travellers will still need their passports and go through the required immigration procedures. But if the trials progress as planned, the familiar Digi Yatra experience could soon become a bigger part of international departures too.

Also Read: With 19 Mil Users Now, Digi Yatra Aims For Global Interoperability & 80% Adoption By 2028

Let’s be honest, anything that means spending less time fumbling through passports and boarding passes at the airport sounds like a change frequent flyers will be watching closely.

Cover Image Courtesy: X/@aaibpiairport & website/csmia-mumbai.adaniairports.com